Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsGiving up on conquering WoW
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 26th 2009 at 5:00PM
So now, two months from the end of 2009, let's just say it: it's not possible. World of Warcraft is an aberration, an extremely well-made game that happened to be in just the right time and place (the casual game explosion, the adoption of MMOs and subscription model gaming, the "mainstreaming" of fantasy/sci-fi geekiness) to become an uber megahit. In short, game developers simply can't recreate WoW, at least not on purpose. As BoJ says, that doesn't mean they can't try -- there are certainly lots of original and interesting games and MMOs out there, and it's completely possible to be an MMO that isn't WoW-sized and be successful. But as for the actual question of beating WoW and its worldwide audience, game developers have pretty much moved on.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
rhavenn Oct 27th 2009 4:24AM
I think Blizzard will make you pay for a "battle.net" account and you can play any of their games that are Battle.net aware for "free" after initial product purchase. Since your account is tied to a single license and single use you can't loan out your account so one person can play MMO 1 and the other MMO2.
This would let WoW players try a new MMO while not paying for a full new monthly fee. In addition, if they design their games correctly on the backend WoW and whatever other MMO could share resources making the only difference art direction.
Wonkey the Monkey Oct 27th 2009 12:03PM
Blizzard has already released WoW 2… and 3… and has announced 4. In a manner of speaking, anyway. Unlike regular PC or console games, an MMO like WoW can add content and update the old stuff without ever releasing a "replacement".
Of course, my first sentence assumes that the amount of content in each expansion justifies calling it a "sequel," and you might disagree that BC and WotLK really count. However, I think Cataclysm has every right to be considered a sequel in a literal sense, even though all players are automatically absorbed along with a majority of the gameplay mechanics. There are two things that make it a sequel: a complete retooling of the original world, and the progression of time -- that is, all events in Cataclysm clearly and necessarily take place after the events of the original WoW, meaning that they must REPLACE the old events, not just supplement them.
Anyway, now that I'm done harping on the obvious, my point is that WoW could very well be here to stay as long as there are PC games because, unlike other game companies, Blizzard doesn't even need to compete with themselves.
computermachina Oct 26th 2009 5:10PM
I have tried as of recent (this year) other MMO's such as LotR, Aion, Warhammer and while WoW isn't per say a perfect MMO as you can notice by class balance nerfing, nerfing instances and raids for casuals etc, it is simply the better of all other MMO's by a wide margin. It wins by default.
Artificial Oct 26th 2009 5:49PM
I have to disagree. At least half the MMO's I've seen are substantially better than WoW. But there's no way they could be WoW-killers without a time machine. One of the biggest things that makes WoW as popular as it is is that it's as popular as it is. I'd be playing one of the several better MMO's if it weren't for the fact that a big part of the MMO experience is playing with your freinds, and this is the only one we all play.
Holgar Oct 26th 2009 6:06PM
@artificial Yea seriously thats why WAR went from selling 1million boxes to 300k subs in three months. Because it was "better than wow" but all of us are blinded by this crack we are on.
uh huh
Ziberious Oct 26th 2009 6:36PM
He was TOTALLY talking about Warhammer -.-
MazokuRanma Oct 26th 2009 10:51PM
I agree with Artificial. I really love WoW and many things in it, but I've also played other MMOs and there are things I enjoy about those that WoW just doesn't have.
For instance, I find the crafting component of Everquest II to be much more enjoyable than the one in WoW due to its interactive features. However, I don't play EQ2 since all of my friends play WoW. If several of them were to develop an interest in EQ2, then I would at the very least be playing both.
I enjoy WoW quite a lot, but it doesn't do everything perfectly. Without your friends playing with you though, it's difficult to enjoy the things the other games manage to do better.
Mark Gibbons Oct 27th 2009 12:50AM
It's "per se", not "per say".
