Imo trying to copy wow is like trying to copy Blizzard. Most of blizzard's titles have a fresh air and way to lure the player in them that i have hardly seen from other game companies. Even if wow copied many elements from other previous mmorpgs the mechanics behind it and they way it introduced the genre to many non mmorpg fans, prove that Blizzard is not a casual game company (to be messed with).
The most important factor to be considered is how they managed to keep the player base so intact and "isolated" from newer mmorpgs. Something that many mmo companies fail to grasp. If wow was simply a fashion it would have been forgotten by now. But even i read many posts from "disappointed" wow players i fail to understand what kept them unsatisfied for so long...
There's many different ways one can view Blizzards statements.
1. That it is basic common sense, after all the MMO market is being flooded with "fantasy" based MMO's. It's time to begin balancing out the variety a bit in areas not overwhelmingly dominated by one title.
2. Not one of these other later "fantasy" based MMO's have come close to WoW's level of quality. They all keep trying, and they all make even the most basic of mistakes for a variety of reasons. Perhaps Blizzard realise that they are losing customers but are wanting still to remain dominant by persuading other devs to keep away from the fantasy genre.
3. Blizzard are attempting to quietly coerce the MMO market into focusing elsewhere, maybe as a prelude to announcing their second MMO. Thus softening the blow that an announcement would have that would suggest that their next product being is so radically different from their first.
All in all, it makes sense for the MMO market to shift focus and create a wider variety of MMO's. Who knows. An MMO developer may actually take a leaf out of WoW's book, and with good project management create a rock solid foundation for an MMO based on a different background and become the WoW equivalent of that genre. The time is right for it. Even Blizzard know people are growing tired with WoW and are beginning to look elsewhere. In another years time that moment may have passed.
However, until we get more information on the titles currently in development such as The Secret World, Jumpgate Evolution, Black Prophecy, SW:TOR, and the launch of STO, we won't be able to truely gauge the currect state of the sci-fi MMO genre. I'm not that much of a fan of it, but if I had to place a bet, I'd say that SWTOR is probably going to be the most popular out of that list. But by how much is unknown.
When I play legion td , and we build in team or 2, there is always one that kill more mobs, and beceause he have killed more mons he have more money to build better tower so he can kill even more mobs, so it ends up with 100 kills and the other have 1000 kills. Same fucking thing. WoW wasn't the best game at start, lot of bugs, but it polished bc he got attention!
Copy WoW? haha your joking, right? There was mmorpgs before WoW and WoW copied from them. Why do always blizzards think that they were the first who got the idea and came up with things first? They are just a bunch of douchebags. To much bullshit coming out of their mouths....i cant take the pressure.bye.
When I play legion td , and we build in team or 2, there is always one that kill more mobs, and beceause he have killed more mons he have more money to build better tower so he can kill even more mobs, so it ends up with 100 kills and the other have 1000 kills. Same fucking thing. WoW wasn't the best game at start, lot of bugs, but it polished bc he got attention! WoW IS Legion TD.
Regardless of WoW's issues at its start, it was still seen as being better than the competition it had at the time (EQ2, SWG, EQ1, Anarchy Online) not only by MMO players looking for a new game, but by people who never played MMO's before. And the reasons why they considered it better are the same reasons why people still enjoy it today. Also, the game itself was already polished enough at launch to create enough appeal without turning people away too much (ignoring nasty the server / client crash issues that plagued it). All in all, it was seen to appeal to a wider audience from the outset. And because the product that largely polished at launch, that gave Blizzard the chance to nail a lot of the nasty issues fairly quickly. Thus increasing the games popularity even more (along with a hefty marketing budget
And THAT is the issue that many of the newer games have, by launching in such a poor state they lose 12 months or more trying to get back to the position where they should have been at the launch. Those first 12 months are a killer for subs.
Copy WoW? haha your joking, right? There was mmorpgs before WoW and WoW copied from them. Why do always blizzards think that they were the first who got the idea and came up with things first? They are just a bunch of douchebags. To much bullshit coming out of their mouths....i cant take the pressure.bye.
