TenTonHammer.com - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

World of Warcraft (commonly abbreviated as WoW) was released on November 23, 2004 to a hail of media publicity and excited Warcraft fans. As the most popular massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) of all time - with a current record of 9 million users - World of Warcraft has blown away all its competition in terms of mass market appeal. It currently has one expansion, The Burning Crusade released January 16th, 2007. Another expansion is in development, Wrath of the Lich King; the release date for this expansion has not yet been announced.

By appealing to everyday video gamers and the hardcore MMOG crowd, WoW has generated a massive viral marketing machine that continues to bring in users every day. Aside from the well-known Warcraft IP, WoW's major appeal is the generic fantasy-based MMORPG formula combined with an easy learning curve and generically fun gameplay. There isn't a huge grind, and players are constantly completing quests for their side of the Alliance/Horde issue.

Aside from gaming, Blizzard has pushed their game's mass market appeal into other areas of entertainment, creating an amazing amount of product recognition. Some examples of market penetration include television (the South Park episode), movies, collectible card games, clothes, and much more.