The Queue: Patching syndrome
by Adam Holisky 
Jun 24th 2010 at 1:00PM
I'm submitting a new disease to the books. It's called "Patching Syndrome." It's where people think something has changed because of the patch even though it hasn't.
That hair style you just discovered last night? It's always been there. Patch 3.3.5 had nothing to do with it.
Pwnzoar asked ...
"Originally, back before Burning Crusade, I remember them announcing that there were going to be racial flying mounts, similar to how we have racial ground mounts. Coupled with that, I remember pictures of an undead dragon that was going to be the Undead flying mount, and it looked epic. Why did they decide to switch that out and go with flying mounts for faction?"
Things like this get shelved during development for one reason or another. Remember what those preview lists actually are: previews of potential features. They're not set in stone and things often change during development. Just like the dance studio, and Path of the Titans, and flying combat...
As for why this particular thing got changed, no idea.
Task asked ...
"If I was to get a paid name change, would any of the crafted gear that I've made have the "made by name" changed as well?"
Yes, the "made by" part will change to reflect your new name.
Chris asked ...
"How much a month do think Blizzard will charge once they know that WoW is no longer the top MMORPG on the web, and has maybe a few hundred thousand still playing? (I foresee its player base eroding next year, and I am pretty good at detecting these things.)"
Threeve Dollars.
But really... I don't think WoW will get down to a few hundred thousand next year, or any year in the near future at all. We know that the player base has plateaued at 11.5 million. If Star Wars is lucky (I'm assuming you're referring to that in your 'forethought') they'll launch with a couple million by years' end; and assuming all of those players cancel their WoW accounts (which is very unlikely to happen), WoW would still have 9.5 million players, well ahead of all of their competition combined.
This has been said a lot, but it requires repeating: The only WoW killer will be WoW itself. All of the executives in the industry know this, and the smart ones (of which BioWare has several) know that it's pointless to try to compete directly against WoW. Instead, they're focused on making the best game possible and will just let the chips fall where they may. If BioWare does a good job, the MMO community will respond to that and rally around them. Will Star Wars ever get to WoW numbers? We don't know -- WoW is the first communal game to reach this level, and the social dynamics of a virtual population of millions of dedicated players has only begun to be studied.
So would Blizzard lower the price in such a catastrophic situation? I don't think they've even thought about it yet. There's no data to suggest they need to.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
Ben Jun 24th 2010 1:05PM
Please don't feed the trolls.
Dave Jun 24th 2010 3:25PM
I think the "I'm good at detecting these things" is a quote from a recent Know Your Lore.
Laughtrey Jun 24th 2010 3:25PM
Yeah, that was a pretty dumb question to put in there. WoW going from 11Million to less than 1 million in less than a year?
If anything it will start growing again once China gets their shit together.
Dr Charles Benjamin Jun 25th 2010 7:34AM
I'm personally really bored with WoW's old generation graphics. I've just finished playing God of War 3, and the contrast between the current 'next generation' graphics and WoW's old direct x 8 graphics is shocking. I know that there will be some improvements in Cataclysm, and I know that comparing a single player game with a MMO isn't a true comparison, but it still draws attention to just how old WoW's graphics are.
I think it would be arrogant to assume that WoW is indestructable. Yes, there a million things it does right, which is why I still play it. But if an MMO comes along that does everything that WoW does, but bigger, better, and with incredible graphics, I would switch. Will Final Fantasy XIV be that game?
Bogoradwee Jun 25th 2010 8:38AM
@Charles
As for your graphics complaint, look at when google had the pacman thing going, which it actually still does and i still play it. look at those graphics, and then look at the amount of people that played it. You do the math
Snuzzle Jun 25th 2010 10:07AM
@Charles Benjamin
Heck, look at WoW's classic graphics and compare them to some of the previewed Cataclysm graphics like the worgen. Or just even look at some of the Wrath graphics (like Jaina, Varian, or Sindragosa). Compare them to classic graphics and the difference is such that it might as well be WoW and WoW2. Poor worgen players are going to be jarred by that every time they use Two Forms. Imagine how a new player would feel when they see the difference between the Two Forms.
I sincerely hope a player graphics overhaul is coming. I know they have a lot to do with Cataclysm, but I could live without eight more unique NPCs that we'll see every so often if they'll give our eight classic player races a makeover.
Tactical_pants Jun 25th 2010 11:26AM
Ninjaing a reply.
I'm a sixteen year old Brit on holiday in washington. Anything fun to do around Virginia naval base?
Thaylo Jun 24th 2010 1:05PM
What is the answer to the life, the Universe and everything?
Hih Jun 24th 2010 1:06PM
42, obviously.
thaylo Jun 24th 2010 1:09PM
Ok then what is the question?
am0363 Jun 24th 2010 1:14PM
What is the answer to the life, the Universe and everything?
JiBJUB Jun 24th 2010 1:25PM
How many roads must a man walk down?
pinteresque Jun 24th 2010 1:28PM
People downranking jibjub's comment obviously haven't read the referenced books...
flint Jun 24th 2010 1:28PM
What is 6 times 9?
Hoggersbud Jun 24th 2010 1:44PM
More beer.
Jostin Jun 24th 2010 1:44PM
56!? FIFTY SIX!!!???
Prances in Underpantss Jun 24th 2010 1:46PM
Who's on first?
Ratskinmahoney Jun 24th 2010 2:33PM
Interestingly (for HHG fans anyway) 6x9 does actually yield the answer '42' in base 13 (though obviously '42' isn't the same as forty-two, and being originally a radio series you can't really work it).
I think there's a quote from Douglas Adams along the lines of:
'I might be sad, but I don't make jokes in base 13'
Astemus Jun 24th 2010 2:43PM
A man chooses. A slave obeys.
Joker Jun 24th 2010 2:56PM
Question:
"What is the answer to the life, the Universe and everything?"
Answer: Creation.