Lets race sometime. I'll give you a 6 year head start. Then we can see how long it takes me to catch up.
Too true. Too true. Everyone expects every new game to launch with all the goodies that WoW has now; not the stuff WoW had 6 years ago. I remember when I first started WoW, shortly after the first anniversary, the servers crashed 2 to 3 times a week. Any crash in any game now at launch is considered a sign of failure.
Blizzard spent over 5 years making vanilla WoW and another 6 getting to where it is now. People refuse to give other devs leway to let their games mature.
Even WoW built upon games that had come before it. The only problem is, WoW did it right first. I think you are being naive to assume that just because WoW is 6 years old that no other MMORPG can compete with it for that reason alone.
~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!
agree with these dudes. and also wow runs very crappy comp setups aswell so all grannies and granpas can easily play with it their spiderwebbed comps
It's not growing. It's breathing....in....and out. Some old players leave, some new come. I don't really think that's much in the way of growth, but okay fanbois. Think what you must.
It's losing subs and some new people are subbing. It's pretty much MAINTAINING. And that is ACTUALLY what the devs themselves said like what....last year? This "new surge" of players....is people coming back to try Cataclysm, which.....after they are max level again and have raided into the next levels of gear chasing, they will again BURN OUT and quit.....AGAIN.
I've watched it over and over and over. But I'm sure THIS TIME will be different and everyone that re-subs or subs will STAY for years and tell more people and MORE will COME....
ROFLMAO. Okay.
Why don't you expect subst to stay for years? All games get old and no game need to stay for years. Of course it is a surge. People leave about finishing up the content. Where have you been for the last 20 years of gaming?
Now tell me which other game surge to 12M players.
First of all.. many western MMO's don't even attempt to market outside their intended audience.. China is a perfect example that is more then 50% of WoW's customer base, but only makes up less then 10% of their income.. In all honesty, if I was a PvE game I wouldnt' even bother with China.. SoE doesnt' exist in China, neither does EVE, CoX, Cryptic, etc etc.. When Bioware comes out with SWToR, I doubt they'll go to China.. Only 2 things ever went to China, Blizzard and Richard Nixon.. LOL Big Whoop
Lets race sometime. I'll give you a 6 year head start. Then we can see how long it takes me to catch up.
Too true. Too true. Everyone expects every new game to launch with all the goodies that WoW has now; not the stuff WoW had 6 years ago. I remember when I first started WoW, shortly after the first anniversary, the servers crashed 2 to 3 times a week. Any crash in any game now at launch is considered a sign of failure.
Blizzard spent over 5 years making vanilla WoW and another 6 getting to where it is now. People refuse to give other devs leway to let their games mature.
The thing is not that crashes and instability ruin a game - lack of content and just not being fun however does. I can overlook crashes if the game is fun. And guess what...WoW was fun and no instability during launch would completely ruin it. Crashes can be fixed - bad gameplay design can't.
Simply, games released post WoW are just not as fun to a wide audience.. WAR, Vanguard, on and on - they all have huge fundamental flaws in their game design, or cater to a niche market, that make them simply not as fun or less popular. Period
Lets race sometime. I'll give you a 6 year head start. Then we can see how long it takes me to catch up.
Too true. Too true. Everyone expects every new game to launch with all the goodies that WoW has now; not the stuff WoW had 6 years ago. I remember when I first started WoW, shortly after the first anniversary, the servers crashed 2 to 3 times a week. Any crash in any game now at launch is considered a sign of failure.
Blizzard spent over 5 years making vanilla WoW and another 6 getting to where it is now. People refuse to give other devs leway to let their games mature.
So by your logic, every game that came before World of Warcraft should be an even BIGGER success, right?
Bullshit. WoW blew everything else away the DAY it launched, and never paused to even glance back over it's shoulder. I have played it off and on, and am by no means a fanatic (I don't even have a single level 80 character), and the one thing that keeps me coming back is how polished and flat-out enjoyable it is to play. It was like that from day one, and nothing else comes close. Your argument is just wrong.
To be fair, now that I hit level 25 (at 16 I wasn´t impressed) there are some interesting little things. One of them is the vocal music in Ashenvale - reminded me a bit of Vanguard, it was beautiful. Another thing - good or bad - is that it becomes more and more arcade-like. Linear of course, but IMo a very good flow.
Okay, today I killed Ashenvale. I as a Druid transformed into an animal, when the game wanted to put me on a Kodo in human mode. Aborting the quest did not help. The economy of course is down the drain, too. A newbie cannot buy things for his toon in his level range. But it might be a good momentum to get some WoW fever for a... for a while.
