MMOGChart updated (again)

[Itzena]

http://www.mmogchart.com/

Turbine are is worse shape than I thought. If LOTRO bombs, there will have to shut down or something.

[Hachima]

What I don't understand is how EQ can have constant increases in subscriptions and not a single decline. Yet they have had to merge almost all servers since population was getting too low on them. Maybe they are counting 'subscriptions' as active and inactive accounts?

[Samus Aran]

Originally Posted by Hachima

What I don't understand is how EQ can have constant increases in subscriptions and not a single decline. Yet they have had to merge almost all servers since population was getting too low on them. Maybe they are counting 'subscriptions' as active and inactive accounts?

http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart2.html

Declining since '04

[Itzena]

The latest two data points on the graph come not from press releases, but from inside sources, and they show a somewhat different picture than what was indicated before – EQ reached some 550,000 subscribers in September 2004, and as of June 2005 stands at 454,000. It is important to note that the more recent data points represent not just total monthly subscribers, but also subscribers with active accounts on free time, eligible accounts on game time cards, etc. It is possible that the earlier figures from the SOE press releases were deliberately conservative, and/or did not count such accounts, thus accounting for the discrepancy.

So the EQ subs aren't calculated in the same way as they used to be.

[Utnayan]

Anyone else open up these graphs, look at Eve Online, and say,

"Keep on chuggin' little buddy!"

[Hachima]

Originally Posted by zdonovan

http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart2.html

Declining since '04

no I don't see that as declining at all, at least not a significant decline. The 550,000 data point just looks like bad information and should be ignored.Then you have a small few thousand decrease, nothing that would warrent all the servers being merged.

[Itzena]

Originally Posted by Utnayan

Anyone else open up these graphs, look at Eve Online, and say,

"Keep on chuggin' little buddy!"

Yep - looks like EVE is about to overtake its spiritual ancestor UO in the very near future.

Good for CCP, they've shown that there is room for niche games as long as they're done right. Developing a game to be A-list, having it fail catastrophically and then saying "It's a niche game!!!111" isn't doing it the right way (take note Turbine, SOE, Sigil et al).

[Utnayan]

Originally Posted by Hachima

no I don't see that as declining at all, at least not a significant decline. The 550,000 data point just looks like bad information and should be ignored.Then you have a small few thousand decrease, nothing that would warrent all the servers being merged.

So wait...

If he was basing this on inside information, was that when they peaked at 550k all of a sudden and then they got a hold of the real information and it went down to 430k again?

I would still like to know how many of those 430k are active players. How many of those 430k have played everquest and have bought the box, but no longer play and have the all access for EQ2 and any of their other games?

[Hachima]

Originally Posted by Itzena

So the EQ subs aren't calculated in the same way as they used to be.

Ok, so they did one of their 'come back for 15 free days' promos and they counted that as their number of subscribers =)

[Deris]

I hope more designers and companies look at what EvE did, and how successful they've been (in relative terms) - same with Guild Wars. Niche games can rock, and can be VERY well put together. Both Guild Wars and EvE I don't think will be going anywhere for a long while to come.

[Utnayan]

Originally Posted by Itzena

Yep - looks like EVE is about to overtake its spiritual ancestor UO in the very near future.

Good for CCP, they've shown that there is room for niche games as long as they're done right. Developing a game to be A-list, having it fail catastrophically and then saying "It's a niche game!!!111" isn't doing it the right way (take note Turbine, SOE, Sigil et al).

Yep I agree.

I recently resubscribed to Eve and am having a blast so far. And when I do not have time to play, I can still advance offline. Eve is becoming the perfect second MMORPG to play if you are looking for another MMORPG.

[Lyenae]

That pretty much sums it up right there.

[gilbertgbert]

I have to say, when seen in stark chart form, the success of WoW is simply astonishing! It is literally off the scale in the active subscriptions chart. The pie chart is half the entire market too

Also, can anyone account for the seeming dropoff in lineage 1 and 2 figures? Merely WoW's influence?

[Itzena]

Originally Posted by Utnayan

I would still like to know how many of those 430k are active players. How many of those 430k have played everquest and have bought the box, but no longer play and have the all access for EQ2 and any of their other games?

Do you really think that SOE would tell anyone the true EQ subs level nowadays?

[Neppy]

Also, can anyone account for the seeming dropoff in lineage 1 and 2 figures? Merely WoW's influence?

They keep dying after playing 80 hours straight.