There’s an old saying, “Nothing ends well.” While WoW likely still has many years left before its inevitable demise, the future looks rather grim. To preface this, I began playing Warcraft II when I was in high school, back during a time when you’d have to create a direct modem connection with a friend for multiplayer. During spring break while I was in college I picked up a copy of Warcraft III and was enthralled (no pun intended). After another MMO, Star Wars Galaxies, ruined their game in 2005 I began playing WoW and never looked back.
Now, I fear that history is repeating itself, albeit on a slower scale, due to a series of highly suspect design decisions over the years. I would go into detail, in the vain hope that a developer had enough passion for the game that they’d be reading the forums on a Saturday night, but that’s probably the last thing they want to do in their spare time. In short, I suppose therein lies the problem; the company that designed the game I used to love has lost its soul, governed by one corporate monstrosity after another, with little concern for the legacy of great games–and people–they have purchased.
Perhaps Metzen, and anyone else left who still gives a damn, can stave off some of the rot, and reinstill some semblance of innovation and passion back into this franchise. It was, at one point, the greatest game on this planet. Just remember… we stand on the shoulders of giants.
well it’s 3 expansions till they try to release Wow 2 anyway… they know they have some next get world-building coming and their games are small tbh. So they have a plan I think…
Happy that Microsoft is taking over. Happy that a carry-seller is no longer President at Blizzard. Too much dead wood was left in place there, and they hired poor talent to cover their incompetence, leaving us the players with this goofy mess of an expansion.
Looking forward to what Microsoft will bring to the table. Remember that the old ways of thinking ultimately lead us here anyway.
Much respect to C. Metzen, but as Executive Creative Director for WoW he’s hardly just an empassioned developer outside the “corporate monstrosity” as you called it.
I’m sorry, but with the announcement of the world soul saga, the forums will not require the services of doomsayers for a few years. Good luck finding a new pass-time.
