Empire interviews Itzik Ben Bassat
by Eliah Hecht 
Jan 23rd 2007 at 4:12AM
Empire, a UK film magazine, has an interview up with Blizzard VP of Development Itzik Ben Bassat, covering mostly topics of "why is WoW so popular." Basically, Bassat replies that it's accessible, big, and fantasy-based; not very interesting there. He also claims that "online gaming is the future," and that "in the near future you won't see games that don't have an online component." Let me be the first to say that I doubt this. A lot. You will always have games like Tetris, Zelda, and Katamari Damacy that don't have, need, or want multi-player capabilities of any sort. (OK, Tetris multi-player is fun. But hardly necessary.) Then again, though, I'm not a VP of the world's greatest gaming firm, so maybe that shows what I know. He's also excited about the forthcoming WoW movie; I can't say I have high hopes for that.The most interesting point, to me, in the interview is this:
- How do you imagine you'll be able to top Warcraft in the future?
When we announce our next MMORPG it's not going to be another WoW - we're not a company that tends to tread the same ground. It'll be something innovative and new that really brings entertainment to another level.
So, speculate away! What's Blizzard's next MMO? In my last post on this issue, I called for a Diablo MMO, but I have been convinced by commentors that WoW is basically that. Now I want a StarCraft one, since I do love sci-fi much more than fantasy. On the other hand, Zerg are icky...
[via GameSpot]
Filed under: Odds and ends, Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kinless Jan 23rd 2007 4:46AM
They can't do a Diablo mmog. They've already got WoW.
But a Starcraft one? Definitely. While Warcraft could still lead us out to other planets (further than the Outlands even, as we track down the Scourge), and there's tech gizmo's and a spaceship even, it's science-fantasy, not science fiction.
Starcraft would be the science fiction mmog. I'd imagine 70% of the current player base would play a starcraft based release, and then they'd pick up new players not into fantasy at all.
World of Starcraft. It'll be what SWG could have been.
Brim Jan 23rd 2007 5:09AM
Yup what kinless said. World of Starcraft
That prop. the reason why they canned SCG in the first place.
isobelle Jan 23rd 2007 6:49AM
> "in the near future you won't see games that don't
> have an online component." Let me be the first to
> say that I doubt this. A lot.
...coming from a blog that covers a single (hugely popular) MMO, that's a pretty bold assessment.
sure tetris doesn't need online functionality, but like you noted, it's there. i think 90% of games will find a way to 'tie it in' just because they can, and the "online component" of games will become (has become?) ubiquitous.
relkama Jan 23rd 2007 7:43AM
I'd really have to agree on the assumption that the next MMO will be Starcraft based. Can only imagine that it would be something along the lines of a Tabula Rasa or Planetside hybrid, mixing in the first and/or third person combat along with expansive seamless exploration (duh). As for the online play in games...Isobelle hit the nail on the head by saying that game will find a way to make multiplayer available. If you just look at most of the game out there right now, the vast majority of them have multiplayer as a game type. I'm sad to say that many people will not buy games if the single player game is short, has no replay value, and doesn't include multiplayer. Whereas if it has that multiplayer capability it most likely would do better on the market.
Tool Jan 23rd 2007 9:07AM
I long for a Diablo MMO (the story and fighting system were/are great) but a Starcraft MMO makes since. I'd love it if they could some how make it like a good mix between FPS and RPG. WoW meets BF with a SC theme maybe?
And my imagination runs wiled.
Inconceivable Jan 23rd 2007 9:52AM
I don't think a starcraft MMORPG would eb innovative enough for Blizzard, and it's way too probable for them. I think they are going to keep that strictly an RTS and announce it next year. I woudl imagine they would turn Diablo into an MMORPG even though people claim that is what WoW basically is. No one said they had to keep it completely the same or anything. They can definetely do some things with the franchise to make it stick out and differentiate itself.
