World of Warcraft Patch 2.3 Coming Next Week 198
Blizzard has officially announced that World of Warcraft Patch 2.3 will be dropped onto live servers next Tuesday. It's a huge update to the behemoth of Massively Mutiplayer games, including elements like a new raid zone called Zul'Aman, significant class changes, new questing content in the Dustwallow Marsh zone, and an increase in leveling speeds between 20-60. The full patch notes are available on the official site. "Elsewhere Guild Banks let you keep track of and organize your stocks much more efficiently, the Auction House has been revamped so it is easier to use, and you will be able to pick up daily quests so you have something to keep you from falling asleep as you go back to the same dungeons or battlegrounds again and again. The old 40-man Alterac Valley battleground has been fiddled with, too, so it should now have extra added fun, and those of you around the mid-level mark should head to Dustwallow Marsh for new quests and speedy leveling."
Re:WOW - It's So Cute! (Score:4, Interesting)
Was WoW simply the least bad MMORPG? (Score:3, Interesting)
I got a pet little theory about MMORPG's and that is that most players play them, because there is nothing else. WoW was king not because of its excellence, but because of its one eye in the land of the mole people.
Currently my drug is LOTRO, and I can see once again just how bad the game is. Not bad in a conventional "crash and burn" type way, but bad as in, I can't believe I am playing this, kinda way.
But I need my MMORPG fix, and for now LOTRO provides it. But I am looking constantly for something new.
I get the same feeling from other players, we know the likes of Blizzard and Turbine and SOE are yanking our chain but we need that fix and we are forever hopefull that the next supplier of our drug will get a clue and provide a FUN game.
You know what I find hardest to understand? The insistence of companies to add a tedious grind for miniscule advancements. Oh but you got to keep the player intrested, else he will quit playing after one month and then were will we get our money?
One simple answer, THE SIMS
A fun game, that easily spins as much money most MMORPG's, yet it provides player with FUN so they keep coming back for more (Sims expansion packs are not quiet as regular as once a month, but they cost more AND the company doesn't need to provide servers and customer support).
There are countless more games that get endless replay simply by being FUN! I played Bioware RPG's several times for the HELL of it. So why do MMORPG companies feel they got to add endless grinds to keep players hooked? It doesn't really work on myself, I prefer the middle game and once that is done, I move on. Considering that most MMORPG slowly die I can't think it really appeals to that many people, just most keep playing until they find somethingbetter.
Is it just LOTRO that right now is a bit deserted after the EU launch of Tabula Rasa?
Would I recommend trying LOTRO at the moment? No not really, the game is rapidly dying in for the early levels. Everyone is either working on their end game OR leaving for greener pastures. Oh that still leaves a lot of people playing, but if you want to logon during the week, be prepared for some very lonely areas. Same thing happened to EQ SWG WoW and probably countless other MMORPG's I never bothered with.
Sometimes I think the most innovative element a new MMORPG could introduce was permanent death upon achieving the top level. Reach say 100 and you got time for a few epic quests that end your characters heroic journey, before fading away and forcing you to start a new character. Gone would be the mad rush to end game, the constant demand for insanely high level extra content, the need for increased levels AND you would have a constant stream of people in all levels of the game to make newcomers feel less lonely.
Ah well, spend to long in here, need my fix. damnit, load faster I am going into withdrawal here!
I always love that line, players leaving in droves (Score:5, Interesting)
Part of the magic of WOW is that it really does have separate classes where the differences are enough to grant four to six different ways to play the game. The hybrids blend obviously, but melee, magic, and ranged melee (bow), all work well and in many cases require different play styles. Magic is the most diversified where playing a priest is very different from a mage just as its different from a warlock.
I have a warrior and to claim that only classes the lead design or high placed developers are being buffed is to ignore the fact that many people with these classes have been waiting for their day in the sun. If what you implied were true the largest number of players would have long focused on Warrior - which is not the case. Shaman get some tweaks now to enhance two of their trees. Yeah warriors get some bennies here but each class received buffs as well as some tuning which tones down overpowering areas.
My beef has been that PvP/Arena gets way too much focus but obviously I am not in a majority as it appeals to large number of players. The problem of course is that these are the most competitive players and as such will be the most vocal. If they didn't bitch then Blizzard would have a problem, that would be a more clear indicator that people were leaving.
Re:Quit Warcraft (Score:4, Interesting)
I do find it funny how serious some kids take it though, to some kids it is a life-style unto itself. Which I guess is understandable, since I managed to waste most of the 90's staring at various MUDs.
On the other hand, I find it equally amusing how much some slashbots hate it.
Its a damn game, not worth forming strong opinions over.
Other big news... (Score:3, Interesting)
Engineering: Flying Machine
Reagents:
Adamantite Frame (2)
Fel Iron Bar (30)
Handful of Fel Iron Bolts (8)
Star Wood (8)
Fel Iron Toolbox
Elemental Seaforium Charge (4)
BoP, Req Level 70, Engineering 350+ to make and at least Expert riding skill to use.
Engineering: Turbo-Charged Flying Machine
Reagents:
Flying Machine Control
Khorium Power Core (8)
Felsteel Stabilizer (8)
Hula Girl Doll
BoP, Req Level 70, Engineering 375+ to make and at least Artisan riding skill to use.
Re:Was WoW simply the least bad MMORPG? (Score:3, Interesting)