Blizzards New MMO

[Murgos]

Perhaps it is time we embrace the penis aspect of innovative game design

Well, it is a driving force of human behavior.  Many seminal discoveries and achievements are known to have had the desire for procreation at their root.  Just imagine the monuments that gamers would erect to their libido were this aspect deeply delved.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Perhaps it is time we embrace the penis aspect of innovative game design

Well, it is a driving force of human behavior.  Many seminal discoveries and achievements are known to have had the desire for procreation at their root.  Just imagine the monuments that gamers would erect to their libido were this aspect deeply delved.

it's called second life, don't go there.

[Murgos]

Perhaps it is time we embrace the penis aspect of innovative game design

Well, it is a driving force of human behavior.  Many seminal discoveries and achievements are known to have had the desire for procreation at their root.  Just imagine the monuments that gamers would erect to their libido were this aspect deeply delved.

it's called second life, don't go there.

Do we have a whooooshing over the head icon?

[Chimpy]

Your use of 'seminal' in the midst of a phallic symbol discussion was a nice touch.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Actually a smiley freud face would be better. I admit that the pun I missed(good one) but what I was trying to point out puns aside, is that there are quite a bit of outlets for gamers to express themselves and all those outlets have proven thus far, is that we shouldn't ever let them do that.

[Ratman_tf]

Actually a smiley freud face would be better. I admit that the pun I missed(good one) but what I was trying to point out puns aside, is that there are quite a bit of outlets for gamers to express themselves and all those outlets have proven thus far, is that we shouldn't ever let them do that.

I tend to agree. But I think user initiated content (PvP is just one example, since it's the one that gets used the most) would be an interesting avenue to explore more fully.

[Venkman]

User-directed content (SWG) and user-generated content (SL) are mutually exclusive. User-directed is much safer for IP holders to explore because they can control what content appears in the game and all of the constraints for how those assets interact. User-generated is much more risky, because of how this is explored in SL.

But yes, there's a LOT of room for growth here. It's not for everyone. But if you can get enough people to care, you've created a "repeat play" experience that is a clear alternative to normal competition for placement in a grind. Releasing assets with rules is probably less expensive than creating more scripted-raid content too, and maybe even than further PvP zones. And it doesn't need to be all about home decorating either, as CoX is showing (of course, CoX already had "home" decorating

Will it draw in 11 million people? No. But can it help to retain more of those people? Yes.

[Ghambit]

Face of Mankind's system was proven to be the most successful element of that game (that's probably not saying much, but).  It's only natural that other games adopt similar systems.  We're only talking a simple mission generator here guys (I guess like CoX), not player generated graphical space penixes floating inside a purple haze.

We also need to see crafting systems with less Dev. control  (similar to old SWG).  All they should be worried about is the algorithms that control baseline elements and then the loot tables.  Beyond that, let the economy run itself and let the crafters make varying degress of products as they see fit.  There's no need for some poxfaced programmer to sit there and eek out each and every recipe and reward.

Lastly, PotBS's system of allowing player generated graphical content for their ships was a nifty idea.  Any "static" object that doesnt require animation can easily be produced by the public; and then reproduced by the devs.  This takes the creative load off and allows more gear variety and more community personalization.  Fit into the crafting system and you're set.

--there's a damned recession out there, time to slim down and get more communistic up in here  (the way MMOs were originallly designed to be)

[patience]

Well we can scratch out the fantasy of Blizzard doing the Marvel MMO.

Any new theories?

[ashrik]

Did someone suggest that was even a possibility before?

[LK]

 

[Soln]

Blizz does best when it refines.  Not wholly innovating.

Vehicle based or vehicle-assisted combat.  Scifi Eve rip off is my bet now.

[ashrik]

Man, there's a whole youtube's worth of self-important ego driven PVPers out there!

Full loot, FFAPVP, Sandbox MMO!

[UnSub]

Did someone suggest that was even a possibility before?

SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP! 