I must conceed to WOWs success, even though I do not play. Makes me wish I would have invested in this game, but alas I was concerned about how I disagreed with the plot and the graphics. I really feel I missed out, really.
Good Job WOW, I admit you were the best MMO in the long run.
I'm an old time gamer, born back in the early 60's. I played pong when it was a new release, $129 for the console version lol. Started computer gaming at the end of the 70's, had a Tandy TRS80 played all kinds of text adventure games on it like Bedlam, Pyramid and Rakatui. (graphic games were non existant on home computers back then) amazingly I had alot of fun playing them. They sure would be the ultimate suck these days lol.
I've watched and played video games since the very beginning. In the 80's I bought pretty much every single game released. I remember playing "Ultima 3 Exodus" and thinking it was the greatist thing since sliced bread, moving my little turn based stick men around for hours at a time.
Times change, technology changes and tastes change. Today you would look at Ultima 3 and think "oh my god that sucks ass, how could you ever have played that.
When WoW released, I bought my copy on release day and was instantly hooked. Had my best gaming experiences with it. The open world PvP (Southshore, Crossroads, Ratchet) The massive open world, The exploration, The dungeons, The camaraderie. As far as mmo's go, at that time it was the greatist thing since sliced bread and it took off for that reason. No matter if you like it or not, it was and is a great game. A definate Hall of Famer.
I burned myself out with it, doing all that hardcore raid crap during vanilla and had quit before BC released. Too old I guess, cant seem to do all that repetitive stuff anymore. But when an expansion releases I resub and play through. Once I get to cap I run the end game instances a few times. and its time to shelve it for awhile till the next xpack.
6 years later, WoW has removed stats and dumbed down ammo requirements. Not that it's a bad thing, it makes it more accessible like most said. I was expecting them to add some features most MMO's have today, those being housing, better crafting, appearance slots, etc instead of removing things though.
I also would love housing and appearance tabs. I wish more mmo's used both these features.
I wish they'd add dyes. Just changing armor color to any color you wanted would make the "tier" gear seem a lot less mainstream.
I agree. I personally wish that each race's gear would be more specific to them and look different. So that tier 1 gear looks different on every race. On of my things with WOW was the customization was weak.
First of all.. many western MMO's don't even attempt to market outside their intended audience.. China is a perfect example that is more then 50% of WoW's customer base, but only makes up less then 10% of their income.. In all honesty, if I was a PvE game I wouldnt' even bother with China.. SoE doesnt' exist in China, neither does EVE, CoX, Cryptic, etc etc.. When Bioware comes out with SWToR, I doubt they'll go to China.. Only 2 things ever went to China, Blizzard and Richard Nixon.. LOL Big Whoop
Do you ever post anything that isn't filled with misinformation and false statements in some twisted attempt to valid your opinions?
Soe certainly tried to exist in China, because they failed in the asian market. Why do you think EQ2 has the SOGA models? Soe most certainly tried to operate in China with their major titles, but they did not do well and closed down. FFS, soe has a game development studio based in taiwan. http://www.soe.com/sonyonline/
They have the money to back themselves up. A lot of the newer MMO's are coming from smaller unknown companies. Blizzard can throw money around while the other companies have to work with what they have.
Also if you guys havent noticed we human beings are lazier and lazier and lazier and lazier by the seconds. World of Warcraft is the best casual mmo out right now in terms of graphics, gameplay and content. Its easy for them to have subscribers when it doesnt take more than a week to be level capped and fully geared up.
Theres plenty of reward for the casual player in WoW, almost none for the hardcore player.
No! Blizzard never was Interplay. Two TOTALLY different companies, they never were one and the same ever.
It's not growing. It's breathing....in....and out. Some old players leave, some new come. I don't really think that's much in the way of growth, but okay fanbois. Think what you must.
It's losing subs and some new people are subbing. It's pretty much MAINTAINING. And that is ACTUALLY what the devs themselves said like what....last year? This "new surge" of players....is people coming back to try Cataclysm, which.....after they are max level again and have raided into the next levels of gear chasing, they will again BURN OUT and quit.....AGAIN.
I've watched it over and over and over. But I'm sure THIS TIME will be different and everyone that re-subs or subs will STAY for years and tell more people and MORE will COME....
ROFLMAO. Okay.
October 7th, world of warcraft reached a new milestone of 12 million current subsribers. That is 500,000 more than they had in 2008.
