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World of Warcraft is an enormously popular game
that has experienced success beyond what anyone might have expected.
It has become a mainstream triumph and has widened the audience for
its genre and for gaming in general. It has also had an effect on
the game industry, and in many ways is a surprising and remarkable
title.
What World of Warcraft has done is to make the multi-player game
more popular. Before it arrived, the majority of people playing
multi-player online games were usually teenage and twenty something
males. World of Warcraft has broadened the gaming audience
considerably. All sorts of age groups and individuals are now
playing it. In particular, it has brought much younger gamers
towards the genre.
World of Warcraft has appealed to people who aren’t normally into
gaming. It is quite common for someone to try it because they have a
roommate or a friend who has it, and then they themselves become
hooked. An academic study, The Daedalus Project by Nick Yee, has
examined people who play the multi-player genre. Almost 20% of
people now playing these games have had little prior experience in
video gaming. World of Warcraft’s role in attracting such people can
not be underestimated.
World of Warcraft has appealed to women, who are not the typical
audience for multi-player titles. Women either actively seek the
game out, or try it because their boyfriend or husband is a fan.
Around half of the women who play games like Warcraft are playing
with their partner. In general, women now make up around a third of
the overall number of people who play online multi-player games.
World of Warcraft is often the key title in introducing them to the
genre.
World of Warcraft has made gaming a social experience. People play
the game together in groups. Couples play it together, and around
25% of people who play games like Warcraft are playing with their
romantic partner. Families also play together, and it is common for
people to experience it with a family member. Parents play World of
Warcraft with their children, and brothers play alongside each other
in the game. It has a clear, universal appeal that encourages such
interaction.
One factor that has assisted the popularity of World of Warcraft is
the availability of free trials for the game. While it was in
development there were beta tests that introduced the game to
players. Most significantly, though, the game’s developer Blizzard
has held free trials for the game since its release. This has
ensured that anyone can try it and play it. Most people who sample
the game want to continue with it, and are likely to buy the game
and sign up for the monthly subscription.
The vast audience for World of Warcraft has been of interest to the
game industry. Before the game came along, game companies felt that
the multi-player genre was full and that there was no more room for
a new title. The game has proven otherwise and has shown that the
market can actually expand and grow. Game companies have been
impressed by its success, and are very interested in why it has
taken off to the extent that it has. They had not realised the
potential in the online role-playing genre.
World of Warcraft has shown that there are actually many
possibilities for the genre. Game companies are now looking to make
multi-player games that are more accessible and easier to play. They
want to appeal to more casual players who may not have the time or
inclination to spend all their time on a game. They are also
examining how multi-player games are designed. They used to be
serious and overly demanding titles. Warcraft has shown that they
can be purely entertaining and fun.
World of Warcraft then is a title that has broken new ground and
increased the market that multi-player games can have. It has been
popular with different types of people and has made the game
industry rethink their whole approach to the genre. It is a very
accessible game and it has developed a broad, mainstream appeal as a
result.
About
the Author of this article:
Hunter Crowell is a researcher, marketer, and an
avid online gamer, including World of Warcraft and also the
creator of the
Cheap World of Warcraft Gold
Price List Guide, a web
site setup to help World of Warcraft players find the cheapest place to buy
their gold.
http://www.world-of-warcraft-gold.com
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