The funny thing about all the posters on this forum "laughing" about pandas being in the newest expansion, it's that it's based on lack of information. A little history lesson:
Back when the Burning Crusade was announced and the announcement that there will be two new races, the community just about DEMANDED that pandarens were one of the races. The blood elves were announced first. The community then demanded that the remaining alliance race was pandaren. When Draenai were announced instead of pandaren, there was a public outcry on the forums. Where do you think the "Space squid/ space goats" mantra reputation came from? The community was outraged that Draenai were chosen over pandaren. This is also the time when the China endangered species law thing rumor began.
Every expansion after the Burning Crusade, it was an unofficial requirement that many people demanded that the new expansion would include pandarens as a race, if the expansion were to include new races. When the worgens were announced as part of the Cataclysm expansion, they suffered the same treatment as the Draenai did because of this.
Coincidentally, pandarens were linked to Hero classes as well. The defining class of a pandaren is a Brewmaster. After the Death Knight hero classs was announced in Wrath of the Lick King, every expansion that followed included numerous (read: thousands) of requests by the community that the next hero class would be Brewmaster, in addition to pandarens being added as a new race.
Before anyone says anything, everything stated above is FACT and not my opinion. I have no opinion on the matter, to be honest. Just search a little bit and you can find all these threads and post on the interenet.
This new expansion is, for all intents and purposes, a love letter to the community that has been demanding many of these additions since Burning Crusade was announced. The Monk class, for example, is a rendition of Brewmaster, but since it is not a hero class, Blizzard decided to call it Monk. Also since they were adding pandaren as a race, Blizzard knew they needed to add something like brewmaster in order to avoid the impending backlash of the very demanding and vocal community.
Thousands of requests for a feature in a game the has 10+ millions of players is a very small subset of the community. It's not surprising Blizzard wasn't all over the Kung Fu Panda expansion until now.
I'm not quite sure what Blizzard was thinking with this move. This is the first expansion they have announced that I have not wanted to come back for. The whole Kung Fu Panda thing just seems silly and childish to be quite honest...
Pandaren are kind of long-standing in WoW lore, so why are people so upset? Wasn'it it obvious that it was the logical possibility for a new race? A new continent and a new class are both good things, at least. Are we whining just to whine? I'm confused by the sudden rage over this whole thing because it seemed inevitable. When WoW first came out many of my friends were asking where the heck the Pandaren were, so maybe I took it to be a popular choice when it really wasn't.
So, what makes Pandaren so horrible, given that they are already neck deep in WoW lore?
There was always an element of sillyness in WoW but it was kind of charming but it never took a centre stage before . Also it comes on the heals of the Kung Fu Panda movies which a very much aimed at a younger market . To many adults that are still playing it will be a definative indication to the way the game was going .
I know 3 people that cancelled thier subscriptions in the since hearing the news about the expansion . There had been some leaks earlier in the year but most people myself included thought it was a ruse to hide the true nature of the coming expansion because it really did seam incredibly misconcieved .
You only have to look at these forums (and others) to see that reaction to this is pretty much overwealmingly negative and theres a sence of utter disbelief even in the WoW community ( I do know a few people still playing ) that Blizzard have done this .
I can't imagne many people over the age of 12 thinking this an awe inspiring idea for an expansion and to be honest I don't think a lot of 12 year olds think Kung Fu Pandas a great movie either by the time your that age your tending to see those type of films for younger children than you .
Its difficult to see who this would appeal on a mass scale apart from asian schoolgirls who love cute stuff like Pandas .
I dont think anyone (including those of us that transitioned from WC3 to WoW) even gives a shit. Throwing in a race that looks like it was ripped out of the dreams of a sleeping 10 year old Chinese girl is obviously going to piss a lot of the playerbase off. Pandaren was shit then, just as it is now.
Still glad I said adios shortly after BGs were introduced.
Again, you and all the other grown ups who keep BITCHING and CRYING are the minority not the majority anymore. Sit back and wait for your game to be released, if it ever will. What you call as shit is merly small talk seeing how millions will not care about your comment.
How does it feel to be in such a small special group? Left out, left behind, no devolper seems to care about anymore.
LOL.
Remember, I haven't been subbed to WoW since shortly after the introduction of BGs, bud. So sorry to let you down, but I'm not really involved with the game on an emotional level enough to be "bitching"/"crying" (the big mean bolded capitalized kind, my bad) about any changes or expansions. Come to think of it, I don't really get all emo over anything like a video game.
