activision-blizzard merger

[DrSpike]

Yeah, well Blizzard aren't stupid - since their name can only be negatively affected by this they must see some cash in it.

[vovan]

Originally posted by Dis
10 million subscribers has to be raking in an ungodly amount of cash.

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2007/tc2007123_075300_page_2.htm

Tightly held details of the game's financials were revealed during the announcement, including estimates that in 2007 the title will generate revenues of $1.1 billion with operating margins of more than 40%, creating some $520 million of operating profit.

[vovan]

Originally posted by Solver
It can not be good for Starcraft2.

Of course, the important question is: what will it do to the rumored new Larry game? (I am assuming Sierra is working on it.)

[Jon Miller]

I am amazed that the operating costs of WOW are so high.

JM

[Dis]

I'm sure they have a lot of programmers. I like they release a lot of content free unlike Everquest 2. I was thinking about starting EQ2, but noticed they have 4 XP's, not including these small "paks" you can buy online. They are under $10, but it seems like material that should be released free.

I still would like to see wow fix up some areas. Blasted Lands has some weak quests (at least for horde). There should be some story line to that area. But I'm not sure how much more work they will put into the old world. But they spruced up dustwallow marsh a little bit, so I have hope.

[Kuciwalker]

I doubt they have that many programmers. More likely they have a lot of level designers and artists and writers.

[FrostyBoy]

How much does it cost to maintain the servers?

[Dis]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
I doubt they have that many programmers. More likely they have a lot of level designers and artists and writers.

Doesn't writing levels, creating art require programming?

And they do have quite a few servers. And a lot had to be created in a short amount of time.

[Kuciwalker]

Doesn't writing levels, creating art require programming?

Not really.

[Asher]

In most game development, artists outnumber programmers by a good margin.

[FrostyBoy]

That's coz art is hard.

Takes REAL talent.

[Asher]

By real talent, you mean a propensity to be fine with low salaries and lots of work.

[FrostyBoy]

What programmers take out, we put back in.

[Kuciwalker]

Clearly artists add gameplay features all the time.

[lord of the mark]

Help me - I presume the reason you have more artists, level designers, etc, than programmers on a game project, is cause so much of the code is embodied (?) in the "game engine" which for many new games is taken from earlier games. A fortiori for xpacks, additional stuff in MMO's, etc. Eh?


A related question - I see artist and programmer used as if there was no overlap - is there any demand in the game industry for folks who have talent in both areas? (not that POTM, who both enjoys art and loves the logic of coding that shes been exposed to so far, has any particular interest in the games industry, but a dad has to ask )