Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
POLL: In your opinion has WoW's effect on the MMOG genre been overridingly positive or negative?
Bellarion
Member Posts: 244
Disclaimer; This is not a troll, I am simply curious what the numbers look like on MMORPG.com . If it was a troll I would not have made it a poll. Everyone please feel free to merely cast your vote and not make a comment if you wish.
Do you think, taking into consideration all arguements, that WoW's effect on the MMOG genre has been more positive or more negative?
Edit: Intentional or otherwise.
WOOT
www.eorzeapedia.com
(Great FF14 source)
Comments
WoW itself has done nothing but good things to the mmorpg world.
It's all the developers that are trying to copy WoW's formula that are doing bad things.
Mr. Bagguns
This is very true. People for some reason got the idea that blizzard forced every developer after to stop making innovations and just copy what has been done.
WoW will be remembered in the MMORPG history books as a MMO which opened up MMOs to the mainstream. EQ1 did it first, and WoW took the bar to a new level. Unfortunately since then , there has not been another MMO to pass the baton to ...so the bar is now falling.
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
I agree that WoW has had a positive impact on the MMO genre simply because it raised the bar of the level of quality that the majority desire. After all, the majority IS the playerbase of WoW. For example a good quest system, easy to use and customisable interface, a good background story, an acceptable system of progression and character customisation that is easy to get into, varied classes, graphics that are easy on the eyes AND the pc.
Don't get me wrong, WoW is by no means perfect and it doesn't encompass all of what people want, but it does tick a lot of even the most "basic" elements that some other MMO's forget.
Innovation is just a buzzword which in fact is not true of what the majority want. Sure they want something "different" but at the same time they also want something that echoes their previously favourite games. Therefore innovation isn't really the right word to use. In my opinion the word to use is Evolution. And that is what WoW is. It's an evolution of it's predecessors. Sure, some might say that it is a devolution, but in the end WoW captured much of what was in previous games and enriched it (the Quest system and story arc being two of them).
Personally, I think it's time for an MMO to stand up and do the same again, just with a slightly different foundation. However its a tall order to match that can of quality in todays market. And THAT is the problem. The world has turned much and costs have increased a lot in the last 10 years. Which is why so many new MMO companys are feeling the pinch.
However, if they DO match that kind of quality gameplay, then along with WoW, it will enrich the genre as a whole.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
Positive. It is mainly due to WoW's success that there are so many options available. The fact that most of those options fail miserably at what they're attempting to do is not WoW's (or Blizzard's) fault. It's theirs.
Programmers (and developers in general) have become increasingly lazy over the years. I'm not sure if it's the way they were brought up, the educational system they were exposed to, or just plain arrogance. Regardless of the cause, the effect is still the same. Substandard fare.
Any developer who takes the time to examine everything that Blizzard has done right, and incorporates those features into its own game, will do very well. The trouble is, none of them (NONE of them) has done so. They throw an idea down on paper that looks like it might be the next "WoW-killer", present it to investors and convince them that they'll make a fortune, and then commence to piece together the sloppiest POS this side of a sewage treatment plant.
They (developers) seem to lack the ability to learn from their own (or others') mistakes.
The few "original" titles out there either miss the mark completely, or end up with a niche playerbase that just barely allows them to cover costs of development. This, in turn, dissuades investors from pouring money into "riskier" titles. And the cycle continues.
I didnt see an option for both so didnt vote. By this I mean, WOW brought in a ton of players which was positive for the industry but at the same time the catering to these new players have lowered the standard of games as a whole. So yeah its had a positive effect but also a negative.
Positive. It is mainly due to WoW's success that there are so many options available. The fact that most of those options fail miserably at what they're attempting to do is not WoW's (or Blizzard's) fault. It's theirs.
Programmers (and developers in general) have become increasingly lazy over the years. I'm not sure if it's the way they were brought up, the educational system they were exposed to, or just plain arrogance. Regardless of the cause, the effect is still the same. Substandard fare.
Any developer who takes the time to examine everything that Blizzard has done right, and incorporates those features into its own game, will do very well. The trouble is, none of them (NONE of them) has done so. They throw an idea down on paper that looks like it might be the next "WoW-killer", present it to investors and convince them that they'll make a fortune, and then commence to piece together the sloppiest POS this side of a sewage treatment plant.
They (developers) seem to lack the ability to learn from their own (or others') mistakes.
The few "original" titles out there either miss the mark completely, or end up with a niche playerbase that just barely allows them to cover costs of development. This, in turn, dissuades investors from pouring money into "riskier" titles. And the cycle continues.
