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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsIs WoW being run by its B-team? Is that bad?
by Eliah Hecht 
Jul 14th 2009 at 8:00PM
This post by Eric Heimburg on the excellent MMO design blog Elder Game, alleging that WoW is currently run by Blizzard's B-team, has ignited a fair amount of controversy around the blogosphere. The general argument appears to be that the people previously in charge of WoW, like Jeff Kaplan, have moved on to other projects. As a consequence knee-jerk changes are being pushed through very fast, without being sufficiently tested first. "Back in the day," claims the article, "QA held the game to a higher standard."
My reaction to these claims are mixed. Kaplan may not be in charge of WoW anymore, but I don't think that "the steady hand has left the rudder," or if it has, maybe a less straight-ahead course is a good thing. Changes may be getting pushed through very quickly - Ghostcrawler routinely refers to players getting whiplash from the frequency of balance changes - but in many cases, I think this is for the best.
Throughout the BC era, WoW followed a model of punctuated equilibrium: relatively large changes in major patches, and very little in-between. This did mean a lot of testing could be done for most changes, but the downside is that it regularly took months for problems to be fixed.
Nowadays, we appear to have a faster cycle of minor (two-decimal-point) patches, as well as copious hotfixes. Sure, it causes some cruft to accumlate - like leatherworkers being able to craft now-worthless quivers, in Heimburg's example - but I think a faster problem/solution turnaround time is well worth a few rough edges. Rapid iteration has been a principle of web design for a while now. Maybe it's time it came to MMOs, which are conceptually similar to web apps.
Overall, I think the game is continually improving. It's in a better state now than it ever has been, and it will be better still in 3.2, if what I'm seeing from the PTR is any indication. (Caveat: No more jousting, please. It is simply not fun.) So if there are indeed new people in charge of WoW, I for one welcome our change-happy overlords.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)
paul Jul 15th 2009 6:49AM
I seriously doubt its the b-team. The idea that Blizzard had this extra-ordniary team of super stars, that has never experienced attrition, re tasking or movement over the past 8-10 years is, well, ludicrous.
I'm sure the team has changed, and I'm sure that some people have changed roles within Blizzard, but i seriously doubt, to the point of calling the original blogger a liar, that blizzard just turned around and said 'sure thing guys, just hand the keys to the kingdom over to the interns, and sloppy joe, sure, who cares what happens now?'
What we have now then, are a lot of the 'me, me, me' raiders, who assume that the game must, without any compromise, revolve around them, getting pissed that the game doesn't focus on them, and then deciding that blizzard is the problem. It couldn't be that blizzard have said, we need to please everyone, so instead it must be sloppy design work.
THe problem is only made worse then, as forums, and the internet allow people to blow of steam, and make (watch the capitals) UNBELIEVABLY over the top claims, to the point of insulting, knowing that behind their anonymity, they are safe to say things they never would in person. These stupid claims get pounced on, and like some infectious madness, it spreads, until some ideal version of the game is created in peoples head, that never existed.
The game is now delivering more content to more players than ever before.
Only the most selfish, egotistical self absorbed people could consider this a bad thing, and then try and blame on reasons as woeful and pitiful as 'its the designers, they suck'
Odok Jul 15th 2009 6:49AM
Wow, rose tinted glasses much? This game is much much much much better than it was back in Vanilla.
That being said, I see a lot of mistakes resolved a few years ago being repeated again (namely in PvP and raid tuning). That makes me believe that the apprentices have taken over the reins.
Bubsa Jul 15th 2009 6:59AM
Ghostcrawler is in charge of balance.
Need I say more?
Kron Sep 26th 2009 6:03PM
There will never be a stage in this game that will please everybody, thats impossible and who ever thinks the oposite has a bit of growing up to do.
Unfortunately, as time goes by in this WotlK expansion, im starting to feel that whoever in WoW development is resposible for this most wonderfull game, the very best I've ever played, is starting to show some worrying signs of naivety. In other words, im starting to feel that Blizzard is slowly loosing the plot.
I have only been playing this game for a year now so, im not a fully ' hardcore-all-knowing-experieced" sort of player. Altho i have a reasonable experience in the game content I have no intenton of discussing attribites, abilities or skills of any given race or class or the fact that Paladins are pretty much invincible when properly played compared to a Rogue. What really worries me is not knowing why would someone with the resorces that Blizzard has would venture to new levels without sorting out whats left behind. Why would we have to go to a new patch without having known issues either sorted or permanently erradicated?
This is starting to sound like throwing a sweet to unrully children just to apease them.
Whats the strategy regarding to WoW future when some implementation in one patch is scrapped on the next? When a buff turns into a nerf? Why are flying mounts gettin cheaper? too many ppl complaining or is it just a clever way of trying to get ppl from buying gold from those goldsellers that continuously keep popping up in trade and in wisper? More important than anything else (mainly because it will reflex exactly what blizzard thinks of his customers) is why do I have to wait for 12HRS!! for an answer from a GM?? Lets all leave rough edges behind then! So next time we look back we end up with a Mammoth of a problem that no one will be able to fix.
