Blizzard Announces New Warcraft MMORPG 160
An anonymous reader wrote in to say that "Blizzard Entertainment makers of the enormously popular Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo series, have announced their next game: World of Warcraft, a massively-multiplayer online role-playing game set in the famous Warcraft universe. Gamespot has an extensive preview available complete with screens and loads of info on the game." It looks very pretty. I still want the Star Wars MMORPG to rock my world tho.
To be launched in... (Score:1)
World of Warcraft (Score:1)
as in Never? (Score:1)
Re:as in Never? (Score:1)
I'm waiting for Sporcraft (Score:1, Funny)
Fads ? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Fads ? (Score:3, Insightful)
And I think that's a very good thing - it gives better quality, and only the good ones can survive.
Oh wait - Everquest is still alive.
Re:Fads ? (Score:2, Interesting)
With the PS2/Gamecube/Xbox/etc., the capabilities of these consoles have gotten better and better. Their graphics and sound are better than on PCs, and for the most part they are played on bigger, more immersive screens. If you want a FPS, play it on a console.
So what kinds of games can't be played on consoles? PCs have better connectivity and more versatile input devices (keyboards) and that's about it. Therefore as a PC game designer, you need to make a game which uses the keyboard in a meaningful way, which means "talking" which implies some kind of roleplay.
Who do you talk to? You can talk to NPCs, but that gets really repetitive and stupid. You also can't charge $10/month to talk to NPCs. Let people talk to other people, and all of a sudden people spend 200 hrs a month playing the game. That phenomenon is real and every game development company sees it.
The MMPORPG is just a way to keep the PC relevant in gaming, while giving them annuity revenue models.
Re:Fads ? (Score:1)
Ummmmm yeah....I think I'm gonna have to go ahead and DISAGREE. sound is better on console? I dunno what kinda tin cans YOU use on your computer, but unless the game company really screwed up, computers sound much better.
As for graphics it all depends on what kinda machine you're using...sure a PS2 will almost always look better than a 386 w/ an ega card in it, but what about in a year when the gf4 is out, ram is really cheap, P4s hit the 3+ ghz mark, etc...etc... Then the PC'll look better than the ps2. As for bigger immerssive screens...ok, I can see that...except for the resolution. Unless you have an HDTV or something...(but hell, why not just spring for a good LCD projector instead?)
I think the PC'll always be relevent in gaming...and as voice comm gains a foothold, you'll now have 3 unique inputs over the consoles: a mouse, a keyboard, and a headset. I haven't bought a console since the old sega genesis way back when, and from playing friends consoles, I can see I haven't missed much (aka anything) by sticking with a computer.
--Jubedgy
Do you REALLY want to rely on battle.net players? (Score:1)
Don't get me wrong, I like Diablo II and the expansion, I just normally play alone
-Henry
Re:Do you REALLY want to rely on battle.net player (Score:1)
I guess now we know... (Score:1)
Cost (Score:1, Redundant)
Re:Cost (Score:1)
Gamespot says that it makes sense since they plan on having 10-15 people continuing to work on the game after release increasing the story and such. But basically the answer is it will cost money.
May have one fewer customer... (Score:1)
Maybe Sam can change this, how about it?
possible linux support! (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:possible linux support! (Score:2, Interesting)
-Frums
Re:possible linux support! (Score:1)
Re:possible linux support! (Score:1)
-Frums
Shattered Galaxy (Score:3, Informative)
I believe it's the first graphical MMORPG.
Shattered Galaxy just came out of beta and is in commercial release since 21st August. Looks pretty good, won quite a few awards at shows.
Blizzard will have its hands full playing catch-up, but it'll probably win the Warcraft fans over just like Ultima Online did and Star Wars Galaxy will when (hahahahaaa) it is released.
I just hope Blizzard won't be like the idiots Electronic Arts were when they forced the Origin developers to drop the Ultima 9: Ascension project for Ultima Online. Can you imagine them putting aside Warcraft 3 for the MMORPG version?
