"WoW is not a real success" - cites Gaia CEO Craig Sherman.

[Substance-E]

Sheshira

10 million isn't necessarily a success though because it's 10 million (paid?) subscribers total of all age groups and how many are actually active? If a company hires actors (some in need of money) to do commercials it means it's a success? >.o; Honestly that seems a bit off to me. Also I would say that WoW has garnered momentary attention and that if not careful will be laid to the wayside like any other company out there. It has not achieved cult status. It seems derogatory on some point to believe so. If in a few decades time it is still mentioned in mainstream media then maybe it can be considered to have achieved cult status.


But here is my thought on the article in general and I am going to use the reporter's own words "A ridiculous claim, as success is a relative term -- especially when comparing free-to-play titles with something like World of Warcraft."

If it is so "relative" don't you think it wouldn't matter then what Craig's perception of success is?

So by your logic a band who sells 10 million albums isnt a succes because they havent systematicly dominated an entire age group? neutral

[Aseres]

Sheshira

10 million isn't necessarily a success though because it's 10 million (paid?) subscribers total of all age groups and how many are actually active? If a company hires actors (some in need of money) to do commercials it means it's a success? >.o; Honestly that seems a bit off to me. Also I would say that WoW has garnered momentary attention and that if not careful will be laid to the wayside like any other company out there. It has not achieved cult status. It seems derogatory on some point to believe so. If in a few decades time it is still mentioned in mainstream media then maybe it can be considered to have achieved cult status.


But here is my thought on the article in general and I am going to use the reporter's own words "A ridiculous claim, as success is a relative term -- especially when comparing free-to-play titles with something like World of Warcraft."

If it is so "relative" don't you think it wouldn't matter then what Craig's perception of success is?

Obviously not all 800 million teens have a computer but the percentage of the 800 million teens that do is definitely increasing. On that basic level we cannot deny that. Obviously its not like 3 out of 4 teens have a computer.. but I am sure the numbers are still up there.

Hey Shesh~ <3

That's why I'm so keen on getting the /context/ , so that we know what he meant when he was talking about "sucess" xD;; thanks for wording it so well <3

[iType]

I'm sorry but the source still isn't reliable. The quote was first misquoted as someone else saying it? I would have to see other sources to make a hard judgment on it.

But from the article I think Mr. Sherman needs to learn to hold his tongue a bit more. In this day and age anything you can say can be found as a business man every word can hurt his business.

I mean really if you're going to talk about WoW on a international level then no it's not the most successful thing in the world. I mean you're probably not going to see it played much in Asian countries but that's really because they have their own preferences and WoW is not it. But looking at WoW strictly for what it is then I would say it is successful.

[Ercho]

Substance-E

WoW actually charges people to play the same repetative crap over and over...

Craig doesnt know what the ******** hes talking about rolleyes

And since when do all 800 million teens in the world play online games or even have a computer? neutral

I agree with you about the 800 million teens not having all the required technology to play, or even being allowed to play..

But How can you guys get this mad over him talking up the This site? He's just a business man, making business talk, trying to make Gaia sound like the best place ever.

[Aseres]

Substance-E

Sheshira

10 million isn't necessarily a success though because it's 10 million (paid?) subscribers total of all age groups and how many are actually active? If a company hires actors (some in need of money) to do commercials it means it's a success? >.o; Honestly that seems a bit off to me. Also I would say that WoW has garnered momentary attention and that if not careful will be laid to the wayside like any other company out there. It has not achieved cult status. It seems derogatory on some point to believe so. If in a few decades time it is still mentioned in mainstream media then maybe it can be considered to have achieved cult status.


But here is my thought on the article in general and I am going to use the reporter's own words "A ridiculous claim, as success is a relative term -- especially when comparing free-to-play titles with something like World of Warcraft."

If it is so "relative" don't you think it wouldn't matter then what Craig's perception of success is?

So by your logic a band who sells 10 million albums isnt a succes because they havent systematicly dominated an entire age group? neutral

There's a lot of things you have to take into consideration: how much profit does the company make off these 10k subscriptions, how many new users subscribe every day, and yes, how much percent of the target group subscribe.

If I organize an event and send out 100 invitations and people 80 show up, that's a huge success, if I organize an event and send out 10.000 invitations and 80 people show up, it's a flop.

[Sheshira]

Substance-E

Sheshira

10 million isn't necessarily a success though because it's 10 million (paid?) subscribers total of all age groups and how many are actually active? If a company hires actors (some in need of money) to do commercials it means it's a success? >.o; Honestly that seems a bit off to me. Also I would say that WoW has garnered momentary attention and that if not careful will be laid to the wayside like any other company out there. It has not achieved cult status. It seems derogatory on some point to believe so. If in a few decades time it is still mentioned in mainstream media then maybe it can be considered to have achieved cult status.


But here is my thought on the article in general and I am going to use the reporter's own words "A ridiculous claim, as success is a relative term -- especially when comparing free-to-play titles with something like World of Warcraft."

If it is so "relative" don't you think it wouldn't matter then what Craig's perception of success is?

So by your logic a band who sells 10 million albums isnt a succes because they havent systematicly dominated an entire age group? neutral

By my logic if 10 million albums are sold within a specific age group and we know that 10 million people are the majority of said age group then yes it has dominated that age group if the facts prove this. 10 million dispersed over all age groups is not necessarily dominating any age group. neutral

While the numbers are large without knowing say any statistical data to compare it to we cannot say definitively dominates an age group and likewise that it does not.

