All of the 11M subscribers don't pay $15 a month. A majority of those users are actually playing WoW/China (can't remember the company that runs that) who don't pay monthly at all (it's hourly, I think), and Blizzard just gets a couple of bucks per subscriber.
Their programming team may be 17-20 people (I've never seen a number, got a reference?) but I'm pretty sure that the overall team (design, art, sound, etc) is much, much larger. There's also a probably-huge number of support people (web support, email support, phone support, and especially in-game support).
There's 230 realms just for the US (I didn't count the number in europe) scattered across 13 battlegroups. I'd be surprised if that were run by just 30 servers (though again, references welcome). They also do periodically upgrade those servers, so it's not like it's just maintenance expense.
Though that also brings to mind sysadmins and web designers on the payroll, too. And a NOC to monitor all this stuff and get it fixed when it breaks down.
And none of that even includes the *business* side of the house.
So yeah, your numbers are off by a bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they aren't just absolutely printing money, but the numbers you're quoting aren't anywhere even close to realistic.
Actually, about 2/3 of the subscribers pay 15 a month, and the rest are on long-term discounts...I admit I exaggerated that part for dramatic effect, but that still puts their WoW take at around 1.5 billion.
They do use about 30 superservers (though that was 6 months ago...they may have more now), and the server maintenance and update team is comprised of between 17 and 20 people. Now, that's only for keeping things running, adding new items and side quests, that sort of thing. Major updates (like Wrath of the Lich King) are handled by a different group (and a combination of in-house and outsourced playtesters).
Unfortunately, I can't give out sources. My continued confidentiality is how I stay on the inside track with my compatriots at Blizzard, Nintendo, Dreamworks...even places like YUM Foods (KFC, Taco Hell, etc). :)
Their programming team may be 17-20 people (I've never seen a number, got a reference?) but I'm pretty sure that the overall team (design, art, sound, etc) is much, much larger. There's also a probably-huge number of support people (web support, email support, phone support, and especially in-game support).
There's 230 realms just for the US (I didn't count the number in europe) scattered across 13 battlegroups. I'd be surprised if that were run by just 30 servers (though again, references welcome). They also do periodically upgrade those servers, so it's not like it's just maintenance expense.
Though that also brings to mind sysadmins and web designers on the payroll, too. And a NOC to monitor all this stuff and get it fixed when it breaks down.
And none of that even includes the *business* side of the house.
So yeah, your numbers are off by a bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they aren't just absolutely printing money, but the numbers you're quoting aren't anywhere even close to realistic.
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They do use about 30 superservers (though that was 6 months ago...they may have more now), and the server maintenance and update team is comprised of between 17 and 20 people. Now, that's only for keeping things running, adding new items and side quests, that sort of thing. Major updates (like Wrath of the Lich King) are handled by a different group (and a combination of in-house and outsourced playtesters).
Unfortunately, I can't give out sources. My continued confidentiality is how I stay on the inside track with my compatriots at Blizzard, Nintendo, Dreamworks...even places like YUM Foods (KFC, Taco Hell, etc). :)
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