Also, since I started in the genre, I have had at least one sub to one mmorpg the entire time. I started with the launch of WoW, so it would appear that I haven't been forgotten and left out in the cold like you apparently desire What small group are you referring to by the way, bud? Because my main game for over six years was EVE Online. You know, the one that has held one of the top spots for mmorpg sub numbers for many years in the West? And it's a fucking spaceship game that isn't the simplest game to get into to say the least. It's pretty clear to me that there is a decent market for gamers such as myself if a game like that can be so bloody popular.
In addition, how dare you call me a grown up in such a manner! LOL. You are a cute one, indeed.
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
I see your point. Maybe they'll add a second race to up the testosterone level a bit more. I vote for lizard people!
What about snake people like Naga I support this...I mean snake...testosterone makes a lot of sense
It would also satisfy lore people since they aren't a "joke" race.
"Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people." - Eleanor Roosevelt "Americans used to roar like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security." -Norman Vincent Peale
I'm not quite sure what Blizzard was thinking with this move. This is the first expansion they have announced that I have not wanted to come back for. The whole Kung Fu Panda thing just seems silly and childish to be quite honest...
Ha. For once we agree.
As has been mentioned though, I think Blizzy is starting to focus on what could be WoW's future bread and butter: a younger Chinese playerbase.
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
I'm not quite sure what Blizzard was thinking with this move. This is the first expansion they have announced that I have not wanted to come back for. The whole Kung Fu Panda thing just seems silly and childish to be quite honest...
Ha. For once we agree.
As has been mentioned though, I think Blizzy is starting to focus on what could be WoW's future bread and butter: a younger Chinese playerbase.
I don't get this thinking, just because one expansion has pandas and some asian themes doesn't mean they are focusing on chinese playerbase, I'll believe it if the next expansion is Chinese themed, which is unlikely. Now the younger playerbase...I think they already proved that with constantly making it easier.
"Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people." - Eleanor Roosevelt "Americans used to roar like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security." -Norman Vincent Peale
What are you lot on about? Pandaren have been part of the lore since.....forever? Calling them Kungfu panda ripoffs is a cheap shot, and a poor one at that. If anything, it's the other way around (But yet it isn't).
It's obvious that you just hate WoW, and will pretty much say anything to prove that. Let it go already.
That said, I am excited about the Pandaren. However, me resubscribing is left to be seen. Takes more than a race and class to draw me back in. I'm keeping my eye on the other new stuff for the time being. That, and SWTOR is a must-have. Don't have the time for 2 MMO's.
Again, you and all the other grown ups who keep BITCHING and CRYING are the minority not the majority anymore. Sit back and wait for your game to be released, if it ever will. What you call as shit is merly small talk seeing how millions will not care about your comment.
How does it feel to be in such a small special group? Left out, left behind, no devolper seems to care about anymore.
Show your statistics that we're the minority or I'll have to assume you're trolling. Aside from Runescape, my teenage son doesn't play MMOs, he's a console game player. Admittedly, that's not a statistical sample by any means, but it seems to me that I've been running into older and older players these past two years, at least in the pve games I've played. A lot of guilds full of 30 somethings recruiting, too.
So show me the statistic that says we're a minority. And do my eyes deceive me, or does your profile say you're 35?
Statistics?
This website is a perfect example of that, you don't have to go anywhere.
Every week new title same old bitch session, someone pulling out the "Back In The Day" card.
You seem to be a pretty smart cat, I'm sure you'll figured it out.
I don't get this thinking, just because one expansion has pandas and some asian themes doesn't mean they are focusing on chinese playerbase, I'll believe it if the next expansion is Chinese themed, which is unlikely. Now the younger playerbase...I think they already proved that with constantly making it easier.
Eastern "subs" have been on the rise for years. Not too sure if that's still the case, but when so many Western players are leaving the game, it's understandable that Blizzy might want to begin catering to the bulk of their customers, no?
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
I dont think anyone (including those of us that transitioned from WC3 to WoW) even gives a shit. Throwing in a race that looks like it was ripped out of the dreams of a sleeping 10 year old Chinese girl is obviously going to piss a lot of the playerbase off. Pandaren was shit then, just as it is now.
Still glad I said adios shortly after BGs were introduced.
Again, you and all the other grown ups who keep BITCHING and CRYING are the minority not the majority anymore. Sit back and wait for your game to be released, if it ever will. What you call as shit is merly small talk seeing how millions will not care about your comment.
How does it feel to be in such a small special group? Left out, left behind, no devolper seems to care about anymore.
LOL.
Remember, I haven't been subbed to WoW since shortly after the introduction of BGs, bud. So sorry to let you down, but I'm not really involved with the game on an emotional level enough to be "bitching"/"crying" (the big mean bolded capitalized kind, my bad) about any changes or expansions. Come to think of it, I don't really get all emo over anything like a video game.