... however, I also expect Gazillion to not pull off the Marvel MMO license either, so maybe, one day... 

[Morfiend]

RISE UP FROM THE DEAD.

Link

From a Blizzard blue poster:

We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it’s a shell of a game thus far. We’ve already stated it’ll be a brand new franchise, which means the lore, art, and game play are being developed entirely from scratch. It’s an overwhelming process, but a process through which we excel. Our track record supports this.

[Ghambit]

I really have no friggin clue what they're developing.  We should have some kind of f13 prize for the person who guesses correctly 
They're really harping on math and physics (engine) oriented design qualifications in their jobs section, so I'm inclined to believe it's going to be an MMOFPS or some kind of MMOSim... (either flight, space, or car). 

It being an MMOFPS though seems a bit far-fetched because they're doing the game completely from scratch.  There are so many great FPS engines out there that it'd be a tremendous waste of time and money fleshing out a new one that does basically the same thing; the room for something revolutionary is small in this genre (unless it's combined with many other elements).  I think also that this thing probably wont be DIKU.

Some kind of hardcore Sandbox simulation maybe?  Spore done right?  Auto-Assault redux?
(sigh)

someone in this forum knows the damned answer...

[Morfiend]

someone in this forum knows the damned answer...

If there is one thing Blizzard is good at (and they are good at more than one thing) its keeping their people in the know from telling stuff like this.

[patience]

Who knows what it could be but my mind is buzzing right from the idea someone else implanted in me where BLizzard outdoes and polishes the Puzzle Pirates concept.

[Lantyssa]

I really have no friggin clue what they're developing.  We should have some kind of f13 prize for the person who guesses correctly 
They're really harping on math and physics (engine) oriented design qualifications in their jobs section, so I'm inclined to believe it's going to be an MMOFPS or some kind of MMOSim... (either flight, space, or car). 

I'll toss my money down on Cyberpunk.  Not because I have any inside information, but because I want it.

[Ghambit]

I really have no friggin clue what they're developing.  We should have some kind of f13 prize for the person who guesses correctly 
They're really harping on math and physics (engine) oriented design qualifications in their jobs section, so I'm inclined to believe it's going to be an MMOFPS or some kind of MMOSim... (either flight, space, or car). 

I'll toss my money down on Cyberpunk.  Not because I have any inside information, but because I want it.

Hey, I'm right there with you (as you already know).  My shelf is full of Cyberpunk stuff.  But, that's not exactly a completely original IP.  Broad enough to come up with something original I suppose, but it's still all generally derived from one place.  Someone in here said Blizz was great at lying, so they may indeed just be dusting off a prior franchise and just blowing smoke up our asses with this originality crap.

Honestly though, wouldnt it be somewhat of a letdown if they do a Cyberpunk game and it's not Shadowrun?  Of all the stuff I've got S-RUN still dominates it all as potential for a game.

Also, by the time this thing comes out will it still be "next-gen?"  hmmmm

[Hawkbit]

Also, by the time this thing comes out will it still be "next-gen?"  hmmmm

Dunno, but I suspect I'll be wearing grampons.  Not just for raiding, either.

[tmp]

But, that's not exactly a completely original IP.  Broad enough to come up with something original I suppose, but it's still all generally derived from one place.  Someone in here said Blizz was great at lying, so they may indeed just be dusting off a prior franchise and just blowing smoke up our asses with this originality crap.

Don't think there's anything that could be considered "completely original" at this point. Fairly sure their idea of "completely original" is more along the lines of "not another iteration of stuff we've originally ripped off 10+ years ago".

Not that there's anything wrong with it 

[Trippy]

It's not going to happen but my dream would be for them to rip off Deadlands and do a "Weird West" MMORPG (yes I know there's supposedly a real Deadlands MMO in the works).

[Ratman_tf]

I want Blizzard to smash the "Sci-Fi MMOGs can't do big bucks" concept into itsy-bitsy pieces. I think that would be super keen.

