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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBlizzard's black ops title, and why it's a long way off
by Mike Schramm 
Sep 29th 2008 at 2:00PM
As with all of this "black ops" stuff, there's not too much to get excited about yet -- the reason these companies haven't officially announced any of these games is not only because their release is likely years off, but companies will very often develop games that they don't end up releasing at all (case in point, as Blizzard fans well know). So the reason we don't know anything about Blizzard's next MMO is because Blizzard likely doesn't know anything about it yet either -- will it be a successor to World of Warcraft, a much-awaited Starcraft MMO, or a completely new IP from the company that has conquered the MMO genre? Odds are that right now they're working on engine and code mechanics, and the final form that the project will take is just a gleam in a Blizzard employee's eye.
Still, it's fun to dream, isn't it? With the coming release of Wrath (and Diablo III and Starcraft II coming into focus), we've got plenty of Blizzard games to look forward to as it is.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
elprogramer Sep 29th 2008 8:30PM
No idea, but doubtless that we'd be hearing about it from him for years to come.
Verakum Sep 29th 2008 2:46PM
A MMORPG of starcraft would ge AMAZING... the issue it would only focus on ranged combat :(
unless you mean starcraft ghost that in my opinion... i didnt like the way it was showing.. :(
Darthregis Sep 29th 2008 2:53PM
I'm with ya. I'd like to see a Starcraft MMO be Blizzard's next big MMO project (with another WoW expansion to tide us nerds over. :P)
foodle Sep 29th 2008 3:05PM
I disagree with the premise of the post that Blizzard doesn't know what shape the coming MMO will take. A company like Blizzard that executes so well knows EXACTLY what they plan for the coming MMO. They plan may change based on technical and market forces, but rest assured that they do have a detailed plan that drives all aspects of current development.
CursedSeishi Sep 29th 2008 3:12PM
Blackthorne was a fun game :D
But yeah, I cant see them making a WoW2. What would we be doing in it? We've already taken care of outlands little issues, killed off the trifecta of evil there (IlliVashjstrider), we played whack-a-jaeden and pushed him back down his hole, and now we are going to go and dethrone the king of stinking, rotting dead things.
Whats left? Sargeras? Are we gonna hide in a fruit basket, send ourselves to the burning legions home, then burst out when they are asleep and raid them all down in the course of a year?
The thing is, is how far can our characters go before treading on the line of becoming 'godly' in terms of power. The biggest thing we've done so far is poke an old god in the eye and give him some mild indigestion. There isn't any way conceivable to me for our characters to really do much more than that without some zany thing about gaining the power of a god, so we can team up with 9-24 other 'gods' to take down old gods or the titans.
Chewbacca Sep 29th 2008 3:14PM
It'll be Warcraft 4 as an MMORTS. As to not lose MMO subscibers from WoW, they'll cross hybrid both, and have WoW players as individual units, raiding Warcraft 4 cities. And players can control the armies of both games over VoIP.
I'm only "assuming", as battle.net 2.0 is coming, and "some" form of Warcraft 4 can't be to far off. Blizzcon 2008's logo is for; Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, and "Warcraft" - so it'll probably be the the unveiling of the final game, and the annoucement of a Battle.net overhall; uniting all 3 games under myspace-like profiles, minor monthly subscription fees ~$6/month for all 3 games, and a Steam-like game service via Blizzard - probably called Frost.
Myrkr Sep 29th 2008 3:24PM
I agree as far as it being an MMORTS. I don't know why everyones assuming its going to be an MMORPG. MMORTS would also fit with the term "next-gen" as its yet to really take off.
However I don't believe they'll continue a Warcraft RTS platform of any kind. I would rather see it as Starcraft. Not only because it gives an endless size to the universe that Warcraft might limit (greatly, imo) but Warcraft just doesn't seem fit with all these little heroes running around to need the massive scale battles it needed before.
Cetha Sep 29th 2008 3:39PM
what's the current guess about when Diablo 3 is coming out?
MechChef Sep 29th 2008 3:50PM
In before nerf medics and firebats. Buff marines.
Kiukiu Sep 29th 2008 4:02PM
Nerf ling rush too while you're at it.
Who really cares about what new 'next gen' game is coming out in 10 years? I'd be oozing with fanboi juices if Blizzard releases D3 in a reasonable time and it is a good fun game like its forebear. I think Blizzard will be satisfied making that successful before worrying too much about doing "the new WoW".
AlexW573 Sep 29th 2008 5:23PM
I'm hoping it's an absolutely amazing fourth universe.
The one major genre Blizzard hasn't covered is the sort of "modern" thing. They've done SciFi (Starcraft), fantasy (Warcraft) and fantasy-horror (Diablo). If any company can do a modern style game well, I think it's Blizzard :)
Tanglebones Sep 29th 2008 5:39PM
My guess for a next gen Blizz MMO would be a WoW 2, following a WC4, which would re-arrange the current horde/alliance factions, and (most likely) change the face of the world as well. At the very least, that inn in Westfall might finally be built...
Domandred Sep 29th 2008 6:03PM
I just hope whatever the "next gen MMO" is, it ISN'T yet another swords and sorcery ala 90% of the stuff that's out there already.
Give us a GOOD Sci-Fi successor to SWG that has both ship and ground and doesn't have you stuck in one or the other.
Grimtar Sep 30th 2008 1:32AM
You uncovered it?
ORLY
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/3/29/
:D
CvijaFaQ Sep 30th 2008 5:45AM
Why does this new MMO have to be set in an already existing universe? Can't they make new stuff up? :P Why does it have to be a sequel?
email Oct 1st 2008 1:35PM
I absolutely think it is WoW 2. Blizzard knows that WoW is getting long in the tooth and everyone universally agrees the "vanilla" WoW was the best experience.
If they were to launch WoW 2 in 2011 or 12 (enough time for another expansion or two on WoW), then it would carry millions of players over easily. They could up the graphics a bit, apply the knowledge they've gained by making the expansion and start the story another 10 or 20 years later.
Yes, they've killed off all the big villains, but we all know that villains don't have to remain dead and they could make up new ones.
That WoW killer that everyone is looking for is being made by Blizzard. And it will be awesome.