Also, since I started in the genre, I have had at least one sub to one mmorpg the entire time. I started with the launch of WoW, so it would appear that I haven't been forgotten and left out in the cold like you apparently desire What small group are you referring to by the way, bud? Because my main game for over six years was EVE Online. You know, the one that has held one of the top spots for mmorpg sub numbers for many years in the West? And it's a fucking spaceship game that isn't the simplest game to get into to say the least. It's pretty clear to me that there is a decent market for gamers such as myself if a game like that can be so bloody popular.
In addition, how dare you call me a grown up in such a manner! LOL. You are a cute one, indeed.
Love the clip!
EvE is pretty spaceship game that I can see turning people off or for some may find boring. Again a game that is not made for everyone and even has it's own handful of dickheads in that game. Though I still enjoy it from to time. Of course there is a learning curve but you eventually catch on as you really get into it, I mean some folks catch on faster than others.
I suspect the whole "Kung Fu Panda" thing is a shift to appeal to what they see as their primary market now. In other words it's heading East. Now I'm not willing to predict that it will make them more, or less, profitable overall. But one never knows... It might become something like Korea's #1 E-Sport, and survive another 12 years. Especially if they go F2P and start sucking people's money out of them with an RMT shop.
Remember the old saying - "If you can't beat em Join em"? *rolleyes*
Finally, someone who's reading between the lines.
Pretty sure you are right especially since TOR and RIFT and many others MMO aren't translated in Chinese nor Korean nor know how to handle these very specific markets.
I think Blizzard does the right thing. People want an MMORPG to evolve, to change, to be different. They first had the basic game. Then it got the spacey BC expansion. Then the frigid / dark WOTLK and then apocalyptic Cataclysm. Now they get friendly/happy Pandas. It's the right move.
I suspect the whole "Kung Fu Panda" thing is a shift to appeal to what they see as their primary market now. In other words it's heading East. Now I'm not willing to predict that it will make them more, or less, profitable overall. But one never knows... It might become something like Korea's #1 E-Sport, and survive another 12 years. Especially if they go F2P and start sucking people's money out of them with an RMT shop.
Remember the old saying - "If you can't beat em Join em"? *rolleyes*
Finally, someone who's reading between the lines.
Pretty sure you are right especially since TOR and RIFT and many others MMO aren't translated in Chinese nor Korean nor know how to handle these very specific markets.
Wow, I skimmed through that one earlier That would be a really good marketing move, didn't really see it that way.
Anyway lets get back on track and hating Blizzard for their dumbass mistake.
Why aren't any of us irritated about the SIX skills bit? You get one new skill every 6 levels. That's even dumber than the panda bit. But I guess they needed to simplify it more. I mean having all those skill points was just sooooooo confusing. I can't find one single thing that I like in this expansion. For ME....every expansion has gotten progressively WORSE.
As far as Blizz "handing it" to TOR. I don't really think that's how it's going to play out. Just because some of us on HERE think this is a lame xpac doesn't mean that millions won't still buy it. I personally just think the game looks more and more like a pre-school game. And now you can PLAY as teddy bears....sort of. I'm surprised the collector's edition doesn't come with a nap mat. Of course it might....we don't know that for sure yet. I guess xpacs don't really have collector's editions, but....yah.
Loads of players have wanted Pandarens to be playable since vanilla. I suspect this will be a positive thing for the game overall.
Blizzard is giving the majority what they want. I find the people here on these forums don't follow the norm and are a little more hardcore. I don't really understand how people are shocked by this..
Why aren't any of us irritated about the SIX skills bit? You get one new skill every 6 levels.
This right here. From what I have read, all pretense at choice is being thrown out of the window. Although what I have read broke it down a little differently, but then, I could be behind the times.
The intel I got was from an October 21st interview, which basically stated that in 90 levels, you get to make 6 talent choices. As well, at level 10, you get to choose 1 specialization, which then grants you preselected abilities. So, in total, it looks to be 7 true choices to make in 90 levels. Some people may love it, but it is a little too much hand holding for my tastes, and will definitely not draw me back to WoW.
Does this expansion spell the end of WoW and a mass exodus to TOR? I don't really think it will. I think TOR will most definitely be a success, but I think the WoW machine will continue on.
I guess I'm the only one that thought this expac looked fun lol... monk class, pandas, and pokemon...damn
I probably won't buy either games truthfully (the expac or swtor), but one thing I think a lot of you are kinding missing is that... this is the stuff that the wow community likes. Old players and present players. To alot of you who think this is just beyond silly and a joke, well if you've ever played wow, you know that the players love this kind fo stuff, and have aways wanted panderan and alternate endgame (pokemon gameplay, and now you get raid points from doing non-raid activities, which will probably be good enough for a lot of people.)
