BigChiefLizzy
Warlord
Sales for computer games are notoriously difficult numerators.
Firstly, for some reason, the video gaming wing of general media is the only media which actively hides it's sales figures. Television viewing figures are always available quickly and efficiently (to facilitate advertising sales or justify public expenditure). Movie stats are as much a part of the engagement process as going to the movies, who are this years 100millers etc. Websites parade their active users like badges of honour.
But computer games? Ohhh, hush hush, top secret don'tcha know. Mum's the word. Massively ironic considering their interconnection to the internet communication highway.
I'm guessing there must be a reason for this...
Not sure about single player games, but for MMO's and Multiplayer games (Or single player games with a multiplayer component) then there's a very good reason why the number of subscriptions is kept quiet....
The developer/publisher of the game may have spent upwards of $100+ million to bring the game to market, then add on tens of thousands in server hosting fees (per month)... it gets bad enough if they get a bad launch, not that ever happens to an MMORPG

Then some bad reviews online, and bad comments in forums.. so do you:-
a) Admit that you only have 50,000 subscribers, but to break even and keep the servers running you needed at least 500,000? It's a multiplayer game - who is going to buy it when they know (from you!) that nobody will be online to play with?
b) Say everything is going ok, (maybe you will get some more suckers to part with cash for the game and even a few more months subs), and keep the -sinking- ship afloat a few more months and get back some of your capital
