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You can attribute Blizzard Entertainment's astounding success with World of Warcraft to many different things. So what does it take to create what is arguably the most successful videogame of all time? What arcane elements did the alchemists at Blizzard Laboratories mix together to breed this magical goose that lays golden subscriptions every month? Let's run through some of the biggest factors.

Heirloom weapons make killing things easier.

A Simple Recipe for Success

  • Polish: It's a polished experience, with plenty of attention to the little details.
  • Heritage: Diablo, Warcraft, and Starcraft fans all had good reasons to give it a shot.
  • Timing: It launched at the perfect time, with great buzz behind it.
  • Accessibility: Low system requirements, thanks to the focus on art over horsepower.
  • Solo-friendly: An online game that can be played solo from start to finish.
  • Easy: It's friendly to new players, who can jump right in on the fun.
I contend that World of Warcraft's newbie experience is largely responsible for its industry-leading subscriber numbers. Within minutes of starting the game you're working on your first quests, beating your first enemies, and collecting rewards. Just three minutes into the game you can gain your first level.

The one constant is that it's all very easy to understand, and easy to play. Thanks to the game's focus on accessibility, you don't need a strategy guide to embark on a night filled with adventure. So if World of Warcraft was already an easy game to play, why is it that the game has continued getting easier and easier over time? There are multiple offenders here, ranging from the player community to the developers themselves.