Published since 02/04/2000
Published on August 03, 2012
"WORLD OF WARCRAFT" LOSES 10 MLN PLAYERS IN 3 MONTHS
- Released in 2004, the massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft had 12 million subscribers at its peak in October 2010 — but has been losing them ever since, Mashable said.
Now Activision, the world's largest videogame company, has announced that membership in WoW is slipping at its fastest rate ever. With 10 million players three months ago, the cooperative quest game is now down to 9 million.
That still makes it the largest MMO on the planet. But if this rate of depletion were to continue, the fantasy world would be a ghost town by 2014. Investors were worried enough to drive Activision's stock down 5% in after-hours trading, despite the fact that the company had a very good quarter otherwise.
So is the trend reversible? There are plenty of reasons to believe so. Mike Morhaime, president of Blizzard — the Activision-owned company that launched WoW — told investors he felt many gamers were simply "taking a break" for the summer to play Diablo III.
They would be back in the fall, he said — especially since Blizzard is releasing its latest expansion to the title, 'Mists of Pandaria,' in September.
Then again, other trends in the gaming world are not going WoW's way. The idea of asking gamers to subscribe (WoW costs $15 a month, presuming you want more than a level 20 character) seems increasingly outmoded. Electronic Arts recently made its marquee MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, completely free to play — because its membership numbers had slipped below a million.
Then there's the platform. You can only play WoW on a Mac or PC; it is not yet a tablet or smartphone game, nor is it likely to be for a while, though Blizzard has made vague suggestions in that direction.
But games, and gamers, are going increasingly mobile and tablet-based. The gold standard there is the Infinity Blade series, which looks just as jaw-droppingly beautiful as any WoW landscape — and which, with a retina iPad, is actually more high-definition than its PC counterpart, according to Mashable.
Headlines for August 03, 2012
IRAN, ARMENIA AGREE ON LAKE URMIA JOINT RESTORATION
Iran and Armenia have agreed on cooperation in restoration of Lake Urmia, currently on the edge of desiccation, head of Environmental Protection Organization of Iran said.
According to Mohammad-Javad ...OBAMA KEEPS STRONG LEAD IN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RUN, POLL SAYS
U.S. President Barack Obama continues to hold a 10-percentage point lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney in this year's presidential election contest, RIA Novosti said, citing the Pew Research ...EU, IRAN AGREE TO HOLD MORE NUKE TALKS
Chief negotiators for the EU and Iran agreed on Thursday, August 2 to hold more talks about Tehran's nuclear work, but the European Union gave no sign progress was imminent in the decade-long dispute, ...GENOCIDE CONSUMMATOR ATATURK'S DAUGHTER DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT
The adopted daughter of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey and Genocide consummator was killed in a traffic accident, her son said on Turkish television on Thursday, August 2. Ulku Adatepe ...RUSSIA, CHINA TO BLAME FOR SYRIA PEACE ENVOY ANNAN RESIGNATION, U.S. SAYS
The resignation of the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan highlights the failure of Russia and China to back strong action against Bashar al-Assad's regime, the White House said, according to ...U.S. SWIMMER MICHAEL PHELPS SETS RECORD WITH 20TH OLYMPIC MEDAL
Michael Phelps wins his 20th Olympic medal with a dominant swim to beat compatriot Ryan Lochte in the men's 200m individual medley, BBC Sport said.
The American led from the front and looked as if ..."WORLD OF WARCRAFT" LOSES 10 MLN PLAYERS IN 3 MONTHS
Released in 2004, the massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft had 12 million subscribers at its peak in October 2010 — but has been losing them ever since, Mashable said.
Now Activision, ...ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS SUCCESSFUL AT WORLD U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Armenia's Samvel Ter-Sahakyan scored a victory against Peru's Leiva Giuseppe at World Junior U20 Chess Championships 2012 in Athens.
Meanwhile, Karen Grigoryan and Vahe Baghdasaryan beat Maarten Larmuseau ...STAR SUPERMARKET NETWORK CEO RESIGNS POST
STAR supermarket network board of directors took a decision on CEO Vahan Kerobyan's resignation.
Mr. Kerobyan expressed readiness to expand his business activities, voicing hope for his decision to "give ...TOYOTA PROFIT JUMPS TO $3.71 BN IN Q1
Toyota said Friday, August 3 that its fiscal first-quarter profit skyrocketed to $3.71 billion as the Japanese auto giant recovered from last year's quake-tsunami disaster, AFP said. The company ..."TWILIGHT" STAR KRISTEN STEWART TO PLAY IN "LIE DOWN IN DARKNESS" SOUTHERN GOTHIC
The "Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart is attached to star in the film adaptation of William Styron's classic slice of Southern gothic, "Lie Down in Darkness," TheWrap said.
Scott ...AT LEAST 12 KILLED IN IRAQ ATTACK SERIES
At least 12 people have been killed in a series of attacks across Iraq, BBC News said.