Gaining half a million players isn't maintaining, it is growth. That is more players than most mmos even have.
I'm just stating facts that you could have looked up with a few minutes of web searches.
OMG you ALWAYS crack me up. You just LIKE arguing with me because it's ME. Or maybe you just like arguing.
That number of "growth" as you're calling it.....could VERY likely be ex-players returning in anticipation of Cataclysm. You don't KNOW whether that's the case any more than I do. So don't PRETEND to know, and neither will I.
I still say that WoW is maintaining and recycling. What will tell us if that is TRUE.....is about 6 mths from now once the newness of Cataclysm has worn off. Then if they "oops" accidentallly LEAK the same number of players right back out the door.....I think then it will be pretty clear.
So you think whatever you WANT to think, and by god....so the fuck will I. And arguing with me about your opinion of a number isn't going to change MY opinion of how the same number was reached. We both have our own hypothesis.
So, after 6 long years, WoW is still the best and most popular MMO out there. Why is that? Why haven't other MMOs been able to capture WoW's polish and fun factor?
Discuss you thoughts on the matter.
Advertisement + simplicity + momentum
Very simple as that.
6 years and WoW still doesn't have a single unique or innovative feature. Hell it doesn't even have housing. It has less features than pioneer MMOs from the 90s. It's not gameplay that keeps it ahead, except for the simplicity factor.
The consistency of an MMO is what makes it the best. No one is going to say WoW has the best graphics or the best music or the best of something (we can pinpoint SOME bests but we won't)...but it is the best overall. In the opinion of the populace, because of it's tremendous fan-base, backing, and ability to keep people entertained. There are SO many MMO's that hype up their release then fall short and die or dwindle...of course there are those few that stick around but if they do their fan-base isn't as large. Look at Korean or Japanese or Chinese MMO companies...even Perfect World and such have hard times keeping people despite their F2P stuff (free is a loose term).
Arguing that WoW is the best is futile...it's like telling someone that apples are the best fruit when they love oranges...it's an opinion war that can't be settled except by numbers and facts and continued support. The ability of the developers to continuously achieve what they do is impressive to say the least. When you look at WoW do you see "Oh another expansion, cool, new stuff to do" or do you see everything behind it? Look at red shirt guy...he is completely into the lore, and why shouldn't he be? The developers not only improve a game, they make it make sense and appeal to a nostalgic sense...I know people who don't even play the game but just find the lore as interesting as a movie. The backing is too strong and the ideas are too fresh for it not to be the best...and by best, we can interchangeably say it's the most popular and most stable.
Would anyone say that cars are the best form of transportation? They emit pollution, aren't very fast, break down, and you're always waiting to get a new one 6 months after the new ones come out...and the only way to transition from cars is for someone to develop something groundbreaking. It's the same with WoW...it's not the best, but because no one can trump it and all these MMO's are compared to it, they can't compete, so it becomes the best. It's too familiar and too easy to get in and out of. To deny that is ignorance. It's not the best, but it is. That is how it has to be...
So, after 6 long years, WoW is still the best and most popular MMO out there. Why is that? Why haven't other MMOs been able to capture WoW's polish and fun factor?
Discuss you thoughts on the matter.
May be popular but obviously not the best game at all imo. maybe because its easy casual game, thats why. I mean if you sister can play it then big deal to me, i stopped this game 3 years ago. I cant stand looking at cartoony looking mmo with low graphics but some kids still do :P. 6 years later still feels like I'm playing some kids game. I have updated my computer way much more to play better looking games. it may have a lot of junk an players but I can't see get over the feel an look to the game reguardless of how much they add. Justin Beiber is also popular...
So, after 6 long years, WoW is still the best and most popular MMO out there. Why is that? Why haven't other MMOs been able to capture WoW's polish and fun factor?
Discuss you thoughts on the matter.
May be popular but obviously not the best game at all imo. maybe because its easy casual game, thats why. I mean if you sister can play it then big deal to me, i stopped this game 3 years ago. I cant stand looking at cartoony looking mmo with low graphics but some kids still do :P. 6 years later still feels like I'm playing some kids game. I have updated my computer way much more to play better looking games. it may have a lot of junk an players but I can't see get over the feel an look to the game reguardless of how much they add. Justin Beiber is also popular...
You don't like the game. The people that like Justin Beiber are also, obviously, a different kind of person than you. Just because you don't like WoW, doesn't mean that kids only play it and it's way above your intelligence. The game is still challenging on Hard Modes and I find the graphics decent. I haven't played in a while, but my close friends still do and I plan on returning post-Cata. Playing games with friends makes just about any game fun.
