Blizzard answers development priorities question
by Robin Torres 
Jul 6th 2007 at 7:45PM
Bloodsong asked the following on the General Discussion Forums today:WoW or Starcraft 2? Balancing classes or creating new content? Raiding or PvP? Professions or transportation? Next patch or next expansion? New races or new classes? New zones or new quests?
Bloodsong's questions are timely. People are leaving WoW and those that are staying would like to know what to look forward to. Yes, Blizzcon is coming up, and we will find out more about upcoming development then -- but we are impatient.
CM Nethaera responded:
World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2 are being developed by different but equally dedicated teams.
Everything else goes hand in hand since they are all interconnected.
Balancing classes will always be a continual evolution. Raiding and PvP are both integral parts of WoW.
Professions and transportation aren't co-dependent on each other and can be worked on without one hindering the other in their advancement.
Each patch is a continuation of development as well as a set up for future expansions. You can't build a house without a foundation after all.
As for new races and new classes, consideration is made as to what will best enhance and advance the story of World of Warcraft.
New zones and new quests also go hand in hand. You can't very well have a new zone without new quests. Although, I am sure we've also mentioned that we have some work going on with Dustwallow Marsh to update a few things there. I don't have an eta of when anything will be implemented though or what more is to come on that front at this time. Sorry.
We will announce more plans as we are able. Things are always in the works on multiple fronts. It's quite a complex machine we have running here with a lot of moving parts. Or maybe it's more like an obstacle course with lots of sharp blades. We tend to be as careful as possible to not get cut.
While each question was answered, Nethaera didn't actually give us any priorities. Are you satisfied with Blizzard's response? What do you think should be the first priority for new development?
Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kuroshiro Jul 6th 2007 8:03PM
Whatwhatwhat? Dustwallow Marsh updates? Could it be? Could the Shady Rest Inn quest lines be extended?!
Thepitt Jul 6th 2007 8:11PM
Dustwallow Marsh??? So Ony will be a heroic raid with a 100% drop of a 40 slot bag now???
Sky_Paladin Jul 6th 2007 9:04PM
This appears to be little more than an attempt to soothe the feelings of the original poster.
Nothing is answered. The meaning behind the words is 'stop complaining'. In other words, the respondee either does not know the answers, or the answers to the questions would be percieved to upset other forum goers. Given the nature of the forum to explode into hate over even the most trivial thing, I can't blame Naethera for being so vague.
It's obvious from the focus of current development and the kinds of rewards being offered that Blizzard is focusing on new BC content and the Arena at this time. Don't expect to see significant changes to crafting, transportation, classes, quests or new areas until after they are satisfied with the BC content - so, maybe the next expansion.
I would love to be wrong.
Elo Jul 6th 2007 9:41PM
There are things being cooked up. In Ashenvale, there is a new portal, East side of the map. It's the same as in The Twilight Grove in Duskwood. This means there is an expansion coming soon.
Also, Grim Batol is now o the map of Wetlands. There is a rod leading to it now. Means new instances.
Ambril Jul 6th 2007 10:08PM
"There are things being cooked up. In Ashenvale, there is a new portal, East side of the map. It's the same as in The Twilight Grove in Duskwood. This means there is an expansion coming soon.
Also, Grim Batol is now o the map of Wetlands. There is a rod leading to it now. Means new instances."
Hmmm, those have been there for a long time. I killed a dragon at that portal in Ashenvale months ago. =p
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There has also been an upswell since the "people leaving WoW" post:
http://www.warcraftrealms.com/temp/activity.htm
Hybrys Jul 6th 2007 10:13PM
Grim Batol has been on the map since Beta, I'm fairly sure. It's more there for lore, as of yet.
As for the response, I think it's reasonable. Maybe I'm just missing this, but, I think they are working on things on all fronts. Nothing is being taken away because of Starcraft 2, and work is happening.
@#3/Sky_Paladin.
You make very little sense. Crafting, transportation, and quests are all PART of BC. They are working on this, noting the recent Engi upgrade, however meager, Skettis/Netherwing/Ogrila quests, and the mounts from those factions. New areas are BC content. Like the recently released Black Temple, or the soon to come, and significantly more accessible Zul'Aman.
I don't know about you guys... But, the game really is ever changing. Enjoy it. Bored? Grind a faction. Done that? Grind an alt. Don't wanna? Raid casually. *Yes, it's possible to be in SSC, and still have a life. I'm doing it, and going out with friends, and managing a job.*
Dave Jul 6th 2007 10:20PM
@5: Interesting. Guess some folks took a break for exams? And now that summer is here, they're playing again.
Sky_Paladin Jul 6th 2007 10:27PM
In response to #6, Hibrys;
Please consider the entire paragraph for context. All you were doing is agreeing with my first sentence, then suggesting I make no sense. Please try again.
"It's obvious from the focus of current development and the kinds of rewards being offered that Blizzard is focusing on new BC content and the Arena at this time. Don't expect to see significant changes to crafting, transportation, classes, quests or new areas until after they are satisfied with the BC content - so, maybe the next expansion."
