Breakfast Topic: WoWing console style
by Amanda Rivera 
Oct 17th 2007 at 8:00AM
Mike's post yesterday about playing WoW with an XBox controller got me thinking. Now, I honestly prefer playing certain kinds of games on the PC, MMOs topping that list. But if Blizzard up and decided tomorrow to change their minds about a console (which they aren't) version of World of Warcraft, I wonder what it would be like. Exactly how much would the game change once it was ported? And which console would WoW be most at home on?We've seen how it might be done on the XBox. Part of me says the PS3 would be an excellent choice, with the massive graphics rendering capabilities, there would never be any lag in Shattrath, evar. But what about the Wii? Would swinging your sword be more enjoyable than hitting the button on the keyboard? And how exactly would one cast a spell, wave around the Wiimote like Cinderella's fairy godmother?
What do you think? Exactly how well would WoW work on a console?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nati Oct 17th 2007 8:26AM
It could probably work fairly well, if they redesigned the game some. Which is exactly the reason they should not do it - "dumbing down" PC games so they work for consoles is never ever a good idea as evidenced many many times in the past!
Erika Oct 17th 2007 8:40AM
I agree with Post 1.
Mats Oct 17th 2007 8:46AM
Good luck with that PS3 idea. The lag is Server side, not computer side. SO unless your plan is to run a WoW server off a ton of PS3's, then no, it won't work.
(Also, if you have anything above a GF7600, your pc has more graphics rendering capabilities then a PS3)
Whitburn Oct 17th 2007 8:48AM
Yeah I am of the same mind as post 1. I would also like to add that I found the console controller an awful piece of kit to use and work with; especially in FPSs. It is simply fact that it cannot be as precise as a mouse or as functional as a keyboard.
Superboog Oct 17th 2007 4:14PM
I agree totally with post 1 and 2 wow is a pc game and should remain so.
hpavc Oct 17th 2007 8:50AM
How did it work for EQ when EQ made its PS2 edition?
I know they had EQ/PS2 only server along with EQ/Mac only servers.
They would just need a robust key binding system imo. And improved 'taborder' which WoW doesn't have at all really. Trade skills, AH and the like would be horrible on a console.
Safety Dancer Oct 17th 2007 8:51AM
I agree with Post 2
Tridus Oct 17th 2007 8:54AM
For certain classes it'd work well. Anything that uses a few abilities on one target a time could work well on a console's control system. Like say playing a Rogue. Ambush, kidney shot, backstab, backstab, kick... that'd work.
What would break the whole thing is healing. Raid healing simply cannot work with a console controller the way it works in game right now.
nightravyn Oct 17th 2007 8:59AM
The PS2 version of EQ was a seperate game set 500 years before the original EQ for the PC. With the different time and technology, the PC and PS2 version were never on the same servers.
A better look at how would a port of WoW to console go would be Final Fantasy XI, which is played on multiple platforms, all on the same servers. It could be doable, but would probably be a very messy undertaking.
swatltlen Oct 17th 2007 9:02AM
"PS3 .... he massive graphics rendering capabilities"
Enjoy your Sony koolaid before reality sets in brother.
Replex Oct 17th 2007 9:10AM
Actually the best choice would be the 360, follwed by the PS3 then the Wii.
Having developed on the first two, I must say converting any current game to 360 would be far easier and efficient than the PS3. The PS3 has 7 SPUs that divide the processing power up 7 ways obviously, and working a game designed for a single core onto 7 individual while still maintaining ease of development for PC would be really really hard.
The 360 has 3 seperate cores, each with a far bit more processing power than a single Cell SPU. Rendering with the GPU and Processing with a single 360 core would be the easiest to accomplish.
Sef Oct 17th 2007 9:12AM
I agree with post 1 fully. But for the posts that talks about console controllers sucking, you guys do know that ps3 and 360 support keyboards.
honkhonk Oct 17th 2007 9:24AM
I agree with posts 2, 7, 8 and 19
Delphyne Oct 17th 2007 9:30AM
FFXI actually worked very well on the PC and on Consoles together. BUT... the user interface was designed to be managed with a controller. There was no free cursor. FFXI also generally worked on a single-target paradigm. Crowd-control was done (in general) to a large group of mobs in raid-like instances with a single AOE spell that slept everything in radius with individual stronger crowd control applied over targets later. It wasn't really necessary to "tab" through mobs, but if you did have to, you did it with the D-Pad.
Left analog controlled character movement
Righ analog controlled the camer, and switched between 1st player and 3rd player views
D-pad chose menu options and available targets
Square opened the menu
X confirmed your menu choice
Circle cancled your action or deselected your target
Triangle was kinda meta-key that either opened your chat log, or accessed your buffs, etc.
The bumbers were for auto-run, screenshots, and most people bound them to voicechat functions
The triggers opened up hotbars that allowed you to use pre-defined macros to cast spells, change gear, assist a main tank, etc.
I think WoW would have to be more or less completely redesigned to be able to function on any real level with a controller interface.
That said... PS2, PS3, 360 all have the ability to plug in a keyboard. If Blizzard had the will to port the game, you could just plug in your wired or wireless keyboard and ignore the fact that it's a console (aside from the comparatively low resolution, of course).
theremover Oct 17th 2007 9:43AM
I don't see WoW as is working on a console. I would, however, love to see something related or similar / different but drawing from the same ideas made for portable consoles like the DS.
Worcester Oct 17th 2007 9:45AM
Personally, I'd like a version of WoW for a portable device. My PSP is nice, but an iPhone version would be even cooler.
I don't need the whole WoW experience on a hand-held, it could be a very "lite" version. Maybe only certain functions would work... or perhaps full-functionality, but in a limited space. For example, what if cap cities were available? You could log out in the city at night, and during the work (or school) day, you could still buy, sell and craft items? If I could make my money during the day, I'd spend a lot more time questing at night.
Just another way WoW can dominate my day and continue to grind away at my marriage and plans for the future. Whatever.
Wulfhere Oct 17th 2007 9:47AM
Quick, we have to get to post 19 so I know what that other poster was agreeing with!
I think, all the technical stuff aside, a Wii based WoW would be the most fun. Imagine all the people playing mages having to 'stir' the wiimote to make water, or the hunters having to use it like a bow.
Kahja Oct 17th 2007 10:59AM
When you port something to console and you have to plug in a keyboard and mouse, have you achieved anything?
kuroyume Oct 17th 2007 11:43AM
@17: you reach a higher user base... not everyone has a gaming capable PC, but a console can be much cheaper...
@15: have you tried some form of VNC? it won't be pretty or fast, but if all you need is to craft/sell/buy, then it should do the trick as long as you have decent enough connection at home and at the place you are connecting from...
Auden Nov 2nd 2007 7:24PM
WoW for the Wii would be a weight-loss phenomenon.
It'd definitely put a fourth wall up; the physical fitness of players themselves would start to matter as much or more than virtual gear. You'd need raiders with the real-world stamina to stay in motion for hours.
Grinding all night would hurt -- literally. Might even open up the possibility of repetitive stress injuries. And imagine the news reports of gold farmers dropping from exhaustion...