Survey says 15% of overall gameplay time is in an MMO
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 20th 2009 at 5:00PM
Again, these numbers aren't specifically for World of Warcraft (and because the survey went down to age 8 and up, they do include the vast virtual worlds aimed at children, like Club Penguin and Disney's Toontown, which probably throw the numbers off quite a bit), but they do show the effect that WoW has had on the gaming population over the last five years. Five years ago, MMOs were definitely a niche -- some hardcore gamers played them, but most people didn't have the Internet connections to play an online game, much less pay a subscription for one. Nowadays, MMOs represent over one out of every ten minutes of overall playtime, and those numbers are only going to go up.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items, Quests, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Netherscourge Nov 20th 2009 5:05PM
Do games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 count as a MMORPG now?
Because, it's got tons of people playing online 24/7 and it also has role playing game features like leveling up over time.
Sarakin Nov 20th 2009 5:21PM
i wouldn't call 18 players at a time massive however.
Dukah Nov 20th 2009 5:24PM
No.
(cutaia) Nov 20th 2009 5:07PM
I used to play Toontown until Disney started nerfing the anvils. Now it's just catering to casuals.
Hansbo Nov 20th 2009 5:56PM
Yeah.. GG Disney, GG.
Dreadskull Nov 20th 2009 8:21PM
Seriously, it's like that game was made for children!
Maxwell Nov 20th 2009 5:11PM
Well, MMOs presenta a large proportion of modern games, so these numbers can show not the popularity, but the ratio of other type of games to MMOs.
Darasen Nov 20th 2009 5:12PM
I spend about 15% of my gaming time on Webkinz. Does that count ?
More seriously though with as poplar as MMO's in general are it sometimes annoys me that hardware reviews (that I have seen, largely Toms Harware) never include anything about how the product may perofrm in an MMO. While I do know that there would be several variables to account for some indication would be nice.
catharsis80 Nov 20th 2009 5:17PM
Wait, is 15% a lot? Compared to what? That number means almost nothing if we don't know what other "genres" the researchers are looking at.
catharsis80 Nov 20th 2009 5:18PM
Wait, is 15% a lot? Compared to what? That number means almost nothing if we don't know what other "genres" the researchers are looking at. There isn't enough info to conclude anything.
catharsis80 Nov 20th 2009 5:20PM
Seriously, what is UP with the comment system?? I post the first comment, it shows up ON THE PAGE as posted. I hit refresh a little bit later to see if there are any new comments, then it's gone. So I post again. Guess what? The original's back. *throws up hands, gives up*
GrumblyStuff Nov 20th 2009 5:26PM
Yeah, it seems to take a minute or two. Patience, young grasshopper.
Dreadskull Nov 20th 2009 5:19PM
I... really don't see how that's fascinating.
Interesting, yes, but not anything eye-opening.
I'm surprised it's not higher honestly.
Andy1005 Nov 20th 2009 5:23PM
Mike, by any chance is your guild named: 'Nature'? You seem to have a rainforest talking to you.
Dukah Nov 20th 2009 5:24PM
Based on the items they're talking about selling in the Trade channel and the Reputations that are at the top there, that looks like someone playing the game before The Burning Crusade.
If this is the case, if they kept on playing, they would have had at least 2 more years of time to play and get more played time...
Nieker Nov 20th 2009 5:33PM
dutch survey's for the win!
Randolyn Nov 20th 2009 6:38PM
291 days played this level? How is that even possible when Wrath has only been out around 365 days?
Corey Nov 20th 2009 9:41PM
That is exactly what I was wondering. And exalted with Brood.
Corey Nov 20th 2009 9:43PM
Has to be prior to TBC and Wrath, I'm thinking.
Nicknin10do Nov 20th 2009 10:38PM
Pics been out for a while, I believe its a lvl 60 mage pre bc