What does Classic Mean For Current WoW’s Design Philosophy?

Community General Discussion
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First of all, I know there have been many threads with regard to the relationship (or lack thereof) between current WoW and WoW Classic. I have read many of them. However, I’ve mostly read discussions about player bases and which game’s will die first. “Which version of the game will succeed and which will fail?” That’s not what I want this thread to be about!

Hopefully, this thread can take a different approach, perhaps one you’ve yet to see and be a discussion worth having.

I’m not really interested in the discussion about which will be more successful or have a larger player base, anyway. That discussion has been had too many times. In truth, my question is less one for the forums, and more geared toward Blizzard themselves. Although, I welcome any comments from people who want to chime in.

I’m curious to know about how the two versions of the game will influence one another from a game design perspective. Or rather, from a design philosophy perspective.

Now that we will soon have two versions of World of Warcraft from Blizzard, Blizzard has a number of choices they can make. Of course, there is the big decision about whether to continue Classic development beyond the already announced 6 phases, but there are also some other decisions as well. And before I really get into it, I want to say I know that it’s impossible to predict how much crossover there will be between players. It’s hard to know for sure at this point.

Anyway, let’s assume for a moment that Classic knocks it out of the park. Let’s assume that Classic is a massive success and the hype doesn’t die out. People are loving it and shouting from all places that Classic is a superior game and a more satisfying experience.

What does Blizzard do with this reaction/information? Does Blizzard keep current WoW moving in its current direction and distance itself from Classic even more? Or do the developers modify the forward development direction of current WoW to be more akin to what the player base shows it obviously enjoys?

It’s an interesting question and I think there is an argument to be made for both.

On the one hand, Blizzard could increase the player crossover if the current game is modified to be more like Classic. This could increase player enjoyment in both games and allow Blizzard to better understand what is and isn’t good for the Classic game if it is to continue.

On the other hand, Blizzard could decide since the two exist, they might as well be as different from another as possible so that players can have two highly unique and different experiences. a la Old School Runescape and RS3 This would allow Blizzard to fully experiment and be as creative as possible with the current game because all the people who don’t enjoy it could just “go to Classic” in some way.

It’s hard to say which is the better choice. I’d like to know how Blizzard feels about this and how you guys feel. If Classic succeeds would you like to see the current game take its lead and become more like it? Or are you in favor of having a higher contrasting pair so that you can get totally different experiences from both games?

I hope to hear some cool thoughts from you guys!
Thanks,
Gentle

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It mostly means people posting slightly different versions of this thread over and over again.

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1 Subscription pays for both, but since Classic will be “finished” once it launches any money will go towards retail.

No one except Blizzard will have any idea of how many players are playing each version of WoW and it is highly unlikely that Blizzard will state this for numerous reasons.

Since Classic and Retail will basically be two different games, it’s much more likely that each game will appeal to different players and therefore hybridizing Retail to cater to the Classic crowd won’t actually please either group.

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It means nothing.

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Means the first 2-3 weeks current WoW will be mostly dead as everyone will be trying Classic, then those who don’t like it will come back and playerbase will be split half/half I’d say.

Win/win for Blizzard.

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Its a phase, and casuals will not partake for very long once its live. WoW is still thriving now with subs. I think that people now just want to go back to the temporary nostalgia, until they relize how broken classic is.

I know that if I end up playing classic, then im going to play a rogue :smirk:

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I’d disagree on this, there’s plenty of videos, like from that Method guy who also said same things, but then changed his mind, Classic has a rich leveling experience, slowpaced progression and gameplay and that’s it, while BFA provides endgame content that’s quick to get into and fast-paced, all depends on players, but to say it’s all nostalgia, strong disagree on that. Different types entirely.

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Ha!

Running from the Crossroads to the back end of the Barrens to slowly kill random spawning Harpies of 2 different types, in order to collect feathers that only drop from 1/4 of the Harpies while also only killing 1 at a time and eating/drinking between pulls isn’t a rich leveling experience.

That experience isn’t going to appeal at all to anyone who likes or has liked Retail WoW since WoLK.

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I’ve got 22 characters on 111-120, so I know leveling, that’s my thing. Current WoW leveling takes 2 days /played in boring tedious grind. Classic leveling on other hand is engaging, every mob can kill you, you need to group for some quests, and you need to do dungeons for good weapons. In current game you strap on heirlooms and you’re set, even new players can use boost and get heirlooms first before leveling. It’s incomparable.
If you’ll argue for good points of current WoW, leveling ain’t it.

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It means more of these threads getting moved to where they belong, classic forums.

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Hmm, I’ll take 2 days of boring and tedious over several months of the same. TYVM

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It means its a wonderful time to play wow we get to verisons to play now an should be excited.

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To each his own.

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Classic leveling is like plowing a 40 acre field with a hoe and a pick axe. Maybe you’ll have a donkey to pull a plow if you pick the right spec and build. Sure, you will eventually get the job done after weeks of sunrise to sunset labor, but working this hard ages you and you only live until your 40’s if you are lucky.

Retail is driving a huge machine, with AC and satellite radio/tv, and a floating super comfy seat while also being able to talk to your loved ones via cellphone all day. Sure, you’re still riding around plowing fields all day (which is boring content) but at least it goes fast and is comfortable and you get finished/move on to other, more enjoyable tasks sooner.

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On retail you nearly fall asleep leveling, at least I have, it’s so easy that you can pull 10 npcs and just aoe them down. You never have to interact with other players, which is lack of social incentives, you won’t ever be in mortal danger, so you’ll never get a random heal from a generous priest/paladin that’ll save your life. Buffs? Nah.
Pull 2nd mob while questing in Classic? Might just die, better run for your life.

Thing with modern WoW is that it feels like a hack and slash game, some people like it, I personally don’t, I prefer the slow paced MMORPG feel, so when I see someone saying “It’s just nostalgia”, it looks pretty cringy.

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So we’re in a unique situation right now, where if WoW doesn’t actually lose like a couple million subs and totally die in the next 3 months, then nothing will ever kill it.

I’m not just talking about Classic.

A bunch of AMAZING games are coming out. E3 is soon.
Classic around the corner
ESO expansion just released
FFXIV expansion next month
Peria chronicles finally on the horizon for weebs like me

If WoW weathers the storm, then you’re good. No worrying about retail anymore.

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If classic does well I see it becoming the subscription game and retail becoming the full on F2P P2W store based collection game that investors want from a gaming franchise.

Hopefully classic can then be fire walled from the store and some of the QoL changes that destroyed community on the grounds that keeping it free of those things will be a draw to get people into the store game.

Eventually classic gets BC and then gets retcon’d but continues to be a long term character progression game and not an instant content long term mog and mount collection game.

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I don’t think Blizzard will change retail WoW even if Classic kills it like OSRS did to Runescape 3, pride is one reason & another is it’s kinda too late, stuff like LFR was a pandora’s box, now people expect free epix.

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Yep! and lol at people thinking classic will take over retail what a joke.

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Classic isn’t going to knock it out of the park. There will be a huge amount of players trying it but most of them will be gone in two months. Sure you will have some players who like it but if that is over 100k I would be very very surprised.

So speculation that they will change the game for that number of people is rather silly.

They have already laid out their strategy on this anyway. If classic is a huge success they will just make BC and Wrath versions. Consequently, there will be no changing the current game for those people.

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