Just to add a little insight into the release date; speaking purely of economics, d3 will come out early 2011. Blizzard is a company based on quarterly revenues, its growth makes it so it cant operate any other way. Now, if you make the quarters a bit more vague (we'll call them blurred quarters) you can probably see that releases need to be once, twice, or at most three times yearly.
2010: the blurred quarters produced starcraft 2 and will yield the wow expansion.
2011: the blurred quarters will produce starcraft 2's first expansion and will probably yield _______.
Blizzard doesnt surprise announce anything, as in they dont just shoot something out to the public without a fair amount of market preparation...
Starcraft 2's expansion will be released in a later 2011 blurred quarter due to the fact that it acts as an add-on product (which generally means it is purchased by those already owning the product as well as prompts new buyers for the original product)and add-on products are the ones that get that sweet holiday release. (think wow expansions)
With all the said, all you have to ask yourself now is:
Will Blizzard go a year without releasing something that would bring them so much revenue in an otherwise empty quarter?
"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
Everything Diablo related has been released on that date. Even the D3 announcement. It only makes sense that they would release it on that date.
As for the guess on the year, I certainly HOPE it comes out in 2011.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
Hey thanks, I lurk quite a bit but also take a lot from everything you guys say. I have some pretty solid ideas of what will happen with this game and I just wanted to share that.
I talked to the release director for gamestop from my region, and he tracks this stuff like no ones business. Of course gaming places like that make arbitrary release dates in order to secure pre-sells, but he is alllll about releases and making them happen as profitably as possible.
He said there is no way they would wait, absolutely no way. The only thing barring a 2011 release would be lack of development, and I think its pretty clear to everyone that development is so far underway no one would let them take another year with an otherwise finished project.
I know all of this is so cold and sterile when talking about something so fun, but to a puppy dog eyed fan like me who is just sitting on his hands for this release, Ill take any source of info I can get.
"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
What I said with my original post about quarter being somewhat blurred should probably best suit the June 29th idea.
They will try to make more than one big release if they can, revenues now = interest later, thats how these big boys operate (to the best of my knowledge).
Haha don't think me! Thank the wealth of knowledge Diablo related this site has to offer.
I would imagine just about any regular here could tell ya that.
But as far as this quarterly stuff goes, nobody has ever gone into the business aspect as far as speculation is concerned. You gave a lot of insight yourself. This does give June 29th 2011 a huge case!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
A little off-topic regarding Cataclysm: a bulgarian site for purchasing games just announced the pre-order of Cataclysm and it says it's expected in November this year and these guys have not even once announced a false pre-order, so did Blizz say something about Cataclysm's release? Since we are talking about releases I thought we can speak on this, too
You know, I had heard nothing about cataclysm release. It makes a lot of sense though, the hype created by blizzcon has to be channeled into something, and it seems like it would be a great chance to pump out some cataclysm fever. Otherwise I feel like blizzcon is a wasted venture you know?
So yeah, cataclysm this year compleeeetely sets the stage for d3 in the first half of next year. Good job bulgarian gaming site, we salute you.
O.o that release date is perfect. No classes for 2 months after that date.
Talking about D3 release not Cataclysm, I'm not a WoW fan at all.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Have an Android phone? Tired of having to pull out and unlock your phone just to change the song that's playing? Want to be able to use the volume and power buttons to control your music player instead? Check out Tactile Player, made by yours truly.
Ya, staying alive right now for me is pretty much solely motivated by playing D3 and becoming a better artist.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
That day is so mythical at this point I almost associate it with something like Armageddon or the day one gets to finally ascend to a different dimension. But still...D3 is way cooler than that stuff.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
Will Blizzard go a year without releasing something that would bring them so much revenue in an otherwise empty quarter?
You seem to have forgotten something. 2-3 months worth of WoW subscriptions bring more money for blizzard than an entirely new non-monthly fee game does. As well as, Blizz survived the past 6 years releasing games (expansions) only biannually.