I agree, an MMO shouldn't ever release until its ticked all the same boxes that WoW manages to tick in terms of quality. I'm not inferring that all MMO's should be clones of WoW. I'm talking more along the lines of quality and acceptibility for the masses.
You are right though, MMO companies have become lazy. Fixated on one single aspect that they feel makes their game stand away from WoW, when that same product cannot match WoW in even the most basic elements.
To raise a bar, you first have to get to the bars level, only THEN can you even try to surpass it.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
This sums up the entire thread even before it has been discussed.
It will have an amazing effect on the genre. Basically because of WoW we don't have to worry about another "world of everclone" game due to the lessons and losses devs have had trying to make said game type.
Also as WoW grows other games are experiancing growth as people move to try other games. Niche games like EvE and micro-Indy games like Haven and Hearth are experiancing numbers that would be unprecedant without the outflow of players leaving WoW/willing to experiment with game/MMO types they'd've never tried.
I find it amazing that by 2020 first world countries will be competing to get immigrants.
WoW may have brought millions of new people to the MMORPG genre, but the vast majority of these are people that the genre could well have done without! Since WoW's release, MMO communities have went completely down the toilet. People used to generally be friendly and helpfull, now nearly everyone you meet is a killstealing, ninjalooting twat with absolutely no manners or social skills.
I am currenty subscribed to two MMO's, but will not be renewing either subscription. In fact since picking up Dragon Age: Origins a couple of weeks ago, I haven't had the desire to log into either of my MMO's. The genre is pretty much dead to me now. I'll get SW:TOR when it releases, but I'll probably treat it more as a single-player RPG and group for certain content when I feel like it.
As for the 'WoW has raised the standards' argument, I would beg to differ. Development Houses are still releasing half-finished, buggy MMO's and this will never change as long as people are stupid enough to buy them. Also, WoW did absolutely nothing new, it just copied previous Themepark MMO's and polished the content. Zero innovation whatsoever.
I am, however, biased as I far prefer the UO sandbox/skillbased model for my MMO's rather than the oh-so-boring and overdone class/level themepark, raid-or-die trash that gets rammed down our throats! Although I do know that I'm in the minority in this way of thinking regards MMO design.
So to sum up, for me, WoW was the first nail in the coffin of the MMO genre.
MMORPG History:
Playing - EVE Online.
Played (Retired) - AO, SWG, MxO, WoW, RFO, SoR, CoX, EQ2, GW, L2, Vanguard, LotRO, AoC, TCoS, Aion.
Favourite MMO - Pre-CU SWG, 3 Years, 4 Accounts, 2 Pre-CU Jedi (1 Pre-9).
Awaiting - Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Secret World, Earthrise.
I agree with most of what has been said here except for this "and accessibility for the masses". Creating a game with the intention of catering to as many people as possible is one of the many reasons mediocrity abounds so much in MMO's.
Jam is sticky.
The warmest spots in hell are for the ones that stay neutral. (sure it's it's an over statement)
After wieghing the two effects which is more important?
I find it amazing that by 2020 first world countries will be competing to get immigrants.
I think the vast majority of games have the WoW style of gameplay. However, that style was there long before WoW came out. Unfortunately, I couldn't vote "Not Applicable" beause WoW did not invent this style of gameplay, it was here long before WoW - WoW just seemed to hit the right combination that appeals to a greater number of people than ever before.
Because Blizzard did hit the right combination that appealed to the masses, there are more and more MMO's that come out now-a-days that follow the same pattern. Even though I do not prefer that style of gameplay (I'm trying to stay unbiased here), I think ultimately WoW stifled innovation. Not by its own fault however, but because the MMO industry in general seemed to have chosen to copy its style for profit, rather than choosing to innvoate and go their own direction. My thoughts are the MMO industry tends to think "Go with a proven clone with predicable profit, rather than innovate which can be a financial gamble." I think that mode of thinking has stifled innovation and caused the MMO industry to become very flat lately.
I voted negative as that was the closest answer provided. Its not Blizzard's fault they made a wildly popular game. Its the industry's fault for making 1,000,000 clones of it.
I'm not creative enough to have a signature
Completely agree with this and the comment about the MMO community. WoW was the gateway for little 12 year-old assholes who's source of entertainment is the disembowlment of others'.
Well, in my opinion the one bad thing was to mainstream the genre. Some might view that as a positive, but I think it is a major contributor to the decline of the strength of the communities. Too many players today only care about themselves and may as well be playing a single player game. They aren't affecting me directly, but this attitude seems to have spread. It makes it harder to find groups and to make friends, for me at least.