Seven died in Baghdad's north-eastern district of Husseiniya when two bombs exploded simultaneously at an open-air ...PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION BY SCR ELECTRIC TRAINS TO BE FREE AUGUST 5
Passenger transportation by electric trains of South Caucasus Railway (SCR) will be free on Day of Railwayman, August 5,
"Despite the professional holiday, Armenia's railwaymen will work as usual, providing ...LINKEDIN GAINS 175 MILLION MEMBERS
LinkedIn now has 175 million members, the company announced on Thursday, August 2, according to Mashable.
In May, the professional social networking service had claimed 161 million members, up from 150 ...U.S. BASKETBALL TEAM BEATS NIGERIA 156-73, SETS OLYMPIC RECORD
The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team beat Nigeria 156-73 Thursday, August 2 night, AP said.
After two opening routs that provoked criticism of their slow starts and outside shooting, the Americans ...AT LEAST 15 KILLED IN DAMASCUS REFUGEE CAMP SHELLING
Shelling of the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital killed at least 15 civilians, including two children, last night.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday, August ...RUSSELL CROWE TO STAR IN STEPHEN KING'S "DARK TOWER" ADAPTATION?
Warner Bros is getting a new script from Akiva Goldsman for the first installment of Stephen King's mammoth Western The Dark Tower, Deadline said.
Within two weeks, the studio will be making a decision ...ANNAN'S RESIGNATION OPENS DOOR TO SYRIA MILITARY INTERVENTION - RUSSIA
The resignation of UN and Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan "opens the gates" for backers of a military intervention into the Arab state to force out the ruling authorities, Russian Deputy ...GERMAN ATHLETE LEAVES LONDON OLYMPICS OVER SUSPECTED NEO-NAZI LINKS
A German athlete has left the Olympic games voluntarily after reports emerged about alleged neo-Nazi links, The Huffington Post reported.
Rower Nadja Drygalla left the games after a discussion about ...GOOGLE'S NEXUS Q RELEASE DELAYED, FREE PRE-ORDERS TO BE PROVIDED
Google has confirmed that its Nexus Q media streaming device has been delayed, but anyone who pre-ordered the product will now get it free, Digital Spy said.
According to various media reports, Google ...SYRIAN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT POSSIBLE THROUGH FOREIGN SUPPORT - EXPERT
The Syrian conflict won't get settled without external influence on the balance of power between Syria's authorities and rebels, Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies said.
Ruben Safrastyan ...50 SYRIANS ARRIVE IN ARMENIAN CAPITAL ON ARMAVIA PLANE
Armavia air company operated an additional Yerevan-Aleppo-Yerevan flight at 2:1 pm local time on August 2 despite its unprofitability.
According to the company's press service, Yerevan- Aleppo flight ...TURKEY READIES FOR POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT IN SYRIA DEVELOPMENTS - EXPERT
Turkey is readying itself for the possible military involvement in Syrian developments, Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies said.
"Turkey is currently seriously studying the possibility ...AZERI SOLDIER COMMITS SUICIDE
A soldier of Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's "N" military unit in Nakhchivan committed suicide.
The serviceman Ismayil Rafig Ibayev (born in 1993) shot himself in the head from a duty weapon, Azerbaijan ...WEIGHTLIFTER ARA KHACHATRYAN FAILS AT LONDON OLYMPICS
On August 3, European vice champion and World World Weightlifting Championships silver medal winner Ara Khachatryan failed to lift 165 kg in the snatch, scoring no points at Olympic Men's 85kg Weightlifting ...SUDAN, SOUTH PAST UN SECURITY COUNCIL PEACE ACCORD DEADLINE
A UN Security Council deadline for Sudan and rival South Sudan to reach a peace accord passed Thursday, August 2 but they are to get more time to pursue fragile negotiations, diplomats said, according ...CHER WORKING WITH TIMBALAND ON NEW ALBUM
Cher's next album is shaping up to have some serious star power, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Already reported to feature a duet with Lady Gaga and two songs written by Pink, the singer revealed she ...SAMSUNG TO ROLL OUT NEW MOBILE DEVICE IN AUG
South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Friday, August 3 it would unveil a new mobile device this month, just weeks before the likely debut of the iPhone 5 from arch-rival Apple, AFP said.
A spokesman ...MP ARPINE HOVHANNISYAN DENIES INFO ON BECOMING PARLIAMENT STAFF HEAD
Armenian parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan plans to appoint Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group member Arpine Hovhannisyan as National Assembly staff head, Hraparak daily reports.
...IMF URGES EUROZONE FOR MORE ACTION TO PREVENT DEBT CRISIS SPREAD
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last night called for a "policy game changer" in the eurozone to arrest the spread of the debt crisis it says is engulfing the entire currency bloc and ...1,000 SYRIANS FLEE TO TURKEY IN PAST 24 HOURS
About 1,000 Syrians, including a defecting brigadier-general, have fled to Turkey in the past 24 hours to escape intensifying violence in their country, a Turkish official said on Friday, August 3, according ...EX-MONGOLIAN PRESIDENT JAILED FOR CORRUPTION
Chinese state media say former Mongolian President Nambar Enkhbayar has been sentenced to four years in jail for corruption, AP reported.
