Blizzard developer says WoW unlikely for consoles
by Eliah Hecht 
Jan 15th 2007 at 11:10PM
Pro-G caught up with Blizzard game designer Jonathan LeCraft, and got a little bit of an interview out of him (they promise a full-length interview on Thursday). The interesting bits:- "You really do need a keyboard to play WoW"
- Wii-controlled WoW "got to be pretty easy to PvP against"
- WoW on consoles not in the plans, although they do keep it "on the radar"
- Blizzard has the "capacity" for another MMO, possibly in a different license (if you're reading this, blue: Diablo MMO plz)
Filed under: Odds and ends, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Serenity Jan 16th 2007 12:33AM
It's been done with a 360 Controller. I'll find the link later. Google WoW360 and you'll find it easy though.
isobelle Jan 16th 2007 12:46AM
why do people insist on still begging for the 'Diablo MMO'?
WoW is more diablo than warcraft, it just happens to be set in the warcraft locale.
socketed items? multiplayer online? talent trees? pots?
what else are you wanting?
something like starcraft would be 'different', and i imagine that's where they'll take it next.
GamerJunkie Jan 16th 2007 1:20AM
Add Wii-nerd that tries to play WoW with a Wii-mote is either playing a warrior or hunter.
Try playing a healer class doing Molten Core, most non-healer classes don't even understand the technicalities of healing, targeting, spells, casting, etc.
Next thing you know the Wii-nerds will be playing themselves with the wii-motes.
Christopher Jan 16th 2007 1:48AM
isnt their a 3rd part addon for the 360 to use a ps2, keyboard, and mouse as controllers?
ps3 and the 360 both have use and wireless support.
why not make a keyboard and mouse for it officially?
Thijz Jan 16th 2007 2:21AM
GamerJunkie, i dont think it's necessary to call people Wii-nerds. I play a Wii myself and it's a great console, i don't want to start a flame-war here, but i think it's better then any other console i've played so far.
WoW on a Wii or any other console is really not possible. Communicating will be a hell if you have to point out every single letter one by one. Also you are not as quick as you are with a mouse.
Bbcversus Jan 16th 2007 2:50AM
Starcraft could be the next MMO... Breaking the market once again... Hmmm... About the differences in Diablo and WoW? Gief Horadric Cube and Runes!!!>.< And ofc some Frozen Orbs and some Hydras... maybe at lvl 80 after a few expansions...just GIEF.
RogueJedi86 Jan 16th 2007 4:14AM
For the StarCraft MMO, I've debated it with a friend, and the truth is, it can't be done at this point. There's not enough Lore. WarCraft has had 3 games(each with its own expansion), a card game, and probably a dozen novels. Not to mention the already extensive backstory developed outside the aforementioned sources.
StarCraft only has 1 game(+ expansion), 3 or 4 novels, and a Vaporware-Shooter sequel. No real backstory to account for. I want "Universe of StarCraft" horribly, but at this point, there just isn't enough lore for it to work. Only 3 or 4 quest npcs total? And who would be the enemy? The Zerg? That would make it hard to do Raids. As of the end of Brood War, the Protoss and Terrans are firm allies against the Zerg. The dynamics seem hard to do. They need to at least release another game, and a few more novels, and a lot more backstory, for it to work.
I'm not advocating a Diablo MMO either though(WoW covers the same premise as Diablo).
Zzap64 Jan 16th 2007 6:04AM
Hmm, Ive been able to use a USB keyboard in all my consoles since the PS2 so why cant they port WoW to consoles?
It doesnt make sense. I have a keyboard plugged into my Xbox 360 to type chat to people without a headset, why not use the controller as the mouse and have the keyboard for shortcuts?
I doubt I'd re-buy it but theres potentially a lot of people that would.
Add to that I find myself only using one action bar for spells most of the time, this could be covered by the 4 shoulder buttons, 4 face buttons, 4 d-pad directional buttons and start/select on a joypad. Left stick to move around, right stick to pan the camera.
In fact lose two buttons on the D-pad and make up and down scroll the action bars and your set. Wouldnt even need a keyboard for anything than text chat.
Swiftlydead Jan 16th 2007 9:06AM
NOOOOO BRING CONSOLE GAMERS TO WoW SO I CAN EAT THEM UP LIKE THE SISSIES THEY ARE!!! :(
Console gamers don't know true gaming. They all suck. Period, the end.
Orcsbane Jan 16th 2007 4:04PM
At #7, you make a good point about Starcraft not being ready to become a MMO. The idea pops in my head that bliz should come out with a starcraft 2, and possibly 3 over the next 2 years. The games would sell like hotcakes, and they could lay some strong groundwork or "lore" and backstory, possibly ending with all 3 factions hostile towards each other. Then when everyone has had their fill of WoW, they will be postioned to release "Universe of Starcraft" to grab everyone back up.
The next challange I see is the race/class challange(maybe its because i didn't get any sleep last night playing in Outland, and im at work on 2hrs sleep). The Terran seem to have only 1 race and many classes, protoss may have more than 1 race but I can't remember any atm(sry its been a couple years since I played starcraft). And the zerg have many races, but a very narrow class structure.
Chris Jan 23rd 2007 10:02PM
In response to #2, WoW is NOT Diablo MMO. If there was a diablo MMO, I would be looking for it to be a 3rd person perspective 3d world similar to warcraft, but a MUCH more hack n slash feel instead of basically turn based combat, which is what WoW is more or less.. as well as a much different environment, oh yeah, and a different class structure.. and then there is the fact that it's a completly different game??