Will SBG be able to release the game by the time WoW does its Xpack?

[XaeroT]

Look at it this way. When the WoW x-pack releases, there will be a mass exodus of WoW players (change will do that, and draw in most likely the same amount of players). That, on top of the WAR and AoC refugees, will put about 1 MILLION displaced players looking for a new game. Remember AoC sold around 1 million copies, where did 900k of those players go? WAR also lost a large amount of players, so the market is there.

As time goes on the little guys will eat away at the displaced players so a quick reaction and marketing scheme would be the only way to draw in these players.

PS: Of all things, I just opened a fortune cookie that said "Actions speak louder than talks".

[Frosty]

I think this game is around 2-3 years away yet.

[XaeroT]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I think this game is around 2-3 years away yet.

Its already been 3 years. 2 since they inked the Hero Engine deal.

[Slineer]

Originally Posted by XaeroT

Its already been 3 years. 2 since they inked the Hero Engine deal.

And yet they have nothing to show for it aside from 3 pieces of concept art. For all we know they are still in the concept phase and have done no programming. In addition one of the co-founders took another job last year. That could mean any number of things, but generally speaking its a pretty bad sign.

[Armegeddon]

Originally Posted by Slineer

And yet they have nothing to show for it aside from 3 pieces of concept art. For all we know they are still in the concept phase and have done no programming. In addition one of the co-founders took another job last year. That could mean any number of things, but generally speaking its a pretty bad sign.

The Devs are non existant and the forums are down to 48 active members. Grab a fork and check the temperature.

[Frosty]

Its already been 3 years. 2 since they inked the Hero Engine deal.

Shadowbane took 5 years to and could have used more time, wow took 7 years and was in much better condition at luanch but still had some trobbel.

[XaeroT]

The Hero Engine is suppose to make the "time to market" faster for companies that buy it. The way I look at it right now there is one hell of a void to fill. 1 million displaced players that want out of where they are at. Each new game, specifically the "pvp" games keep hitting 1 million boxes sold (talking about companies that can handle it, the little guys are getting technically slaughtered and can't handle it).

These players also need to know there is something out there for them, so advertising is critical.

Yes, 1 MILLION players. Companies need to act now before the next WoW xpac IMO.

EDIT: FYI WoW has peaked. So sooner or later their numbers will go down and the players will either seek something new and different or leave the MMORPG genre forever. That's more money for everyone else. http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cf.../269188/page/1 11.5 million subs in 2008, 11.5 million subs in 2010. The beast is waiting to be slayed.

[Zoupzz]

Im no math genius, and Ive never played WoW

but assuming 11.5 million subs are paying 20 bucks a month thats like 230 million a month.

jesus christ.....

if 1% of that player base alone played a new game at 20 bucks a month thats still 2.3 million.

However I have no idea what it costs to make or maintain game but even 2.3 million a month doesnt seem to ****ty to me.

[gremmlynn]

Well considering that Ubi kept SB around for three years for virtually nothing coming in, it can't cost to much to simply maintain a game. New content on the other hand might cost a bit, but with xpaks at $50 a pop for most games, they probably pay for a few patches over their own cost.

[Daerim]

Bandwidth is probably the major killer, so Shadowbane's relatively small data flow while it was free is probably a far cry from WoW's. Still, assuming that the initial retail covers most of the development costs and a quarter of the subscription fees goes into maintenance costs and WoW is still making a killing.