Chapter 16. Case Study: Online Game Lifecycles

by Jessica Mulligan and Bridgette Patrovsky

KEY TOPICS

• Achieving Mass Market Status

• The Current Top Four MMOGs Worldwide as of December 2002

AUTHOR NOTE

The lifecycle of a successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is virtually unlimited. Good examples of this phenomenon are games still generating revenue over a decade after being released, including MUD II by MUSE, Ltd. (16 years ), Gemstone III by Simutronics (14 years), and Air Warrior by Kesmai Corporation (14 years, until closed down by EA in 2001).

Examples of current popular MMORPGs with "legs" would be EverQuest (EQ) by Sony Online Entertainment (3+ years, released March 1999), Ultima Online (UO) by EA (over 5+ years, released September 1997), and Asheron's Call (AC) by Microsoft Gaming Zone (over 3+ years, released October 1999).

Of the four MMORPGs discussed in this article, the important point to note is that all four have been in a constant state of growth since release to the public. That means each has more subscribers each month and year than previously.