So, after 6 long years, WoW is still the best and most popular MMO out there. Why is that? Why haven't other MMOs been able to capture WoW's polish and fun factor?
Discuss you thoughts on the matter.
May be popular but obviously not the best game at all imo. maybe because its easy casual game, thats why. I mean if you sister can play it then big deal to me, i stopped this game 3 years ago. I cant stand looking at cartoony looking mmo with low graphics but some kids still do :P. 6 years later still feels like I'm playing some kids game. I have updated my computer way much more to play better looking games. it may have a lot of junk an players but I can't see get over the feel an look to the game reguardless of how much they add. Justin Beiber is also popular...
So basically... "Despite a game's in-depth lore, attention to detail, and variety of gameplay options for hardcore or populace, if it's not pretty I won't touch it"
That's why people think FF7 is better than FF6 without even playing the earlier games because of its outdated graphics...You miss out on something graphics can't give you. Justin Bieber will fall out of the spotlight, and WoW's reign will still continue. GL finding an MMO you'll play as consistently as WoW. ;P Agree with Benthon.
Originally posted by Benthon
You don't like the game. The people that like Justin Beiber are also, obviously, a different kind of person than you. Just because you don't like WoW, doesn't mean that kids only play it and it's way above your intelligence. The game is still challenging on Hard Modes and I find the graphics decent. I haven't played in a while, but my close friends still do and I plan on returning post-Cata. Playing games with friends makes just about any game fun.
Whether players like to admit it or not... barrier to entry and marketing made WoW what it is. Quality marketing can make even poor products shine atleast for awhile, and polished good products shine for a long time. WoW was and is very polished, which alot of us complain about in games of all types. I think the larger aspect as others have stated before is barrier to entry. The game is easier for the casual players and non old school hard core elite. This makes it accessible to players that had never played any MMOs or for that matter even non gamers. Guys got there girlfriends to play, and people got there mothers and fathers into it. Thats not possible with all games, as harder games, or atleast games with steeper learning curves and time requirements restrict casual and novice players.
Sometimes a product isn't revolutionary in terms of tech. Sometimes ground breaking isn't all its cracked up to be. Sometimes tried and true combined with simplicity is the best option.
I myself have never enjoyed WoW, and have like games that are considered failures like Shadowbane. I know I am not the norm though. To end my little rant... maybe MMOs are more like art, and whats considered amazing or revolutionary is subjective and it will take years of look back to say yup that was a great game/idea. And maybe WoW is the product of a great marketing engine to make art accessible like Thomas Kinkade paintings.
[EDIT] I was just reading this an found it interesting.
Thomas Kinkade says his art is meant to have broad appeal. In his own words:
"There's been million-seller books and million-seller CDs. But there hasn't been, until now, million-seller art. We have found a way to bring to millions of people, an art that they can understand."
All we need is a quote from Blizzard saying the same thing about MMO subscribes lol.
So, after 6 long years, WoW is still the best and most popular MMO out there. Why is that? Why haven't other MMOs been able to capture WoW's polish and fun factor?
Discuss you thoughts on the matter.
May be popular but obviously not the best game at all imo. maybe because its easy casual game, thats why. I mean if you sister can play it then big deal to me, i stopped this game 3 years ago. I cant stand looking at cartoony looking mmo with low graphics but some kids still do :P. 6 years later still feels like I'm playing some kids game. I have updated my computer way much more to play better looking games. it may have a lot of junk an players but I can't see get over the feel an look to the game reguardless of how much they add. Justin Beiber is also popular...
So basically... "Despite a game's in-depth lore, attention to detail, and variety of gameplay options for hardcore or populace, if it's not pretty I won't touch it"
That's why people think FF7 is better than FF6 without even playing the earlier games because of its outdated graphics...You miss out on something graphics can't give you. Justin Bieber will fall out of the spotlight, and WoW's reign will still continue. GL finding an MMO you'll play as consistently as WoW. ;P Agree with Benthon.
Originally posted by Benthon
You don't like the game. The people that like Justin Beiber are also, obviously, a different kind of person than you. Just because you don't like WoW, doesn't mean that kids only play it and it's way above your intelligence. The game is still challenging on Hard Modes and I find the graphics decent. I haven't played in a while, but my close friends still do and I plan on returning post-Cata. Playing games with friends makes just about any game fun.