Thander Oct 26th 2009 5:15PM
Well, I think it's just all the little improvements over the years that have kept people playing. At this point, it would cost too much money to make a game with as much polish as WoW. Other companies don't have the time to implement all the little interface things and gameplay options in WoW. They have to focus on PvP or PvE, or some other gameplay aspect, making it better than how WoW does it. Aion works here because it can fill the world PvP niche that's been missing in WoW for so long.
WoW seems to be slowing down to me though. After every expansion, the active players seem to go down to pre-expansion levels. It's still successful and many people still pay, but they are not very active in the game. They just keep their subscription going for the occasional fun night in WoW. Another game could come and take over, but it would be slowly over time. Maybe this imaginary game starts out just PvE, then adds a little PvP, then adds good interface customization, etc.
Karosene Oct 26th 2009 5:16PM
The ONLY thing that can kill WoW is Blizzard.
Nothing can touch it, this steamroller will keeping plowing over the weak and bads until Blizzard shuts the engine off.
Superthrust Oct 26th 2009 5:57PM
OR puts in some kinda patch that completely kills the old school players.
I.E. when TBC came out, the old old schoolers quit...Im talking the ones who were in Naxx v1.0
Moonkinmaniac Oct 26th 2009 6:24PM
OR the WoW movie. If its not a flop think about it. Tons and tons of new players. Which is great in the long run, but I wonder if a flood of people who otherwise might not know much about mmo's leaping into the mix will be good or bad for Wow.
vinniedcleaner Oct 26th 2009 6:31PM
I agree, Blizzard will kill WoW by allowing the rampant ganking/griefing to continue. As more and more of the kiddies get their uber-elite raiding and PvP gear, there will be much more ganking/griefing, which, if unchecked through in-game consequences, will cause WoW to degenerate into an extremely large Death Match map....
Mopo Oct 26th 2009 6:42PM
@Superthrust
You're kidding right?
Noscy Oct 26th 2009 7:40PM
More like Activision Karosene...
Stupid greedy overloads....
Rifter Oct 26th 2009 5:19PM
When WoW was released, it was the spunky newbie, taking on the 900 lb Gorilla, known as Everquest. Hell, I bought collector's editions of BOTH games (WoW and EQ2) within what, 2 weeks of each other?
While I think there was a chunk of luck involved, I think there was a lot of skill involved, as well. They hit the right mix of comedy, seriousness, newbie-friendliness... not to mentioning being Blizzard releasing a Warcraft game... that had gone through different incarnations through the years before... (remember Warcraft Adventures?)
I think other games can compete... but Wow will have to get a little more tired than what it is, right now.
Faceless Oct 26th 2009 5:25PM
It's the community. The game is polished, yes, but it's very much the community. WE'RE the ones that make the game shine. =P
Extrox Oct 26th 2009 9:13PM
Honest to goodness you're right.
I've quit numerous times... why do I keep coming back? Not because of the new features. It's "new" but it still involves similar mechanics as previous things. Not saying that's necessarily a bad thing mind ya. I keep comin' back because of all the people I played with / enjoyed raiding with etc.
The community plays a huge role in why I play.
Dude Oct 26th 2009 5:26PM
It ain't gonna happen. Aion is losing customers due to spam and bots, and WoW has been a good fantasy all rounder game to return to.
A sci fi game like SW:TOR will attract its own niche, since fantasy is a completely different setting. But then SW:G hasn't ignited the MMOnmniverse like it was supposed to, so we will see.
Tedronai Oct 26th 2009 5:29PM
Wow not only tapped into an already huge Warcraft and Blizzard fan base, it was also the first game to really capitalize on Everquest (arguably the biggest MMO pre WoW days) and its developers' consistent ability to miss the mark with what its player base wanted.
About the only game I can see overtaking WoW is the new MMORPG they have in the works. Even then it's not gauranteed seeing as it wont have the luxury of having a world built upon a franchise that has been around since the early 90's. Even for that game, it's going to be an uphill battle. It'd have to be truly "next generation", imo, for that to happen.