Nowhere in that article does it mention that Blizzard think they were the first. In fact I'm willing to bet that they'd agree with you that they weren't the first. I think you're reading a little too much into it.
Copy WoW? haha your joking, right? There was mmorpgs before WoW and WoW copied from them. Why do always blizzards think that they were the first who got the idea and came up with things first? They are just a bunch of douchebags. To much bullshit coming out of their mouths....i cant take the pressure.bye.
They never said they came up with things first... but that isn't the point. The point is there are MMOs coming out these days that have WoW's exact user interface, exact questing system, exact playstyle, almost identical classes and nearly identical art. How can you say that these games are not copying WoW? It is blatantly obvious...
Before WoW came out, there were 0 games with the EXACT SAME interface. That's because WoW did have a slightly different approach to the genre than its predecessors. Many new games today don't just slightly resemble WoW's systems, they are exact replicas. There is a difference.
When you add massive similarities in art style and game content to the mix, I think the term 'WOW clone' becomes very appropriate.
Personally I don't think the term "Wow Clone" is accurate. I prefer "Sub-Standard WoW wannabe". To imply they are clones is to imply that they have reached the same level in quality. Which is obviously not a fact in the case of certain MMO's.
Personally I don't think the term "Wow Clone" is accurate. I prefer "Sub-Standard WoW wannabe". To imply they are clones is to imply that they have reached the same level in quality. Which is obviously not a fact in the case of certain MMO's.
This I can agree with.
The word 'clone' does imply a certain level of equality that none of the imitators have reached as yet...
Copy WoW? haha your joking, right? There was mmorpgs before WoW and WoW copied from them. Why do always blizzards think that they were the first who got the idea and came up with things first? They are just a bunch of douchebags. To much bullshit coming out of their mouths....i cant take the pressure.bye.
They never said they came up with things first... but that isn't the point. The point is there are MMOs coming out these days that have WoW's exact user interface, exact questing system, exact playstyle, almost identical classes and nearly identical art. How can you say that these games are not copying WoW? It is blatantly obvious...
Before WoW came out, there were 0 games with the EXACT SAME interface. That's because WoW did have a slightly different approach to the genre than its predecessors. Many new games today don't just slightly resemble WoW's systems, they are exact replicas. There is a difference.
When you add massive similarities in art style and game content to the mix, I think the term 'WOW clone' becomes very appropriate.
Exactly, Anubisan... you hit the nail right on the head. The game mechanics that WoW uses are by no stretch of the imagination original. They are mechanics we've seen in MMOs before WoW and will most likely continue to see for the next few years.
However, purposely creating art, world, and GUI design that appears duped directly from WoW... that seems to me to be more the point the brief quotes and interview was speaking to.
I agree completely with Shane Dabiri; the MMO industry, as a whole, needs to create unique artwork and worlds, especially now that they are all competing for a market that is not growing as fast as the industry.
Each new MMO is essentially poaching subscribers from pre-existing MMOs. As long as new MMO studios are copying what has already been done, art and design-wise, they have nothing unique to offer subscribers, and thus, little incentive for the subscribers to the game they are copying to quit their current game (be it WoW or otherwise) and subscribe to this new game.
Abbatoir / Abbatoir Cinq Adnihilo Beorn Judge's Edge Somnulus Perfect Black ---------------------- Asheron's Call / Asheron's Call 2 Everquest / Everquest 2 Anarchy Online Shadowbane Dark Age of Camelot Star Wars Galaxies Matrix Online World of Warcraft Guild Wars City of Heroes
The problem that i see with MMOs today is that everything is based around End game content. When I first played EQ, I rarely thought about end game, I enjoyed every level and things you got to do and explore. Even Early WoW it was the same way. Now every MMO out there has done away with the FUN factor of playing an MMO. Every new MMO ive tried since WoW has lost my intrest with in the first month. I know im not alone.
