Did post this in anyother thread, but I figured it needs one of its own, maybe Sticky this?
As it stands there is increase talk of people saying, GW is doomed, loads of people have left, cats and dogs are getting alive... you know end of the world sort of thing?
Nonetheless Guild Wars remains ONE of the most popular onlines games at the moment in time!
Here is the list of best online games, based on player numbers as stated in the lastest copy of PC Zone magazine:
These figures are correct as of July 2005 - "PC Zone Magazine September Issue"
1. Lineage 2 ( appox 2.2 million players)
2. World of Warcraft (appox 2 million players)
3. Lineage 1 (appox 1.9 million players)
4. Final Fantasy XI Online (appox 500,000 players)
5. Guild Wars (appox 400,000 players)
6. Everquest Live (appox 380,000 players)
7. RuneScape (appox 380,000 players)
8. Everquest 2 (appox 360,000 players)
9. Star Wars Galaxies (appox 350,000 players)
10. Dark Age of Camelot (appox 340,000 players)
11. Ulitma Online OFFICAL SERVERS (appox 340,000 players)
12. City of Heroes (appox 300,000 players)
13. Toontown Online (appox 200,000 players)
14. EVE Online (appox 100,000 players
15. Planetside (appox 50,000 or less players)
Guild Wars has more players then, Everquest 2, City of Heros, Planetside and Dark Age of Camelot!
So tell me, how is Guild Wars dying?
These figures were provided to the mag by the guy who runs MMOGChart.com, so flame him NOT me if you don't agree.
They are based on not sales, but subcribers to the game, and or active accounts.
But don't hold me to that, the fact remains that Guild Wars is damn popular still.
Online Player Numbers as of July 2005 - PC Zone Magazine
RTSFirebat
Phades
Again these numbers are most likely very close to 100% accurate for the total number of people who have ever played those games. Those numbers are not a very good indication of how many people are regularly using or still subscribed to said service.
When you start getting down towards the bottom of the scale eve and PS specifically, you are able to track how many people are actually using the game without much effort if any at all. On a busy night eve might pull down 12% of that 100,000 players, but regularly does far less than that 6-8% is more normal. Even if the entire playerbase that had ever subscribed was that much and all of them played only once a day in different 8hr segments split evenly throughout the day (it doesnt) over the course of a week would you even reach a figure that would represent that approximated total. (Id feel sorry for the poor schmuck who only played 12-8am pst on monday mornings) Also, from knowing the player behavior within that game, many of the accounts are shared by the same user cutting down that total dramatically of people actually playing the game. Planetside is even worse the last time i was playing it. Hell on planetside you were lucky at times to find new/unfamiliar faces you hadn't fought before in the previous day, let alone hour to hour. Many of the other games listed follow a similar pattern.
When you start getting down towards the bottom of the scale eve and PS specifically, you are able to track how many people are actually using the game without much effort if any at all. On a busy night eve might pull down 12% of that 100,000 players, but regularly does far less than that 6-8% is more normal. Even if the entire playerbase that had ever subscribed was that much and all of them played only once a day in different 8hr segments split evenly throughout the day (it doesnt) over the course of a week would you even reach a figure that would represent that approximated total. (Id feel sorry for the poor schmuck who only played 12-8am pst on monday mornings) Also, from knowing the player behavior within that game, many of the accounts are shared by the same user cutting down that total dramatically of people actually playing the game. Planetside is even worse the last time i was playing it. Hell on planetside you were lucky at times to find new/unfamiliar faces you hadn't fought before in the previous day, let alone hour to hour. Many of the other games listed follow a similar pattern.
ElderAtronach
To be pessimistic, I'd have to agree with Phades. I mean... how many of the accounts on all of the games are bot accounts? -.-
RTSFirebat
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Originally Posted by ElderAtronach
To be pessimistic, I'd have to agree with Phades. I mean... how many of the accounts on all of the games are bot accounts? -.-
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Still the point of this tread is to get people to chill out about Guild Wars is already on its last legs...
Shamblemonkee
Well stats should never be trusted totally as there's always a way to get them to show what you want. However these figures are about as good as you'll get.
Phades you seemed to be mixing concurrency with subscribed users at points, I agree though that with some games (especially eq2 / swg/ etc two or more subs is not rare and are not acoRED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOed for).