"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."
Sun Tzu – The Art of War
Broken Bottle Jul 15th 2009 8:00AM
I'd be inclined to agree that quality has declined if people hadn't been saying the same thing since the second patch was released in beta.
Verit Jul 15th 2009 8:58AM
Honestly my only beef with WoW is being handled is its paced for dedicated/hard-core guilds. By this time next year we'll be playing the next xpac, and all this content will be worthless - which is fine if your hooked on crack and play like your on it.
If you want a more challenging fantasy rpg game that gives no handouts try Lineage 2 - its a game where if you see someone in Class A armor you know they are very hardcore. The raid bosses are hard, leveling is hard and takes forever (max level could take you 2 years of playing), raid bosses are epic with attunement, keys and gear checks (most 70+ are 45-500 players - yes you read that right - look up Anarthas the earth dragon), PVP is meaningful (taking over a castle with your clan actually lets you own it, and all the taxes collected in that zone!), and PVP has a partial loot system for people who kill defenseless players. Crafting is insane, only doable by one race, and has a failure rate (ie - you hand off all your insanely hard to get mats, and there is a chance it will all get blown up when your dwarf friend tries to make it). I haven't played in ages so I may have facts wrong, but it is a very hardcore game - anyone who plays it is not a casual.
Oh and when you die - you lose 10% of your EXP - just like EQ and you can de-level.
And if Lineage 2 isn't hardcore enough - try Final Fantasy Online - imagine waiting for certain days to craft things (because the world buffs you get come and go depending on what day it is). There used to be 18+ hour boss fights too, but they nerfed that so most bosses take less than 2 hours - carebears.
So the next time someone cries wow is too easy - seriously - you're not being challenged enough - find another mmo and leave us all alone.
Eliah Hecht Jul 15th 2009 10:17AM
Mostly the client/server architecture and the fact that they're always changing. A web app, like an MMO, is never done.
Daz Jul 15th 2009 5:53PM
Believe me Eliah they couldn't be further apart. The client/server architecture of a web app is chalk and cheese to the WoW net code. In fact the WoW net code whilst it has it's faults is stunningly efficient and most likely one of Blizzard's proudest pieces of IP. Client/Server in a web app is just straightforward two way comms. Think about it, the Blizzard servers are effectively broadcasters, never talking to a single client but broadcasting everything about anything to everyone else!
I'll grant you they both share the commonality that they're never "done" but then what piece of software ever is? :-)
Dyermaker Jul 15th 2009 10:39AM
I think some people are missing the point about the article. The B-Team might be the better team, and I personally believe that Ghostcrawler is far far better than Tigole Bitties ever will be, but they have less experience and will make what should have been learned lessons.
There is a point at which you accept that the game changes and different things come and go. But when their plans outlined for the next three patches changes between patches, it suggests that they are working off the cuff. I do not believe that a game of this scope can effectively be managed when planning isn't happening for the long term.
I think releasing any raid content, like they are planning with 3.2, without any trash mobs is a mistake. It will damage raid design dramatically. Trash is the only real pacing mechanism, which what gives an instance its epic feel. Some people will be very happy to treat the next boss like they do their daily quests, but it will hurt the game for many others. WoW has already suffered for their design choices which remove the epic feeling, its hard to see an encounter as something special when you're one shotting with pugs your first time through.
The example of leatherworking quivers was right on target, and while relatively meaningless it is hardly the only example. Look at the changes to Block just within the span of the 3.2 beta. At this stage of the game the designers should have a more firm grasp of what their changes meant before they left the conference table. The time spent implementing an idea who's results were pretty obvious to anyone who's used a blocking tank before is absurd. The idea that they are changing mechanics as a stop gap until they change the mechanics... well... its just a poor philosphy. Could you imagine if car manufacturers said they don't like the way gasoline is working in their cars, so until they can get better green energy they are just going to cut Flinstone holes in the floors. Everyone would know what a dumb idea this is, but they wait until the first few come off the lot and prove the point. Point is, if you have a better implementation that will take time, then let it take that time. Any stop in between will only be a distraction from getting the job done right.
Trying to appeal to everyone really has turned the game into a fingerpainted hodgepodge. Yes, some people will like it for a while... until their favorite aspect is mushed in with something else. Classes used to be unique, but in the interest of chasing their tail of the mythical "Balance" beast there's going to be how many classes with Mortal Strike effects? When every single melee class has an interrupt except Paladins, they do kinda lock themselves in a corner and will have to pass that along too.