Personaly I think the next big MMO should do away with leveling all together and focus more on content like dungeons, spells, gear etc etc. Personaly im tired of leveling up to max level in every MMO most of the time not enjoying it, and burning out b/c it wasnt really fun to begin with.
I personaly think WoW peaked in early TBC, and everything since they have dulled down the game big time. If people want to focus on what they did right. Look at Pre WOTLK. Dont get me wrong, they have done a ton to get the casual gamer, but i feel they have gone far beyond what is needed.
the guy is completely right. If you make a load of clones- which clone is everyone going to play- the AAA one which is WoW. I don't see what is wrong with well-made niches that maybe emphasize more on roleplay, more on maybe grouping, more on pvp, more on distinct and original classes.
Personally, I think its time we had a Firefly MMO (not based on the crappy Multi-verse engine that was once announced):
Rickety ships being held together by second hand parts bought from dodgy dealers (player driven economy and crafting).
Hand guns, multiperson vehicles, different classes (engineers, pilots, thugs, priests, scientists and entertainers).
Different towns to visit in varying technological states (land travel and progression)
Space travel and battles (group travel).
Invasions by rabid races and the obligatory evil Corporation as the protagonist (faction, lore and quests).
The Firefly universe has all the ingredients but the lore has not been nailed down very much. Thus the IP has the breathing room to expand without stepping on much of what has already been written.
It just needs someone with the cahonies to take the what was done in previous games like Anarchy Online and SWG and do a "WoW" on them.
WoW is a great game for a lot of people (even I enjoyed it for a while). However, this small article smacks to me of "The pot calling the kettle black." I think that is what kind of irks some people.
QFT! No one at Bliz is trying to do anyone any favors in their comment. I do think Bliz can see the writings on the wall for WoW after Cataclysm (it will still be around but not the behemoth we once knew) and are looking after their bread and butter. A lot of their old fans (and current ones) are feaning for something...anything different. Bliz knows this and wants to keep imitators as far away from their fanbase as possible until they can come up with their something different for them. If SWTOR does pry some of the fanbase away would anyone be suprised with a Universe of Starcraft release?
Even if someone wanted to copy WoW now, imo it is too late, because there is so much content available to WoW now what with 2 expansions out and 3rd on the way that nothing new that comes out now can really convince someone who is into WoW to go play something else.
Everquest already had 4 or 5 expansions out by the time WoW launched. Blizzard released a competing MMO with alot less content(no BGs even) but alot more fun in the gameplay. A month later WoW had more subscribers than EQ ever did.
One simple fix that everybody's forgotten is how Blizzard eliminated downtime in MMOs. When you were low on health you ate and drank food and 30 seconds later you were ready to go again. Simple as it was, it was UNHEARD OF in the genre.
All classes could solo, some better than others, but you didn't have to choose between 2 or 3 classes if you wanted to solo.
PVP, EQ had like 3 PVP servers. Who knows how many WoW has. The arenas and BGs are almost a genre in itself.
People forget this stuff just like they forget how many Diablo clones hit the market after it came out. And how computer RPGs were dead in the water before Diablo and then all of sudden we get Baldur's Gate, etc.
It's Ultima online the first mmorpg right? so i think blizzard are overwhelmed when WOW boomed up in the market but still they just get some idea on the first mmo....
MMO developers trying to copy World of Warcraft is "definitely not the right move," says Blizzard lead producer, Shane Dabiri.
Read the rest here <<< clicky On a side note: If this is not what players want because they all ready have WoW, that makes me wonder even more about what Blizzard themselves have cooking in the oven for their next MMORPG. Will they take their own advice and make something "different" than WoW?
Duh. No, blizzard themselves copied EQ but you can just do the same thing for so long... I wonder if Blizzard themselves know this? Because Morhaime said himself in a interview that the upcoming game will be rather similar to Wow.
5 year of Wow and 11 year of EQ is enough, I don't think it is possible to make a similar game that will be that big for so long again. It is time to rethink things again.
I think particularly the combat system of current games are weak and combat needs to be more interactive. Standing still on the same point and using a few attacks in the same order over and over should be useless even with beginner mobs.