[Trippy]

That'll be World of StarCraft after they finish with StarCraft II.

[Malakili]

Some kind of hardcore Sandbox simulation maybe?  Spore done right?  Auto-Assault redux?
(sigh)

someone in this forum knows the damned answer...

I'm willing to put money on ripping off an existing genre and/or IP and making a really polished easy to play MMO that isn't good because its long list of associated buzzwords but because it actually plays like a game that you don't mind playing.

[schild]

I want Blizzard to smash the "Sci-Fi MMOGs can't do big bucks" concept into itsy-bitsy pieces. I think that would be super keen.

It's never been "Sci-Fi MMOGs can't do big bucks." It's ALWAYS been "Bad games don't do big bucks."

[Ratman_tf]

I want Blizzard to smash the "Sci-Fi MMOGs can't do big bucks" concept into itsy-bitsy pieces. I think that would be super keen.

It's never been "Sci-Fi MMOGs can't do big bucks." It's ALWAYS been "Bad games don't do big bucks."

Exactly. But the "It's gotta be dunjuns and drayguns" gets trotted out enough for me to

[Big Gulp]

It's never been "Sci-Fi MMOGs can't do big bucks." It's ALWAYS been "Bad games don't do big bucks."

I still maintain that Battletech Online would be a money printing machine.  Hell, combine it with something like Jumpgate/Eve (without the suck) to provide a grander context to the whole war.  Air/ground rivalries, all that good stuff.  Make mercenary companies actually mean something.

[Kageru]

Blizzard is capable of doing any story genre and big enough they don't need to license an IP to get attention. So they could do mecha but probably not Battletech mecha.

Cyberpunk is a bit old-school now, and I'm still not convinced it isn't because the genre is pretty confining and a lot of it not well suited to a group game (eg. hacking without coming across as incredibly corny).

[Ghambit]

It's never been "Sci-Fi MMOGs can't do big bucks." It's ALWAYS been "Bad games don't do big bucks."

I still maintain that Battletech Online would be a money printing machine.  Hell, combine it with something like Jumpgate/Eve (without the suck) to provide a grander context to the whole war.  Air/ground rivalries, all that good stuff.  Make mercenary companies actually mean something.

You would be referring to BattleSpace (currently out of print) combined with Classic Battletech and Mechwarrior.
Many of us in here (you included) have said a mecha version of WW2O would be insta-win... i agree, but there are no plans for one   

[UnSub]

RISE UP FROM THE DEAD.

Link

From a Blizzard blue poster:

We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it’s a shell of a game thus far. We’ve already stated it’ll be a brand new franchise, which means the lore, art, and game play are being developed entirely from scratch. It’s an overwhelming process, but a process through which we excel. Our track record supports this.

Hmm, which genre is left for Blizzard to rip off homage?

I'm still up for superheroes as a strong possibility. Perhaps giant robots.

Only Blizzard knows.

[dusematic]

I have a theory.  People are focused on Blizzard's next MMO, which is, to be sure, titillating.  However, I think the real cannibalism to the WoW player base is going to come via Diablo 3.  I think games like Diablo 3, that have all the trappings off MMO's with less of the (first) 'M' are the future.  As WoW's player base ages, 5 hours Ulduar runs will hold less appeal on the main.  Games like D3, with a custom tailored single player experience, and polished multiplayer endeavors without all of the bullshit will come to the fore.


At least, I won't be playing MMO's anymore.  No clue what ya'll are gonna be doing.

[Tebonas]

Blizzard buying an IP license is a massive waste of money for them and will never happen. Their own brand is all the name recognition they need for marketing. And I strongly suspect they don't want their creativity stifled by somebody else telling them what or what not they can do in their game worlds.

[dusematic]

Blizzard buying an IP license is a massive waste of money for them and will never happen. Their own brand is all the name recognition they need for marketing. And I strongly suspect they don't want their creativity stifled by somebody else telling them what or what not they can do in their game worlds.

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