I anticipate the resilience change will mark this point better than anything else very soon. Some could argue that its a change long in coming. Others will argue that its going to inflate the value of healers. But what it will definitely do is reinforce some of the worst balance elements currently in the game. Something this sweeping is being rebalanced across all classes at once, and lets face it, the time is not being spent to review where other design decisions from days past will be impacted. Resilience was designed around crit-based abilities. When WotLK came out they ignored the bursting issues around the new abilities so they were forced to make a change to resilience. But those resilience changes will not impact all classes equally, some classes do less moment to moment damage and rely on crit damage instead. Without making those adjustments, are they not just creating new problems for them to chase in the next patch instead of working on something new?
Zepho Jul 15th 2009 12:43PM
I agree with the author, please no more jousting! I was disheartened to hear that it was required for the first part of the new 5-man instance. :(
TheRenderMan Jul 15th 2009 2:24PM
This entire comments section is filled with Blizzard fan boys. That if Blizzard was to read or even acknowledge the existence of this article, the fan boys would piss themselves in excitement thinking they are gonna get some special reward from Blizzard for saying what they did.
This game has been extremely dumbed down. Raids are not hard, they are just a big grindfest, that you and 10 or 25 of your friends go in every Tuesday, and destroy, no entertainment, no fun, same content over and over, NOTHING NEW! Now you look at Ulduar, from what it looks like here, is hard. Well Mr./Ms. "Death's Demise" title holders, have now got the strategy, and its just as easy as anything else in this game.
This game is becoming nothing but a "JOB" to some people, with the fact that, you don't wanna raid, but you "FEEL" that you have to get that new weapon or piece of gear, but you dread even stepping into Naxx, or Ulduar, because you know the agony is about to start.
Now down to the grinding in Vanilla WoW, kinda felt good when you got your epic riding didn't it? Now its nothing but a 40% increase, and getting the money to get it is extremely easy. Back in Vanilla WoW you were admired if you had your epic riding, now its an everyday thing.
Veezy F, is a prime example of the "I want things for free" player. He doesn't want the raids to be hard, and long drawn out, he wants it easy, so he can slip in and grab a piece or pieces of gear, and leave, no challenge, no sweat. I believe thats what we all want in this game now, but some of us, who played Vanilla WoW, knows that this game is going down hill VERY FAST.
Daz Jul 15th 2009 5:57PM
Obviously you don't play such a pointlessly easy game anymore then TheRenderMan? Oh no, I guess you just read about it and play the "meta game". You should try EVE!
Serr Jul 15th 2009 3:46PM
For the love of god - this is ridiculous. This game is not going downhill "VERY FAST" at all. Enough with the "Grass was Greener when my EPEEN was visible to everyone and because no one can see my EPEEN it means the game is ending."
It's amazing how many times counterpoints get made to arguments like this, and people still manage to turn a blind eye.
Abridged Version: The focus of the game is no longer on the level grind up but rather seeing and enjoying endgame content; Endgame content is not an elite place for only a few people; "Accessible" raids does not equal easy raids; WoW wants to appeal to a broader audience - they are not "catering to the casuals," they are aiming to make the game enjoyable to the largest number of people; "Casual" is not a deragatory, scornful term; Neither is "Hardcore" for that matter; Gear does not denote a good player, and it never did; Achievements do not denote a good player, but they give you more information (ie Hardmode achievements = more likely to be a good player)
B-Team: The company I software company I work for often gets asked for their "A Team" that worked on X project because they don't realize that there is no "A Team" or "B Team." The reality is that the company culture determines productivity and creation; I'd bet just about everything to say that within blizzard there is no concept of "A Team" or "B Team" because there doesn't need to be. Blizzard can hire the best people all the time, and it's a well known fact that they do. To imply that they'd hire subpar team members to work on a project when they have their pick of the best of what the game biz has to offer is pretty ludicrous. Similarly, with Kaplan moving on - keep in mind that different designers have different "specialities" - things they do especially well. If Kaplan got moved to another project is because they need their particular expertise, and WoW didn't. And I can guarantee that WoW is not anywhere near the backburner.
"You can't please everyone all the time," just thought I'd throw that out there again.
And seriously - it's ok if you don't like the direction WoW is moving. Give your feedback to the game, cancel the account and move on. No one needs the hundreds of troll posts a day.
And seriously, if you're going to complain about the development process blizzard is using, at least learn what a "Pipeline process" is, how QA conducted and the philosophy behind, and general design principals. THEN put your EDUCATED opinion about how its going.
*Sigh*
/endrage
SomnambulistArygos Jul 15th 2009 4:12PM
Not sarcasm - I actually DO like the jousting. I tried it on the PTR and couldn't wait for it to hit the live realms.. And now that it has, it's the only daily I still do consistently. Good money, fun, and you get champions seals out of it.
The only other complaint I have, and I've already submitted it to blizz, is that you either get the argent lance or the horde/alliance lance. I'd gladly spend a handful of seals to have a home faction lance. Undercity pride!