Ticket To Ride Online: 15 Million Games Played Since 2004

The online version of Ticket to Ride, launched in 2004, reached a new milestone earlier this year, with 15 million games played. The online game has both benefited from and helped grow the boardgame, with strong connections back and forth. Now the relationship between the online and meatspace games is changing, but both TTR games will still feed the other.

From launch until recently, players got full access to the online game either through a Web code included in the board games, or by buying six or twelve month subscriptions. “Guests” were allowed to play free, but couldn’t initiate their own games to track their history or ranking information.

The Web codes in the board games not only helped convert boardgame players to online players, they also allowed Days of Wonder to track the percentage of players that played the online game first who ended up buying boardgames. That percentage has been “in double digits,” according to DoW Vice President Mark Kaufman.

The company recently changed that system; the online subscriptions and related boardgame sales weren’t enough to pay for the number of players that were playing for free as Guests, according to Kaufman. DoW recently started selling one-time subscriptions to the main game for $9.99, and expansions for $4.99 each. Up to four free trial games are offered, but the ability to play on an ongoing basis as a Guest has been eliminated. The conversion from the old system to the new one did provide benefits to past boardgame or online subscription purchasers. Boardgame players do still receive benefits from their Web codes in the form of access to Community Tools and discount coupons.

The number of Ticket to Ride games played daily is now bigger than ever, according to Kaufman, both because of these changes and because the company recently launched upgraded versions of the online games. This unique interaction between the boardgame and online versions of the Ticket to Ride franchise seems poised to continue to build both.

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‘Ticket To Ride’ Now On Xbox Live

The best-selling board game by Alan Moon is now available to play on Xbox Live.

Here is some info on the game from Xbox.com…

All aboard! Travel from coast to coast and visit all the stops on the exciting train adventure Ticket to Ride™. Plan your routes and connect your cities across the country to become the ultimate traveler. Earn points as you claim your tracks and complete your tickets for your chance at the big score. From sea to sea, crisscross the nation as you build the longest route and take home the prize. It’s hours of fun for your family and friends. Who will come out on top when the steam clears? Get your Ticket to Ride and see!