According to www.gamesindustry.biz, a Game Networking site for the Gaming Industry – soon after WarHammer Online was released by Mythic Entertainment comments by Blizzard COO Paul Sams stated the following:
"We've certainly had some of that happen, which is the same thing we experienced with Age of Conan and each time an MMO has come out we've seen some amount of reduction of use," he said in an exclusive interview published today.
"The good news is that we've seen a significant number of people, well over half, that cited Warhammer as their reason for leaving - they've already returned."
Sams said he was surprised that Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning had a rocky start in Europe, but server troubles and registration hiccups are part and parcel of the MMO business.
"It surprises me because Mythic is a very good company and it doesn't surprise me at the same time because it's really hard, what they're trying to do and what we've done," commented Sams.
"We respect those guys over there a lot and certainly wish them well to succeed but having registration troubles, having server troubles, these are things that come with the territory when you're talking about managing a game as big as World of Warcraft or Warhammer or anything like that. So, it's not a surprise because it is really difficult."
This was followed up in a later statement by Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime during an investor conference call stating that
Speaking to investors during the Activision-Blizzard earnings conference call, Morhaime revealed that research done by the company on players leaving World of Warcraft indicated that they were returning in advance of the MMOs latest expansion, Wrath of the Lich King.
"Even though the quarter was book-ended by competitors in the MMO space, the World of Warcraft subscriber base continued to grow," said Morhaime, according to Seeking Alpha.
"To date, 68 per cent of the players who listed Age of Conan as their reason for cancellation and 46 per cent of the players who listed Warhammer as their reason for cancellation have reactivated their subscriptions to World of Warcraft."
Mythic’s CEO Mark Jacob’s took issue with Sam’s comments
"One thing about MMOs is that people play multiple games," asserted Jacobs. "That's one of the reasons I was very surprised by Paul's comments. He knows that people may play WoW and they'll play WAR and maybe even a third game at the same time."
He added: "Any comment along the lines of 'well if they're in my game they're not playing in another game,' flies in the face of all research that's been done among MMO players… The idea that you only play one is really kind of silly."
I personally fall into the category outlined by Mr. Jacob’s and play both games. So, WoW is quite wrong – at least with regard to me. I find WAR to be unique and a stimulating change from the easy, experience of WoW. WAR reminds me of the challenges that EverQuest used to present – whereas WoW is easy fun, not nearly as challenging but fun, and doesn't cause carpal tunnel!!
Asta La Vista!!!
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