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You think Blizzard's new Top Secret MMO will be a WoW Clone?
MMOExposed
Member RarePosts: 7,400
You thing Blizzard's new top secret MMO will be a Themepark WoW Clone of some kind?
If not, how do you believe it will effect the community player base?
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
Comments
I remember hearing the name of it a little while ago, and it was something funky. Something like...'Battle Force Omega: Alpha 14'...
THAT obviously isn't it, but its something like that. It may have just been a codename, or, they may very well be going for something completely new and unique.
Last time I heard (been a while)
it was called Project Hydra
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
With any other publisher I'd say yes, but since Blizzard has enough money to colonize a dev team on the moon, they certainly have the power to do as they please, meaning something that will in all likelihood be something new. At least I hope.
Don't think Blizzard gonna make a WoW-clone according to what they have said as it will be nothing like WoW.
That wouldn't make sense from a business standpoint, they want to attract people who don't play WoW. At least thats what they stated and it makes sense, why would they sabotage their own product if you can please a broader audience with different settings/gameplay.
So basicaly, the OP wants to know .... what??
Because what he calls a wow-clone, someone may not. And what he understands a thempark to be, some will disagree.
Spotlight-search much?
I am reading more and more stupid, utterly stupid threads.
Interesting question.
I guess as they are all about the "big bucks" it will be something they will want to appeal to the masses - so something fun, not too serious, something that will again run on most PC's, will appeal to all age ranges, and will have long term appeal.
So, the graphics will be better than WoW, but not "next gen" - as they wont want to make people upgrade machines.
Sand box games have never been shown to be fun enough for the "everyman" so thats doubtful. Lich King showed what instance based scripted stories can do, so I would expect that tech to be in there. Soloable proved to be a big money spinner, so thats probably likely. However, their "fantasy in jokes" have been pretty exhausted in WoW, so probably a new setting. Plus they will want WoW to continue for several more years yet, so it wont directly compete. Star Craft has proved to be massive, so likely a Sci-Fi setting of somekind, possibly aiming to compete with the new Star Wars game.
They will want new players to find it simple to get into, so it will be "hand holding" for the first 10-20 levels.
Their mount and pet selling online has proved to be a big money spinner, so likely to have some sort of disguised cash shop.
So - all in all - yes, I expect it will be an updated theme park game, with all the best new ideas from modern games going in there (public quests from WAR, open air PVP sieges, storylines from SWTOR, climbable walls and destructable scenery from EQ2, and all the best bits from the last WoW expansions).
"When people don't know much about something, they tend to fill in the blanks the way they want them to be filled in. They are almost always disappointed." - Will Wright
I sure hope not, and please let it have "better" graphics.
Why all the anger? I'm sure most of us here have a pretty good idea what the OP means, why argue about the terminology?
The OP is asking if you think Blizzards new MMO will essentially be a re-skinned WoW with similar game dynamics. In other words a level based game with easy to find quests and a fairly clear path to progress from new player to max level.
In answer to the OPs question I'm pretty sure I've read something by Blizzard saying it's something new, but no way can I find a source I'm afraid. They also said it's going to be a new IP, which I suspect gives them more freedom to design a setting perfect for their game ideas.
All MMO's are more or less sandboxes. See wikipedia's definitions on sandbox games. Even some console games like GTA are called sandboxes.
Theme park is an invention on some mmorpg forums which isn't even supported as an official category on wikipedia.
MMO's have non liniair options of play and wow has one of the most diverse non linair options atm. Ranging from experience gains turned off, to gain experience solely through PvP, crafting mounts or about any goods (except housing).
Pure sandboxed games simply don't exist. Except if you would want to include non games like Second Life.
Public Quests of War are a failure: they group players who ... aren't there in the region. You can only play PQ's on launch.
Open world PvP Sieges are already in Wow since 2 years and ... bettter executed as in WAR (at least real time animations).
Story lines with phasing were in it since 3 years (end of TBC) and extended the last years.
Destructable scenery: have a look at Wintergrasp open world zone.
Perhaps reading upon existing things in WOW first before having a high horse attitude about the future.
I wouldnt be too surprised of blizzards new MMO is a sandbox game, it might not be really as hardcore as MO or darkfall, but something along those lines. then they will show the world that you dont need to make a WoW clone to get alot of subs, just a good and polished game. But blizzard does have a huge fanbase so that helps them alot. But this is just my guess.
Well see how ot turns out, but they have said themselfs they arent making "WoW 2" So im assuimg that means they arent making a clone of WoW aswell.
Currently Playing Path of Exile
First of all whatever they make it's going to be polished, so polished game + blizzard name = decent subs. I think it's still gonna be themepark and most likely sci-fi (no they aren't stupid enough to make starcraft mmo). And they are not going for realistic graphics, it's gonna have it's own unique art style and living world, compensating non next gen graphics. And why make "wow2" when "wow" has ten times more subs than any other mmo ?
...We don't have enough information to come up with ANY sort of answer. No name besides 'Project Hydra' and that it will be a new IP. I've hardly seen a more open ended game to think about. Hell, if I new it was an existing Blizzard IP I would have something to work with, but something new... Too early, come back in a year and ask.
