Vivendi results

[Blatman]

I saw Vivendi's released its 2008 results a few days ago. Pretty solid numbers which might suggest music, games and the internet are pretty good defensive assets.

But got me wondering how the current state of the global economy might effect WOW in the next 12 to 24 months. Will their subscriber base start to slow or decline even. Will development spend slow or will we wake up on day and the servers are afk for ever!

 

[semaphore]

i highly doubt it, they wont slow down there franchise to possible profit lose.

i mean take a look they bringing starcraft, diablo and hiriing people for the mystery mmo, if anything they are moving ahead

 

[Blatman]

Agree but am interested in how the recession wil effect the spending patterns of their client base.

It is a fairly expensive game to play here in SA with the horrendous costs of ADSL and then the currency rate hitting the cost of the subscriptions. But I would assume in the rest of the world its pretty cheap entertainment and a recession might actually increase the numbers as people choose it over more expensive hobbies or activities.

 

[Joker]

I highly doubt when cutting costs an involved wow player will cancel his sub. If anything wow subs might go up as people try to limit their going-out costs and rather stay at home, looking for entertainment there.

 

[freeek]

sad but true, 1 night of going out will cover the costs of a months subscription.

 

[Syzygy78]

I highly doubt when cutting costs an involved wow player will cancel his sub. If anything wow subs might go up as people try to limit their going-out costs and rather stay at home, looking for entertainment there.

agreed

 

[Abe]

I think it will have more of an effect then people are guessing. It's goes to the cost/benefit. Already quite a few players are not happy with the state of the game and are looking at alternatives. On a tight budget, WOW will get cut especially while people are looking at other games. In the past, it would have been easy to keep your account going while you look around and to log on every now and then, now, I am not so sure.

You will probably also see the gold pimps taking a beating which will be a wonderful thing.

 

[DjStyles]

You will probably also see the gold pimps taking a beating which will be a wonderful thing.

We can only hope! LOL

 

[zippy]

Agree but am interested in how the recession wil effect the spending patterns of their client base.

It is a fairly expensive game to play here in SA with the horrendous costs of ADSL and then the currency rate hitting the cost of the subscriptions. But I would assume in the rest of the world its pretty cheap entertainment and a recession might actually increase the numbers as people choose it over more expensive hobbies or activities.

It is the cheapest form of entertainment in London. I know some people on the dole playing wow. lol

 

[Ashkandi]

Interesting topic. I do think that the global recession effects everyone in some way or another - even if it is just the mental association (as in you become more aware of your money).

I know that Blizzard (probably more Vivendi) have had to retrench alot of staff - they define these staff as "fluff employees" meaning that they were more there because Blizzard could afford to employ uneccesary staff. So they did not play a crucial role but were more ov a luxury (such as extra PAs and secretaries, more clean up staff, electricians (instead of simply outsourcing), etc.

However I do not think that this will affect Blizzard/Vivendi as a company.
Yes maybe the number of subscribers will differ but not enough to have an actual solid impact on them.

For example over the past year I have canceled several of my accounts and am now currently only paying for two (yes I am a multi-boxer).
But I really do not think that it will effect them. For example constantly there are people having hissy fits and canceling their accounts (or so they say) because some class is too OP or something stupid.