WoW Helping or Hurting the Industry?

alstor writes "The New York Times has an interesting story about the success of World of Warcraft, and whether it is hurting or helping the gaming industry; this goes along with an earlier post on an article from CNN. From the Times article: 'WoW is now the 800-pound gorilla in the room. I think it also applies to the single-player games. If some kid is paying $15 a month on top of the initial $50 investment and is devoting so many hours a week to it, are they really going to go out and buy the next Need for Speed or whatever? There is a real fear that this game, with its incredible time investment, will really cut into game-buying across the industry.' What is the Slashdot opinion on World of Warcraft's impact on the gaming industry?"

I'd say...

[MourningBlade]

But I'm too busy playing Capture the Flag in Warsong Gulch.

Death to the Horde!

[*] But a salute to the talented Horde on Cenaurion Circle from Art of Battle.

Unfair

[buddha42]

We need an Equalization of Opportunity in Video Games Act.

Meh...

[MrR0p3r]

Can't post...must gain level!

You will leave NOTHING to your kids

[Anonymous Coward]

as everything you have in the future will be rented, paid on a monthly basis by direct bank transfers to the corporation

you will own nothing*

*offer only applicable to those earning less than 5 million dollars per year (offshore accounts only)

Yup...

[WolfTattoo]

I can only speak from my own personal experience...I used to buy at least one game a month. Then I got into Dark Age of Camelot early on in its launch. I didn't buy another game for a year and half after that. I even convinced myself that being completely addicted to DAoC was a good thing--at only $12.95 a month, I was saving a bundle in not having to buy new games. -wolftattoo

Re:Well

[RealityMogul]

Uh... too late. Although I hear Need for Nascar Extreme Underground Offroad Tycoon is going to be the bomb.

Re:I'd have to say...

[Thangodin]

Agreed. It's the 800 lb gorilla because it's good. It has a ton of content and supports single and group play, PvP, etc. It isn't the best at everything (City of Heroes wins the title for best group play, Dark Age of Camelot has the best PvP) but it is the best overall. And it runs on an average machine. Hell, the late EQ2 crawled on a top end machine.

I, for one, welcome our orcish overlords. :)

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to log on...

Re:Huge market

[Anonymous Coward]

I bought SOCOM2 for the PS2 used for $12 and I've logged over 250 hours online in the last 13 months for $0/month. I have Xbox live as well and I think it is only ~$70/year. I know, we are talking about PC games but if anything, the online console games are hurting the PC gaming industry more then WOW is with those prices.

Biased survey

[BubbaJonBoy]

Everyone that I know playing WoW is barely cognizant of the outside world anymore - so this survey is biased to say the least because WoW players are simply unavailable at the moment for such mundane things as reading /.

Re:Huge market

[Anonymous Coward]

Nobody continues to play the game because they already coughed up $50. They keep playing because they get ridiculously fucking addicted to it. Everquest was like crack. WoW is like some fucking super hyper death-crack from outer space.

Re:Huge market

[PaganRitual]

So when IS the next version of Photoshop out anyway? ;)