Originally posted by SirPKsAlot WoW is dead in the sense the doge meme is dead. It's old, over-played and people roll their eyes when it gets mentioned, but people still play it.
Rover isn't dead yet, but he's getting old and his hip is bothering him...
That's the infamous chart I was referring too, which was validated against the stock reports as being accurate, too. See the top left blue line? See the drop? That was from Ghostcrawler's "l2p" blog post -- sharpest drop in subs in WoW's history.
What Blizzard believes and who they listen too doesn't jive with reality of that (nor did Dragon Soul).
Should of went further and kept up the momentum clearing out all the below average gamers - send them back to Facebook or make a separate "social" theme park. When WoW went from early adopters to "cool" and there was an influx of below average gamers it was ruined - good for business but terrible for the genre. They have suffered ever since as the game is now one big ball of band aids after being pushed/pulled by these hyena's rather than sticking to their vision.
But WoW isn't a niche game. Blizzard casts their net wide, not narrow and deep like a niche game.
They made a design choice to attract everyone including the house cat, and that's what they'll have as a fan base. If they go "rough and tough" WoW can join EvE with 500k players.
Don't think Blizzard could swallow their pride that much to do just that -- it's all about those sub numbers now.
I agree. They casted their net much wider than others dared to at that time, and it payed off financially.
Those players who wanted more niche gameplay got left in the dust in the process.
If carefully balanced both the casual and the hardcore can play one MMO and enjoy it.
But telling the majority that they have to be like those hardcore players to get anywhere in a casual friendly game, is NOT a way to keep subs (especially after all the fun in WotLK) or gain more overall subs.
WoW is usually the first MMO players will play simply because of the market saturation. It's not one of those finesse games, heck, there's no trainer in the game with accurate help to prepare for hardcore. Even if Blizzard wanted too, the spells/abilities isn't there to train the player (don't get them all to level 90). Games like PS2 has a more comprehensive training area to test weapons and learn how to fly, things WoW leaves to players to "learn on their own" (and usually in the worst ways, so when they're level 90+ they already trained in failure).
Want hardcore, the game has to be able to train characters right at the very beginning. Not leave Trade Chat or even guildies as the advice channels (I still can't believe the advice I got from "I know how to play!" types. Confronted one dude about it, and he insisted every Holy paladin was wrong and he was right). o.O
Comments
If carefully balanced both the casual and the hardcore can play one MMO and enjoy it.
But telling the majority that they have to be like those hardcore players to get anywhere in a casual friendly game, is NOT a way to keep subs (especially after all the fun in WotLK) or gain more overall subs.
WoW is usually the first MMO players will play simply because of the market saturation. It's not one of those finesse games, heck, there's no trainer in the game with accurate help to prepare for hardcore. Even if Blizzard wanted too, the spells/abilities isn't there to train the player (don't get them all to level 90). Games like PS2 has a more comprehensive training area to test weapons and learn how to fly, things WoW leaves to players to "learn on their own" (and usually in the worst ways, so when they're level 90+ they already trained in failure).
Want hardcore, the game has to be able to train characters right at the very beginning. Not leave Trade Chat or even guildies as the advice channels (I still can't believe the advice I got from "I know how to play!" types. Confronted one dude about it, and he insisted every Holy paladin was wrong and he was right). o.O
.:| Kevyne@Shandris - Armory |:. - When WoW was #1 - .:| I AM A HOLY PALADIN - Guild Theme |:.