If I get a eye sore of the game I can't possibly enjoy what content they have to offer. There are lots of games with crap graphics but graphics is an importance to me as well as gameplay is now days. If thats the case we can all go back an play Ultima Online, EQ1, DAOC, AO, T4C, ff11, Muds even with no graphics at all lol -text based :P I wanna see eye candy too. You can play WoW consistant, I can't so doesn't apply for me obviously because I haven't played in 3 years. I have played just about every mmoprgs out there an these old ass games that have even worse graphics than WoW for example had far better gameplay, but gameplay ain't everything too me need graphics too.
If I get a eye sore of the game I can't possibly enjoy what content they have to offer. There are lots of games with crap graphics but graphics is an importance to me as well as gameplay is now days. If thats the case we can all go back an play Ultima Online, EQ1, DAOC, AO, T4C, ff11, Muds even with no graphics at all lol -text based :P I wanna see eye candy too. You can play WoW consistant, I can't so doesn't apply for me obviously because I haven't played in 3 years. I have played just about every mmoprgs out there an these old ass games that have even worse graphics than WoW for example had far better gameplay, but gameplay ain't everything too me need graphics too.
Yes, we all want a girl (or guy?) who is beautiful AND has a great personality and is perfect in every way...but usually that doesn't happen. I completely admitted WoW wasn't the best in many areas, graphics is one of them...but basically you're saying if WoW's graphics got an overhaul it'd be that much better. That's true in a sense...but I'm just saying you have to look at the overall picture...A good looking game with no depth is not worth your time, and if it is, your scale is unbalanced. But it's opinion...I haven't played WoW in 2-3 years either, doesn't mean I don't think it's the best though . Just enjoy your games for you...and let's be honest...if we have GOOD friends in ANY game, despite everything about it, we'd have fun.
So, after 6 long years, WoW is still the best and most popular MMO out there. Why is that? Why haven't other MMOs been able to capture WoW's polish and fun factor?
Discuss you thoughts on the matter.
May be popular but obviously not the best game at all imo. maybe because its easy casual game, thats why. I mean if you sister can play it then big deal to me, i stopped this game 3 years ago. I cant stand looking at cartoony looking mmo with low graphics but some kids still do :P. 6 years later still feels like I'm playing some kids game. I have updated my computer way much more to play better looking games. it may have a lot of junk an players but I can't see get over the feel an look to the game reguardless of how much they add. Justin Beiber is also popular...
So basically... "Despite a game's in-depth lore, attention to detail, and variety of gameplay options for hardcore or populace, if it's not pretty I won't touch it"
That's why people think FF7 is better than FF6 without even playing the earlier games because of its outdated graphics...You miss out on something graphics can't give you. Justin Bieber will fall out of the spotlight, and WoW's reign will still continue. GL finding an MMO you'll play as consistently as WoW. ;P Agree with Benthon.
Originally posted by Benthon
You don't like the game. The people that like Justin Beiber are also, obviously, a different kind of person than you. Just because you don't like WoW, doesn't mean that kids only play it and it's way above your intelligence. The game is still challenging on Hard Modes and I find the graphics decent. I haven't played in a while, but my close friends still do and I plan on returning post-Cata. Playing games with friends makes just about any game fun.
If I get a eye sore of the game I can't possibly enjoy what content they have to offer. There are lots of games with crap graphics but graphics is an importance to me as well as gameplay is now days. If thats the case we can all go back an play Ultima Online, EQ1, DAOC, AO, T4C, ff11, Muds even with no graphics at all lol -text based :P I wanna see eye candy too. You can play WoW consistant, I can't so doesn't apply for me obviously because I haven't played in 3 years. I have played just about every mmoprgs out there an these old ass games that have even worse graphics than WoW for example had far better gameplay, but gameplay ain't everything too me need graphics too.
Graphics play a much bigger role to you than they do to me. I have my Super Nintendo hooked up right now to my 42" and am enjoying Megaman X and Secret of Mana right now. I find these two games and other titles are just classics, and I've played through them bunches of times. I grew up with the games so playing it doesn't bother me one bit. I played Everquest from '99-'04 and am currently impatiently awaiting EQ Classic to release the game as I loved it back in 1999 (www.eqclassic.org for anyone wondering) . I also constantly play Minecraft, an game sweeping the internet by storm, yet this game has graphics that a Playstation could generate. I guess we're just two different people like I said earlier. No need to call someone else a kid or question their intelligence just because they don't enjoy the same games you do.