Simple logic.. neutral

[Klim]

Quote:

stellacadente

(like if *it* tries to only target teens and not the adults who can afford all the ongoing costs)

Like what Gaia seems to be doing?

I would truly like to see what percentage of that 20-30% of "non teen" users (it seems Craig or Lanzer can't decide if we make up 20 or 30 percent of the site) actually makes up for the PAYING users of Gaia.

Why do I have a feeling that this 20-30% of users actually makes up the majority of monetary contribution to the site? I'd love to see a percentage break down of this one. We see teenagers talk all the time about how they have absolutely no access to money for cashcards, MCs, and Gaia cash. :/

And if this is the case as I suspect, why isn't slightly more consideration given to us?


@stella -- Leeroy is some dude in his 20's that now does promotional stuff for Blizzard. xd

[GOS Venture]

Everyone and their brother either plays or knows of WoW. It has television shows that use it as basis for parody (* See South Park), tons of magazine articles(*See any gaming magazine) featuring it and it's Rival (*See Everquest), and it has the endorsement of Freddy Crouger (*See MANUMANA).

Gaia, while has a few places on television (*See "Making Mischief" wink and an occasional reference in a newspaper/article.... Isn't insanely popular, like the MMO. I don't doubt that this battle system will attract a LOT of new users, however, none of this matters since "Success" is what you make of it. If I worked this hard, as long as a few people liked it-- I would consider it a success! However Craig whatshisface probobly won't consider it a success until the money is in his hand. Which sucks... which really sucks. But you know what? I don't care. The developers will be happy once it's out and people will finally have it, but the thing I'm worried about is the hype.
If he keeps pulling this "OMG, WE'RE BETTER THEN YOU IN EVERY WAY" bullshit, people will be PISSED when it's not PERFECT... you see how they get every time there's an announcement. The GCD EXPLODES. when something happens. If it's even SLIGHTLY incorrect, ********. It's a bit annoying, to be honest. If he keeps pumping the hopes of the users, this will be NOTHING but a huge letdown, no matter how great it is... Me, I won't care. I'll just be happy to play. But other people.... Just.. No.
The day it comes out, I'll read the announcement and GET THE ******** OFF GAIA.
For the next two weeks, I will NOT put up with the lag that will ensue. The complaints and demands will POUR into the forums, everything will be BATTLE BATTLE BATTLE and tenyearolds will FLOCK, just to say "OMGHOWDOIPLAYGAIA?!?!?!?!THISSUCKSICANTFIGUREITOUT-angerangeranger-"

Nope... I'll come back in a week and see if s**t calms the ******** down by then.

[Sheshira]

Skittles Of Darkness

I really think he tries his best in the interviews but we're all human, we all make mistakes. Plus, the interviews can miskew the facts of what was said or he could be misquoted.

Now I think I am beginning to understand why his interviews seem so foreign. I am a Gaian and thus I understand Gaia on essentially all levels. He's interviewing with people who don't go on Gaia, don't understand or know what Gaia is, and really most likely already think it's a kid site because they're coming from a paradigm that states animation/cartoon = childish/for children...

Honestly I wonder then what a non-Gaia would think reading his interviews (because it'd be nice to see a broader perspective XD; )

[plebejus`argus]

I highly doubt the battle system will be bigger than WoW.
even with all the hype.

[Skittles Of Darkness]

Klim

I would truly like to see what percentage of that 20-30% of "non teen" users (it seems Craig or Lanzer can't decide if we make up 20 or 30 percent of the site) actually makes up for the PAYING users of Gaia.

Lanzer included eighteen and nineteen year olds in his statistic as teens. fin used eighteen and up in the older group statistic. Also, they've both said those precentages given are a rough count (rounding off).

But I agree, I'd like to see which age group pays more for Gaia.

[Sheshira]

plebejus`argus

I highly doubt the battle system will be bigger than WoW.
even with all the hype.

I know it will not. Mostly because Gaia's main focus was never to be an MMO site but rather a "virtual world".. a community. I think the hype was a means of getting non Gaians interested in Gaia and Gaians to find controversy and keep Gaia Battle in the forefront so we would not forget it.

[PiercedPixie2]

[ Elevendy Blue ]

He's right in a sense, but he should have worded i differently. Because it IS a success, if you don't play it, you most definitely at least know about it. You cant really say the same for gaia. pirate

True this, i don't play it but all my friends do..I'm the odd one out who's like "Guys Gaia is better x3"

[Skittles Of Darkness]

Sheshira

Skittles Of Darkness

I really think he tries his best in the interviews but we're all human, we all make mistakes. Plus, the interviews can miskew the facts of what was said or he could be misquoted.

Now I think I am beginning to understand why his interviews seem so foreign. I am a Gaian and thus I understand Gaia on essentially all levels. He's interviewing with people who don't go on Gaia, don't understand or know what Gaia is, and really most likely already think it's a kid site because they're coming from a paradigm that states animation/cartoon = childish/for children...

Honestly I wonder then what a non-Gaia would think reading his interviews (because it'd be nice to see a broader perspective XD; )

True and I think more people need to cut fin some slack. He's trying his best and is a very busy man. It's a wonder he even replied to me over the PMs. Taking that into consideration, my doubts are cleared about him.