I'm also curious about the guild wars figure as most of the other games produce their figures based on all people subscribed in the prior month, whereas guild wars can only go by boxes sold or accounts registered and accessed in the last month. Not the same thing.
So you see these should only be treated as very rough guides. for exaple WoW is now claiming 3.5 million subscribers followingits chinese launch. Not the 2 million posted above.
Phades you seemed to be mixing concurrency with subscribed users at points, I agree though that with some games (especially eq2 / swg/ etc two or more subs is not rare and are not acoRED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOed for).
I'm also curious about the guild wars figure as most of the other games produce their figures based on all people subscribed in the prior month, whereas guild wars can only go by boxes sold or accounts registered and accessed in the last month. Not the same thing.
So you see these should only be treated as very rough guides. for exaple WoW is now claiming 3.5 million subscribers followingits chinese launch. Not the 2 million posted above.
Sagius Truthbarron
Who said Guild Wars is dying out?? How can a game that came out two months ago be "Dying out" so fast?
Phades
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Originally Posted by RTSFirebat
Planetside doesn't have bots... and your very much find players outnumber the bots in all cases.
Still the point of this tread is to get people to chill out about Guild Wars is already on its last legs... |
GW isnt on its last legs, but in my opinion, is starting to show the first signs of a parting from the game, very similar to what i witnessed within planetside. This does not doom the game, because virtually every game has a flow of people in and out of it. Only over the course of the next few months could really tell if the flow out is worse than the flow in.
Also, i had to hold back a small laugh after experiences i had within lineage and the chineese bots on the american servers. They did outnumber the active player base in some parts of the map and there were times when players would block enterances clogging up the bots within an area in towns. What was really sad was when you could identify shift changes where they would ritualistically strip themselves down nude and have the guards kill them over and over again to drop their level back down so their level wouldnt affect their drop rates. There were portions of dungons that you could not gain access to, due to these individuals/programs.
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Originally Posted by Sagius Truthbarron
Who said Guild Wars is dying out?? How can a game that came out two months ago be "Dying out" so fast?
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Sagius Truthbarron
It's probably becuase of all these "OMHZ I THOUGHT DIS WAZH GOING TO B BF1942! My W/mo doesn't have a skill that can blow everything" type people. "Now I'm going to spam in a forum that nobody wants to play guild wars anymore!" 
Anarkii
The high position of GW in that list is mostly due to migration of players from the other games to see what GW is all about. GW being a freely playable game(besides the box fee ofcourse), attracts more number of curious gamers than something like Everquest 2 would.
Again, the liveliness of the game is judged by the attitude of the hardcore players. And at the moment the attrition of top guilds is very high. :/
Again, the liveliness of the game is judged by the attitude of the hardcore players. And at the moment the attrition of top guilds is very high. :/
RTSFirebat
Top guilds, bah! We have lots of fresh new comers.
Funny thing is their be back in time when PvP is improved, and then will start complaining that us PvE have access to PvP. :P
Nah, just something like that.
Correct, but the SOE devs have already stated they track player numbers but the people subcribed to the account, NOT the number of characters each person has.
Planetside was on its last legs last time I checked, I came from that game to this one.
Remeber the figures are a guildlines... accurate maybe, or maybe not.
Funny thing is their be back in time when PvP is improved, and then will start complaining that us PvE have access to PvP. :P
Nah, just something like that.
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Originally Posted by Phades
Planetside does have single users, multiple cr5 character accounts. Planetside also had multiple users on single accounts.
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Planetside was on its last legs last time I checked, I came from that game to this one.
Remeber the figures are a guildlines... accurate maybe, or maybe not.
rii
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Originally Posted by Sagius Truthbarron
It's probably becuase of all these "OMHZ I THOUGHT DIS WAZH GOING TO B BF1942! My W/mo doesn't have a skill that can blow everything" type people. "Now I'm going to spam in a forum that nobody wants to play guild wars anymore!"
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the only bit that was vaguely right about that was:
OMHZ I THOUGHT DIS WAZH GOING TO B BF1942
in that you dont have to officially hack through a combined total of 10000000000000000000 hp to get on with things. cause thats all the creeps are tbh. large amounts of hp.
they dont want uber skills, they probably already know exactly what skills they need, but they arent going to get them in the current system, that is the point.
saying they are moaning little kids who want to pwn is a complete misjudgement.