Is it just me, or is threads like this one kind-of... unnecessary? Arguing over why and why not a game succeds is just a bunch of conspiricy theories. Every one is entitled to their own oppinion and stating that one person is wrong isn't going to cut it, since they might see it just like they're seeing it. WoW apperantly works.
Reason for growt/maintainence in my oppinion; number of players already playing.
Whoever said Blizzard was called Interplay at some point in time, you have your sources wrong, Interplay was only the publisher. The first name was Silicon&Synapse actually. I still have the Lost Vikings for the SNES and there you can see this.
Comments
agree with these dudes. and also wow runs very crappy comp setups aswell so all grannies and granpas can easily play with it their spiderwebbed comps
First of all.. many western MMO's don't even attempt to market outside their intended audience.. China is a perfect example that is more then 50% of WoW's customer base, but only makes up less then 10% of their income.. In all honesty, if I was a PvE game I wouldnt' even bother with China.. SoE doesnt' exist in China, neither does EVE, CoX, Cryptic, etc etc.. When Bioware comes out with SWToR, I doubt they'll go to China.. Only 2 things ever went to China, Blizzard and Richard Nixon.. LOL Big Whoop
lol Whats your problem with china?
America wouldnt even have some of the most incredible games if it werent for other countries making them.
We dont even see half of the most awesome games that ever exist.
Jeremiah 8:21 I weep for the hurt of my people; I stand amazed, silent, dumb with grief.
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The thing is not that crashes and instability ruin a game - lack of content and just not being fun however does. I can overlook crashes if the game is fun. And guess what...WoW was fun and no instability during launch would completely ruin it. Crashes can be fixed - bad gameplay design can't.
Simply, games released post WoW are just not as fun to a wide audience.. WAR, Vanguard, on and on - they all have huge fundamental flaws in their game design, or cater to a niche market, that make them simply not as fun or less popular. Period
So by your logic, every game that came before World of Warcraft should be an even BIGGER success, right?
Bullshit. WoW blew everything else away the DAY it launched, and never paused to even glance back over it's shoulder. I have played it off and on, and am by no means a fanatic (I don't even have a single level 80 character), and the one thing that keeps me coming back is how polished and flat-out enjoyable it is to play. It was like that from day one, and nothing else comes close. Your argument is just wrong.
To be fair, now that I hit level 25 (at 16 I wasn´t impressed) there are some interesting little things. One of them is the vocal music in Ashenvale - reminded me a bit of Vanguard, it was beautiful. Another thing - good or bad - is that it becomes more and more arcade-like. Linear of course, but IMo a very good flow.
Okay, today I killed Ashenvale. I as a Druid transformed into an animal, when the game wanted to put me on a Kodo in human mode. Aborting the quest did not help.
The economy of course is down the drain, too. A newbie cannot buy things for his toon in his level range.
But it might be a good momentum to get some WoW fever for a... for a while.
I must conceed to WOWs success, even though I do not play. Makes me wish I would have invested in this game, but alas I was concerned about how I disagreed with the plot and the graphics. I really feel I missed out, really.
Good Job WOW, I admit you were the best MMO in the long run.
Well I'll throw in my 2cents
I'm an old time gamer, born back in the early 60's. I played pong when it was a new release, $129 for the console version lol. Started computer gaming at the end of the 70's, had a Tandy TRS80 played all kinds of text adventure games on it like Bedlam, Pyramid and Rakatui. (graphic games were non existant on home computers back then) amazingly I had alot of fun playing them. They sure would be the ultimate suck these days lol.
I've watched and played video games since the very beginning. In the 80's I bought pretty much every single game released. I remember playing "Ultima 3 Exodus" and thinking it was the greatist thing since sliced bread, moving my little turn based stick men around for hours at a time.
Times change, technology changes and tastes change. Today you would look at Ultima 3 and think "oh my god that sucks ass, how could you ever have played that.
When WoW released, I bought my copy on release day and was instantly hooked. Had my best gaming experiences with it. The open world PvP (Southshore, Crossroads, Ratchet) The massive open world, The exploration, The dungeons, The camaraderie. As far as mmo's go, at that time it was the greatist thing since sliced bread and it took off for that reason. No matter if you like it or not, it was and is a great game. A definate Hall of Famer.
I burned myself out with it, doing all that hardcore raid crap during vanilla and had quit before BC released. Too old I guess, cant seem to do all that repetitive stuff anymore. But when an expansion releases I resub and play through. Once I get to cap I run the end game instances a few times. and its time to shelve it for awhile till the next xpack.
whats amazing about WoW is even after 6 yrs
Its Still Alot of Fun
"Be water my friend" - Bruce Lee
I agree. I personally wish that each race's gear would be more specific to them and look different. So that tier 1 gear looks different on every race. On of my things with WOW was the customization was weak.
