Paul Sams of Blizz, has said that they can be quite immune to global money troubles as people see things like World of Warcraft as an ”inexpensive form” of fun.
If people are scared of their job getting the chop then some Murloc slaying can help take the edge off for some. Sams says that we ”want and need to be entertained.”
”If you’re struggling, £20 (for a cinema ticket in London’s West End) is not, like nothing, that’s something, right? And you haven’t even bought any snacks, and heaven forbid if you have a date with you! You got to set some money aside right?” says exec Paul Sams to VideoGamer.com.
”For £8.99 you can play as much as you want over a month, and it’s an interactive experience where you meet new friends, and it’s transportive. So if the experiences that you’re having in your real life are challenging, let’s say you’re concerned about your job because the economy is challenged at this point, or you’re unhappy with something else, you can go be heroic and go do things that are entertaining to you, you can meet new friends, you can see old friends.”
”It can take you away from the difficulties that you may be facing at that moment and allow you to do something where you feel really cool.” Especially if you happen to be a gold farming Internet baron with buckets of ill gotten monies to splurge about.
”So I think that that’s positive, and no matter how bad the economy is people want and need to be entertained. If you look at the value that we provide for £8.99 a month, versus the other forms of entertainment, there’s no cheaper entertainment. When the economy is difficult, things that are inexpensive, that are immersive and a ton of fun, especially when it’s the most inexpensive form, why not?”
The UK economy is circling the drain of recession with many already losing jobs, and not to mention tax payer dosh being spent to prop up banks that lend the tax payers the cash to usually pay the bills in the first place.
World of Warcraft commands over 11 million subscribers and is therefore the undisputed King of MMO land. ”As a result of the fact that we’ve announced 11 million, people ask me how is it (the economic downturn) affecting us. It’s candidly and thankfully not.”
