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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreaking down Blizzard's world event so far
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 29th 2008 at 9:00AM
Blizzard, as we've said already, has really outdone themselves with this latest world event. It's been so fun and so innovative that players are wondering just why the rest of the game hasn't been this good so far (even though, of course, it's been superb anyway). The zombie invasion really gave players of MMOs everything they've wanted since this genre first came into being -- a growing, changing world populated not by mindless AI characters stuck in static patterns, but actual, creeping story and chaos. For all of the anti-zombie whining, this world event has been MMO gameplay at, I'd say, the best it's ever been.And while I was waiting until the event completely ended to do a final analysis, Colin Brennan over at Massively isn't waiting -- he's got a good analysis up over there about the zombie event and just why it was so brilliant. He describes how the world event not only gave players a terrific reason to hate Arthas enough to go to Northrend and want to fight him, but how the gameplay design of the event (when you are killed by a zombie, you become one) was tuned towards fueling the story and the immersion. As he says, the best way to fight the plague was to embrace the fact it was in the game, whether you were a zombie or a cleansing Paladin.
There's lots more to dissect with this world event, including how Blizzard brilliantly invoked something that had happened by accident -- the Corrupted Blood plague -- and incorporated it into the game itself, and how the various zombie abilities were aimed directly at gameplay only possible in an MMO, from the AoE healing to the shrinking plague incubation time. I'll go so far as to say it expanded the boundary of what an MMO can do -- Blizzard let zombies loose on the populace not by hiring GMs to run around on every server, but by giving power to the players. But again -- there'll be time for analysis later, once we've discovered ingame just exactly what's going on here and how it all ties to Arthas. Colin's analysis is a good start, though -- Blizzard really outdid themselves with, even considering the complaints, one of the best world events ever seen in an MMO.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, Fan stuff, Blizzard, Quests, Lore
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
Dunhear Oct 29th 2008 9:53AM
Karazak,
As someone who has three 70s and has cleared BT pre the LOL patch, I'm pretty sure I can safely be classified as in the "end game."
That "experience" and knowledge doesn't preclude me from having empathy for the new players that this event destroyed.
It's why I spent time in the Night Elf starting area obliterating all of the level 70s who were there to zombify the entire zone.
Those level 1s have just as valid as an "opinion" about this event as you do. If they want to talk about which specs are best, then yes, experience matters. As to whether something was fun, then their viewpoint is no less valid than yours.
Zharg, I didn't miss the point. There's a difference in an event not being "attuned" to level 1s. Those level 1s aren't going to be traipsing up to Black Temple because, well, "they are not prepared!"
But to have an event that empowers people to actually destroy the level 1s? Are we saying that they weren't attuned to life?
D.O.T. Oct 29th 2008 10:14AM
It’ll be difficult to get anyone’s comment from the side of who were griefed to even stay up on the boards since people either a) delete any posts at the WoW forums that show how negatively the event affected people or b) vote down any comments that show the same here.
Again this comment will most likely be voted down by people because “omg” the article writer was in favour of the event and I pointed it out. It’s fine to like something, but to put a slam at people by using the words “whiners” just takes it to a level that shouldn’t be in an article story. If you can’t take that and vote this comment down because of that, then I’ve made my point. Some people just can’t take any criticism and yet think they can slam others with their own.
I WAS griefed at the event. Everywhere I went, people were killing the NPCs I needed and they were also killing the npcs mobs I needed too. I would go ToT and the innkeeper would be dead. I’d try to get on a FP and the FP guy would be dead. They didn’t stop doing this and they called me a jerk(and a lot worse) for wanting to play the game. So when I took matters into my own hands and got onto my paladin to cleanse, I got called the same thing. (AND a lot more worse than before) So it was okay for the griefers to grief me, but it wasn’t okay to grief them back.
Fedwinmorr Oct 29th 2008 10:15AM
Dunhear,
I can understand your frustration, the game really is quite different lvl 1 - 69 and at lvl 70. The only problem is, the vast majority of players are already at max level. And those that aren't, will be in a short time. There are of course exceptions to that, but the numbers and history prove that the most successful way to improve a long running game like this is to add max level content.
Of course, blizzard isn't completely blind to their low levelers and have added several things over the years for lower levels including the various lower instance bosses for the hallows eve holiday. (if you haven't seen these, google them quick and check em out, they are fun!)
The other piece of information that helped me enjoy this event so much was the fact that it is another chapter in the story that is Warcraft. Do you write the author of your favorite book to complain when you hit chapter 8 and all of the sudden that character you love was maimed or killed? No, (well sometimes you might I guess!) you keep reading. This Zombie event was another chapter, and I loved it, especially since you see real lore changes so rarely in MMOs when they do come, they are that much more significant.
Worst case scenario, if you don't care about the WoW story, or the high level stuff, it was only 6 days, and wasn't permanent. But personally I actually enjoyed getting my fishing interrupted by zombie attacks hehe.
Fed
fauxbo Oct 29th 2008 10:51AM
@ D.O.T.
You are free to kill them and take the criticism for it. They are free to kill you and take criticism for it.
If you got fed up and started killing the Zombies, you win! that's the point, to make you angry.
'Whiners' are people who didn't like being killed BY a zombie, but they are also zombies who didn't like being clensed or killed.
Basically whiners are players who are upset because in an MMO they aren't allowed to play their way.
It's a two way street.
Dillon Oct 29th 2008 11:42AM
Arthas did it!
