What is the secret of Blizzard's success?

August 22, according to foreign media reports, "Business Week" Web site analysis article published Thursday, with Activision Blizzard in the recent merger, the company has become the leading game industry. However, heavy snow to the true value far exceeds its popular game "World of Warcraft."

The industry's top game designers Jay Wilson said: "Why the success of Blizzard, and no other company can be successful» Blizzard's success is by no means is opportunistic, and we excel at is the idea of not Open. If a product not good enough, we give up on it. "Of course, Blizzard is the world's most popular online game" World of Warcraft, "the developers, the game's global unique monthly users has nearly 11 million people. Blizzard recently again 18.9 billion U.S. dollars to buy a video game "Guitar Hero" and "Call of Duty," the developer Activision. In the two companies after the merger, Activision Blizzard game has become the industry giant, is expected income In about 4.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Activision acquired more than a "World of Warcraft," Blizzard Qianlian Zhao also behind a series of best-selling games, including the PC game "StarCraft" and "Diablo God," and so on, the sales of these two games Has already reached 10 million sets and 20 million sets. The new company will also establish a new corporate culture, that is, through innovative paid players to arouse the enthusiasm of lasting.

Changed hands several times

California State University at Los Angeles graduates Allen. Adham (Allen Adham), Mike. Mogami (Mike Morhaime) and Frank. Pierce (Frank Pearce) in 1991 formally created a Blizzard, Mo Hami is also the current chief executive officer of the company. Blizzard in 1994 introduced the "StarCraft" and became the world's most respected and most profit-making ability of the game makers. At that time, Blizzard was distributor Davidson & Associates to 10 million U.S. dollars to buy in 1998 before the acquisition was Vivendi Universal, has changed hands several times. Disney and Pixar's animation studios or Apple, Blizzard has been ahead of our competitors.

Indeed, as one of only 250 companies, Blizzard has become the game industry's leading innovators, it introduced much of the game players always respected, in the new business has strong profitability, envy of our competitors. 1 Up.com online game magazine editor Jeff. Green (Jeff Green) said: "They are all talented design, design of the game to even the general audience can get started quickly, and very content, can attract large numbers of loyal audience interest in game design the highest level, that is, It is easy to learn players, but difficult to master it. Blizzard launched a game each have done it. "

As Wilson suggested, as Blizzard's intention is very simple: that is to create an interesting game. This sounds very easy, but taking into account the nature of modern video games is very complex, which usually makes the game development budget comparable to Hollywood blockbusters or the first major manufacturers introduced new products. As the games industry has developed into a very informal industries, Blizzard has been working to maintain its direct communication with the audience.

Virtual have to listen to

Blizzard has been good at accepting other criticisms. "World of Warcraft" after the test version of information-some of the reports will include software, so that players in the game can be submitted to immediate feedback. Blizzard employees over and try again another of the game, to constantly improve the game. Wilson jokingly said: "When the game development, company executives will often send an email to staff, requesting them to delay the lunch time." Some designers even under the Blizzard of important product launches to date to adjust their holiday .

Blizzard has been bold to give up a lot of products, or even give up some of the game is about to complete the development, is the only reason that these games "not interesting." Blizzard executives always used to release the list of number of games, some of which are perhaps not the game developed, such as in 2002 announced that the "StarCraft" is the theme of the game console, and later in 2006 , The platform due to different problems and shelved. At the same time, it announced a new game when the game will always be attached to the expected release time.

Blizzard is not only the current development of the various heavyweight game, but also include action figures, novels, comics, board games, pen and paper role-playing games, props and costumes meetings. In South Korea, Blizzard launched the old game "StarCraft" there is still great market, the annual "StarCraft" League will attract 700,000 viewers, this also makes the development of the Korean game industry to 40 million U.S. dollars on a larger scale. Legend Pictures (Legendary Pictures) is currently producing a World of Warcraft to the theme of action films, the film is expected to premiere in 2009.

Combination

And the acquisition of other cases different, Activision Blizzard and the merger will be the combination of model, the cage will be more market share. Market research firm Screen Digest analyst Steve. Barry (Steve Bailey) that, Activision game in the knowledge will help Blizzard into the present by Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony three companies controlled by the professional game system areas. Los Angeles, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Mike. Pachter (Michael Pachter) believes that the Activision deal with the heavy snow can also make changes with the seasons from Activision's video game market. World of Warcraft annual revenue of up to 600 million U.S. dollars, the company can use these revenues to develop new products.

Blizzard executives had been promised, in order to maintain the competitiveness of firms, so that players pay a monthly subscription fee of 15 dollars, the company will launch a new annual "World of Warcraft" expansion pack. Last year, Blizzard announced the launch of "StarCraft 2." In June this year, the company also displayed the "Diablo 3 God," the API. Since 2005 the game has been on by the global audience expectations. Blizzard players in the display of "Diablo 3 of God" during the promo said that the new guidance and the art of the game "Warcraft" is too similar. "God Diablo 3" design will be quickly released an open letter explained that the Blizzard did not appear that any recession. Now, Activision Blizzard to be launched as planned in sections of the game at the same time, the new integration into epidemiological factors, while maintaining the traditional mode of the game, so that gamers and corporate executives are satisfied.