Phades
Well i hope that the influx of new people doesnt follow the trend ive noticed with the new people that have been invited into the guild im apart of. Typically see them off and on for around a week then never see them again (1 month+ inactive).
RTSFirebat
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Originally Posted by Phades
Well i hope that the influx of new people doesnt follow the trend ive noticed with the new people that have been invited into the guild im apart of. Typically see them off and on for around a week then never see them again (1 month+ inactive).
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In my old Outfit, we use to kick people if they were inactive for more then 1 month.
Linkie
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Originally Posted by RTSFirebat
Still the point of this tread is to get people to chill out about Guild Wars is already on its last legs...
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Angryhob0z
im glad you posted this because now i know not to buy PC zone magazine. at least one of those numbers is oh so wrong.
i only know this because i used to play and still have friends that do, but runescape has over 1 million active users. maybe not daily, but definetly during the summer and on weekends seeing as how mostly 12 year olds play it. and sadly it has been ranked as one of the top mmo's a few times
i only know this because i used to play and still have friends that do, but runescape has over 1 million active users. maybe not daily, but definetly during the summer and on weekends seeing as how mostly 12 year olds play it. and sadly it has been ranked as one of the top mmo's a few times
Ninna
sidenote
http://www.blizzard.com/press/050720.shtml
http://www.blizzard.com/press/050720.shtml
Quote:
| World of Warcraft has .. more than 3.5 million global customers |
Imp
well I WAS thinking about going back to city of heroes.
Ninna
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Originally Posted by Angryhob0z
runescape has over 1 million active users
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the game designers have stated (at their site) that their goal for 2005 is to exceed 400,000 paying subs
http://www.bcuc.ac.uk/careersdb/stud...ails.asp?r=830
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| Since its launch RuneScape has grown to over 3,000,000 active free players, whilst the members¡¦ version has over 300,000 paying subscribers. |
SJG
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Originally Posted by RTSFirebat
They are based on not sales, but subcribers to the game. And since its one of the most accurate sites on the web (If not the best), I say they are accurate.
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Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Antagonist
You also have to consider that many companies are very reluctant to reveal their server logs unless it's a huge success like WoW. Even then I'm sometime suspicious because it's unlikely that a company will tell you the truth if a game is failing. A game won't attract new players when you admit that your current player base is dwindling. Nobody likes to join a sinking ship.
RTSFirebat
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Originally Posted by SJG
How can the numbers be based on subscriptions when GW doesn't have subscriptions?
Sorry, I couldn't resist. |
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Originally Posted by Angryhob0z
im glad you posted this because now i know not to buy PC zone magazine. at least one of those numbers is oh so wrong.
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PC Zone is one of the best UK mag out there
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Originally Posted by Linkie
Those numbers are probably based on active accounts, which in Guild Wars will mean how many people actually bought the game. People started quitting after the game was released.
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Ninna
sub numbers are communicated beyond press releases
http://www.mmogchart.com/
I agree, GuildWars does not belong on the charts
- its not a pay by the month game
http://www.mmogchart.com/
I agree, GuildWars does not belong on the charts
- its not a pay by the month game
RTSFirebat
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Originally Posted by Ninna
sub numbers are communicated beyond press releases
http://www.mmogchart.com/ I agree, GuildWars does not belong on the charts - its not a pay by the month game |
But its stands as to be one of more popular games, then again the fact its free-to-play-monthly does help.
Dralon
Does anyone rally think lineage 2 has more active (real) players than WOW. Not bots mind you 
Drakron
Guild Wars have a lifetime subscription, when you buy the game you are buying a account.
Remenber that its possible to download the client and then buy a account, Guild Wars sales numbers cannot only be games sold in retailers.
Remenber that its possible to download the client and then buy a account, Guild Wars sales numbers cannot only be games sold in retailers.
Drakron
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Originally Posted by Dralon
Does anyone rally think lineage 2 has more active (real) players than WOW. Not bots mind you
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Mr. Matt
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Originally Posted by Sagius Truthbarron
Who said Guild Wars is dying out?? How can a game that came out two months ago be "Dying out" so fast?
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Gedscho
i guess you all noticed the jump in numbers between rank 3 and 4.
