Breakfast Topic: Which game would you play?
by Robin Torres 
Jul 2nd 2008 at 8:00AM
Every time a new game comes out, we have a decision to make. Do we try the new game while still playing World of Warcraft most of the time? Do we take a break from WoW to give the new game all of our attention? Or do we continue to play our favorite MMO? My guild had an attendance problem when GTA IV was released and I know a few people have given Age of Conan a good try. With Warhammer Online probably coming out in the fall, we will have to make another choice then.
Now, I think that the Wrath of the Lich King expansion will probably come out in the Winter, hopefully this year. I think that Starcraft 2 will be released approximately a year after that and my guess is that Diablo III won't come out for another 2 to 3 years, unfortunately. But what if Blizzard were to do the unthinkable and release WotLK at the same time as the sequels to Starcraft and Diablo?
For me, I think Diablo III would take up most of my time for a month or two. Happily (or not), I won't have to make that choice. What would you do?
[Thanks to Dave for the idea]
Now, I think that the Wrath of the Lich King expansion will probably come out in the Winter, hopefully this year. I think that Starcraft 2 will be released approximately a year after that and my guess is that Diablo III won't come out for another 2 to 3 years, unfortunately. But what if Blizzard were to do the unthinkable and release WotLK at the same time as the sequels to Starcraft and Diablo?
For me, I think Diablo III would take up most of my time for a month or two. Happily (or not), I won't have to make that choice. What would you do?
[Thanks to Dave for the idea]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brimoonfang Jul 2nd 2008 8:09AM
"Unthinkable" is right.
Diablo III gets my vote!
Goodbye WoW, and hello to $13.95 per month back in my wallet. That's why I am still stunned that the suits
at Blizzard allowed their employees to create D3.
They are slaughtering their sacred cow and threatening the absurd profits of the most successful game in history. Why?
You know what? I don't care why. Just give me
Diablo III, please!
Tinious Jul 2nd 2008 8:50AM
Why is it that you think you know how Blizzard is going to price SC2 and D3?
Bookmark this comment for the future so I can say I told ya so -- SC2 and D3 too will have monthly subscriptions for online play, albeit relatively small ones to WoW pricing. But guess what? You'll be able to get it all bundled as an even smaller addon to your monthly WoW fee. ;-) Oh, and guess what? If you have the online play bundles, you'll be able to get cool crossover stuff like non-combat D3 and SC2 pets in WoW ;)
Brimoonfang Jul 2nd 2008 10:02AM
"Tinious said...
Why is it that you think you know how Blizzard is going to price SC2 and D3?
Bookmark this comment for the future so I can say I told ya so -- SC2 and D3 too will have monthly subscriptions for online play, albeit relatively small ones to WoW pricing."
OK, you might be right here, but this is a terrifying prospect. Battle.Net was always free, which was one of its greatest strengths.
On the other hand, I don't care. I played Diablo I and II
exclusively on my home LAN all those years. Never once got on Battle.Net, never will.
imparush Jul 2nd 2008 12:06PM
thye can't make fee when it is not a mmorpg like wow, it is just rpg and they will not make a sequel game cost money when the other diablo didn't
Ilnara Jul 2nd 2008 12:45PM
This is only true if you think that the "Brand" is the individual games. The 'Brand' is "Blizzard", and any business will tell you, "Brand Loyalty" is more important than product loyalty. People who are loyal to the Brand will more easily go between products within the brand.
Whats important, is keeping them within the Brand, not the products... Blizz gets the $ no matter what, and customers who stay within the brand, playing all 3 games essentially.
I think WoW was in part as popular as it was because, it crossed genres, and looked and felt like other games within the brand. It made it easier for people already within the brand to go back and forth between games, and not feel disoriented.
It was that way for me, I was a big Diablo fan, but, not really into the RTS titles, even though I did play the Original WC series. RTS just wasn't my cup -o-tea.
The similarities to game play between WoW and Diablo made it easy for me to sort of 'jump in the middle' of WoW and not feel like I was learning an entirely new concept of game play or game.
Schadow Jul 2nd 2008 4:32PM
I think you mean "goodbye WoW... for now". D3 will not have the longevity of WoW. Once you go through the content, it's time to move on to something else.
What else? Why, I do believe that Wrath of the Lich King should be hitting the shelves around then.