Well, maybe Blizzard really will make the game different this time. In any case will it be interesting to see the game. And it will be really interesting to see if it can beat Guildwars 2, I have a feeling that whatever happens we wont get one game that is so much bigger than the rest in a few years.
Originally posted by Chieftan Everquest already had 4 or 5 expansions out by the time WoW launched. Blizzard released a competing MMO with alot less content(no BGs even) but alot more fun in the gameplay. A month later WoW had more subscribers than EQ ever did. One simple fix that everybody's forgotten is how Blizzard eliminated downtime in MMOs. When you were low on health you ate and drank food and 30 seconds later you were ready to go again. Simple as it was, it was UNHEARD OF in the genre. All classes could solo, some better than others, but you didn't have to choose between 2 or 3 classes if you wanted to solo. PVP, EQ had like 3 PVP servers. Who knows how many WoW has. The arenas and BGs are almost a genre in itself. People forget this stuff just like they forget how many Diablo clones hit the market after it came out. And how computer RPGs were dead in the water before Diablo and then all of sudden we get Baldur's Gate, etc.
It wasn't that many Diablo clones, it was Darkstone and a few others. As for Baldurs gate it released half a yar later and was almost done when Diablo released. And Diablo is a action game, not a RPG game. RPGs were far from dead, Daggerfall was a huge hit the year before Diablo (same serie as Oblivion).
All that said was Diablo still a great game, wonderfully programmed by Jeff Strain. But it was not a saviour for RPG games, it wasn't even a RPG game itself. It made Blizzard big and gave fantasy action games a big boost.
As for Wow Vs EQ was EQ already 6 years old and at the time losing players. Computer games don't age well and SOE released the follow up to EQ almost at the same time Wow came out. The old EQ plöayers however were upset because many didn't think the new game seemed like a EQ game at all. Funny enough did a lot more of the people I know move to DAoC then Wow. Wow released at the right time, it would have been another story if EQ still had been 3 years old or so but 6 years is forever.
Blizzard had at Wows time many fans and they did a great job to get them into Wow. But there were other earlier game with little downtime and all classes solo-able, Lineage for one, I played it many years before Wow came out.
Blizzard did many things right with Wow but the thing that made Wow biggest is that Blizzard knows what it's fans want. SOE don't. And there havn't been any other big companies involved in MMOs before, now is also Bioware and Bethesda comming in the business, and some companies with ex Blizzard employees (Arenanet is one, GW sold 6 million copies on a really low budget) so things will surely be different.
Still, Blizzard did copy a lot of things from EQ and Meridian 59.
The truth is that Blizzard probably doesn't even have a clue why WoW is so popular. It has more to do with marketing, franchise, brand, and a legion of B.net kiddies who all jump when a Blizzard employee says jump.
I can't agree with this at all. So lets pretend they fluked with WoW, you seem to forget the Blizzard folks produced Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, Diablo, Diablo II, Warcraft II, Warcraft III, Starcraft. Not counting the expansions, in the last 10 plus years these folks have sold more #1 selling games than was thought possible.
If you like them or not is regardless, their success can't really be discounted with the argument they are simply a bunch of clueless suits who can't fathom how they got there.
I am personally an old school UO fan, so I can't wait until my golden days can be revived in the form of something new, I doubt that something new will come from Blizzard, but who knows.
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Imo trying to copy wow is like trying to copy Blizzard. Most of blizzard's titles have a fresh air and way to lure the player in them that i have hardly seen from other game companies. Even if wow copied many elements from other previous mmorpgs the mechanics behind it and they way it introduced the genre to many non mmorpg fans, prove that Blizzard is not a casual game company (to be messed with).
The most important factor to be considered is how they managed to keep the player base so intact and "isolated" from newer mmorpgs. Something that many mmo companies fail to grasp. If wow was simply a fashion it would have been forgotten by now. But even i read many posts from "disappointed" wow players i fail to understand what kept them unsatisfied for so long...