Disagreement Heirarchy
I know it will be made well that's for sure. None of these poorly programmed flops out of the starting gate.
Question I have is.. what is WoW clone? Do you mean a fantasy theme, level based gear grind? or something else?.. I suspect that Blizzard is going in a new IP.. which could mean anything.. I don't see them going Sci-fi like Eve, Jumpgate or SWG because that would required different programing with a 3d engine.. Blizzard would need a whole new engine for a fast pace shoot em up dog fighting sci fi game.. Could they go Super Hero theme? possibly... Could they go niche market like SOE's Agency? maybe but I doubt it.. My gut tells me they will go in the direction of Starcraft, BUT not the actual IP.. I predict it will be a futuristic spin of Starcraft, using the same mechanics as WoW uses.. Meaning.. Over simplified, minimal player economy, level based, end game raid gear grind.. It will be WoW reskined with some minor changes with a new IP for storyline..
We'll just have to wait and see
Well blizzard stated that it wouldn't be set in the warcraft universe, the diablo universe, or the starcraft universe. So that excludes all 3 of those genres so that leads me to one of two options:
A mmo that is a mixture of diablo, starcraft and warcraft.(said it wouldn't be set in either of the 3 specific worlds, never said they wouldn't merge them together) Or :
I forget the name of the game but it was many many many years back, it was like one of their earlier games, before warcraft even I believe but it had to do with pirates and knights or something I think, so it's very possible that their new MMO might be based on that. Seems like the most logical idea at least, unless they're making an MMO based off of one of Activisions failed games.
lol - Yeah I was kind of saying the same thing about a year ago. But these random leaks are simply that, random leaks.
The story behind this comment:
A contributer at worldofraids.com (WoW fansite) attended Blizzcon in 2009 where he supposedly overheard a conversation between two Blizzard developers. One developers asked "What project are you on" while the second replied "Hydra".
While "Hydra" could be the name or code name of the new Blizzard MMO, it could also refer to the project that we now know as "Cataclysm", the 3rd expansion of World of Warcraft which contains major changes in zones brought about by natural disasters, one of the biggest being flooding.
Either way,
I would like to say that I am happy that the majority of the early voters in this poll aren't taking the usual WoW hate route and saying the most typical thing that Blizzard's next MMO is going to be a "WoW clone". Bravo.
I agree and think that Blizzard's next game will be more similar to the Sims Online.
That's right, thehavok is calling that shit now!
One thing that helps with creditbilty on the forum is not showing an obvious bias to a game ignore all faults it has.. At that point I stop listening, because it's like listening to a politician hype their own agenda.. BTW.. you might want to be careful in the future about saying others are riding with a "high horse attitude" .. I have eyes too
Honestly, those 26% that voted NO have deluded themselves. Will it be a WOW clone in so much as the art style, IP, etc? Of course not. Will it be a WOW clone in as much as being geared towards casuals, i.e. fast leveling, easy to obtain items, etc etc. Yes,
They're not going to give up the chance at snagging 5-10 million subscriptions. Its all about $$$ for blizzard, so you can bet your ass you wont see anything that will offend the casual player. That means, light death penatlies, no full loot rights, no sandbox, no reliance on grouping, no rarity to good items. These are all things that will persist throughout every MMO blizzard makes.
Pretty much you can expect blizzard to become the next bioware. They're going to continue to make copies of KOTOR (Read: WOW) with better graphics, and slightly varying storylines with different characters
"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently."
- Friedrich Nietzsche
One thing that helps with credibility is not showing an obvious and extreme hate toward a game company in about every post you make. Even in the non MMO section it appears Blizzard raped your dearest thoughts about what should be a good game and make up your own definitions without acceptance of general terms in encyclopedia.
Here's my view on that SC2, which was far more moderate than you could ever post about anything over a Blizzard game:
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/286736/page/7
So instead of accepting what your definitions are about gaming. I can see the game mechanics within Blizzard games and apparently you don't see it.
Logical.
Blizzard isn't stupid. They've seen the success rates of most WOW clones, and I don't expect that they will create one. Besides, creating one will only split the fanbase, possibly dropping the subscriptions for WOW. Something they won't want to do.
That being said. I think, like WOW, their next game will not be original or innovative. Like WOW it will be a VERY well done, VERY well polished derivative work that combines much of the best innovations that have already come out. WOW was a very polished derivative work of the MMOs that came before it. I believe the next one will be that same sort of work.
So long, and thanks for all the fish!
1998/9 we got a game from blizz called Starcraft....people loved it! I thought it was ok so I'll agree with the hype there.
2010 we got the next RTS game from Blizz....Starcraft II almost a complete copy of Starcraft...and people loved it! I however despise this one.
2004 we got World of Warcraft and people loved it!...Yeah I'm going to go ahead and say Blizzard is going to follow that same pattern.
Blizzard excels in cloning. No one does it better than them.
Soon as those WoW players hear theres another Blizzard MMO out they will rush over to try it. They may not want to split their fanbase but they most likely will. Players will be looking for something new and depending on how the upcoming MMO's affect WoW we could very well see a WoW clone.
no