Want to learn how to maximize $/per customer?

Michael_

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Mar 12, 2013
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Want to learn how to maximize $/per customer?

Just watch Blizzard Entertainment and their World of Warcraft game.

If you don't know what WoW is, it's one of the few online role playing games (MMORPG) that still use a subscription-based model.

In the MMORPG world, income generation models generally look like this:

free-to-play: Download and play the game, access to additional content/items/etc can be purchased via micro-transactions.

buy-to-play: Buy the game and have unlimited access to all content.

pay-to-play: Buy the game and pay a monthly subscription fee to have continued access to the game.

Blizzard is now the only company to have a game that is implementing all three models.

First, their customer buys the initial game pack. $20
Then, their customer pays to get access to the game world. $15/mo
Then, their customer purchases expansion packs. $40-$60
Finally, they're implementing an in-game store where their customer can buy access pay-to-use content through micro-transactions. $15+ per item

Obviously I used to play, but haven't for a good while. Game was shit a long time ago. But what Blizzard has done is truly impressive from a marketing standpoint. Not only are they basically quadruple-dipping their customers, but the customers are thanking them for it!

If you want to learn how to build a cult-like following for your shit and exploit them to the max, these guys are certainly the ones to watch - it's truly mind-blowing, in my opinion.
 


You failed to mention the drug-like addiction of WoW, which undoubtedly aids in the success of upselling people. The game is dying a slow death though, wonder who's going to take the throne once WoW dies.
 
Aren't they the same company that are rapidly losing their customer base?

Yes but they're consistently posting record-earning quarters.

You failed to mention the drug-like addiction of WoW, which undoubtedly aids in the success of upselling people. The game is dying a slow death though, wonder who's going to take the throne once WoW dies.

Even with the addiction factor, the way they've gradually ramped up the milking of their customers, to the point that they're being thanked for it, is just a work of art. Particularly since the monthly sub fee used to cover the stuff they're now being required to pay extra for.
 
They've made WoW a LOT easier than what it was when the game first launched... this is to cater to the non-hardcore gamers, which is an untapped market for WoW.
 
There is another way to look at this, and Blizzard is trying to monetize WoW every way possible as the player base starts to shrink.

I loathe the F2P model, but it does get lots of fast and easy revenue through micro-transactions.
 
There is another way to look at this, and Blizzard is trying to monetize WoW every way possible as the player base starts to shrink.

Oh, I know, that's exactly what they are doing. The amazing part is that, even though it's 100% obvious to any outsider that Blizzard is blatantly exploiting their customer base, they've implemented it in such a way that they have rabid, raving supporters on all major gaming outlets defending it.

Had they done this same action all at once, say 4 years ago, during the game's peak, there would have been unparalleled outrage at the company. It's the implementation that has the fan base not only condoning their own exploitation, but supporting and encouraging it that has me absolutely in awe of Blizzard as a profit machine.

Who gives a shit if they drop down to 3 million subs in record time if they increase revenue earned per player by 300%. They'll be making more with 3m subs than they did with 10m.
 
wonder who's going to take the throne once WoW dies.

I don't think there will be any one big game that comes along and steals WoW's user base. More like lots of other games that gradually eat away at market share.

I've seen a lot of growth in the free-to-play games, and played a few myself. I've also chatted with a lot of other F2P MMO players and noticed a good number of WoW refugees that got burned out and were tired of constantly being raped in the wallet.

What's funny though is some of the F2P players end up spending more on the F2P games than they would have on WoW. IMHO, the online gaming industry is roughly mirroring what happened in adult. Free content pretty much killed the old subscription model, but people will still pay for premium.
 
You failed to mention the drug-like addiction of WoW, which undoubtedly aids in the success of upselling people. The game is dying a slow death though, wonder who's going to take the throne once WoW dies.

Just unveiled a few hours ago.

https://www.everquestnext.com/media

By the looks of it, seems like they're going to redefine the entire genre with their innovations. Which is ironic since the original EverQuest was the top dog before WoW dethroned them. This is the first game I've seen since WoW's release that I think will actually beat the shit out of WoW's sub numbers. And I've seen a LOT of MMORPGs.
 
A large portion of their userbase is in China which doesn't follow this model. They just pay per hour at the pc cafe or w/e it's called in China.
 
Just unveiled a few hours ago.

https://www.everquestnext.com/media

By the looks of it, seems like they're going to redefine the entire genre with their innovations. Which is ironic since the original EverQuest was the top dog before WoW dethroned them. This is the first game I've seen since WoW's release that I think will actually beat the shit out of WoW's sub numbers. And I've seen a LOT of MMORPGs.

I am a little addicted to EQ. Def just applied for beta admission. :banana_sml:
 
Why not mention how Candy Crush, Hay Day and Clash of Clans are each making $500k+ a day through the F2P, micro transactions business model?

They would have made hella lot less if they sold the game and not released it for free...
 
Why not mention how Candy Crush, Hay Day and Clash of Clans are each making $500k+ a day through the F2P, micro transactions business model?

They would have made hella lot less if they sold the game and not released it for free...

Where can you find data on how much games have sold or their revenue? For example the Candy Crush numbers. Thanks...
 
Everquest will probably be shit because it is Sony and they try to rape their userbase when failing to deliver after promising the world.