People all around Warhammer are pushing for some sort of expansion, asap. New content, fresh things to do, something to bring people back. Start on it now, release it last week.
Is the timing right though? From a business perspective I started thinking about it and I am not so sure. This post will of course be filled with assumptions and theories.
Assuming an expansion is in the works, first off, there is information out there suggesting that no box expansion can be released before the middle of next year. That does not mean there is even one in the works, it is just a note. More likely is a free expansion similar to TOVL, which could come out at any time. If a free expansion was close to being released, I am sure Mythic and/or Bioware would already be hyping it for a fall release. This would put it just before the release of the new Star Wars MMO.
If I was Mythic Bioware, I would make the assumption that regardless of what you release before SWTOR, your going to have a large number of people at least try SWTOR. Meaning if you release an expansion this fall/winter, you will bring some people back, and then take a large dip in subscribers when SWTOR comes out.
If you plan for something ~3-6 months after SWTOR then you would, assumably, have a solid update on a very solid game to draw people to that are not enjoying SWTOR. GW is also scheduled for release early on as well, so if you come out just past both of those, you can possibly grab a lot of players and in a strong marketting campaign that almost acts as a re-release of WAR, it could do very well.
Obviously there is a pretty big risk waiting almost a year to release a large expansion. The biggest risk being keeping minimal subs and profits on a game that many would argue is dying fast due to the lack of growth in the content section. I can only imagine this must be somewhat difficult for Mythic, who are still pouring their heart and souls into this game, but in the broad company scheme, the rate in which it is shrinking and with Bioware releasing its MMO soon, Warhammer is quickly becoming unimportant.
RanknVile
June 22, 2010 at 9:27 am
The biggest concern for Mythic should be…
“How do I get NEW players?”
Appeasing the old players, especially after so many mishaps, failed promises and no content for ages = death staying on this same path.
The push should be for any way possible to make the game acceptable and pleasing to the new player who has already played MMO’s…especially the MMO’s with half-a**ed PvP (where WAR shines).
Change the way people pay (Tiered pricing, Free to play), change the way people see the game (advertising budget should exist, yet I hear and read more about AoC than WAR…and PLEASE, WAR is NOT WoW), and get the game into new hands.
Ranking….out
Tyanon
June 22, 2010 at 10:09 am
Really? I would almost have to say the exact opposite Rank. They have, for the longest time, been catering almost exclusively to new players. Balancing/polishing/graphics/beginning tier experiences, endless free trial etc.. have all helped to make the game amazing, but people cap out on things to do in t4. Paying 12 bucks a month without having to buy a box or expansions and without having to buy in game currency is one of the best deals in its class of game.
Aside from getting t2-t3 more populated, focus should be on finding a way for players not to get capped out and stagnating in t4.
Krosuss
June 22, 2010 at 11:08 am
I think Mythic will get 1.3.6 out and the revamp of RvR … then it’s judgment day. No more silence, no more “no comment” … put up or shut up time.
You know I’m overly positive and have spent many a post thinking about expansion … but realism sinks in after the next patch.
They need to dual attack: lure in new people and add content for us old-timers.
Aeo
June 22, 2010 at 11:40 am
got to agree with Tyanon on this. End Game content is the priortity.
But I don’t know if the game can survive until the time ou are suggesting, ie after SW & GW.
Shadow-war
June 23, 2010 at 8:01 am
I honestly don’t think they can wait till months into the new year to release significant new content. Players are growing insanely bored and feeling as if there is nothing left to do now that they have a (or multiple) RR80s decked out in full gear.
Yes, business-wise, it will be rough to release a (free) expansion around the same time as SW:TOR, but I think it’s that or slowly lose a sizeable chunk of it’s exisitng player base. I know I probably won’t stick around past December if nothing is at least announced.
Tyanon
June 23, 2010 at 8:10 am
It is definately tricky, I wish I knew what they were thinking and what the plan is. You are a trooper to last till December honestly. December might as well be years away, I am fading fast…
How can it be done? « Shadow-war
June 23, 2010 at 9:55 am
[...] has been a lot of talk lately about new content in WAR. Everyone seems to agree that we need something, but we don’t know what that something [...]
Rikker
June 24, 2010 at 6:21 am
I don’t know.
For me, at least, this is THE premiere PVP (RVR) game.
I’ll keep playing this for a long time to come, even if only for the wb vs. wb action out in the lakes. I understand that it is not what many people are looking for, but it’s really where I get my money’s worth out of the game.
Being able to pit my group against another, even if we’re horribly outnumbered (and sometimes that’s more fun too..), is the best part of the game as far as I’m concerned.
That said, it’s hard to do that when everyone else leaves, so I hope for their sake that Mythic finds ways to keep a good number of players on.