4 ms·
Blizzard is an excellent example. They are doing a great job at maintaining a balance between attracting new players and maintaining existing players, particul
by ihsw 14y ago
Blizzard is an excellent example.
They are doing a great job at maintaining a balance between attracting new players and maintaining existing players, particularly in the recent Cataclysm expansion and Mists of Pandaria expansion.
The Cataclysm expansion was massive in that it revamped the existing world in addition to adding new content and I believe this is highly undervalued by existing players. Furthermore they have applied the same attention to detail to an entirely new expansion (MoP), and the gold-trim is really starting to shine through -- especially with regards to how well received the pet battles are (appealing to new and returning players) and how well received the challenge modes are (appealing to existing players).
Since Cataclysm was such a huge under-taking it took an astronomical amount of time and effort and they have adopted a policy of more regular intervals between expansions and patches, and in that regard Cataclysm was an opportunity to stream-line their entire workflow (from art design to player-facing content) -- an impressive feat in itself for which they are currently reaping the benefits.
The amount of over-head involved in making making new content and engaging consumers is expensive in all fields from offline single-player games to online multi-player games and from movies to music, and Zynga's shotgun approach to new games has been expensive and it's starting to hurt them.
- nwh 14y ago> Blizzard is an excellent example. Blizzard is a complete mystery. I paid for a copy of Starcraft: Brood War when it first came out (1998), and I've played on Battle.net using my original serial on and off ever since. Their servers are still up and running silky smooth, 15 years later.
- ChuckMcM 14y agoYes, that is a great counter point.
- zacharycohn 14y agoWhat is even MORE amazing is that I was in Best Buy four days ago, and I saw not one, but TWO copies of the Starcraft Battle Chest (Starcraft, the expansion, and strategy guides for both) still selling at $30. I first bought my battlechest in 2000 for $30. So 14 years after the release of the original game, it still moves enough copies for Best Buy to have it on the shelves.
- Too 14y agoTo keep adding things to the amazing-list. Blizzard is updating this game even 10+ years after it's release. Last patch is from 2009 and the game was released 1998, http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=14498532341 http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=14498532341
- lmm 14y agoStarcraft has player numbers that would make a two-year-old game envious. I have no doubt Blizzard will kill it off at roughly the same player count as other companies with similar games, but for now it's well worth them keeping it running.
- JimWestergren 14y agoI had bought the game years ago and installed and played it yesterday, 2 versus 2. It is really a great game.