Do you ever post anything that isn't filled with misinformation and false statements in some twisted attempt to valid your opinions?
Soe certainly tried to exist in China, because they failed in the asian market. Why do you think EQ2 has the SOGA models? Soe most certainly tried to operate in China with their major titles, but they did not do well and closed down. FFS, soe has a game development studio based in taiwan. http://www.soe.com/sonyonline/
On top of that EVE most certainly does operate in China. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152680.html
The entire western world is scrambling to do business in China, but somehow you seem to think otherwise.
To add to that,
The chinese law is, lets say annoying in terms on gaming.
No! Blizzard never was Interplay. Two TOTALLY different companies, they never were one and the same ever.
Keep fooling yourself Daff.. your biased views are showing tremendously.. LOL It actually makes me giggle..
PS no matter how much you try to portray WoW as the best thing EVER.. they aren't going to hire you.. lol
OMG you ALWAYS crack me up. You just LIKE arguing with me because it's ME. Or maybe you just like arguing.
That number of "growth" as you're calling it.....could VERY likely be ex-players returning in anticipation of Cataclysm. You don't KNOW whether that's the case any more than I do. So don't PRETEND to know, and neither will I.
I still say that WoW is maintaining and recycling. What will tell us if that is TRUE.....is about 6 mths from now once the newness of Cataclysm has worn off. Then if they "oops" accidentallly LEAK the same number of players right back out the door.....I think then it will be pretty clear.
So you think whatever you WANT to think, and by god....so the fuck will I. And arguing with me about your opinion of a number isn't going to change MY opinion of how the same number was reached. We both have our own hypothesis.
President of The Marvelously Meowhead Fan Club
Advertisement + simplicity + momentum
Very simple as that.
6 years and WoW still doesn't have a single unique or innovative feature. Hell it doesn't even have housing. It has less features than pioneer MMOs from the 90s. It's not gameplay that keeps it ahead, except for the simplicity factor.
The consistency of an MMO is what makes it the best. No one is going to say WoW has the best graphics or the best music or the best of something (we can pinpoint SOME bests but we won't)...but it is the best overall. In the opinion of the populace, because of it's tremendous fan-base, backing, and ability to keep people entertained. There are SO many MMO's that hype up their release then fall short and die or dwindle...of course there are those few that stick around but if they do their fan-base isn't as large. Look at Korean or Japanese or Chinese MMO companies...even Perfect World and such have hard times keeping people despite their F2P stuff (free is a loose term).
Arguing that WoW is the best is futile...it's like telling someone that apples are the best fruit when they love oranges...it's an opinion war that can't be settled except by numbers and facts and continued support. The ability of the developers to continuously achieve what they do is impressive to say the least. When you look at WoW do you see "Oh another expansion, cool, new stuff to do" or do you see everything behind it? Look at red shirt guy...he is completely into the lore, and why shouldn't he be? The developers not only improve a game, they make it make sense and appeal to a nostalgic sense...I know people who don't even play the game but just find the lore as interesting as a movie. The backing is too strong and the ideas are too fresh for it not to be the best...and by best, we can interchangeably say it's the most popular and most stable.
Would anyone say that cars are the best form of transportation? They emit pollution, aren't very fast, break down, and you're always waiting to get a new one 6 months after the new ones come out...and the only way to transition from cars is for someone to develop something groundbreaking. It's the same with WoW...it's not the best, but because no one can trump it and all these MMO's are compared to it, they can't compete, so it becomes the best. It's too familiar and too easy to get in and out of. To deny that is ignorance. It's not the best, but it is. That is how it has to be...
May be popular but obviously not the best game at all imo. maybe because its easy casual game, thats why.
I mean if you sister can play it then big deal to me, i stopped this game 3 years ago. I cant stand looking at cartoony looking mmo with low graphics but some kids still do :P. 6 years later still feels like I'm playing some kids game. I have updated my computer way much more to play better looking games. it may have a lot of junk an players but I can't see get over the feel an look to the game reguardless of how much they add. Justin Beiber is also popular...
You don't like the game. The people that like Justin Beiber are also, obviously, a different kind of person than you. Just because you don't like WoW, doesn't mean that kids only play it and it's way above your intelligence. The game is still challenging on Hard Modes and I find the graphics decent. I haven't played in a while, but my close friends still do and I plan on returning post-Cata. Playing games with friends makes just about any game fun.
