Aion : a possible competitive threat to WoW's future according to ActivisionBlizzard

[Chob]

I'd say they are not very confident in WoW anymore

Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey says that despite the promise of holiday success for games like DJ Hero and Tony Hawk: Ride, Activision's year end could see some snags -- chief among them the increasing likelihood that Starcraft II won't make this calendar year.

Although Blizzard's not yet pinned a specific release date for the game, it's maintained a 2009 window. But Starcraft II lead designer recently told consumer weblog Kotaku that the team plans to have a beta that will last "four to six months," leading Hickey to conclude: "We find it increasingly probably that the game will be released in [Activision's] fiscal '10 period."

Hickey also called CEO Bobby Kotick's recent warnings that Activision could withdraw PlayStation 3 support by 2011 with no price cut "likely a realistic reaction to a near term breakdown in market growth."

If hardware pricing stays high, Hickey says, it "could eventually compromise holiday sales expectations."

"While we expect price cuts from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo before the holiday, the ultimate timing and magnitude remain uncertain," he adds.

According to Hickey, other areas of caution are a recent boost in Activision insiders selling shares -- "impossible to ignore," he says -- and increasing challenges for World of Warcraft.

The analyst says that although the number of WoW players in China is higher, the average revenue per user is lower due to the specific business model -- and downtime in the transition from operator The9 to rival Netease could cause the player base to take a hit, even though the migration will mean higher royalties in the end.

"We view looming competition in the West from new MMORPGs as a greater threat to WoW?s future then the current transition," he adds, including NCsoft's September launch of Aion as a possible competitive threat.

Gamasutra - News - Analyst: Hardware Pricing, Possible Starcraft II Delay Could 'Compromise' Activision's Holiday

[Pagusus]

Of course Aion is a competitive threat it will take away some WoW players, not enough to kill it though


edit:spelling

[Senshi]

-_- Aion caters for gamers why differently then gamers then play WoW.

Non will kill another.

If you want to play Aion you play aion
if you want wow you play wow

[Chob]

Originally Posted by Senshi

If you want to play Aion you play aion
if you want wow you play wow

That's one hell of a statement

[Merexis]

Yea, only Blizzard can kill WoW. But I know they're going to lose a ton of players. Myself included

[NarcissuStar]

Originally Posted by Chob

That's one hell of a statement

if I want cheese i'll eat cheese

[Killer]

ooooh.. Very cool read.

[Esoteric]

Of course it won't kill it. But if WoW numbers actually start to DROP (instead of continuously rising), it will show that the behemoth that is WoW will not last forever. I personally have nothing against WoW (though I don't play it), and I hope that the good, quality MMORPGs that are released in the future (hopefully Aion is one) can gain a decent subscriber base so that they can continue to grow.

No one game will "kill" WoW. It will be a multitude of other MMOs and games, and also just time. WoW's graphics, even while not trying to be realistic, will continually start showing its age as time goes on.

[Eldan]

the only thing that will kill wow is time

[Melanise]

Lmao you havent got much to loose when leaving WOW i mean its a frikin endless cartoon you ened something realistic and inspiring Aion is the Alpha dog xD!

[Heejin]

Originally Posted by Senshi

-_- Aion caters for gamers why differently then gamers then play WoW.

Ouch

[Keske]

And the storm begins, this is intressting news however it will be ruined by the inferno that is fanboyism.

Also why am I not allowed to create a thread on the Betaboard, I'm in the beta

Kesek

[Melanise]

Originally Posted by Eldan

the only thing that will kill wow is time

Lmao i love that one i erase my staement and go with Eldan on this one lmao

[Keske]

Originally Posted by Melanise

Lmao you havent got much to loose when leaving WOW i mean its a frikin endless cartoon you ened something realistic and inspiring Aion is the Alpha dog xD!

Wait... what...? Did you just call Aion realistic?

[Xentaph]

I correct that biased statement "as a possible threat" Oh no ******, it is a threat to blizzards success as me and a nice wad of other people are going to Aion. +1 into the pot of Aion.


Not saying it's going to take WoW off the market, but it definately is a threat to their income for sure. Only thing that will kill WoW is when people grow up and get sick of the EZ mode time sink. (Or when enough people just get bored and move on.)