Breakfast Topic: Toys
by David Bowers 
Sep 7th 2007 at 8:00AM
We play this game called World of Warcraft, and naturally it's about war, various sorts of fighting and skirmishing and so on. Most activities are involved in this fighting in one way or another, even if indirectly. But we also know that some things in the game have absolutely no effect on your fighting skills whatsoever, and yet these are some of the items in highest demand. Non-combat pets, unique mounts, cute outfits, and so on.
So now imagine that you get hired for Blizzard just to design more of these non-combat items. What kinds of items would you create? What would you make players do in order to get them? What do you think they would add to the game that isn't already there?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ghen Sep 7th 2007 8:10AM
Funny hats. Maybe one that has a spring loaded mickey mouse hand that pops out to shake? Or a magical one that shows a sorta hologram of a big dragon on your head.
Then, for non-combat pets.. Bring in the other blizz games. We've seen mini diablo, but what about a mini ghost or siege tank?
For clothing design.. More skimpy. Main reason I made a female blood elf, to see her in skimpy outfits =)
potatowedge Sep 7th 2007 8:14AM
Oooh, yes, silly hats!
And for female clothing, maybe not more skimpy (damn chain!), but leggings would be nice for those bits of armor which barely cover the naughty bits themselves. And ballgowns. We need more pretty dresses!
PyroAmos Sep 7th 2007 8:23AM
well.. with their current marketing, they'll have a special 'warp stalker' mount for seeing their movie on opening day, a rare chance card to get a fishing boat in wow - monopoly, and if your lucky enough to get the special pack of wow-bubble gum, you get a wand of polymorph: human. I really hate when they put stuff in game that has nothing to do with the game, but rather some promotional gimmik to sell their other junk that noone wants.
that said, tome of polymorph: turtle is ftw, by far the best toy in game. no new polymorphs in BC is ftl... lf4m ZG Fish boss.
brian Sep 7th 2007 8:28AM
I really think the mini-game idea needs to be implemented in some way. It should be something simple, require a bit of skill, and have a decent reward structure. Last night a guildie and I sat around for 5 minutes waiting for another party member to get off the phone...would have been a perfect time to whip out some form of cards or dice or something similar and play a quick game. What would be really cool is if the mini game had the option of being integrated into the larger game at times - perhaps you could play a round before an instance with the winner gaining +10 on greed rolls or something along those lines.
CauthonDM Sep 7th 2007 8:33AM
An expanded Tonk minigame. Multiple tonks, epic tonks, tonks of every colour and hue. [Illidan's Tonk] for top end guilds and [Merciless Gladiator's Tonk] for PvPers. All with different abilities. Design your own Tonk, don't like the mine laying ability? Add a cloaking device instead. Should your tonk have two guns for extra firepower or a shield for that last tonking?
Oh, and funny hats.
Hollywood Ron Sep 7th 2007 8:35AM
I like the idea of more purchasable pets. Like I know you couldn't buy Murky or the riding turtle, but why can't they set up a Stormwind office of the SPCA and have worg puppies you can buy, since you can buy cats from the Cat Lady?
-----
Ron
http://flektor-blog.com
4STR4STALeatherBelt Sep 7th 2007 8:38AM
Without question more things like the Fishing Chair or BBQ Grill. And not for the bloody card game but for everyone.
Little things like that can really make you smile or turn your day around. There should be a lot more ingame and certainly not just for card geeks. Sorry TotalBiscuit (refering to a fairly recent comment of his_, but no-one really gives a shit if it's rare. Let people have their Murloc suits or whatever Blizzcon wants to give away if they want rare but let the rest of us have some fun items without needing to become card playes.
4STR4STALeatherBelt Sep 7th 2007 8:39AM
My god, those typos. The horror....the horror. :|
Paw Sep 7th 2007 8:42AM
More pointless emote animations you earn by way of superfluous quests that give you an inventory item that would need to be in your bag to use it. The quests could be similar to the ones where you take the orphans all over hell and back.
/paddle = "To pass the time, you whip out your trusty paddle and ball" and the animation in your toon playing with a paddleball.
/cars = "You pull out your Gnomish Ridingish Wagoner toy to pass the time." and the animation is your toon playing with a toy car and the sound it makes is "vroom! vroom!"
/tea = "While waiting for something to happen, you and your little friends decide to have some tea." Tour toon pulls out a tea set and a little table and chairs with several stuffed animals or dolls sitting in the chairs, sits down, and has tea.
