Pleasant Ranch

World of Warcraft (also referred as WoW) developed by Blizzard Entertaiment is the world’s most famous massive multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG). It is the newest series in the Warcraft universe after Blizzard gain success with the previous 3 Warcraft series and its additional game patches. After the success of Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne, on September 2, 2001, Blizzard Entertaiment announced the development of World of Warcraft. By November 23, 2004, World of Warcraft was released to public. The released was also to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Warcraft.

Since the release of World of Warcraft on November 2004, it rapidly gain success around the world. The new MMORPG has experienced success beyond what they or anyone else had expected. It is now the world’s most-subscribed MMORPG with more than 11.5 million monthly subscribers. Most subscribers come from Asia, around 5.5 million subscribers, North America, 2.5 million, Europe 2 million and the rest scattered around the world. World of Warcraft is currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most popular MMORPG in the world. Around 62% of the markets for MMORPG belongs to World of Warcraft. This MMORPG has become the leader and broadened the audience for MMORPG genre and online games in general.

Before the launch of World of Warcraft , the majority of people who play MMORPG are most likely teenager or male around the age of 20. When World of Warcraft was introduced to the online gaming world, all sorts of age groups and individuals starting to play this MMORPG. This online game was not to be dominated by teenagers anymore. World of Warcraft, in particular, has successfully brought younger people, around 10-15 years of age, to play and enjoy the game.

World of Warcraft has appealed to people who are not normally into gaming. It is very common for someone who at first did not want to play the game but then got influenced by their surroundings, such as roommate, teammate, friends, brother, sister, spouse, etc. You can also find people playing and addicted to WoW was at first has very little experience in video game, especially multi-player online gaming.

Female is most likely not to play an online game. But that is not the case with World of Warcraft. WoW has successfully attract female person to also enjoy the online game. Around 30% of the world MMORPG’s player are female. They usually play the game accompanied by their partner such as boyfriend, brother, or husband. World of Warcraft is often the first game introduced to them.

WoW has made online game as a social experience. People play the game together in groups. Couples play it together and almost a quarter of people playing in groups are romantically involved. Parent and their children also play together. Don’t forget with brothers and sisters. This could tighten up the relationship within family, as long you don’t overdo-it.

One of the reasons that have made World of Warcraft so popular is the availability of free trials for the game. At the beginning, although the game is still in testing, beta testing is available for trial and most importantly, it is free. Most people who try the beta testing, end up like the game very much and then when World of Warcraft was release, gamers who has experience the beta version, are most likely to buy the game and sign up for the monthly subscription.

Besides the free trial offer, World of Warcraft has some new approaches compare to other online game which is already out in the market. One example is WoW’s approach to character’s death. In previous MMORPG, player would suffer a great deal of penalty when the character he/she played got killed. WoW change the concept of character death. Character would be able to recover and then start playing immediately. WoW has also improved the combat area. Pauses or downtime between play were reduced significantly. Characters are allowed to recover from damage quickly, thus player could return to combat quickly too. These new approaches have made World of Warcraft the chosen online game to play.

World of Warcraft has successfully attract so many audience from many sorts groups of age and type. Their success has proven that the market for online gaming, especially MMORPG, is still profitable. The market potential is still growing and expanding. And other online game’s developer still have a chance to join the competition. Off course, they need to be brave, creative and also innovative to take the next step. Blizzard Entertainment has taken the right step by developing and introducing World of Warcraft to public. They have enjoy much success with WoW. Now, other MMORPG’s developer will try to follow their success by making more creative and innovative MMORPG.

In summary, World of Warcraft developed by Blizzard Entertainment has sets new ground for MMORPG and increase the audience playing MMORPG. People from different ages and types have play and enjoy the game. And Blizzard has gain much success financially and non-financially with this game. Blizzard has also made other developer to start thinking and being creative and innovative if they want to achieve their success’. Bravo Blizzard. Bravo World of Warcraft.