Video game world size compared
by Allison Robert 
May 19th 2010 at 11:00AM
As is obvious from the picture, WoW seems to compare poorly when it comes to the sheer size of the worlds in question, but the map being used is both outdated and somewhat misleading. It's a pre-BC version omitting the Azuremyst Isles, Quel'thalas, Outland and Northrend, and it obviously doesn't include the acreage being added to the game with Cataclysm, either. Regardless, it's an interesting comparison, and other people have tried figuring out exactly how big Azeroth is, with some curious results.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Arbolamante May 19th 2010 11:02AM
I'd say the EVE universe is bigger by far, but that's a special case.
XelBT May 19th 2010 11:10AM
The eve universe is not comparable, because each system is a separate instance.
Arbolamante May 19th 2010 11:14AM
Hence "that's a special case."
woecip May 19th 2010 11:23AM
WIth your logic, Azeroth is not comparable as well since each continent is a different "instance".
Marcosius May 19th 2010 11:25AM
@XelBT: You've sort of got a point there but... Then again, so are the different continents of Azeroth. EK, Kalimdor, Outland, and Northend are all instanced as well to the extent that different servers run OL, Northrend and Vanilla zones. So instanced areas really, do they matter in size of the game world? Unless my memory fails me at least GTAIII also had loading screens between the three islands.
Valru May 19th 2010 12:08PM
@XelBT
every game works like that, did you think one realm is one server?
Zuckerdachs May 19th 2010 11:04AM
Doesn't include raids and dungeons that take place "outdoors," either! =) Some of them have spots that represent them on the maps, but they're not usually to scale.
woecip May 19th 2010 11:07AM
Aww they forgot Ultima Online
Kemikalkadet May 19th 2010 11:10AM
Is the LotRO map really 375 times bigger than Azeroth? :O
I've not played it myself, maybe i'll have to try if the world is really that big.
Hoggersbud May 19th 2010 11:17AM
It's that big and empty if you asked me.
Valt May 19th 2010 11:24AM
That kinda worries me tho. How will you ever see anyone while you are leveling. Im going to ashenvale and there might be 19 people that I will never ever see.
While wow is not that "huge" I think it should be even smaller to actually meet people while leveling. (and those damn 12 minute flights.. and those 20 minute walks between each place to other.. come on now)
Its just one of those never ending game stuff people juggle between. Do they want huge enormous stuff that makes people gasp how much there is room (but scattered stuff around) or do they want smaller but more stuff to do and more stuff packed in one place.
Matt May 19th 2010 11:50AM
3/4 of LotRO's map is in Forochel. At least I remember it seemed that way.
For the most part though, I don't remember it feeling much bigger than Azeroth...
Alanid May 19th 2010 12:03PM
I actually think WoW should be slightly bigger to reflect the actual size of the town's cities and settlements, but that's just my opinion.
Kemikalkadet May 19th 2010 12:44PM
@Alanid
Yeah i'm with you on the towns part. Towns like Southshore/Tarren Mill are supposed to be relatively substantial settlements although they fell like just a small collection of buildings. It would be cool if Dalaran was 2x the size too, not necesarily more things there, just 2x the space. It can feel a bit cramped and claustrophobic at peak times.
Seedcake May 19th 2010 12:50PM
Yes, LotRO's world feels huge (and it's even small compared to what the actual scale SHOULD be according to the books). Unlike WoW, you get a feeling of real wilderness in LotRO. It's a worthy game and yes, you should check it out, take your time and enjoy it -- it is always so underrated by WoW loyalists.
Neuropox May 19th 2010 2:02PM
My problem with LotRO is not the size of the gameworld, which i will say is quite impressive, but the emptiness of it. I played a 10day trial of it a while back and i saw 2 characters the entire time i was playing/leveling. Huge world, just very empty and alone. And while WoW may be small by other standards, i always thought it was quite large in it's own right. Always a new nook or cranny of a zone i had never seen, or a little building or tribute i had missed before. Huge, not really, but detailed, heck yes!
Durane May 19th 2010 2:46PM
@Kemikalkadet
LotRO is worth trying. The size of the game is incredible and, frankly, it is beautiful. The land is incredibly detailed and beautiful.
@Hoggersbud
Yes, LotRO does not have the player count that WoW does, but makes up for it with far more mature players and far fewer servers. I've never had a problem finding groups.
One thing I always disliked about WoW was that the "world" never seemed that daunting. The cities and towns never really felt real (there are very few exceptions). WoW is a great game, and the world is well designed, but it lacks the immersive feel that many gaming worlds possess.
IGS May 19th 2010 5:52PM
@ Hoggersbud
I'll have to try it out. I treasure the empty areas of WoW.
Hoggersbud May 19th 2010 6:00PM
>Yes, LotRO does not have the player count that WoW does, but makes up for it with far more mature players and far fewer servers. I've never had a problem finding groups.
One thing I always disliked about WoW was that the "world" never seemed that daunting. The cities and towns never really felt real (there are very few exceptions). WoW is a great game, and the world is well designed, but it lacks the immersive feel that many gaming worlds possess.<
Well it's one of the things I remember hating most about LOTRO. How large it was, how much empty space I had to go through, and how much time to took to get places.
Certainly there's a good bit of character in LOTRO, I won't deny that, getting to the top of Weathertop was at least interesting. But walking through Bree was not.
In comparison, while WOW does not lack in its share of drag, I don't find it to be quite the same as LOTRO, AO or EQ. I just don't.
As for annoying people? It's called the ignore button. Besides, what some people find annoying, others find interesting conversation to pass the time. Not like LOTRO has immunity from the bads anyway.
Omicron May 19th 2010 7:42PM
The 30,000 square miles given for the LotRO world are quite literally, the entire world as drafted up by J.R.R. Tolkien - from the northwestern tips of Eriador all the way down through Mordor in the southeastern corner.
Actually accessible are only parts of that world, which are divided in zones much like WoW is. This is due to the fact that the game loosely follows the books, meaning areas such as southern Eriador simply weren't relevant in the books and thus are not accessible in the game.
Also, the content releases are making their way towards Mordor much in the same way as the characters in the books did. They did Moria with the first expansion, and the Mirkwood with the second. More is not yet accessible, you'll only get to see that in upcoming expansions. Mordor itself will probably be the fifth or so.