The official Xinhua News Agency said Friday, August 3 that a ..."GAME OF THRONES" STAR NATALIE DORMER JOINS RIDLEY SCOTT'S "COUNSELOR"
Natalie Dormer has entered negotiations for a role in The Counselor.
The Tudors and Game of Thrones star is eyeing a supporting role in the movie, Digital Spy reported citing The Hollywood Reporter.
...EXPERT: DIASPORA MUST HAVE FAITH IN ARMENIA'S READINESS TO HELP IT
Armenia must take every step for the Diaspora to be confident of homeland's readiness to support it in the face of hardships, Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies said.
"We must acknowledge ..."INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS" STAR DIANE KRUGER TO PLAY IN ABRAHAM LINCOLN BIO
The 16th U.S. president continues to a hot box office commodity. The next film about Abraham Lincoln is The Green Blade Rises, and Diane Kruger has been set to play Sarah Lincoln, Abe's beautiful stepmother, ...GM SERGEI MOVSESIAN LEADS BIEL OPEN
Armenian grandmaster Sergei Movsesian scored 7.5 points out of 10 to top the standings at Biel Open in Switzerland. With the same points France's Romain Edouard is behind the Armenian player with additional ...USD MARKET AVERAGE RATE TOTALS AMD 409,79 AUGUST 3
Deals amounting to AMD 200 thous. at an average rate of AMD 411,00/USD1 were concluded at NASDAQ OMX Armenia on August 3. The closing price totaled AMD 411,00.
The market average rate of USD totaled ...MISHA ALOYAN MAKES IT TO OLYMPIC BOXING 1/4 FINAL
On August 3, Armenian boxer Misha Aloyan (52 kg) representing Russia scored a 14:9 win against Algerian Samir Brahimi at Olympic boxing 1/8 final.
Aloyan scored 4:3, 5:3 and 5:3 wins in the three rounds ...HTC POSTS 58% DROP IN PROFIT AS APPLE, SAMSUNG COMPETITION INTENSIFIES
Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp. reported Friday, August 3 a 58 percent drop in second quarter profit year-on-year, its third consecutive quarterly decline as intensifying competition from Apple Inc. ...AUSTRALIAN BILLIONAIRE BUILDING REAL-LIFE JURASSIC PARK WITH CLONED DINOSAURS
An Australian billionaire reportedly plans to clone a real dinosaur from ancient DNA samples for a "Jurassic Park-style" area at his new theme resort, prompting many around the web to ask, "Has ..."BACHELORETTE" COMEDY RED-BAND TRAILER FEATURES KIRSTEN DUNST, ISLA FISHER
Kirsten Dunst and Isla Fisher star in a new red-band trailer for Bachelorette, Digital Spy said.
The raucous comedy drama centres on Dunst, Fisher and Lizzy Caplan as three perennially single women who ...AFGHANISTAN MOSQUE BOMB BLAST LEAVES AT LEAST 19 INJURED
At least 19 people were injured when a powerful bomb exploded during Friday, August 3 prayers in a mosque in eastern Afghanistan, RIA Novosti said citing Pajhwok news agency.
The blast took place in ...RUSSIAN WARSHIPS TO VISIT SYRIAN PORT OF TARTUS
Three large Russian landing ships carrying hundreds of marines will soon visit the port of Tartus in war-torn Syria, the Russian military says, according to BBC News.
The ships, each with up to 120 marines ..."25TH HOUR" HELMER SPIKE LEE TO GET VENICE FILM FEST'S "GLORY TO FILMMAKER" AWARD
The 69th Venice Film Festival is shaping up to be a showcase for a handful of veteran American directors with Terrence Malick, Brian De Palma and Paul Thomas Anderson in the competition mix, Deadline ...PROSPEROUS ARMENIA RESPONDS TO YURI VARDANYAN'S ACCUSATIONS
Prosperous Armenia party issued a statement on legendary weightlifter Yuri Vardanyan's recent statements.
"Dear Mr. Vardanyan, No insult has been hurled at you by Prosperous Armenia spokesman Tigran ...ROGER FEDERER DEFEATS JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO TO REACH OLYMPIC FINAL
Roger Federer clinched the first singles medal of his career Friday, August 3 when he won an Olympic marathon, taking the third set 19-17, the Associated Press reported.
Federer outlasted Juan Martin ...GREAT BRITAIN GRABS 4 OLYMPIC GOLDS IN 24 HOURS
Great Britain made it four golds in 24 hours at the London Olympics to go fourth in the medal table as the rowers again delivered success at Eton Dorney.
Three-time Olympic silver medallist Katherine ...UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SET TO CONDEMN SYRIAN CRACKDOWN
With the UN Security Council deadlocked over the Syrian crisis, the General Assembly prepared Friday, August 3, to denounce the Assad regime for using tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes on the ...
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Today in Armenian history- 1896 First general meeting of the Hnchak Party in London (England). The majority of western Armenian deputies leaves the Party and creates the "Reorganized Hnchak" Party.
- 1903 Demonstration in Yerevan against the law confiscating Church properties by the State (Russian Empire).
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