Trasketor Jan 23rd 2007 10:33AM
Who knows? Maybe it wont be a Starcraft MMO or a Diablo MMO. You cant forget maybe blizzard has a trick up their sleeve and is gonna bust out a whole new franchise. One thats neither fantasy or sci fi. *shrugs*
However a SC MMO would be cool. Instead of mounts we would spend gold on airships and ATV type transportation. Whatever it is i cant wait to hear more.
David Jan 23rd 2007 10:37AM
Well, they could just blow us all away by completely skipping over Diablo and Starcraft and going back to their roots.
Something like World of Lost Vikings. Where the three lost vikings are rescued from Uldaman (now they never did explain how they got there) and set out in the alien ship to explore another world. I mean come on how cool would it be to have fart power for doing really long jumps?
Ephor Jan 23rd 2007 11:12AM
For a Starcraft mmo, I think they should break from the tradtional level-up mechanic, it just doesn't fit SC very well. I'd rather see a ranking system where you could accrue the proper rank & licence to, say wear a firebat suit, or pilot a goliath.
Plus, blizz wouldn't even have to muck up SC's divine balancing to make this game, just make each of the units into actual players!
Jenet Jan 23rd 2007 11:20AM
three words. and a subtitle.
World Of Vikings: We're all so Lost!
Smithra Jan 23rd 2007 11:21AM
"I'm sad to say that many people will not buy games if the single player game is short, has no replay value, and doesn't include multiplayer."
All this statement really says is people won't buy games that have shoddy single player and no multiplayer modes. Well, duh (or we can only hope). Many games it doesn't make sense to make them single player only. However, games with good gameplay, several challenging levels and an interesting or entertaining plot (Zelda, Eternal Darkness, FF, etc.) will persist and be financially successful.
Fynar Jan 23rd 2007 2:39PM
World of Diablo could work easy...the innovative part would be randomly created dungeon levels and then random loot as well. This is how Diablo 1 functioned and is based upon rogue-like games. I'd love to see something like this opened up as an mmo.
n00bian Jan 23rd 2007 3:06PM
Well, I'm going to go against the grain here and say I don't believe that Blizz is going to do Starcraft as an MMORPG. One thing WoW has going for it is that fantasy is *very* popular across cultures and is the primary reason WoW is so popular. Starcraft, while it was fleshed out enough to make a good background for yet-another-rts, I don't believe that it ever will be as popular as Diablo/Warcraft and therefore not warrant an MMORPG. Hate me as you will for saying so. I think what Blizz is going to do is be the first to really try to do something that takes advantage of the multiplayer experience that MMORPGs haven't yet. One thing I can assure you they aren't going to do is give up on those $15.00 subscriptions that WoW generates, so I would not expect anything that threatens that franchise, but goes after a different crowd entirely. If they do actually some kind of Starcraft entry I think it will be to try to capitalize on the group shooters like BF2, Call of Duty, etc that are to a large degree untouched by WoW.
evan Jan 23rd 2007 5:38PM
Ok, maybe I'm just an economics n00b, but why would they even want to make another MMO? WoW is already extremely popular, and even if they go after a 'different crowd', some of their target market will be split between the two games. Most of those people won't want to buy two subscription based games. So, unless they're making an MMO that isn't an RPG (necessary for the 'crowd' to actually be different), or using an alternate payment model such as the one used by Guild Wars, this upcoming game won't be in their best interests.
Ekrim Jan 23rd 2007 5:48PM
Imagine, if you would, playing a small group of people, even a party, at a time inside a massively multiplayer game. Say, squad-level or larger. These would be your heroes, leveling up, gearing up, shared funds, shared missions, etc. Now, put them in a series of worlds, with factions they can work for, helping to take, defend, or explore territory.
That would be how I would make a World of Starcraft.
NewieDog Jan 23rd 2007 11:56PM
I dare say that it could also be something along the lines of Eve:Online. With the backing of a juggernaut such as Blizzard, they could go even further than Eve does now.
Maybe an Eve/Star Wars Galaxies hybrid, although obviouisly nothing to do with the Star Wars timeline/storyline.
Chubbs Jan 24th 2007 3:00AM
Stars of Starcraft?
Chubbs Jan 24th 2007 3:00AM
Maybe