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Library/Game/World of Warcraft
Grade B22 sourcesHIS-01454

World of Warcraft

Game · 2004 · Notable

53Editable slideCertificate

Blizzard's online role-playing game reached 12 million subscribers.

Trailer · World of Warcraft on YouTube
World of Warcraft Cinematic Trailer
World of Warcraft on YouTube
World of Warcraft
Wikipedia (non-free, fair use)
An advertisement for the ''World of Warcraft'' game, produced by Activision Blizzard Inc., a video-game publishing unit of Vivendi SA, is displayed at a store in Paris, France
TIME
South America - Make Love, Not Warcraft | South Park Studios US
South Park Studios / Comedy Central
Mark Your Calendars: WoW Classic Launch and Testing Schedule - WoW
Blizzard Entertainment
Official game page for the released game; current page, not the original launch announcement.
Blizzard Entertainment
Can ‘World of Warcraft Classic’ Revive the Past?
The Ringer
The Makers Of 'Leeroy Jenkins' Didn't Think Anyone Would Believe It Was Real - Kotaku
Kotaku

Spread Score

How it works
Reach52Contagion35Breadth70Velocity7Longevity10053

Numbers

Worldwide subscriber milestone; lower bound
12M
As of Oct 7, 2010 · Open web · Self-reported · IGN
Seed to milestone
5.9 years
Nov 23 ’04 to Oct 7 ’10
Platforms
5
Started on Retail
Origin
Mixed
Gaming

Mechanics

  • Identity badgePrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Controversy
  • Sell-out loop

How it spread

Trace the origin

World of Warcraft launched in 2004; player videos and a virtual plague drew coverage, and South Park made an episode. Blizzard reported more than 12 million subscribers in 2010, then about 9.6 million at the end of 2012. Classic later brought players back.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak.

Google searchesMar ’04NovMar ’05JulJun ’06Aug ’07Mar ’09Sep ’10Feb ’12Apr ’14Feb ’17Oct ’19MilestonePressRetailOpen webTVTwitch
PressRetailOpen webTVTwitch

12 more events on this chart

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Timeline (15)

  1. November 2004

    Blizzard Entertainment precursor · Nov 4 ’04

    Blizzard announced a November launch in North America, Australia and New Zealand.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. Blizzard Entertainment seed · Nov 23 ’04

    World of Warcraft went on sale in North America, Australia and New Zealand.[1][2][3][4]

  3. Joystiq press · Nov 25 ’04

    Joystiq covered the launch sales and the marketing campaign that supported them.[3]

  1. owner response · Jan 10 ’05

  2. commercial · Feb 11 ’05

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Gaming
Region
US
Worldwide subscriber milestone; lower bound
12M
As of Oct 7, 2010 · Open web · Self-reported · IGN
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

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