There's many different ways one can view Blizzards statements.
1. That it is basic common sense, after all the MMO market is being flooded with "fantasy" based MMO's. It's time to begin balancing out the variety a bit in areas not overwhelmingly dominated by one title.
2. Not one of these other later "fantasy" based MMO's have come close to WoW's level of quality. They all keep trying, and they all make even the most basic of mistakes for a variety of reasons. Perhaps Blizzard realise that they are losing customers but are wanting still to remain dominant by persuading other devs to keep away from the fantasy genre.
3. Blizzard are attempting to quietly coerce the MMO market into focusing elsewhere, maybe as a prelude to announcing their second MMO. Thus softening the blow that an announcement would have that would suggest that their next product being is so radically different from their first.
All in all, it makes sense for the MMO market to shift focus and create a wider variety of MMO's. Who knows. An MMO developer may actually take a leaf out of WoW's book, and with good project management create a rock solid foundation for an MMO based on a different background and become the WoW equivalent of that genre. The time is right for it. Even Blizzard know people are growing tired with WoW and are beginning to look elsewhere. In another years time that moment may have passed.
However, until we get more information on the titles currently in development such as The Secret World, Jumpgate Evolution, Black Prophecy, SW:TOR, and the launch of STO, we won't be able to truely gauge the currect state of the sci-fi MMO genre. I'm not that much of a fan of it, but if I had to place a bet, I'd say that SWTOR is probably going to be the most popular out of that list. But by how much is unknown.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
When I play legion td , and we build in team or 2, there is always one that kill more mobs, and beceause he have killed more mons he have more money to build better tower so he can kill even more mobs, so it ends up with 100 kills and the other have 1000 kills. Same fucking thing. WoW wasn't the best game at start, lot of bugs, but it polished bc he got attention!
WoW IS Legion TD.
Copy WoW? haha your joking, right? There was mmorpgs before WoW and WoW copied from them. Why do always blizzards think that they were the first who got the idea and came up with things first? They are just a bunch of douchebags. To much bullshit coming out of their mouths....i cant take the pressure.bye.
Regardless of WoW's issues at its start, it was still seen as being better than the competition it had at the time (EQ2, SWG, EQ1, Anarchy Online) not only by MMO players looking for a new game, but by people who never played MMO's before. And the reasons why they considered it better are the same reasons why people still enjoy it today. Also, the game itself was already polished enough at launch to create enough appeal without turning people away too much (ignoring nasty the server / client crash issues that plagued it). All in all, it was seen to appeal to a wider audience from the outset. And because the product that largely polished at launch, that gave Blizzard the chance to nail a lot of the nasty issues fairly quickly. Thus increasing the games popularity even more (along with a hefty marketing budget
And THAT is the issue that many of the newer games have, by launching in such a poor state they lose 12 months or more trying to get back to the position where they should have been at the launch. Those first 12 months are a killer for subs.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
dont copy the copycat lol
Nowhere in that article does it mention that Blizzard think they were the first. In fact I'm willing to bet that they'd agree with you that they weren't the first. I think you're reading a little too much into it.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
They never said they came up with things first... but that isn't the point. The point is there are MMOs coming out these days that have WoW's exact user interface, exact questing system, exact playstyle, almost identical classes and nearly identical art. How can you say that these games are not copying WoW? It is blatantly obvious...
Before WoW came out, there were 0 games with the EXACT SAME interface. That's because WoW did have a slightly different approach to the genre than its predecessors. Many new games today don't just slightly resemble WoW's systems, they are exact replicas. There is a difference.
When you add massive similarities in art style and game content to the mix, I think the term 'WOW clone' becomes very appropriate.
Personally I don't think the term "Wow Clone" is accurate. I prefer "Sub-Standard WoW wannabe". To imply they are clones is to imply that they have reached the same level in quality. Which is obviously not a fact in the case of certain MMO's.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
This I can agree with.
The word 'clone' does imply a certain level of equality that none of the imitators have reached as yet...