He who keeps his cool best wins.
So basically... "Despite a game's in-depth lore, attention to detail, and variety of gameplay options for hardcore or populace, if it's not pretty I won't touch it"
That's why people think FF7 is better than FF6 without even playing the earlier games because of its outdated graphics...You miss out on something graphics can't give you. Justin Bieber will fall out of the spotlight, and WoW's reign will still continue. GL finding an MMO you'll play as consistently as WoW. ;P Agree with Benthon.
Whether players like to admit it or not... barrier to entry and marketing made WoW what it is. Quality marketing can make even poor products shine atleast for awhile, and polished good products shine for a long time. WoW was and is very polished, which alot of us complain about in games of all types. I think the larger aspect as others have stated before is barrier to entry. The game is easier for the casual players and non old school hard core elite. This makes it accessible to players that had never played any MMOs or for that matter even non gamers. Guys got there girlfriends to play, and people got there mothers and fathers into it. Thats not possible with all games, as harder games, or atleast games with steeper learning curves and time requirements restrict casual and novice players.
Sometimes a product isn't revolutionary in terms of tech. Sometimes ground breaking isn't all its cracked up to be. Sometimes tried and true combined with simplicity is the best option.
I myself have never enjoyed WoW, and have like games that are considered failures like Shadowbane. I know I am not the norm though. To end my little rant... maybe MMOs are more like art, and whats considered amazing or revolutionary is subjective and it will take years of look back to say yup that was a great game/idea. And maybe WoW is the product of a great marketing engine to make art accessible like Thomas Kinkade paintings.
[EDIT] I was just reading this an found it interesting.
Thomas Kinkade says his art is meant to have broad appeal. In his own words:
"There's been million-seller books and million-seller CDs. But there hasn't been, until now, million-seller art. We have found a way to bring to millions of people, an art that they can understand."
All we need is a quote from Blizzard saying the same thing about MMO subscribes lol.
If I get a eye sore of the game I can't possibly enjoy what content they have to offer. There are lots of games with crap graphics but graphics is an importance to me as well as gameplay is now days. If thats the case we can all go back an play Ultima Online, EQ1, DAOC, AO, T4C, ff11, Muds even with no graphics at all lol -text based :P I wanna see eye candy too. You can play WoW consistant, I can't so doesn't apply for me obviously because I haven't played in 3 years. I have played just about every mmoprgs out there an these old ass games that have even worse graphics than WoW for example had far better gameplay, but gameplay ain't everything too me need graphics too.
Yes, we all want a girl (or guy?) who is beautiful AND has a great personality and is perfect in every way...but usually that doesn't happen. I completely admitted WoW wasn't the best in many areas, graphics is one of them...but basically you're saying if WoW's graphics got an overhaul it'd be that much better. That's true in a sense...but I'm just saying you have to look at the overall picture...A good looking game with no depth is not worth your time, and if it is, your scale is unbalanced. But it's opinion...I haven't played WoW in 2-3 years either, doesn't mean I don't think it's the best though
. Just enjoy your games for you...and let's be honest...if we have GOOD friends in ANY game, despite everything about it, we'd have fun.
Graphics play a much bigger role to you than they do to me. I have my Super Nintendo hooked up right now to my 42" and am enjoying Megaman X and Secret of Mana right now. I find these two games and other titles are just classics, and I've played through them bunches of times. I grew up with the games so playing it doesn't bother me one bit. I played Everquest from '99-'04 and am currently impatiently awaiting EQ Classic to release the game as I loved it back in 1999 (www.eqclassic.org for anyone wondering) . I also constantly play Minecraft, an game sweeping the internet by storm, yet this game has graphics that a Playstation could generate. I guess we're just two different people like I said earlier. No need to call someone else a kid or question their intelligence just because they don't enjoy the same games you do.
He who keeps his cool best wins.
Is it just me, or is threads like this one kind-of... unnecessary? Arguing over why and why not a game succeds is just a bunch of conspiricy theories. Every one is entitled to their own oppinion and stating that one person is wrong isn't going to cut it, since they might see it just like they're seeing it. WoW apperantly works.
Reason for growt/maintainence in my oppinion; number of players already playing.
Whoever said Blizzard was called Interplay at some point in time, you have your sources wrong, Interplay was only the publisher. The first name was Silicon&Synapse actually. I still have the Lost Vikings for the SNES and there you can see this.
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/0/588450_47113_back.jpg