So I think this expac was actually a pretty smart move from blizzard. You just gotta keep in mind that blizzard and wow doesn't take itself seriously...because it's a game, and it's players embrace that. And, if blizzard stays on pace with that chart they leaked a while back, this expac is conveniently going to be released early next year...which is close to a couple major game releases I know of =P
Comments
Thousands of requests for a feature in a game the has 10+ millions of players is a very small subset of the community. It's not surprising Blizzard wasn't all over the Kung Fu Panda expansion until now.
I'm not quite sure what Blizzard was thinking with this move. This is the first expansion they have announced that I have not wanted to come back for. The whole Kung Fu Panda thing just seems silly and childish to be quite honest...
There was always an element of sillyness in WoW but it was kind of charming but it never took a centre stage before . Also it comes on the heals of the Kung Fu Panda movies which a very much aimed at a younger market . To many adults that are still playing it will be a definative indication to the way the game was going .
I know 3 people that cancelled thier subscriptions in the since hearing the news about the expansion . There had been some leaks earlier in the year but most people myself included thought it was a ruse to hide the true nature of the coming expansion because it really did seam incredibly misconcieved .
You only have to look at these forums (and others) to see that reaction to this is pretty much overwealmingly negative and theres a sence of utter disbelief even in the WoW community ( I do know a few people still playing ) that Blizzard have done this .
I can't imagne many people over the age of 12 thinking this an awe inspiring idea for an expansion and to be honest I don't think a lot of 12 year olds think Kung Fu Pandas a great movie either by the time your that age your tending to see those type of films for younger children than you .
Its difficult to see who this would appeal on a mass scale apart from asian schoolgirls who love cute stuff like Pandas .
I see your point. Maybe they'll add a second race to up the testosterone level a bit more. I vote for lizard people!
LOL.
Remember, I haven't been subbed to WoW since shortly after the introduction of BGs, bud. So sorry to let you down, but I'm not really involved with the game on an emotional level enough to be "bitching"/"crying" (the big mean bolded capitalized kind, my bad) about any changes or expansions. Come to think of it, I don't really get all emo over anything like a video game.
Also, since I started in the genre, I have had at least one sub to one mmorpg the entire time. I started with the launch of WoW, so it would appear that I haven't been forgotten and left out in the cold like you apparently desire
What small group are you referring to by the way, bud? Because my main game for over six years was EVE Online. You know, the one that has held one of the top spots for mmorpg sub numbers for many years in the West? And it's a fucking spaceship game that isn't the simplest game to get into to say the least. It's pretty clear to me that there is a decent market for gamers such as myself if a game like that can be so bloody popular.
In addition, how dare you call me a grown up in such a manner! LOL. You are a cute one, indeed.
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
"I think Blizzard just handed it to StarWars TOR on a plate ."
I agree with that. Blizzard handed to SWTOR on a plate most of its game mechanics and game-design.
If SWTOR succeed, we'll still see for the next 10 years wow-like (sci-fi) MMOs. If not, well, companies may put more work designing their games.
What about snake people like Naga
I support this...I mean snake...testosterone makes a lot of sense 
It would also satisfy lore people since they aren't a "joke" race.
"Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"Americans used to roar like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security." -Norman Vincent Peale
Ha. For once we agree.
As has been mentioned though, I think Blizzy is starting to focus on what could be WoW's future bread and butter: a younger Chinese playerbase.
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
I don't get this thinking, just because one expansion has pandas and some asian themes doesn't mean they are focusing on chinese playerbase, I'll believe it if the next expansion is Chinese themed, which is unlikely. Now the younger playerbase...I think they already proved that with constantly making it easier.
"Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"Americans used to roar like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security." -Norman Vincent Peale
What are you lot on about? Pandaren have been part of the lore since.....forever? Calling them Kungfu panda ripoffs is a cheap shot, and a poor one at that. If anything, it's the other way around (But yet it isn't).
It's obvious that you just hate WoW, and will pretty much say anything to prove that. Let it go already.
That said, I am excited about the Pandaren. However, me resubscribing is left to be seen. Takes more than a race and class to draw me back in. I'm keeping my eye on the other new stuff for the time being. That, and SWTOR is a must-have. Don't have the time for 2 MMO's.
Statistics?
This website is a perfect example of that, you don't have to go anywhere.
Every week new title same old bitch session, someone pulling out the "Back In The Day" card.
You seem to be a pretty smart cat, I'm sure you'll figured it out.