Re:Shattered Galaxy (Score:1)
I don't understand your statement.
In addition, while you can call it an MMORPG, it uses a different viewpoint (isometric 3D) and a different system (closer to an RTS than a RPG) compared to the usual first-person-kill-stuff-and-get-loot format of the usual MMORPGs.
Re:Shattered Galaxy (Score:1)
Re:Shattered Galaxy (Score:3, Informative)
Wrongo yourself. (Score:3, Interesting)
Blizzard North is taking a short break after working on Diablo games for six years. They have not announced what their next project will be, but their design team has probably begun story-boarding it already.
I'll believe it when I see it... (Score:4, Informative)
"Though Blizzard Entertainment is still hard at work polishing up its highly anticipated real-time strategy game, Warcraft III, for an early 2002 release..."
Uh huh. "Highly anticipated" is right. Oh look! The vapourware awards [wired.com] from 2000! [wired] Coming in at Number 6, Warcraft III. I love Blizzard (mostly), and I think they do some great stuff, but until it's shipped, it doesn't exist.Re:I'll believe it when I see it... (Score:1)
More disappointing to me are the apparent changes it's gone through as I've followed all the prevews and whatnot over the dev time. Seeing the more individual aspects and the widely-employed role-playing elements get sucked out so they can make another RTS kinda blows, in my mind.
Re:I'll believe it when I see it... (Score:1)
Cryptnotic
Re:I'll believe it when I see it... (Score:1)
Re:I'll believe it when I see it... (Score:2, Insightful)
Everyone who complains about Blizzard delaying their games is an idiot. First you guys complain about games coming out with too many bugs, then you complain when companies want to hold the games until they're up to their standards.
YOU CANT HAVE BOTH YOU IDIOTS.
More like... (Score:4, Insightful)
First Blizzard were "inspired" by the Warhammer Fantasy universe for Warcraft, then they were "inspired" by the Warhammer 40,000 universe for Starcraft.
Were Blizzard once again "inspired" by Games Workshops announcement [climax.co.uk] of a Warhammer MMORPG? It's been said that Blizzard have been working on Warcraft Online for a year. Warhammer Online was announced in April 2000. You do the math.
Re:More like... (Score:3, Informative)
That's not proof (Score:2, Informative)
That does not prove intent. (Score:2)
Doubtful.
Re:That does not prove intent. (Score:2)
The worldofwarcraft.com domain was registered on August 11, 1999, a full two years ago. But then again, the game has been in development since 1999, so...
Well, that's the best I can do. Can you do any better in disproving me, or is your case just rampant speculation?
Re:More like... (Score:1)
So I think Blizzard got the edge here. However, the similarities between Warhammer and Warcraft are indeed striking...
Re:More like... (Score:1)
Granted however that there was a squad FPS version of 40k which was supposed to be pretty good.
The Bloodbowl game sucked, the Epic game was really-really tragic. The Warhammer Fantasy was so-so, but I only think that hardcore fans bothered with completing it.
It's tragic really, because at least I would love to see a
Even if Blizzard was inspired by Warhammer in [war|star]craft they did manage to do one thing right. They did good computer versions of them. (I know that GW didn't do the computer versions of the above mentioned games.)
Re:More like... (Score:3, Interesting)
I'll probably get World of Warcraft (just like I did Warcraft and Starcraft before it) for the pure fact that they do PC Warhammer gamers better than Games Workshop :-)
Re:More like... (Score:2)
I would sell a kidney for a good, modern tactical combat game like X-COM. The GW properties would be great candidates... but we are still dealing with a plague of real-time strategy games.
Hell, even the Warzone computer game will be real-time instead of turn-based, and that is a MINIATURES GAME LICENSE. Am I the only person interested in turn-based tactics? Sheesh.
Re:More like... (Score:1)
Way back in the original Warcraft days, Blizzard and Games Workshop (I think they were GW at the time) were in negotiations for Warhammer rights. It fell through and thus Warcraft was born.