WOW is honestly the most boring game I have ever played in my life.
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They never said they came up with things first... but that isn't the point. The point is there are MMOs coming out these days that have WoW's exact user interface, exact questing system, exact playstyle, almost identical classes and nearly identical art. How can you say that these games are not copying WoW? It is blatantly obvious...
Before WoW came out, there were 0 games with the EXACT SAME interface. That's because WoW did have a slightly different approach to the genre than its predecessors. Many new games today don't just slightly resemble WoW's systems, they are exact replicas. There is a difference.
When you add massive similarities in art style and game content to the mix, I think the term 'WOW clone' becomes very appropriate.
Exactly, Anubisan... you hit the nail right on the head. The game mechanics that WoW uses are by no stretch of the imagination original. They are mechanics we've seen in MMOs before WoW and will most likely continue to see for the next few years.
However, purposely creating art, world, and GUI design that appears duped directly from WoW... that seems to me to be more the point the brief quotes and interview was speaking to.
I agree completely with Shane Dabiri; the MMO industry, as a whole, needs to create unique artwork and worlds, especially now that they are all competing for a market that is not growing as fast as the industry.
Each new MMO is essentially poaching subscribers from pre-existing MMOs. As long as new MMO studios are copying what has already been done, art and design-wise, they have nothing unique to offer subscribers, and thus, little incentive for the subscribers to the game they are copying to quit their current game (be it WoW or otherwise) and subscribe to this new game.
Abbatoir / Abbatoir Cinq
Adnihilo
Beorn Judge's Edge
Somnulus
Perfect Black
----------------------
Asheron's Call / Asheron's Call 2
Everquest / Everquest 2
Anarchy Online
Shadowbane
Dark Age of Camelot
Star Wars Galaxies
Matrix Online
World of Warcraft
Guild Wars
City of Heroes
The problem that i see with MMOs today is that everything is based around End game content. When I first played EQ, I rarely thought about end game, I enjoyed every level and things you got to do and explore. Even Early WoW it was the same way. Now every MMO out there has done away with the FUN factor of playing an MMO. Every new MMO ive tried since WoW has lost my intrest with in the first month. I know im not alone.
Personaly I think the next big MMO should do away with leveling all together and focus more on content like dungeons, spells, gear etc etc. Personaly im tired of leveling up to max level in every MMO most of the time not enjoying it, and burning out b/c it wasnt really fun to begin with.
I personaly think WoW peaked in early TBC, and everything since they have dulled down the game big time. If people want to focus on what they did right. Look at Pre WOTLK. Dont get me wrong, they have done a ton to get the casual gamer, but i feel they have gone far beyond what is needed.
Dont copy WOW? I figure Blizz will push back their upcoming xpac a bit to implement skirmishes unless of course that isnt already in the mix.
Good find Teala, too bad your thread has already turned into a poop socking fest with a bunch of nobodies that think they have it figured out.
Blizzard gets it, they've been getting it long before they released WoW.
the guy is completely right. If you make a load of clones- which clone is everyone going to play- the AAA one which is WoW. I don't see what is wrong with well-made niches that maybe emphasize more on roleplay, more on maybe grouping, more on pvp, more on distinct and original classes.
Personally, I think its time we had a Firefly MMO (not based on the crappy Multi-verse engine that was once announced):
The Firefly universe has all the ingredients but the lore has not been nailed down very much. Thus the IP has the breathing room to expand without stepping on much of what has already been written.
It just needs someone with the cahonies to take the what was done in previous games like Anarchy Online and SWG and do a "WoW" on them.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
QFT! No one at Bliz is trying to do anyone any favors in their comment. I do think Bliz can see the writings on the wall for WoW after Cataclysm (it will still be around but not the behemoth we once knew) and are looking after their bread and butter. A lot of their old fans (and current ones) are feaning for something...anything different. Bliz knows this and wants to keep imitators as far away from their fanbase as possible until they can come up with their something different for them. If SWTOR does pry some of the fanbase away would anyone be suprised with a Universe of Starcraft release?