That being said, WoW has set the bar really really high, which is an overall good thing. Its only too bad zero developers are willing or able to reach that high. And in doing so, the genre has stagnated, because WoW really has no competition and no incentive to strive harder. I think the developers have gotten fairly lazy.
Overall though, I voted positive.
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
WOW forced MMOs to realize players want amusing games, not empty worlds.
"What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver
Public awareness of MMORPG genre
Decay of genre due to mass appeal design changes
Overall impact on genre community
Ranking on scale of 0 (worst) to 3 (best): 1
Ken
www.ActionMMORPG.com
One man, a small pile of money, and the screwball idea of a DIY Indie MMORPG? Yep, that's him. ~sigh~
I enjoy WoW, but I think its such an annomaly, that not much can really be learned from it. Maybe, if you get a perfectly timed release, intentional or otherwise, combined with a massively well known multiplayer IP and company with a near flawless track record you get massive success?
WoW's success has never been replicated or simulated at all in the genere. And I would dare say not even Blizzard's new game will come close. Many new MMO players that wow attracted had never put in so much time and effort into a game before, a new game has to entice those players to give up that investment in addition to being a fun and functional game on par or greater than what WoW was for the player.
I cant really say if its positive or negative. Perhaps positive in that its brought more light and acceptance onto the industry. Perhaps negative in that its a standard that noone will be able to live up to.
I'm going with Negative.
When was the last time a good MMO has released? How many have reached and kept over 100k subscribers? The fact of the matter is WoW has pretty much killed MMO's so it's either play WoW or nothing me I went with nothing. However I do see a couple gems that I have been closely watching and in all honesty I hope WoW is no more after they release. It's time to put away the kid stuff and put out something for the adults and yes WoW is a kid game (Does not mean it's filled entirely with kids it has adults to who act like kids) on the fact it is just way to easy not to mention if you have ever played WoW and seen the way people act on there you would agree to unless you are one of the kids.
I want hours of game play not minutes.
Maybe the fact that WoW brought the whole MMO market to the masses has helped the market itself to survive the current economic situation. Which makes you wonder what would have happened had WoW not been around to give the market a new bar to strive for. Maybe investors would have not been as interested in the MMO market had WoW not been around.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
I agree with the highlighted statement (with the whole post really but I wanted to call this one out). The reason why I think this gameplay style has become oh-so-boring is because we see the same formula is almost every MMO now-a-days. If the industry would innovate and give variety, it wouldn't be oh-so-boring. But since our options are very few and limited because of all the clones, this is my resoning why WoW had a negative impact to the industry. It was not the cause, but it was the trigger.
I don't hate WoW. I hate what the MMO industry has become because of WoW.
I'm not creative enough to have a signature
Yes and no. In the short run it introduced stagnation to the genre, but when it eventually does get old, there will be a huge market open to new and perhaps better things.
However i cant help but wonder how much better things would have been if instead of one WoW we had 5 different million-subscriber games.
Oh well, love it or hate it, gotta vote for positive.
I don't think it's the fact that they are trying to copy WoW, because every mmo take things from other games. It's the fact that it's all half assed.
Look at Warhammer. Almost everything about the game was half assed. Class abilities, areas, pvp, professions, sieges. The whole game just feels as if they didn't put much effort into it.
You want to copy a game? Copy a game. I don't care. Just do a good fricken job with it.
I'm going to go with Negative, & I don't blame the developers, I blame the "money men" the people going to them for money with great ideas that are risky dont get funding, the WoW clones do, despite the track record showing WoW clones are not all that successful.
I think WoW is an anomoly, & while it has done several things right, it gets a lot wrong too, wrong in my eyes at least.
"Dumbing down" the game in order to appeal to the masses got taken too far, WoW as it stands appeals to the mass-market of players coming from single player games & the MMO players are swamped in the process.
I personally classify WoW as Massively Single Player - with Raiding & Arena "e-sports" bolted on, and WoW is not a "world" it is a game, UO/EQ/AC/DAoC and very very few since were "worlds" WoW is a lot closer to Diablo in gameplay than it is to EQ in my opinion, even though EQ was it's major Inspiration.
Completely agree with this and the comment about the MMO community. WoW was the gateway for little 12 year-old assholes who's source of entertainment is the disembowlment of others'.
I am sorry but I couldn't have said this better. You took the words right out of my mouth!