As WoW grows stale and other MMORPGs look to capitalise on that, Blizzard releases a nice distraction to keep its clients while it prepares to breathe new life into its real cash cow.
Timing seems perfect, in my opinion.
Zali Jul 2nd 2008 8:11AM
I'll stick with WOW, thanks. I've installed AOC, and TR and played them a little, but not too much. AOC has the same UI as Titan Quest, and I didn't care for it much on that game either. TR was lackluster to me. I always come back to WOW within hours of trying any other game.
Sure, I fire up AOC once a week or so, but just so I can feel like I didn't waste $50.00.
Zali Jul 2nd 2008 8:14AM
It helps that I never played the other Diablo titles, so I have no fond memories of the game that will draw me to the new one.
MindMage Jul 2nd 2008 8:13AM
Releasing three major titles is financial cretinism - you get less total purchases, due to fan bases overlapping, and not everyone is willing to drop the buck for all the titles at the same time.
That being said, I guess I'd take a break from WoW if it was to happen, and play D3. Enjoy some BARBARIAN SMASH action, let the mad DK overpopulation/rush to 80 cool down a bit. Win/win.
PymPo Jul 2nd 2008 8:17AM
Starcraft 2 all the way, i love my hunter and i know he could be one of the first to 80 (since no one levels faster or easier than hunters) but Starcraft was the first game I ever played on a computer, the first time I ever saw a Blizzard logo. You kinda owe it to the game that popped your PC Gaming cherry.
jtrain Jul 2nd 2008 8:25AM
I'll probably find time for all 3. Good to have a nice mix of games to choose from.
By the way, I think you're way, way off regarding release dates. 2 to 3 years for Diablo? We'll have it in our hands by next summer at the latest.
Falcom Jul 2nd 2008 12:43PM
By the way, I think you're way, way off regarding release dates. 2 to 3 years for Diablo? We'll have it in our hands by next summer at the latest.
ROFL, you're kidding right? RIGHT? Next summer....wow, Blizzard has you fooled good! SC2 was announced exactly 1 year ago, and it still doesnt have a release date. Most likely, Wrath will be out in november, most wow releases are in november, its probably almost in beta, and that gives several months for polishing.
If we are lucky, 2009 holiday season holds a SC2 release which will probably be delayed until spring 2010.
D3 will likely be released in 2011 around the holidays, possibly even spring of 2012. WoW will have another expansion in beta before D3 comes out. Bookmark me.
Strabo Jul 2nd 2008 8:27AM
Diablo III for me. WoW was always only because it was similar do D2 and something newer. Of course WoW has a lot of it's own merits, otherwise I wouldn't play it for 3 years now, but Diablo was always the one special game in my heart.
By the way I'll eat my imaginary hat if Warhammer Online is released in 2008, it's notorious now for being pushed back.
Cetha Jul 2nd 2008 9:17AM
i'm the same exact way...WoW's initial appeal was only because of the way in which it was like Diablo...and over 3 years I've grown to appreciate WoW for itself, but even just watching the game demo video I know that once D3 comes out my WoW days will finally be over and I'll have a game that I can once again play by myself and not be at the mercy of the LFG channel...
robotrock Jul 2nd 2008 9:51AM
Another vote for D3 here....if they take 2 years to release the damn thing who knows?? I hope it's sooner than that.
dAnixx Jul 2nd 2008 8:35AM
I'll defenetly become a "casual" WoW player when Diablo 3 comes out. And i think that i'll also give a try to warhammer online
Percinho Jul 2nd 2008 8:38AM
Never played Diablo, never played Starcraft. Guess that answers that particular question! :-)
The next things to drag me away from WoW will be Spore and possibly Tigger Woods 09 on the 360.
Guernia Jul 2nd 2008 12:06PM
Disney is bringing out a golf game? Awesome!
nissty Jul 2nd 2008 8:39AM
Hopefully WotLK will come some time before WAR does, so I will have time to enjoy new content. After I do, I'll probable ditch WoW. Thats unless WAR will be terrible.
Dightkuz Jul 2nd 2008 8:47AM
If the three games were released at the same time; Well I'm not a fan of Starcraft and I didn't really like D2 but I would probably still spend my time going between D3 and WotLK.
But in reality, WotLK will be released alot earlier than D3 so there will be time for both.