The Changing Face of World of Warcraft

Back in March Blizzard released patch 2.4 and significantly altered a good portion of the overall gameplay and provided a much more casual experience. Since then Blizzard has continued to make the game more approachable through new dungeons and removing attunements and other restrictions throughout the game. While this may open up a lot of new content to the masses and help the game's overall appeal, does this continuing trend promise to alienate the high-end players who thrive on new challenges? Should Blizzard care?

If this is anything like my face...

[AioKits]

...it's gotten a lil chubbier... *sigh* Time for some exercise!

Re:Good changes

[geekoid]

"My wife-to-be is a fairly hardcore raider ..."

You might want to flee~

WoW has "raids", computers have "RAID".

[PseudoThink]

I'm a nitpicking bastard for saying this, but I think you're confusing a World of Warcraft "raid" with RAID, the acronym that means "redundant array of inexpensive disks" to the IT industry and computer users. While it's possible for a person to save screenshots of their WoW raid to their RAID volume, saying you can't wait to join your guild's RAID makes it seem like you're just shouting the word "raid" for some strange reason. :)

Re:hmm

[nomadic]

People like you are the reason Scholo and Strat were allowed to be 10 manable for so long.

I've never had an insult leveled at me that I understood so little as this one. It's like you're talking some moon-man gibberish language.

BUt you probably never spent the time.

Since I've never really played WoW your guess is right.

Re:WoW has "raids", computers have "RAID".

[PotatoFarmer]

Redundant Array of Introspective Dilettantes?
Really Athletically Inept Dorks?
Ridiculously Armored Interactive Dissemblances?

Re:Does it alienate players ?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think you quite grasp the concept of percentages. :)

Re:iIt has done so already.

[Anonymous Coward]

Crom! What barbarism could cause them to quit on today of all days? If Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were alive maybe he could figure out this mystery!

Re:hmm

[thesandtiger]

Jesus, it's like I can hear your 5 chins slapping back and forth in outrage as your Cheeto-stained fingers pound at your keyboard.

Re:Not for casual players

[ultranova]

I absolutely love games that have such focus and dedication that players who want to win a dungeon have to have "required stats and builds". Makes you feel like your character is you, and customized just to fit your playstyle

Yeah. Isn't that how it is in real life too - you build up your stats (CV) and gear to get higher-paying jobs (instances), which both build the CV further and drop better gear ? And while you're at it, you need to join a guild (social network) to succeed at those higher-end dungeons. Repeat until you die. Sure sounds like my life, except that I'm stuck at level 1 due to a chicken-and-egg problem ;(.

The only real difference between WoW and Real Life is that in Real Life, you aren't allowed to split the Boss's head with an axe.

Re:hmm

[daVinci1980]

"How do you kill that which has no life?"