Yes, biannually, as I said, 2 (or more) games a year. Prior to about 2006 it wasn't so, it was fewer games, but that was a different time.
The wow subscriptions absolutely provide for the company, I would never argue that. Arguably more so than a new release, but without numbers that is speculation. What I am saying is, as a consistent revenue source to raise quarters beyond that of wow subscriptions, blizzard will continue releasing games as often as possible. It will always be in the market to attract further investment, and the best way to do that folks? Thats right, spike your revenues more than once and ideally more than twice per year. With multiple revenue spikes your security goes up and your variance goes down.
With all that being said, it will be sc2expansion late 2011, and d3 early to middle. No question about it.
2010: the blurred quarters produced starcraft 2 and will yield the wow expansion.
2011: the blurred quarters will produce starcraft 2's first expansion and will probably yield _______.
Blizzard doesnt surprise announce anything, as in they dont just shoot something out to the public without a fair amount of market preparation...
Starcraft 2's expansion will be released in a later 2011 blurred quarter due to the fact that it acts as an add-on product (which generally means it is purchased by those already owning the product as well as prompts new buyers for the original product)and add-on products are the ones that get that sweet holiday release. (think wow expansions)
With all the said, all you have to ask yourself now is:
Will Blizzard go a year without releasing something that would bring them so much revenue in an otherwise empty quarter?
The answer is no, no company would.
Early 2011, final answer.
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
As for the guess on the year, I certainly HOPE it comes out in 2011.
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
I talked to the release director for gamestop from my region, and he tracks this stuff like no ones business. Of course gaming places like that make arbitrary release dates in order to secure pre-sells, but he is alllll about releases and making them happen as profitably as possible.
He said there is no way they would wait, absolutely no way. The only thing barring a 2011 release would be lack of development, and I think its pretty clear to everyone that development is so far underway no one would let them take another year with an otherwise finished project.
I know all of this is so cold and sterile when talking about something so fun, but to a puppy dog eyed fan like me who is just sitting on his hands for this release, Ill take any source of info I can get.
That's what she said.
IS june 29th in the first quarter?
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
They will try to make more than one big release if they can, revenues now = interest later, thats how these big boys operate (to the best of my knowledge).
I would say that June 29th is a solid bet.
Should we... just say that? June 29th it is?
Guys...
Did we just announce the official release date?!?
I think we did. Lets go with it. Thanks umpa!!!
I would imagine just about any regular here could tell ya that.
But as far as this quarterly stuff goes, nobody has ever gone into the business aspect as far as speculation is concerned. You gave a lot of insight yourself. This does give June 29th 2011 a huge case!
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
You know, I had heard nothing about cataclysm release. It makes a lot of sense though, the hype created by blizzcon has to be channeled into something, and it seems like it would be a great chance to pump out some cataclysm fever. Otherwise I feel like blizzcon is a wasted venture you know?
So yeah, cataclysm this year compleeeetely sets the stage for d3 in the first half of next year. Good job bulgarian gaming site, we salute you.
Talking about D3 release not Cataclysm, I'm not a WoW fan at all.
*Ponders*
Screw Seth and Sixen.
Them with their 2012 thing.
If it gets scheduled for 2012 though- Oh the horror!
I'll blame Seth and Sixen for it then. Gotta blame someone.
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
Yes, biannually, as I said, 2 (or more) games a year. Prior to about 2006 it wasn't so, it was fewer games, but that was a different time.
The wow subscriptions absolutely provide for the company, I would never argue that. Arguably more so than a new release, but without numbers that is speculation. What I am saying is, as a consistent revenue source to raise quarters beyond that of wow subscriptions, blizzard will continue releasing games as often as possible. It will always be in the market to attract further investment, and the best way to do that folks? Thats right, spike your revenues more than once and ideally more than twice per year. With multiple revenue spikes your security goes up and your variance goes down.
With all that being said, it will be sc2expansion late 2011, and d3 early to middle. No question about it.
Makes sense, summer is just starting for most students, and it's just before pay day.
US fiscal quarters are: