Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

September 5, 2008 10:36:24 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Exploding World of Warcraft Population Hits 10M

Posted Jan 24, 08 1:39 PM CST in Arts & Living,  Technology 

(Newser) – Online role-playing game World of Warcraft has topped 10 million subscribers, making it by far the most popular game of its kind, GamePro.com reports. The fantasy kingdom of Azeroth now has a higher population than many of the real world's countries. More than half of the game's addicts are in Asia, with 2.5 million in North America and 2 million in Europe.

"It's very gratifying to see gamers around the world continuing to show such enthusiasm and support," said the co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, the game's creator. Player numbers have been climbing since the game launched in November 2004 and with an expansion due later this year, Azeroth's population boom is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Source GamePro.com

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Study: Video Game Addicts Aren't Nerds

    Jun 13, 08 8:20 AM CDT
    Study: Video Game Addicts Aren't Nerds The stereotype of the hard-core gamer as a friendless geek may be as outdated as Pac-Man, Reuters reports. An Australian study looked at "problem gamers" who spent more than 50 hours a week playing and discovered that less than 1% had poor social skills. The findings contradict statements from the American Medical Association suggesting people hooked on games like World of Warcraft struggle to cope in the real world. More »

  • Sony Aims to Power Up Online Gaming

    May 22, 08 10:38 AM CDT
    Sony Aims to Power Up Online Gaming Sony is seeking to boost online gaming to the next level with a pair of new adventures in the pipeline. The company's 1999 EverQuest was the first massive online game to rocket to popularity, but rivals like World of Warcraft have since taken the lead. With spy shooter game The Agency and the tweener-targeting Free Realms, Sony hopes to get back on top. More »

  • Virtual Disney Closing its Doors

    May 20, 08 5:30 PM CDT
    Virtual Disney Closing its Doors Diehard fans are outraged at plans to shut down a virtual version of Disneyland tomorrow, the Wall Street Journal reports. Players of Virtual Magic Kingdom, a free online game Disney started to celebrate the theme park’s 50th anniversary in 2005, are protesting throughout the blogosphere; some 20,000 have signed an online petition opposing the company's decision to pull the plug. More »

  • World of Warcraft Inspires Porn

    Mar 3, 08 4:55 PM CST
    World of Warcraft Inspires Porn Perhaps it was inevitable: The 8 to 10 million members of the user community for Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft multiplayer game now have porn tailored specifically to the details of their escapist world, the Village Voice reports. Entering its second season, the “Whorelore” web-series (originally “Whorecraft,” before Blizzard complained) depicts roleplaying’s salacious side. More »

  • Build Your Personal 'Second Life'

    Jan 11, 08 3:59 PM CST
    Build Your Personal 'Second Life' Ever dream of creating your own virtual world, a la Second Life or World of Warcraft? Soon you’ll be able to, thanks to Metaplace, a company that lets users host virtual worlds online, building them the same way they’d create other Internet content, reports Technology Review. Using a Flash client, creators can embed their worlds anywhere from a social networking profile to a blog. More »

Several thousands of World of Warcraft Trading Card Game players take part in various tournaments held around the globe to qualify to participate in the upcoming World Championship Tournament event in...   (Associated Press)
This file image from the game "World of Warcraft" was provided by its publisher, Blizzard Entertainment. (AP Photo/Blizzard Entertainment, file)   (Associated Press)
Visitors try out the beta version of the computer game "World of Warcraft" presented by Blizzard at the Games Convention GC, Europe's leading fair for interactive entertainment, in Leipzig, eastern Germany,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

World of Warcraft  • online gaming  • virtual worlds  • roleplaying games  • Blizzard Entertainment


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other Technology Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »