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Dhruin
Stranger In A Strange Land
Joined: 20 May 2002
Posts: 1825
Location: Sydney, Australia |
World of Warcraft doomed? @ Grimwell Online |
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An interesting <a href="http://www.grimwell.com/?action=fullnews&id=262" target="_blank">op-ed</a> at Grimwell Online posits that 'World of Warcraft' will see a drop in players to as low as a quarter of its current base:<blockquote><em>My theory is based on WoW being categorized as a “New School `Casual Friendly` Slayer.” Those games suffer from longevity issues, and World of Warcraft is no exception. I consider those games little more compelling in the long term than Diablo II. World of Warcraft’s excellent sales figures do not impact this, because when Diablo II was released, I’m certain it flew off the shelf just as quickly. Like World of Warcraft, the number of people playing Diablo II could have been counted in the hundreds of thousands. How many do you think are playing it now?</em></blockquote>Can't say that I agree with a number of points but one would expect WoW to have a high attrition rate among its casual players. |
Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:17 pm |
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I am consistently dumbfounded by the undeniably elitist attitudes which simply write off this game as lowest common denominator, simplistic, only good for stupid people with short attention spans, etc. I have a feeling that a majority of these people have not actually played this game for any length of time or have a some stick up their arse because of fanboy devotion to some other game.
While WoW is by no means the second coming many have proclaimed it to be, it is a very good, and yes in many ways "deep" game. It does make the genre approachable for more casual gamers. (ie normal people with families/work/lives that dont have the time to dedicate insane amts of time to a game). However, there is a surprising amount of depth especially at higher lvls which has kept me interested much longer than any of the supposedly more "deep" games which people compare this against.
Moreover, the game is dare I say enjoyable. I have already put a significant amt of time in the game and still feel there is much to keep me interested and engaged (even more so when the pvp aspects are fully implemented). And unlike most of the other games in this genre ive played, I dont feel that I've wasted any time and I look back on my pre- and post- max level experiences with pleasure, unlike most other games (e.g. DAoC) where i wince whenever i think about the grind that it took me to get to max lvl. For these reason, I dont think the game is going to lose market share and probably much less so than these other supposedly "deep" games. If making the genre enjoyable is somehow the lowest common denominator, then I proudly count myself among them and plan to enjoy myself until something more enjoyable comes along. |
Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:30 pm |
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Guest
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quote:
Like World of Warcraft, the number of people playing Diablo II could have been counted in the hundreds of thousands. How many do you think are playing it now?
What an idiot. Alot of people play Diablo 2 still. Most developers can only dream of that kind of longevity. This bloke is clueless. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:29 am |
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guest
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I happen to agree with him, WoW is an OK game, for kids whom have never played an mmorpg. SEVERELY lacking in the depth department, sorry. This game lags like hell, and quite frankly, just plain sucks. I played it for 5 months, have a level 60 mage, 25 hunter, so don't try and say I didn't give it a chance. WOW is a good break for a while, but then when its over, your left asking yourself, why did I waste my time? Too many "LEET" kidz who will torture you to no end. Camp your corpse till you just log etc... I really feel let down, as I am a huge blizzard fan. I rated this game really high, among some of the best mmorpg's to date, before I realized the content sux at high end. I can't even believe I once said the graphics were good. There absolutely horrid in comparison with other games coming out . Blizzard is one of the best, but they should stick to single player rpgs, or multi RTS's. MMORPG's just aren't their forte. I mean who wants to wait 6 months for a decent patch? Blizzard has been known to perfect their games, but sheesh I cant stand having HORRIBLE bugs still in the game. Like for instance, the one where you fall through the world infinitely, and of course, don't even try to contact a CSR, you'll be in line for a week. If you even get a response, other than an automated email saying, "were sorry for the delay" A WEEK DELAY FOR A GAMEBREAKING BUG?!? This is customer service at its absolute worst, and I am sad to say it is blizzard of all companies behind it. They did bring a new thing to mmorpgs, the only new thing, a waiting queue to play... Real innovative. lol Like anyone wants to wait in line to play a game they pay monthly for. Thats like paying for dial up, and getting a busy signal for 2 hours. I know I for one wouldn't keep the service, but some people are morons and refuse to realize what they are being put through. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:17 am |
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quote: Originally posted by Anonymous
I am consistently dumbfounded by the undeniably elitist attitudes which simply write off this game as lowest common denominator, simplistic, only good for stupid people with short attention spans, etc. I have a feeling that a majority of these people have not actually played this game for any length of time or have a some stick up their arse because of fanboy devotion to some other game.
While WoW is by no means the second coming many have proclaimed it to be, it is a very good, and yes in many ways "deep" game. It does make the genre approachable for more casual gamers. (ie normal people with families/work/lives that dont have the time to dedicate insane amts of time to a game). However, there is a surprising amount of depth especially at higher lvls which has kept me interested much longer than any of the supposedly more "deep" games which people compare this against.
Moreover, the game is dare I say enjoyable. I have already put a significant amt of time in the game and still feel there is much to keep me interested and engaged (even more so when the pvp aspects are fully implemented). And unlike most of the other games in this genre ive played, I dont feel that I've wasted any time and I look back on my pre- and post- max level experiences with pleasure, unlike most other games (e.g. DAoC) where i wince whenever i think about the grind that it took me to get to max lvl. For these reason, I dont think the game is going to lose market share and probably much less so than these other supposedly "deep" games. If making the genre enjoyable is somehow the lowest common denominator, then I proudly count myself among them and plan to enjoy myself until something more enjoyable comes along.
Actually having played the game through to 60, actually read the quests and the paper thin thread they offered have found the game to be monotonous and one of the most trivial excuses for a video game I have ever had the misfortune of playing. This is diablo II set in a warcraft universe. It is a game that offers minimal exploration and completely strips the rpg from mmorpg. The only thing that higher levels offers you is loot whores and thieves. The community is about the same as that of lineage2 filled with the lowest and most despicable people I have had the displeasure of coming across.
There is no content, the dungeons are cookie cutter as are the encounters. oooo Onyxia... oooo MC, been there done that wasn't impressed and rather disheartened that it took the dev team several attempts at onyxia even with all their epic loot to finally kill her and my guild went in and walked out 30 minutes later with her head and a some pretty crappy pieces of gear to be considered epic.
The GM staff are more rude and dismissive than helpful, the server stability is laughable, and the lag is unbearable. Not to mention that the dev staff are so out of touch with reality that they are planning on rewarding people for killing those that are 12 levels beneath them. The only people that have given this game favorable reviews are the same people that blizzard pays large advertising fees to.
Blizzard has a ton of fanbois and that is fine. Every game does. But diablo was not an rpg, diablo2 was not an rpg. Blizzard hasnt the first clue what it takes to make a decent rpg and has no business in the market. I suspect that within a year there will be server consolidations and as better games come down the pipeline the servers will become more and more vacant. hell I bet with the first expansion pack people will start avoiding this travesty of a game like the plague. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:46 am |
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Guest
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quote: Originally posted by Anonymous
quote:
Like World of Warcraft, the number of people playing Diablo II could have been counted in the hundreds of thousands. How many do you think are playing it now?
What an idiot. Alot of people play Diablo 2 still. Most developers can only dream of that kind of longevity. This bloke is clueless.
The only ones clueless are those with the shallow lives and small brains that still bother with something as moronic as diabloII. /sarcasm on And if this discussion is about bnet, well thats the most mature and the downright friendliest community in gaming today. /sarcasmoff.
Just because Jerry Springer has been on for some odd 14 years or so doesnt mean that its quality. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:50 am |
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methusala
Tempered Warlord
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 281
Location: Odinwald |
You can rant and you can rave but WoW is still the best mmorpg out there right now and the proof is in the numbers.Will the population eventually drop? Maybe it will and maybe it will rise with the expansions sure to be coming.Is it geared for people who are not up for the Nobel prize in astro physics.Yeah,it is,but all mmorpgs are.You do not have to be intelligent to play any mmorpg out today.After 1 day you pretty much have its number.I choose to concentrate on having FUN and WoW gives me that. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 5:50 am |
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FadedC
Guest
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Most of the complaints about WoW on this thread would apply far more to every other MMORPG on the market. MMORPGs aren't for everyone and just because you like RPGs you should not expect to like a MMORPG. If you don't like MMORPGs then you only have yourself to blame for disliking WoW. You should never have bought it in the first place.
And if you don't think Diablo is a RPG then you should take some time to learn exactly what RPG means (particularly in reference to computer games). |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:01 am |
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Dr. A
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I think Diablo is considered a hack 'n' slash game..nt really an RPG. It's more action-oriented with RPG elements and with mindless killing and item collection with little character development and nt much of an engaging story.
Dun get me wrong - Diablo is a great game but it's kinda overrated, imo. i would consider Planescape, Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale series, etc as fully-fledged RPGs...
of course, just my opinion so go easy on poor ole me |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:20 am |
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Test
Head Merchant
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Posts: 67
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Wow is a good game, definitely fun for a while (my 3 month sub ran out a few days ago, and I didn't resubscribe). Like any of these games, you get a to a certain point (i.e. level 60) and all that's left is clearing/camping the same 2 or 3 dungeons/uber mobs until they get around to patching in more content (so 2 or 3 can become 3 or 4). Pvp really isn't worth doing till they add in rewards/ranks for it, otherwise its just a respawnfest. You will get more satisfaction from playing a first person shooter. I think if there had been more than 2 content patches since the game was released, I probably would have continued until battlegrounds came out, but as it sits, I'll just resubscribe in June or August when they come out, and give'em a try.
I would still recommend the game to someone looking to try a mmorpg, especially someone new to them. I can't think of another game out there currently that I would recommend really... maybe City of Heros once the villans expansion is released.
.. and the games on the near horizon look pretty bad. I mean how long were the fanboys saying 'Wait till WoW comes out, it will crush!' .. I can't think of a single future game that's generating any real interest. A bad sign me thinks, could be signalling the end... |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:37 pm |
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methusala
Tempered Warlord
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 281
Location: Odinwald |
The game play in WoW really first starts when you reach lvl.60. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:41 pm |
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I can also see WoW's subscriber base dropping off sharply as people (like me) begin getting burned out... took me about two months. And I gotta tell ya, if the game begins at lvl 60, then something is VERY very wrong. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 5:22 pm |
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Test
Head Merchant
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Posts: 67
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quote: Originally posted by methusala
The game play in WoW really first starts when you reach lvl.60.
You have to be kidding? You sure your talking about WoW? All there's left to do is raid this or that for the slim hope that your will win a roll for that piece of uber gear that might drop.
This may change though once they implement the Pvp game. Until then most normal people get burnt out on level 60 play after about 2 weeks I'd imagine. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:31 pm |
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FadedC
Guest
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Well you have to realize that different people like different kinds of things. Some like big epic raids and chasing after pieces of gear that you will probably use for a very long time. Some people like leveling up, smaller goal oriented things, and exploring new areas and gaining new abilities. One type of person will find the game really begins at 60, the other will find it ends at 60.
A big paralel can be drawn to EQ after the first 6 months. Lots of people hit max level and some had a hard time finding things to do. Lots of people predicted failure in the near future. Lots of people were wrong. But there is no question that some of it's membership will start to drop off.
Regarding Diablo being a hack and slash game, yes that's true. It's also a RPG. The two are not mutualy exclusive. The definition for a computer game being a RPG does not in any way require branching conversation choices, detailed storylines, or multiple endings (although all those things are nice). There is no such thing as a "hack and slash" genre of game, although there is a hack and slash style of RPG. |
Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:51 pm |
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methusala
Tempered Warlord
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 281
Location: Odinwald |
Yeah I have played every race and every class in both realms to level 60.I have explored every instance,cave,dungeon and mine.I have been through the WoW from top to bottom and seen all the lands,been in every castle and building in the game.I have explored the under water wrecks on all the coasts.Last but not least,I have done every quest in the game.My equipment is the best of the best.I guess its about time for some more content. |
Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:14 pm |
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