MMO developers trying to copy World of Warcraft is "definitely not the right move," says Blizzard lead producer, Shane Dabiri.
Speaking in the latest issue of PC Zone magazine, Dabiri argues that trying to emulate the success of his company's MMO isn't what gamers are looking for, and devs should try to create "innovative new MMOs". In other words, stay away from Blizzard's profits, you thieves.
"There are a lot of people that try to emulate World of Warcraft - and as flattering as that is our end it's definitely not the right move," he says.
"I know that World of Warcraft is very successful, and so people think if they were to make another game just like it they could somehow capture that audience. However, I don't think that's what players are looking for.
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"Players that have invested time in WOW don't just want to do the same thing in other game - they want to try something completely new and different," he argues.
"I think the industry needs to move in that direction to come up with some innovative new MMOs that are trying really different things. Take City of Heroes - at least that's something that's not a fantasy game."
We can see his argument. Even the excellent Warhammer Online - an unashamed and well-built WoW-alike - doesn't seem to be doing that well these days.
The man's got a point. Sure, he may have vested interests since he works on "WoW", yet that doesn't have to undermine the message itself. What was the name of that planned subcription based game where you can join one of three factions - the Illuminati, the Templars, the Dragon-something-or-other - and fight demons and other evil spirits in the contemporary world? That's the type of setting, perhaps along with "Dust 514", that might offer something different enough to justify MMO gamers to pay attention to them, IMO.
You mean like what SOE did to Star Wars Galaxies!!!!
Exactly.
I do think that BioWare might give a fair challenge to WoW with Old Republic - it's bound to be fairly different to others, it's got a great company behind it and it's got that license.
Blizzard Vs. BioWare.....who else could have challenged them?
You mean like what SOE did to Star Wars Galaxies!!!!
Exactly.
I do think that BioWare might give a fair challenge to WoW with Old Republic - it's bound to be fairly different to others, it's got a great company behind it and it's got that license.
Blizzard Vs. BioWare.....who else could have challenged them?
Meh. I adore BioWare (now that they have turned from the darkest side of SecuROM), but I still won't be picking up their subscription based MMO. That the MMO isn't set in the "Empire" timeline is a further turn-off for me. I doubt that will stop hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of other players though.
What was the name of that planned subcription based game where you can join one of three factions - the Illuminati, the Templars, the Dragon-something-or-other - and fight demons and other evil spirits in the contemporary world?
That would be The Secret World by Funcom. And personally even though I try to avoid MMORPGs (after having of lost a few months of my life to one previously), I am very much looking forward to it
I just wish it was an 'official' The Longest Journey MMO
Is APB not the Game that will give WoW a good run for its money?
short answer: no long answer: If you want to play cops and robbers, sure. Otherwise no.
Only thing that would tear people away from WoW is a well done Warhammer 40k MMO. Cops and Robbers doesn't really translate from high (sic) fantasy players. The i doubt the real majority of the people who play WoW would be interested.
Is APB not the Game that will give WoW a good run for its money?
short answer: no long answer: If you want to play cops and robbers, sure. Otherwise no.
Only thing that would tear people away from WoW is a well done Warhammer 40k MMO. Cops and Robbers doesn't really translate from high (sic) fantasy players. The i doubt the real majority of the people who play WoW would be interested.
Fair do's. Im not a PC Gamer or MMO Player myself but APB seems like the kind of Game that would get me interested in MMO's. But i see your logic in that it wont have any elfs or dwarves so the WoW Players would probably pass on it.
Is APB not the Game that will give WoW a good run for its money?
short answer: no long answer: If you want to play cops and robbers, sure. Otherwise no.
Only thing that would tear people away from WoW is a well done Warhammer 40k MMO. Cops and Robbers doesn't really translate from high (sic) fantasy players. The i doubt the real majority of the people who play WoW would be interested.
They said the same about the Warhammer MMO, but that seemed to tail off a little after showing initial promise. From what I understand (I've never played it myself, but know someone that did for a while), it just lacked content.
I think that's the main challenge to a lot of MMOs. They seem to get a lot of people signing up straight away and then losing them once the issues are noticed - the wierd thing is that most of these players then go back to WoW or Eve.
It's a really difficult situation - you're going up against a game that has been around for 5 years already, is the established market leader (by quite some margin) and has a huge company behind it. If anything truly does topple WoW from its' throne, I'll be very impressed.
@dark_gamer: That's the one! In spite of my determined resistance to subscription-based games Funcom's "The Secret World" does intrigue me.
@kimoak: Thank you kindly, sir! In retrospect I have heard of that, although given the status the relationship between Sony and I it should come as little surprise that I do not keep up to date on all things Sony nor the acronyms associated with it.
So Shane Dabiri is fully against WoW having copied (and continuing to copy) EverQuest and EverQuest II content and functionality right down to the Wrath of the Lich King being almost a complete copy of EverQuest's Velious expansion released 8 years earlier?
It's not a moral stance, it's saying WoW has a strong hold on that market and copying it isn't going to draw away WoW players. Which is true to an extent, a unique and original MMO will attract players who aren't interested in WoW, as well as some WoW players (without them actually quitting WoW). However, in the long run, any "WoW beater" MMO is likely to be the same concept as WoW but refined and enhanced significantly with newer technology and ideas. Because as WoW's 11 million accounts show, that's what the majority of MMO players want.
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