.
Everquest already had 4 or 5 expansions out by the time WoW launched. Blizzard released a competing MMO with alot less content(no BGs even) but alot more fun in the gameplay. A month later WoW had more subscribers than EQ ever did.
One simple fix that everybody's forgotten is how Blizzard eliminated downtime in MMOs. When you were low on health you ate and drank food and 30 seconds later you were ready to go again. Simple as it was, it was UNHEARD OF in the genre.
All classes could solo, some better than others, but you didn't have to choose between 2 or 3 classes if you wanted to solo.
PVP, EQ had like 3 PVP servers. Who knows how many WoW has. The arenas and BGs are almost a genre in itself.
People forget this stuff just like they forget how many Diablo clones hit the market after it came out. And how computer RPGs were dead in the water before Diablo and then all of sudden we get Baldur's Gate, etc.
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It's Ultima online the first mmorpg right? so i think blizzard are overwhelmed when WOW boomed up in the market but still they just get some idea on the first mmo....
This is like a repeat child mollester telling a fat guy to have self control.
Duh. No, blizzard themselves copied EQ but you can just do the same thing for so long... I wonder if Blizzard themselves know this? Because Morhaime said himself in a interview that the upcoming game will be rather similar to Wow.
5 year of Wow and 11 year of EQ is enough, I don't think it is possible to make a similar game that will be that big for so long again. It is time to rethink things again.
I think particularly the combat system of current games are weak and combat needs to be more interactive. Standing still on the same point and using a few attacks in the same order over and over should be useless even with beginner mobs.
Well, maybe Blizzard really will make the game different this time. In any case will it be interesting to see the game. And it will be really interesting to see if it can beat Guildwars 2, I have a feeling that whatever happens we wont get one game that is so much bigger than the rest in a few years.
It wasn't that many Diablo clones, it was Darkstone and a few others. As for Baldurs gate it released half a yar later and was almost done when Diablo released. And Diablo is a action game, not a RPG game. RPGs were far from dead, Daggerfall was a huge hit the year before Diablo (same serie as Oblivion).
All that said was Diablo still a great game, wonderfully programmed by Jeff Strain. But it was not a saviour for RPG games, it wasn't even a RPG game itself. It made Blizzard big and gave fantasy action games a big boost.
As for Wow Vs EQ was EQ already 6 years old and at the time losing players. Computer games don't age well and SOE released the follow up to EQ almost at the same time Wow came out. The old EQ plöayers however were upset because many didn't think the new game seemed like a EQ game at all. Funny enough did a lot more of the people I know move to DAoC then Wow. Wow released at the right time, it would have been another story if EQ still had been 3 years old or so but 6 years is forever.
Blizzard had at Wows time many fans and they did a great job to get them into Wow. But there were other earlier game with little downtime and all classes solo-able, Lineage for one, I played it many years before Wow came out.
Blizzard did many things right with Wow but the thing that made Wow biggest is that Blizzard knows what it's fans want. SOE don't. And there havn't been any other big companies involved in MMOs before, now is also Bioware and Bethesda comming in the business, and some companies with ex Blizzard employees (Arenanet is one, GW sold 6 million copies on a really low budget) so things will surely be different.
Still, Blizzard did copy a lot of things from EQ and Meridian 59.
I can't agree with this at all. So lets pretend they fluked with WoW, you seem to forget the Blizzard folks produced Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, Diablo, Diablo II, Warcraft II, Warcraft III, Starcraft. Not counting the expansions, in the last 10 plus years these folks have sold more #1 selling games than was thought possible.
If you like them or not is regardless, their success can't really be discounted with the argument they are simply a bunch of clueless suits who can't fathom how they got there.
I am personally an old school UO fan, so I can't wait until my golden days can be revived in the form of something new, I doubt that something new will come from Blizzard, but who knows.
"There is a certain undeniable power in the void; within lies an unspoken promise of greatness, the shadowy truth that man is ruled by fear not of what is seen, but of what he perceives is seen beyond."