Incoming newbies, but why?
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 8th 2009 at 2:00PM
It's an interesting question. Neth answers pretty tamely, saying that we were all noobs at one point, and that they want to make the starting areas as welcome as possible. But the question remains: is Blizzard expecting an influx of new players at some point in the future?
If so (and why else would they completely revamp the tutorial system and starting experience in a five year old game?), we have to wonder where they'll come from. Will Cataclysm bring in a swarm of new players? I'd think that it would bring some people back to the game, but I'd assume that most regular gamers have already played World of Warcraft and/or one of its many originators and imitators at some point.
The WoW movie is mentioned by a few players, and certainly that's a possibility -- though the movie isn't due out for a comparatively long time in terms of patches. Starcraft II may also bring a number of new players in or back to the game, as the new Battle.net system will definitely spread the word about people playing World of Warcraft. But even then, all of those new draws combined don't really seem like they're capable of generating the flood of new players that completely revamping the starting experience would deserve.
Unless Blizzard has something else up their sleeve -- something like WoW going partly free-to-play or a big boost to recruit-a-friend would certainly bring in a flood of new players, enough to justify giving them new tutorials and easier leveling. Whatever it is, Blizzard definitely thinks the newbies are coming. As with so much of this game, we'll have to wait and see.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Instances, Leveling, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
dengarsw Nov 8th 2009 2:06PM
Maybe they're finally aiming at a Japanese release?
Tristan Nov 8th 2009 2:58PM
they're revamping the low level stuff, not adding giant robots.
kooda Nov 8th 2009 3:38PM
What, wows not out in japan? do they have weird laws like china? anyway anything to make the starting 10 levels better is always nice for everyone really, new stuff is new i guess.
Tuhljin Nov 8th 2009 3:47PM
You don't think there will be giant robots in Uldum?
greenthumbs Nov 8th 2009 6:00PM
@kooda
There are some people (I was one of them a while back) living in Japan who play WoW on Oceanic servers, though they're largely foreigners working or studying there. From my personal experience I can't see WoW taking off over there as its just not the kind of game that many Japanese would play.
Dan Nov 8th 2009 6:02PM
Probably is. Don't know why they havn't hit japan already.
On a side yet related note. I have a topic up on the forums suggesting wow implement a mentor-Apprentice feature for new players. It's called, let the players become a class trainer. heres a link to the topic: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=20860800690&sid=1
Xino Nov 8th 2009 7:07PM
They haven't hit Japan because MMO's don't do well in Japan, in fact PC games in general don't do well there.
David Nov 8th 2009 9:21PM
They have at least one other MMORPG in development right now, any lessons they learn they can change in game and use the code in future games.
Chalmette Nov 8th 2009 8:58PM
PC games don't do well there, because heck, PCs themselves don't do well in Japan. Relatively few Japanese have PCs and instead use other devices (such as phones, or consoles) for a large number of PC tasks. Sure, they miss out on PC games, but then it becomes a vicious cycle. PC games don't get Japanese localizations because Japanese gamers don't use PCs, and Japanese gamers don't use PCs because it's not worth the cost with so few PC exclusives available.
Todd Nov 8th 2009 9:53PM
Well I live in Japan and play wow. Though I started when I was living in the US still.
Like others have said PCs aren't all that popular here for gaming. There are PC stores and what not but the game section is pretty sad. Plus they would have to compete with the likes of that Final Fantasy MMO, or even that Monster Hunter game that seems to be all the rage. And on top of that foreign games have never really been big hits here. Aion is trying, the Family Mart by my work has a sign in the store for Aion. For a small game like Aion I guess it's worth it to try but a big game like WoW there probably won't be enough return to justify the investment.
lmh86 Nov 9th 2009 12:33AM
Did someone say...tentacles?
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=21579
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=46312
Thundrcrackr Nov 9th 2009 11:44AM
They're finally getting around to something they probably started 4 years ago, in typical Blizzard "soon" fashion.