Eastern "subs" have been on the rise for years. Not too sure if that's still the case, but when so many Western players are leaving the game, it's understandable that Blizzy might want to begin catering to the bulk of their customers, no?
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
I think you are wrong, very wrong. I think Blizzard just pulled some aces against TOR and GW2.
Guild Wars 2's 50 minutes game play video:
http://n4g.com/news/592585/guild-wars-2-50-minutes-of-pure-gameplay
Everything We Know about GW2:
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/287180/page/1
Love the clip!
EvE is pretty spaceship game that I can see turning people off or for some may find boring. Again a game that is not made for everyone and even has it's own handful of dickheads in that game. Though I still enjoy it from to time. Of course there is a learning curve but you eventually catch on as you really get into it, I mean some folks catch on faster than others.
Finally, someone who's reading between the lines.
Pretty sure you are right especially since TOR and RIFT and many others MMO aren't translated in Chinese nor Korean nor know how to handle these very specific markets.
It's a trap.
See you in the dream..
The Fires from heaven, now as cold as ice. A rapid ascension tolls a heavy price.
I think Blizzard does the right thing. People want an MMORPG to evolve, to change, to be different. They first had the basic game. Then it got the spacey BC expansion. Then the frigid / dark WOTLK and then apocalyptic Cataclysm. Now they get friendly/happy Pandas. It's the right move.
Let's play Fallen Earth (blind, 300 episodes)
Let's play Guild Wars 2 (blind, 45 episodes)
Wow, I skimmed through that one earlier That would be a really good marketing move, didn't really see it that way.
Anyway lets get back on track and hating Blizzard for their dumbass mistake.
lol Misstep? I havent played WoW since about a month after Cata was released, not because i didnt like Cata but simply because i was tired of the game
Now with the pandaran and monk class coming i will be returning.
Not only that but their annual deal that comes with Diablo 3 is freakin extremely enticing to me and i may be going for that deal also.
Jeremiah 8:21 I weep for the hurt of my people; I stand amazed, silent, dumb with grief.
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Why aren't any of us irritated about the SIX skills bit? You get one new skill every 6 levels. That's even dumber than the panda bit. But I guess they needed to simplify it more. I mean having all those skill points was just sooooooo confusing. I can't find one single thing that I like in this expansion. For ME....every expansion has gotten progressively WORSE.
As far as Blizz "handing it" to TOR. I don't really think that's how it's going to play out. Just because some of us on HERE think this is a lame xpac doesn't mean that millions won't still buy it. I personally just think the game looks more and more like a pre-school game. And now you can PLAY as teddy bears....sort of. I'm surprised the collector's edition doesn't come with a nap mat. Of course it might....we don't know that for sure yet. I guess xpacs don't really have collector's editions, but....yah.
President of The Marvelously Meowhead Fan Club
Blizzard is giving the majority what they want. I find the people here on these forums don't follow the norm and are a little more hardcore. I don't really understand how people are shocked by this..
The cool part about what you just said is that they will probably honor, unlike some companies who fail to deliver on some of their deals.
Who was that again Funcom,...and Cryptic...I'm trying to think about who else.
Centaurs could be fun too, imho. Welcome to a new capital city in Desolace hehe.
This right here. From what I have read, all pretense at choice is being thrown out of the window. Although what I have read broke it down a little differently, but then, I could be behind the times.
The intel I got was from an October 21st interview, which basically stated that in 90 levels, you get to make 6 talent choices. As well, at level 10, you get to choose 1 specialization, which then grants you preselected abilities. So, in total, it looks to be 7 true choices to make in 90 levels. Some people may love it, but it is a little too much hand holding for my tastes, and will definitely not draw me back to WoW.
Does this expansion spell the end of WoW and a mass exodus to TOR? I don't really think it will. I think TOR will most definitely be a success, but I think the WoW machine will continue on.
I guess I'm the only one that thought this expac looked fun lol... monk class, pandas, and pokemon...damn
I probably won't buy either games truthfully (the expac or swtor), but one thing I think a lot of you are kinding missing is that... this is the stuff that the wow community likes. Old players and present players. To alot of you who think this is just beyond silly and a joke, well if you've ever played wow, you know that the players love this kind fo stuff, and have aways wanted panderan and alternate endgame (pokemon gameplay, and now you get raid points from doing non-raid activities, which will probably be good enough for a lot of people.)
So I think this expac was actually a pretty smart move from blizzard. You just gotta keep in mind that blizzard and wow doesn't take itself seriously...because it's a game, and it's players embrace that. And, if blizzard stays on pace with that chart they leaked a while back, this expac is conveniently going to be released early next year...which is close to a couple major game releases I know of =P