Blizzard retains PC gaming dominance
by James Egan 
Sep 4th 2008 at 6:00PM
Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, News items
As if in response to predictions of the beginning of the end, Blizzard's market dominance in US PC game sales was reaffirmed in late August through the NPD Group's research. In fact, World of Warcraft garnered three of the top spots on the PC game sales chart, with The Diablo Battle Chest and The Warcraft III Battle Chest thrown in for good measure, Gamesindustry.biz reports.
While it could be argued that World of Warcraft's steady retail box sales silences all erroneous claims of the rise of a WoW-killer (oops... uttered the dreaded phrase), this doesn't seem to take into account all those Warhammer Online pre-orders placed in August. In that case, September might paint a different picture. But let's face it -- WoW's not going away anytime in the foreseeable future. And despite the knocks World of Warcraft takes from some MMO gamers, would you really want a world without Warcraft?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BlakeT said on 1:09AM 9-05-2008
Well one thing to remember is that a pre-order is not a sale. Can't say how many times I've pre-ordered a game and ended up not buying it, either switching my pre-order to something else or canceling it all-together.
Not to mention it's not a sale till it's paid for and picked up anyway, and also if you go that route you have to go with the pre-orders of Lich King which should probably amount to 3 - 4 million I'd hazard a guess. :)
Not saying WoW is god, sure I play it and have a pre-order if for WAR myself, just pointing that out.
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James Egan said on 1:16AM 9-05-2008
Fair enough. I've never cancelled a pre-order myself. Generally if I'm going to go to the trouble, and possible hassle, of doing one it's because I *really* want that game. I wonder if a lot of people cancel their pre-orders though, or just pre-order to get access codes...
recursive said on 5:46AM 9-05-2008
Even if you would count preorders as sales, I'd wager more of them were made before August (delays and all), but as BlakeT comments they're not the same animal and there's surely some Lich King reorders around.
September will paint a different picture, but so did.. what was it.. May? And then equilibrium restored itself.
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MrGutts said on 8:45AM 9-05-2008
I cancel my pre orders when a online retailer fails to deliver what was promised. Like deliver a game on or before a release date or when tracking numbers come in saying it's going to be at your house a week later .
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Jeni said on 8:54AM 9-05-2008
Blake T is right. I, myself, had a preorder for WAR...and cancelled just just as Wrath was entering beta. I don't have time to fart around with other games. ^__^ I need to get myself ready for Wrath! I've found a renewed interest in WoW as well, my Guild's been getting their 'feats of strength' achievements on Naxx... it's been good times.
Though other, new games charm me from time to time, I always come back. No game has been able to match Warcraft's total coolness. At least for me.
I was one of the people that tried AoC and came back within a month. Sigh. Unfortunately, AoC burned me...and I won't even be trying WAR. However, Champions Online will probably woo me again too!
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