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.

Games

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.

World

of Warc

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WoW

Expan

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Starcr

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Starcr

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Diablo

Diablo II

Diablo II

expan

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Diablo III

Warc

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Warc

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Warc

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Warc

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5000000

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20000000

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Units Sold

Units Sold

World of WarcraftWoW Expansions

WoW SubscriptionsStarcraft

Starcraft IIDiablo

Diablo IIDiablo II expansion

Diablo IIIWarcraft

Warcraft IIWarcraft III

Warcraft III expansion

0 500000000 1000000000 1500000000

Revenue ($)

Revenue ($)

Sales and Revenue

World of Warcraft has sold the most units. It’s four expansion packs combined selling the most all together.

The monthly fee to play World of Warcraft brings in a little less than half of Blizzards game sales.

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?