1991-current
Games development and
software production company
Founding members
• Michael Morhaime started as
president to Blizzard, and remains so
today.
• Allen Adham started as vice
president but has since left the
company. He remains a consultant.
• Frank Pearce started as Blizzards first
programmer, and has since become
vice president.
Types of products
Blizzard creates story focused games of continuing franchises from their younger
years.
The three genres they use for their games are:
• MMORPG: Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game. An online game set
in a huge world with other players where you explore the world and reveal the
story.
• RTS: Real Time Strategy. A top down strategy game where you take control of
military units to complete objectives, usually involving fighting another AI
controlled army.
• Action RPG: Otherwise known as Hack n’ Slash RPG or a Dungeon Crawler.
Focusing on ability based combat for leveling and loot.
Game
s
Blizzard sells three continuing game franchises.
• Warcraft- Originally a fantasy based RTS, now an MMORPG set in the
same world, named World of Warcraft
• Starcraft- A Sci-Fi RTS. Currently the most recent release is an expansion
to Starcraft II; Heart of the Swarm.
• Diablo- Action RPG currently in it’s third installment; Diablo III. Known as a
Dungeon crawler with heavy RPG elements such as levels and loot.
Sales and Revenue
Units Sold
25000000
20000000
15000000
10000000
5000000
Units Sold
0
World of Warcraft has sold the
most units. It’s four expansion
packs combined selling the most
all together.
Revenue ($)
The monthly fee to play World
of Warcraft brings in a little less
than half of Blizzards game
sales.
Warcraft III expansion
Warcraft III
Warcraft II
Warcraft
Diablo III
Diablo II expansion
Diablo II
Diablo
Starcraft II
Starcraft
WoW Subscriptions
WoW Expansions
World of Warcraft
Revenue ($)
0
1E+09
2E+09
Merchandise
The three franchises all have additional collectible merchandise.
Figurines, clothing, accessories, comics, books, tabletop games, cards, and
more expensive collectibles such as weapon replicas.
Where in the world ?
Blizzard is primarily based in Irvine,
California. With offices in:
• USA
• Europe
• Korea
Their games are available commercially
in:
• USA
• South Korea
• Europe
• Russia
• China
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong
• Macau
My Blizzard
I used to play World of Warcraft. I liked the expansive story and world. Mostly in it for
the roleplay, but now I play Guild Wars cause it doesn’t have a subscription fee.
Starcrafts story seems nice, but I don’t really like RTS’s, same reason I didn‘t play
Warcraft III.
Best I can tell, Diablo’s not my cup of tea. Too much farming.
Still, big fan of WoW even if I don’t play it anymore.
The Forsaken are cool.
To the future
•
•
•
•
Upcoming updates to World of Warcraft
More Starcraft expansions?
Diablo stuff?
New Sci-fi MMO for late 2013, ‘Titan’
Any questions?