| World of Warcraft is a landmark game and has | | | | The most crucial development for World of |
| been a sensation in its first year of | | | | Warcraft in 2006 is the upcoming expansion, |
| release. As it proceeds through its second | | | | The Burning Crusade. This title will |
| year, it is likely to continue its success | | | | incorporate elements from a previous game, |
| and see its fan base become even greater. The | | | | Warcraft 3, by including the former villains, |
| game world of Azeroth is also set to grow, as | | | | the Burning Legion. It will add a new |
| a new game expansion is coming to enhance the | | | | playable race to both the Alliance and the |
| World of Warcraft experience. | | | | Horde, with the race of Blood Elves confirmed |
| | | | as joining the Horde. It is set to raise the |
| World of Warcraft's challenge in 2006 will | | | | game's level cap to 70 and open up the area |
| involve maintaining its success. When the | | | | of the Outlands. The planned content and |
| game first came out, it wasn't clear how it | | | | features look very promising. |
| would perform. Blizzard Entertainment were | | | | |
| confident in the game and had great hopes for | | | | It is interesting to consider how the World |
| it, but the gaming world was uncertain, | | | | of Warcraft expansion will be received. It |
| wondering how well the traditional Warcraft | | | | should satisfy people, as it will offer |
| elements would fit with an interactive online | | | | growth and variety to the whole experience. |
| world. It actually worked brilliantly, and so | | | | It will be fascinating to see what new race |
| the game took off. | | | | is joining the Alliance, and it will be |
| | | | intriguing and different for the Horde to |
| Now the question is whether this is | | | | have their own "pretty" race in the form of |
| sustainable. It is extremely likely. By this | | | | the Blood Elves. In general, the expansion is |
| point, it is clear that World of Warcraft is | | | | a good thing and will give the game more |
| not simply a passing craze but rather a title | | | | depth. It should make the game more appealing |
| with serious, long-lasting appeal. The game | | | | to players. |
| saw huge international growth in 2005 and in | | | | |
| the early weeks of 2006 has already reached | | | | World of Warcraft will also see its influence |
| 5.5 million subscribers worldwide. The game | | | | grow in 2006. Its success has inspired the |
| has built up major momentum and it does not | | | | game industry to develop similar titles and |
| feel like it has peaked. Its sales are in | | | | explore where the role-playing genre can go. |
| great health, and more and more people are | | | | There are games in development that intend to |
| becoming interested in it. | | | | follow Warcraft's lead. The title |
| | | | "Borderlands" from Red Mushroom is one such |
| World of Warcraft should see its subscriber | | | | example. This massively multi-player online |
| base grow even further. It is impossible to | | | | role-playing game aims to refine its genre |
| predict the future, but it is plausible that | | | | even further, by making the game play more |
| it could reach a figure of 6 to 7 million | | | | competitive and ruthless. It will be |
| subscribers in the course of the new year. It | | | | interesting to see how it performs. |
| is important to consider that a number of | | | | |
| countries received the game later than | | | | World of Warcraft has a lot to look forward |
| America, so there is much potential for | | | | to in its second year. The subscriber base |
| growth, as in global terms it is a relatively | | | | for the game should grow, as it is now a |
| new game. It was only in November 2005 that | | | | genuine mainstream success. The expansion |
| it launched in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, | | | | will be the most significant update to the |
| so to those markets it is still a fresh | | | | game yet. It is clear that World of Warcraft |
| title. | | | | will continue to prosper and will be around |
| | | | for a long time to come. |