/sing = "Your toon pulls out a box and stands on it, and begins to sing." All allied players in the vicinity (say 10 yards) are compelled to dance uncontrollably until you stop.
tchernobyl Sep 7th 2007 8:48AM
I DEMAND A BOOTERANG THAT WORKS ON GUILDEES/ENEMY FACTION/YOUR OWN FACTION!
*cough*
That, or a bat to use for mock duels. Nerf bats, specifically >.>
Vestras Sep 7th 2007 8:56AM
@9 perfect!
I'd also like to see some other animations added, like reading books in hand rather than just opening on the table in front of you. Also a new vocal /insult feature with random set of insults to throw at opponents, like the smack talk about gnomes and taurens in the pre-release BC promos.
As for more specific items, I'd like some new self polymorphs. Say a trinket that transforms you into a Dark Archon from SC, or a glamour one which transforms a player into a random world leader like Jaina, or Illidan or the prince etc.
More mounts for certain. Or perhaps some cross factional mounts which can be accessed by competeing in some of these minigame events.
I'd also like to see more like the new rock concert at DMF. I only caught a second of it, but that was awesome!
Oskar Sep 7th 2007 9:07AM
Is there any way to contact the webmaster or owner of wowinsider?
Mecandes Sep 7th 2007 9:14AM
I'd add tavern games; the ability to sit down with a friend in a tavern over a chess board, say, or card games. Have tournaments -- like the fishing one -- for loot rewards, etc. Something to do while waiting for the raid group to form.
Villanimm Sep 17th 2007 1:05AM
@9
That last one already exists. It's the Piccolo of the Flaming Fire. :D
I have one. :3
Dan Sep 7th 2007 9:53AM
various kinds of chess/checkers, card games and gambling would be an ace addition. I'd love to see those included.
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Bocks Sep 7th 2007 10:55AM
Add my vote to #6 (Hollywood Ron) for added pet items.
Love the idea, there...also maybe a special ticket that allows a brief session of having 3 or more pets out at the same time, which would be fun for strolling through town or running cross country.
Also could we have a dove added to the pet list?
It'd be so cool for priests.
Here's a silly one...how about a poodle puppy? Then
simple, possibly seasonal quests to get clothing for it? Maybe you could hold it in your off hand!!!!
Bravo also for #9 (Paw). How about a remote controlled water craft to play with? Especially if it
could have a water cannon and lay depth charges that stun murlocs!
What about when you're with a friend, a quick game of Rock, Paper, Scissors? (Rock, Paper, Scissors, Fire and Water Balloon for "Friends" fans)
What about a Chameleon trinket?
Or Bubble Gum, that you can chew and actually breathe bubbles (kind of like the Fire Festival fire breathing thingy)?
Or a Ribbon Wand, that emits long strands of colorful ribbons, that trail behind you as you run? Or you could use it (like toilet paper) to "roll" tents and trees and cottages!
Or an Egging Permit, that lets you egg other characters legally? But you have to collect the eggs yourself. Combined with a Chameleon trinket, you could have a great time! Mounted characters could do
"ride by eggings"! Higher level eggs increase the distance of the throw! Eggs-citing times in Darkshire when the Horde attacks from the rooftops!
(Sorry about the pun.)
Last one...how about a coffee shop? Varying levels of
caffeine means temporarily increased movement speeds???
This was fun! Blizzard, are you listening???
Heraclea Sep 7th 2007 11:29AM
A PvP Karazhan Chess arena might be fun.
Nyx Sep 7th 2007 11:37AM
I assume the non-combat pet with the WotLK CE will be a penguin, so that's taken care of.
I'd like to see more games for "waiting time" - waiting for BG, waiting for raids, waiting for a group to form. Card games, ball games, whatever.
A mini tallstrider. *squee*
A "litter of kittens" non-combat pet that randomly generates 4 to 6 kittens of random colour that follow you around.
A "flock of ravens" non-combat pet that randomly generates 10 to 15 ravens that fly around your head.
Other "grouped" pets that generate random group sizes and colours so that you have a swarm of cockroaches or a pack of puppies following you.
More "dress clothing", in better medieval style.
Mini camels.
Tiger cubs.
Cthulhu.
And a badger, because I know someone who'd like a badger.
For me, personally? A mini gazelle. I'd pay real money to get one of those.
Dave Sep 7th 2007 11:37AM
I have to believe that Engineering will suddenly be superawesome when we can make all sorts of housing items or guild housing items or things like that.
At least I hope that Blizzard if they're going to bust out some guild housing that we'll be able to fill it with crafted junk rather than having to loot it or buy it or whatever.
Engineers could make kegs, maybe a gnomish karaoke machine, who knows. Endless possibilities!