According to Blizzard that is anybody who has ever touched the game for the course of its history. Which includes those who already cancelled their accounts, those who are playing for free(whether it's the promotional 10 days or you just have an account you screw around with on the test server), and probably even accounts way back from open beta, since technically those to were free promotional subscriptions.
"World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees' territories are defined along the same rules."
Slashdot Mirror
Welcome to 4 1/2 hours ago.
I retract. haha. :)
According to Blizzard that is anybody who has ever touched the game for the course of its history. Which includes those who already cancelled their accounts, those who are playing for free(whether it's the promotional 10 days or you just have an account you screw around with on the test server), and probably even accounts way back from open beta, since technically those to were free promotional subscriptions. "World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees' territories are defined along the same rules."