Nothing more, nothing less.
roflmaoFTW123 Nov 16th 2009 5:36PM
@greenthumbs
If a game like Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite can take off there im SURE WoW can impact
Gilgamesh Nov 8th 2009 2:07PM
I've thought about that as well. All my alts are max level.... and I still find myself getting bored with the game, even with a decent raid schedule. More alts aren't going to retain me. Reducing endgame content by 5 levels is certainly not making me happy.
I think they're looking at data suggesting that long term players are going to leave for other games (a few in my guild are seriously looking at SWTOR) or "real life" and decided to halve the end game of the next expansion to monetize revamping the Old World - hoping that newcomers will make up for those that leave.
jaenicoll Nov 8th 2009 2:29PM
I am pretty sure that Blizzard will alter the pay structure for WoW at some point in the future as a means to extend its life cycle a few more years. The micro-transaction model would most likely kicked up a gear or two and become the principal revenue method. Having a more elegant and simpler starting experience makes sense for all new players entering the game and definitely for when they anticipate an influx.
However, I doubt they will change the pay structure for some time. When either:
a) player numbers have dwindled to a point where that model makes more financial sense
b) marketing think they can bring in a whole new category of player eg film, TV series (however the new players numbers would need to be significant to risk this)
c) the timing would hurt a competitor product and draw away marketing space from them
d) when they release a new mmo
IMO, Blizzard will hold out until d occurs, whilst ramping up the micro transactions in the game. They would offer some incentive to take the existing player base over to the new MMO and use WoW as a nursery game/ advertising game for new players.
From a marketing perspective, this would be the point that WoW ceases to be a cash cow, is in decline and is becoming a dog (loses or barely maintains profit) with a tail that wags (it can still draw attention and be usable as a marketing or strategically offensive tool) and their rising star (new mmo) needs less competion from their own products.
Then again, its sunday morning, I'm hung over and sleepy and I could have just written a load of old bollox
Nick S Nov 8th 2009 3:46PM
Another possibility is that Blizzard wants to improve its retention rate in WoW. By making the game more and more accessible at high levels, they've improved retention for casual players who did make it to 80, and now by improving the way they teach new players the game, they'll improve retention on players who didn't make it or are just starting.
The business model Blizzard has shown with WoW recently is a very retention-oriented model - the changes they've made to the game are very much designed to improve the percentage of players who stick around long-term.
Karmatrain Nov 8th 2009 3:51PM
It also could be an experiment of sorts for their next gen mmo. Good way to gauge the success of features in a huge games, better then a beta test for a newly developed game.
New story lines, phasing, new raid and dungeon lfg models, ect ect.
Justin Nov 8th 2009 4:20PM
I think Nick and Karm are probably both right. If Blizz wants WoW to stick around they have to constantly innovate... Stagnation is fuel for failure. Also, what better way to try things out for the next MMO then on their unwitting 11mill player test audience.
Austin Nov 8th 2009 8:37PM
Innovating is one thing, but am I the only one who thinks that Cataclysm would have been a great place to have a sequel to wow come in? The whole world blows up, causing the entire game to be radically different. Why not just make a new game?!
Charlie Nov 8th 2009 11:21PM
@NickS I agree completley.
I know so many people who played during Vanilla and BC (i.e. pre xp redux, heirlooms, and recruit a friend) and they burned out around 35. Azeroth as it is right now really spreads out past thirty. You have a really tight experience up till around third (For humans for example, Elwynn, Westfall, Redridge, Duskwood, STV) and then you go all over. 40-50 Comprises of Hinterlands, Feralas, Tanaris, STV, etc. etc.
I would imagine that more directly influencing the flow of areas, much like BC and Wrath, would increase player retention. Also, having players back in the old world will help alot.
@Austin I point you to EQII. It was a solid game, but the problem was that it split the playerbase and in the end was a bane to the success of both games. There won't be a WoW 2 until WoW is good and dead (aka they completely stop patching the game).