Imagine a world

[Aruk-llane]

@Seismos-malganis

I think it’s less before/after Activision and more old development team vs. this new team led by Ion.

The old team was still at the helm (at least, Chilton) when they neutered specs and talents; and through the end of WoD.

@Woohoohellya-proudmoore

In a perfect world, Activision would not exist

Activision gave us Mechwarrior and Altered Beast. But they, like Blizzard, changed over time.

[Hamstar-draktharon (Hamstar)]

Pruning, stat squish, cata, Wod, those were all from the old guard.

[Seismos-malganis]

Yeah but at least I didn’t have several external power systems to guide progression, that created more problems than it solved. I think that has been the crux of so many gameplay issues. Unnecessary loops that feel like chores before you can actually go play the game in the way you enjoy.

[Mokrawr-area-52 (Mokrawr)]

@Rouxgaroux-thrall

The gaming industry is no different than Hollywood. They cant make original, compelling and immersive product anymore. They have resorted to remaster this and redo that and lets make a spiderman movie every couple years and ride on the coat tails of nostalgia.

They are creatively bankrupt.

It’s not lack of creativity, it’s lack of taking risks.
Everything has to make a profit and they put so much into advertising it has to be a big success to be worth making.
They go for the safe bet time after time.

That’s why watching a short film made on a budget of nothing can be so enjoyable.
Industry is about profit and nostalgia and familiarity sell.

[Aruk-llane]

@Seismos-malganis

. I think that has been the crux of so many gameplay issues. Unnecessary loops that feel like chores before you can actually go play the game in the way you enjoy.

Daily quests felt that way all the way back in 2007.

[Aruk-llane]

@Mokrawr-area-52

it’s lack of taking risks.

Yep. Mediocre with lots of flash and sizzle sells. So why do something different?

Trying for great sometimes gets you bad.

[Sabetha-turalyon (Sabetha)]

@Rouxgaroux-thrall

Oh, not from the AAA offices there isnt. Valve is STILL riding on the coat tales of older content. They havent released a new IP in years. Blizzard, needed classic to breathe new life into that company. All of the remastered Resident Evil games. Skyrim has been remastered over and over, nodded and made into VR, why? Cause Fallout 76 was trash. Battlefield 4 has more active players than BF1 and BF5 is dying, if not dead…

The Resident Evil 2 remake is still a great game, and honestly so vastly different from the original that even calling it a remake doesn’t feel all that right since about the only thing is shares with the original is a few overarching story points.

Resident Evil 7 was also a great game. Honestly Capcom was riding high for a few years there with a number of games. Unfortunately they fumbled on the RE3 remake(which isn’t bad, just criminally short).

and of course The Witcher 3, which is regarded by many as one of the best RPGs of all time.

Jedi Fallen Order is also a fantastic game. The soulslike genre in general is pretty strong right now with plenty of new IPs.

May not be as applicable on a forum for a PC only game but consoles had some hits in the last few years with Breath of the Wild, Horizon Zero Dawn, Spiderman, God of War, etc.

Also if anything Overwatch breathed new life into Blizzard and that is essentially their new flagship product.

[Volley-khadgar (Volley)]

I’d love to see Blizzard as its own independent company, creating worlds how it sees fit, not that of a money hungry chairman.

[Donolm-trollbane]

@Hamstar-draktharon

They did make Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2 though which were both great games.

Pillars 1 was really good and the only problem I had with it was that it lacks a decent hook to really get you into the plot until you’re halfway through the game. 2 Had a good hook right from the start, but the main quest is far less satisfying than the side quests you can do for each of the factions vying for control of the deadfire. Hopefully they’re planning on working on a Pillars 3, I want to see the Living Lands or the Aedyr Empire.