Old Dood
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Originally Posted by Angryhob0z
im glad you posted this because now i know not to buy PC zone magazine. at least one of those numbers is oh so wrong.
i only know this because i used to play and still have friends that do, but runescape has over 1 million active users. maybe not daily, but definetly during the summer and on weekends seeing as how mostly 12 year olds play it. and sadly it has been ranked as one of the top mmo's a few times |
I subscribe to only one magazine now.....PC GAMER.
It is funny and very informative. Sometimes too juvenile though...but that is just me.
As for numbers being posted...I take them with a grain of salt. They are usually inaccurate and/or bloated to make the companies look better on paper.
That is a No Brainer for me.....
asdar
Well, the sales numbers for GW have been very good.
My un-scientific test is the Friday night Ascalon City test. Go to your map while playing and look at how many districts are open for Ascalon City.
Now I can tell you with 3 finished char's and the other sticking to PvP that I never go to Ascalon so it's skewed a bit but the number of districts has stayed pretty steady. The first month it was hovering around 65 but since then it's been 55 or so and there hasn't been a sharp decline that I've seen.
My un-scientific test is the Friday night Ascalon City test. Go to your map while playing and look at how many districts are open for Ascalon City.
Now I can tell you with 3 finished char's and the other sticking to PvP that I never go to Ascalon so it's skewed a bit but the number of districts has stayed pretty steady. The first month it was hovering around 65 but since then it's been 55 or so and there hasn't been a sharp decline that I've seen.
RTSFirebat
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Originally Posted by Old Warrior Dood
I have not even seen this magazine.
I subscribe to only one magazine now.....PC GAMER. |
Reiden Argrock
considering A-net can moniter every conversation in the game, i'm sure they can figure out how many active accounts they have, although they said previously that they would not release numbers to the public, so how mmorpgchart got numbers is beside me, but GW is certainly not having any problems with having alot of active players on at all hours so I could care less what any magazine states.
PhineasToke
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Originally Posted by Phades
Well i hope that the influx of new people doesnt follow the trend ive noticed with the new people that have been invited into the guild im apart of. Typically see them off and on for around a week then never see them again (1 month+ inactive).
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I am very concerned for this game I love. I see NO advertisement on any media other than gamers periodicals, (The Sims sucess is greatly attributed to prime time advertising of the game) and no effort is being made with in-store advertising (end caps, passive demos, etc.). I hope that Arena Net and ncsoft realize this.
Algren Cole
the game has been out for 3 months...definately long enough that they've experienced their initial boom, in which most video games recieve their most players. Players have either the choice to stay or leave at this point and numbers tend to climb slowly or fall very quickly. The fact that Guild Wars, a brand new game that should have sparked an incredibly large interest during its first three months, is being "spanked" by games that have been out for years is disconcerting. It speaks very highly of games like WoW Lineage and Lineage II that they've kept a fanbase for so long. To be completely honest.....if I worked at ArenaNet I'd be incredibly worried at this point.
Teh Azman
Wow, if its that popular since I left, I really regret deleting my L2 account yesterday....
Loviatar
i hope everybody will note that a person leaving the game for a while/permanently/a bit is not going to do anything except reduce operating expences for the company as they simply reduce the number of open districts.they have their money and the leavers are not hurting them by cutting off a monthly fee.
what is important is what changes and new content are offered in the 2nd chapter which could result in a major return of people or a major influx of new people.
since this has been aimed at the more truly casual player i dont see anything that the super hard core pvp crowd will like or want so i see the most extream pvp people gone and not coming back
the fact that Anet got rid of a certain segment of the alpha testers says a lot to me as to which direction GW is heading and that it is not going to be a super hard core pvp game with PVE trimmings on the side
Xellos
Not taking sides, but do you people believe everything the media throws at you? Fact is, unless it has very hardcore specifics, numbers like these matter to no one who has half a brain.
Hate
I've always hated people who whine on these forums and complain that GW is a dying game just because they beat the game, it's called Pvp.
Algren Cole
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Originally Posted by Hate
I've always hated people who whine on these forums and complain that GW is a dying game just because they beat the game, it's called Pvp.
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It's called counterstrike....GW PvP is atrocious
Kishin
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Originally Posted by Teh Azman
Wow, if its that popular since I left, I really regret deleting my L2 account yesterday....
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Originally Posted by RTSFirebat
Or based on people logging in, so yes active. But those who quit, will that's their loss. Since they want their UAS skills button, but still that's another story.
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