The Lameness of Warcraft

Slate is running an article lamenting the fact that, despite World of Warcraft's popularity, it is a deeply flawed game. Author Chris Dahlen makes the statement that Blizzard's MMOG should take its cues from single-player RPGs by offering further customization, morality based choices, and dynamic events. From the article: "Blizzard has written new storylines before. Last winter, it challenged players to team up and fuel a worldwide war effort. As a payoff, it unlocked new territory. This was a good example of letting the users drive a story, but Warcraft needs more of them. New wars should break out, cities should rise and fall, and all hell should break loose at least once a month--and the players should be the ones to make it happen. After all, in a world that never changes, you can never make your mark." I want to be snarky and point out that this guy obviously has no idea how these games are designed, but I think he pretty much nails what every MMOG player really wants out of a game. Now, if only it were feasible within the bounds of money, time, and talent.

Yes Yes

[uglysad]

...Blizzard got it all wrong that is why nobody is playing it. Blizzard, Listen up! If you want people to play this little game you devised, you better start listening to random internet guy or else it will never take off.
You have been warned

Re:It's that bad...

[ZaMoose]

I know an Alliance of Starcraft fans who would object to being called a Horde.

*grin*

Personally,

[robyannetta]

Personally, I would like to have seen a massive zombie invasion this last Halloween, but the author does have a legit point... This game sucks (Even when playing my 60 Priest) when all your quests are the same old repetitive killing/traveling/grinding/farming.

This is why I'm quitting the game after 16 months of playing.

Re:It's that bad...

[myowntrueself]

The real trick is making an entire world and an engine that DISTILLS an RPG down to what it's about, item finding.

I *must* remember to draw my DM's attention to this next time we play...

Re:People don't always want what they say.

[rucs_hack]

Being from another generation, the one for whom the zx spectrum was an awesomely powerful computer (no really), 'grind' has an entirely different meaning. I can't get used to it just meaning 'boring the crap out of myself by doing something over and over again till my head explodes just to get a level up'.

What does it mean to me? Well that would be using naughty words, and I'm not nearly drunk enough.

no moral quandaries?!?

[kendoka]

'Players never face moral quandaries and never get to choose between an upstanding act and an evil one.'

Obviously this person has never been ninja'ed out of loot, had a priest suddenly drop out mid-instance, or had a gold-farmer train him. =P

Re:Enough of the generalizations.

[Merusdraconis]

There is a theory going around that everyone wants out of their virtual worlds the features they saw in their first game, even if it was those features that eventually drove them from the game.

I agree with the article's premise, but not with its conclusion.

Re:People don't always want what they say.

[rkcallaghan]

Lemmy Caution wrote:

My question is: why hasn't the world flocked [to Second Life]?

There is nothing to DO in Second Life. Second Life isn't a game so much as it is a shared 3D Design Studio. Nothing like a good night of 3D Studio Max, fun for everyone!

~Rebecca

Re:You've never had a good DM, have you?

[Anonymous Coward]

But it is undeniable that all types of players, including the DM themselves, only extend a common base type:
the virgin.

Re:You've never had a good DM, have you?

[Anonymous Coward]

Not just any virgin. The kind of virgin who says "well, nobody's a virgin because life fucks us in the end! LOAL!!"