Preston Jul 6th 2007 10:40PM
Why do people keep claiming folks are leaving World of Warcraft? All we saw was one chart from one website showing a sharp rise when Burning Crusade came out, then a gradual dropoff to levels that are still higher than before. You hear that? Higher than before! Warcraft gained users and continues to.
KaonNemesis Jul 7th 2007 12:11AM
Dustwallow Marsh updates? OMG, are they FINALLY going to finish the Alliance's Missing Diplomat quest series?!? That poor king has been a prisoner for far too long...
Hybrys Jul 7th 2007 4:50AM
Sky_Paladin. The content is in BC. IF you are expecting new things in old world, you are sadly mistaken. These things that you meantion are being worked upon. Things are being patched and added.
They are making changes to Transportation. Netherdrake mounts, Netherray mounts, and the two new dropped mounts.
They are making changes to crafting. Alchemy was TOTALLY changed last patch. This INCLUDES Old World potions aswell. Engineering also had major changes made, including the edition of some epic craftable items.
They are making new zones. Zul'Aman is the perfect example. A ten man, with difficulty near Karazhan. This means it's accessible and new. The Black Temple that we just saw was new aswell.
They are making significant changes to quests. Several new, and in depth questlines were added, including the Druid Epic Flight-form quest chain, and the new factions, including the Daily Quest system.
Now, explain to me how this is not new content. Explain to me how this proves they are NOT working on these things.
Kinless Jul 8th 2007 3:38AM
Legendary Flying mounts anyone? A mere 50,000 gold. Get cracking. (Obviously only for those for whom 5,000 gold was no big deal. I.e. a week after the expansion hits. Probably going to be that Resto Shaman with superb farming skills. For the other folks, what's a $3,000 RMT to be the first?)
More rep grinds. (Folks like rep grinds. Means they can ignore the 99.99% of the population that's stupid and can't play their class.)
New 1-70 content isn't going to be of *any* interest to the raiders, UNLESS Blizzard adds a new class (like Horde Paladin and Alliance Shaman did) and force people to powerlevel (or pay for it) a new class to 70 so they can raid.
Raids of Warcraft should be the new name.
But, perhaps I'm being cynical?
Sky_Paladin Jul 7th 2007 7:13AM
Hybrys, what I initially said and continue to stress is that the focus of Blizzard's development for WoW is on BC content and the Arena system. I DISAGREE WITH THIS ATTITUDE.
What you have outlined are not significant changes. These are continual developments in the area's that I have outlined.
Let's take mounts as an example - adding new mounts is not a significant change, that has no immediate impact on most players. Adding improved flight paths is not a significant change, that has a small impact on many players. Adding flying mounts to Azeroth is a significant change that has a huge impact on all players. Which of these things would be the most benefit for players for the developers to focus on? What are the developers actually focusing on?
What about crafting? Adding new recipes is not a significant change that effects only players with that profession. Modifying the crafting system (Eg to reduce the number of mats required so it is more viable to sell on the AH, or removing bind on pick up, or other such modifications) is a significant change that effects all professions. Entirely redoing the crafting system so that players can fine tune their exact item (Eg: A smith can pick the armor location, kinds of stats to implement, and even the quality of the armor by the kinds of items they include in the smithing process) as they desire instead of having to go with Blizzard's cookie-cutter crafting process is a major change that benefits all players, including non-crafters. What is the area that the developers are focusing on? What is the area that the developers should be focusing on?
The things you are pointing at are symptoms, meaningless problems that are the result of flaws in basic game design decisions. These flaws need to be addressed, but they will not be addressed until after the next expansion. That is the meaning of my post. I was making a prediction about the future gaming environment based on the current behaviour of Blizzard. You can argue all you like about what they have said they will do, but I prefer to refer to what has been done. I can clarify further if you don't understand or require additional examples, however, I can't answer your questions because they don't relate to what I was talking about. I am sorry. Please try again.
TheDeamon Jul 7th 2007 12:44PM
Preston, if you actually went to Warcraftrealms.com and read up on what Rollie posted, and in particular the comments from the the Warcraftrealms.com users there. Their general take on it was that Player Activity had been decreasing since January. The kind of data WCR collects is unable to determine the actual number of players/subscribers the game has.
The more amusing thing about how it was reported over here compared to the conclusions drawn over at WCR. By and large, the WCR crowd was expecting things to level off or even rebound in June. The thing that surprised them was the degree of the rebound in player activity that was seen last month.
Rob Jul 9th 2007 6:29PM
Agreed with #3, this is nothing but meaningless platitudes. Agreed with #12, adding more recipes isn't the answer. What about adding new classes? New races? New quests? New zones? Fixing crafting? It's been 2 years, why is crafting so crappy? Crafters have to go into it knowing a) they will bleed gold into the profession and b) 99% of crap they make they 1) can't use and 2) can't sell. Why are there so many rough spots where there are practically no quests for certain levels? (People struggling through 40s know what I'm talking about). To me, either they fix this crap, or ppl like me who don't and probably never will have a lvl 70 char will go play something else. What is the precentage of ppl who don't have 70s? I bet it's pretty high, ie 80%. So why in gods name are all new content aiming for this small population (ie the 20% who have 70s)?