Since Blizzard's MMORPG based on its Warcraft fantasy universe has smashed right through the success barrier, the question has lingered whether World of Warcraft will be the first, and last, word on the genre from the developer.
Success usually breeds follow-ups but it's a different state of play with persistent-world games that could carry on indefinitely.
While WoW's popularity continues unabated the developer would be shooting itself in the foot with the release of a second MMO today. However, Blizzard always has one eye on the future.
"As far was working on another MMO project or a WoW 2, obviously as a company we'd be very interested in further exploring the MMO space", World of Warcraft lead designer Jeffrey Kaplan revealed to CVG.
Kaplan said Blizzard doesn't have "anything official" to talk about regards further MMO exploration currently, but he explained the developer is "definitely looking towards the future as well."
But how far ahead is Blizzard looking? Until WoW is on a speedy decline in popularity? Would a second MMO be a World of Warcraft seuqel, or a Diablo or StarCraft MMO?
So many questions, to which there's currently not any answers. However, feel free to speculate like crazy in the comments field below...
"As far was working on another MMO project or a WoW 2, obviously as a company we'd be very interested in further exploring the MMO space", World of Warcraft lead designer Jeffrey Kaplan. Why didnt he just say: We are money hungry whores and will bring out another mmorpge to squeeze more money out of people.
Oh yeah, "We are a mean, greedy company. Let's go make a great game people like, to harvest all their money and have a feast!" It will be the end of the world, I promise you. Oh, the horror...
Isn't this like asking, "Would you like to basically print yourselves another billion dollars every year for four or five years?"
Why didnt he just say: We are money hungry whores and will bring out another mmorpge to squeeze more money out of people.
Yeah but if you remove MMORPG from that statement doesn't that pretty much describe every company in the world depending on the product you put in there instead?
"As far was working on another MMO project or a WoW 2, obviously as a company we'd be very interested in further exploring the MMO space", World of Warcraft lead designer Jeffrey Kaplan. Why didnt he just say: We are money hungry whores and will bring out another mmorpge to squeeze more money out of people.
OK, I'm not a big WoW fan but this attitude amazes me !
It's a hugely successful and popular game that millions play by choice and can choose not to play at any time.
So they're making a shed load of money, why shouldn't they ? They've developed a successful game and people slate them
If they'd launched a crap game then they would still get slated and lose millions too.
Some people just can't be pleased
As for a sequel. maybe, one day but the game seems to have a fair few years left in it yet.
well what really gets my back up is the payments u have to keep throwing at it blizzard are taking the p**s a little with all them millions of supscriptions They are making trunk load of cash every 5 mins why cant they reward the long term players with discounts for staying not like they are hard up say each 3 months you stay your bill drops and have a drop off line say 3.99 a month or something like that for all them people who play it for years 14.99 a month is a bit steep i think THEY SHOULD REWARD VETRAN PLAYERS WITH A DISCOUNT the longer you stay the cheaper it gets
they dont even offer a lifetime memmership which is bad
I hear what you are saying honk200man but it doesn't cost £14.99 a month, I think it's about £8 or £9 which is about the price of a packet of smokes and a pint of beer. Even so I agree it's a bit pricey for a game that you can't play if you stop paying.
But the point is they are not FORCING anyone to pay each month. Players do it by choice because they enjoy the game and feel the cost is justified.
I doubt that Blizzard will make a WOW2. To do that they would have to tempt everyone away from it's biggest competitor WOW! Probably one of the reasons that Everquest 2 wasn't the hit that Everquest was.
Besides which the Warcraft Universe already exists in WOW. A better approach is to continue what they are already doing and keep expanding that universe to meet players demands and as technology allows upgrade the game at suitable intervals. Any new MMO from Blizzard would be well advised to compliment not compete with WOW.
Yep I'm one on the people who pays Blizzard the £8.99 monthly subscription charge which all-in-all i'm happy to do at the moment...I suppose it's not really bad value at £2.25(ish) a week which as long as i get to play it for a few hours at the weekend isn't bad value especially compared to £14.99 on Sky Box Office for Football or Boxing events.
However, I do think having to pay £20-£25 for the extra expansions is a rip on top of the monthly charge, but as others have said I guess I don't have to buy them!
"As far was working on another MMO project or a WoW 2, obviously as a company we'd be very interested in further exploring the MMO space", World of Warcraft lead designer Jeffrey Kaplan. Why didnt he just say: We are money hungry whores and will bring out another mmorpge to squeeze more money out of people.
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and lose millions too.
