Q2 Results for Activision

Yesterday Activision revealed its revenues were down (but earnings up) during the last three month period.
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/706744/Activision-Q2-10-Earnings-Net-Revenue-Down-Online-Sales-Exceed-Retail-For-First-Time-.html

Highpoints apparently are that Wii game sales are down a lot, Activision is selling more via digital downloads than via retail outlets, and "Worldwide subscription numbers for World of Warcraft are holding steady at more than 11.5 million players."  Blizzard is also working on adding tournament play and private chat functions to Battle.net.  As for Cataclysm, "we are on track to launch the expansion by the end of the year."  In the Q&A Activision staff say there are no new Call of Duty map packs available and that the launch of Starcraft 2 hasn't impacted the numbers of subscribers for WOW.

Kotick is claiming "The relaunch of Battle.net is a perfect example of how we are rolling out the next generation of services and online environment to our audiences, while others are just beginning their complicated and costly explorations of where to begin.  The combination of technical capability and tangible benefits Blizzard is delivering to its StarCraft audience represents the next evolution in the arenas of gaming, social networking, online commerce and customer service."  I guess he's forgotten about xBox Live, Steam, etc.?

If you want to read the transcript of the entire conference call, it is here.  The numbers are at the end, with Blizzard's numbers separate from console games. The Q&A session at the end with analysts is also quite interesting as they try to pry subscription numbers and such out of Blizzard staff.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/219068-activision-blizzard-q2-2010-earnings-call-transcript?source=thestreet

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Activision Places $100 Million Bet UPDATED

The Wall Street Journal reports that Activision has spent over $100 million developing Starcraft II per Kotaku, but Kotick expects they will make 5-10 times that much on the game.
http://kotaku.com/5589040/starcraft-ii-has-a-100-million-price-tag

The WSJ online article is subscription only (and a very hefty subscription, too!) but here is a similar article by the same author that doesn't mention development costs.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/activision-looks-to-pump-growth-with-starcraft-ii-2010-07-15

Starcraft II comes out July 27.

UPDATE:  Activision is now saying the $100 million number refers to what they spend developing and maintaining World of Warcraft.
http://kotaku.com/5594862/starcraft-ii-did-not-cost-100-million-to-make

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Timing is Everything (Real ID, Real Names, Quarterly Reports)

Gronthe believes the Real ID/real names policy change was released at the end of Quarter 2 by Blizzard to keep Quarter 3's numbers up.  He explains why at the top of this article.
http://deuwowlity.blogspot.com/2010/07/conspiracy-theory-current-tank-state.html

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

How Many WOW Players?

WOW Insider reminded me of the Warcraft Realms website and its wealth of stats on the European and US realms.  If the stats are roughly accurate, there are over 3.7 million WOW players in those two areas.
http://www.warcraftrealms.com/realmstats.php?sort=server

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Integrating Battle.net into Starcraft 2 UPDATED

Kotaku reports BlizzCon had a panel today on how Battle.net and Starcraft 2 will be integrated. It uses one's email account to tie things together in some way. I post this here as eventually all of Blizzard's games will be integrated in a similar manner.

http://kotaku.com/5342994/upcoming-blizzard-battlenet-feature-draw-from-warcraft-xbox-live-life

Looks like Starcraft map mods will be tradable across Battle.net

http://kotaku.com/5343006/blizzard-you-may-sell-your-starcraft-2-maps-on-battlenet-eventually

WOW Insider expands on the Battle.net features.

http://www.wow.com/2009/08/21/blizzcon-2009-the-new-battle-net-and-wow/

And Fahey shows off photos of Battle.net and Starcraft functions.

http://kotaku.com/5343008/battlenet-and-starcraft-in-pictures/gallery/

UPDATE: Kotaku reports Starcraft 2 can be played offline. You don't have to log into Battle.net.

http://kotaku.com/5344013/starcraft-ii-can-be-played-offline

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New WOW Branded Headset UPDATED WITH REVIEW

It comes out in November.

http://www.wow.com/2009/08/18/creative-unveils-world-of-warcraft-headset/

UPDATE: WOW Insider writes a review of these which they saw at BlizzCon 2009. They are pretty but we all know handsome is as handsome does. Note that a foot pedal that activates Vent is mentioned here although it doesn't say if this is for all version of the headsets or just the high end ones.

http://www.wow.com/2009/08/25/blizzcon-2009-hands-on-with-creatives-world-of-warcraft-headse/

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