Prophetik Oct 29th 2008 12:09PM
No, just no. I leveled a new dwarf hunter alt from 1 to 14 during this event. It was easy to avoid.
slimj091 Oct 29th 2008 12:29PM
"Can we get some "analysis" from someone new to the game who was just getting the hang of it before this "world event" about what this meant?"
here's my analysis................. don't care. they were the sheep to the wolves... or i should say the helpless little kiddies brains to the zombies. either way those new players that stuck it out should come out of it more well-adjusted to this game than the new players (and old players) that ran, and cryed on their mothers apron the second they died.
fact is. you die in this game, and you die a lot no matter how l33t you think you are. either they would have died to a player zombie, or they would have died because they over pulled 20 defias mobs in westfall. atleast when they died by my hands instead of some npc.. someone was having fun :P
Calybos Oct 30th 2008 4:30PM
EXCELLENT point. I don't know how many times it has to be repeated for the concept to sink in: Not Everyone Is a Bored Veteran Sitting Around at Level 70!
Please, people. There are new players joining every day, and PLENTY of players who've been enjoying themselves for months (or even years) without hitting 70 yet. Try to remember the whole audience, and not just the hardcores? Once in a while, anyway?
Aubrecia Oct 29th 2008 5:48PM
Everyone else has brought up the low leveling point, so I'll just say this: Is everyone ignoring that Blizz actually put together a scourge invasion event specifically for lowbies around the capital cities? I know it's not the same thing as the zombies, but you can't argue that BLIZZ HATE NOOBS when they have quests specifically for the lowbies who can't participate in, say, the dual-plagued brain/frozen shade quests.
I got accidentally infected a LOT on the last day of the plague, and with no apparent healer in Org, I also turned a lot. But you know, that was the affect of being in Org. I ran up the flight tower, turned, and waited to die so that when I rezzed, I could get on the FP without hassle. When I risked getting on my bank alt, I found myself surprisingly not in danger, because SMC was completely empty. It was honestly just a matter of knowing where to go and how to avoid the zombies. In the last hours, I WAS running from every zombie I saw -- but it was more of a minor inconvenience than a serious, tooth-gnashing irritation.
And I always find it funny that it's the people with 70s claiming that it's so hard for the lowbies. You're not a lowbie. Why do you keep speaking for them?
Dunhear Oct 30th 2008 5:23PM
Why do some 70s talk for the lowbies?
For me, it's because my wife just started. Yes, brand new player. I bought her the original game and the BC expansion — Battle Chest for the win — and she was really having a good time.
We actually spent a lunch hour talking about specs, pet choices, weapons, stats. When you've been married for more than a decade and together for more than 13 years, it's nice to have something NEW to talk about.
And I watched her get irritated, frustrated and angry with not being able to play.
And it irritated me because it wasn't people getting into the zombie mentality and having fun playing that role. It was just the same D-bags that corpse camped lowbies in the Barrens and were jackasses — now they were just doing it to their own team.
I understand why some people can like the event. It was an awesome idea. But those people who have legitimate complaints and reasons we didn't like it — or think it could have been handled better to not empower the griefers — are not whiners or QQ babies.
Naix Oct 29th 2008 9:25AM
Best world event ever! I wish Blizzard would do something like this every 3 months or sooner. Maybe have a random mob raid on a town.
Keep it coming Blizzard!
StarGryphon Oct 29th 2008 9:28AM
The zombie event was fantastic. It was frustrating at times trying to get somethings done but that was the appeal of the event. I ended up going to Everlook in Winterspring to access my bank, out of the way but that was the point.
I am waiting to see what happens this week. I am expecting things to start sometime today since there was rolling restarts this morning.
Muse Oct 29th 2008 12:32PM
Everlook. I knew there was a place I was forgetting.
IncubusHead Oct 29th 2008 9:29AM
As with all of the world events to date, this has been nothing but a waste of time and an annoyance. The current world event is of course the worst of these so far by making Shattrath, and indeed all of the major cities, almost impossible to move around in, and interfering with normal gameplay for those who don't wish to take part in the zombification.
I would urge Blizzard to refrain from any further world events because they are just getting worse with each successive attempt.
slimj091 Oct 29th 2008 12:29PM
dumbasshead,
the zombie invasion has been over for a few days now. you can stop refering to it in the present tense, and you can also stop acting like your still being "forced" to take part in a phase of the scourge event that is over. turn the QQ macro off.
Dract Oct 29th 2008 9:35AM
"Can we get some "analysis" from someone who doesn't have a level 70? "
I'm new to WoW, my highest level toon is a level 43 warlock on outland server(eu) Called Dract.
I thought it was the best event i've ever seen in a mmorpg.
And not being able to level while this event was on? I went up 13 levels and my friend went from level 1-30 while this event was on.
People just like to moan.
Rosa Oct 29th 2008 9:50AM
Awesome, I'm glad to know that my friend and I playing low level alts/new characters weren't just lucky. Thanks for your comment/
zappo Oct 29th 2008 10:20AM
There is a difference between leveling alts and starting the game however; and I think a lot of people miss that. When I started the game I rolled on a PvP server and leveled through Hillsbrad and STV. Some people would say "wow, you must like getting ganked". No, I just didn't KNOW any better. And wow was that a hash experience -_-;
Anyway, people who have leveled know exactly where the congestion points would be, and where they could go to be unmolested. Obviously stormwind/ironforge/goldshire are probably the worst places possible to be for an alliance character, but how would you know that as someone starting out? I'm also guessing it never occured to people to ask a high level character to watch over them. Heck I would have done so. Not only for fun, and being helpful; but when people complain about you killing them as a zombie, they lose all footing when you point out that you were defending a level 10 who had asked you to do so. Justice is on your side.
Justinn Oct 29th 2008 9:34AM
I'm still LOL'ing at the picture:
"lol guyz broke ur AH"
pb Oct 29th 2008 9:43AM
BRILLIANT!
glad you used that word, that's exactly how I would have put it as well.
need more things like this