Below is a post that I made on my guild forums, but decided I would bring it to a larger audience.
(Excuse the term "wrath babies" it s derogatory term that my close friends and I have given to the new players that flooded the game around WotLK's launch. I've met many great "wrath babies" whose skill match or surpass my own. It' just a term that stuck and we've kept using it.)
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What happened to Blizzard's marketing team?
Mr. T, Ozzy, Norris, South Park, Office Space
TOYOTA....
When can we start attributing this point to WoW's declining population, rather than solely the supposed diminishing state of the gameplay?
When you only sell to people who already buy, you will never gain clientele. Long lost "wrath babies" who have hung up the helmet can be intrigued when they are reminded of what Blizzard once was, not what it is trying to become. As a player, I enjoy the hype that comes with pre-expansion giddiness. But, that is not selling the game to those who do not follow WoW's progression like the religious players do.
I think there is a certain "cool guy" factor which Blizzard is no longer properly applying to their business. The company was formerly well-known for being outstanding with their sense of humor and for bringing popular culture to their product, which created an atmosphere that gave people a foot-in-the-door approach to WoW.
In current days, you see none of this. Blizzard's former style is seen only in-game by those that already play - through achievements and other easter eggs.
Blizzard: You already have my loyalty. It's time to reach out. It's time to sell your game again. Target the people who do not play WoW, not the ones who do.
Thoughts?