Scott.
Re:More like... (Score:1)
I'm really suprised that GW didn't sue Blizzard way back when they had the chance. Perhaps Blizzard paid them off.
Cryptnotic
Re:More like... (Score:1)
Looks nice, but....... (Score:1)
could be fun... (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:could be fun... (Score:1, Funny)
Redmoon, a nice MMORPG. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Redmoon, a nice MMORPG. (Score:2)
And these kinds of criticisms came from the game's fans. I recognize that these problems might get fixed eventually, but why pay for a game that's only half done?
Re:Redmoon, a nice MMORPG. (Score:1)
Jesus Christ... (Score:1)
2001-09-02 16:02:16 Blizzard announces another Warcraft (articles,news) (rejected)
Re:Jesus Christ... (Score:1)
Beat ya by a day.
It was at the "spilled news" stage, however.
Suggestion for slashdot... (Score:3, Insightful)
It would make us folk a little happier.
Another round of Vaporware? (Score:1)
Still patiently waiting on Warcraft III....
Movies available... (Score:3, Informative)
The gameplay footage looks good, but the CG movie is simply amazing. I wonder how many years until the games look that good.
Or get the DivX format (smaller size) (Score:3, Informative)
I have to say WoW for this game!
Re:Movies available... (Score:2)
User: surfas@gamespy.com
Pass: test2
Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:4, Insightful)
I think video game companies need to realize something:
Not all of us can guarantee having enough time available to warrant a monthly service fee for a game.
Some of us like playing on our own.
We don't all have Cable or DSL! LAG.
High graphics and bandwidth just don't work well, and it's always slow and irritating. Even Diablo 2 has this problem on Battle.net
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't like getting my ass kicked by young punks who play video games 10 hours a day, every day, and then being called {lame|loser|suck|asswipe} or what have you.
Sometimes I just like setting the difficultly level down as low as possible, and just kicking butt. Nothing more fun than stomping through a village in Warcraft destroying all buildings and peons in the way.
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1)
I find that the big trend these days is to move towards online-only gaming. Look at Final Fantasy XI. Look at Ultima. Look at the new 'Warcraft'.
Except it isn't Warcraft, it's an RPG. Warcraft I-III are RTS. Not that I wouldn't mind MM strategy games, but RPGs seem to be the popular form for MM games. And most of these are fantasy - why couldn't Blizzard have been just a *tiny* bit more original and based it on Starcraft?
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1)
I've been hanging out on various AOE/AOK forums for a couple of years, and as good as nobody there is talking about how to create good, playable scenarios - it's all about build orders and practicing your multiplayer skills for several hours a day. It's a frickin' game, goddammit!
(needless to say, I almost completely quit playing FPS because almost every FPS game recently released was multiplayer only)
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1)
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1)
I'm sorry, but MMORPGs are a far better value for the customer, and make more money for the developers and producers. Although the Diablos and Pac-Mans and Contras and Unreals will survive, the MMORPGs are better, deeper, more meaningful games.
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:3, Insightful)
Better is certainly a subjective sort of thing. What's better, steak or ice cream?
Deeper? More meaningful? You must be in an EQ guild, and all the damn virtual hugs have addled your brain.
A bat tries to bite you but misses!
You crush a bat for 2 points of damage.
You have slain a bat!
You gain experience.
You have lost faction with Brown Flying Rats. You gain faction with the Awkwardly-Animated Elves.
Posingasagirl shouts, "Anyone have some platinum to spare?"
13yearold says, "SoW?"
13yearold says, "SoW me??"
13yearold says, "Screw you"
Whiner tells the guild, "G'nite"
Crybaby tells the guild, "HUGS! KISSES! HUGGLES! MEGASUPERKISSES!"
You think you are facing North.
You have become better at Sense Direction! (13)
----
Despite the totally ridiculous amount of "huggles" thrown around by grown men in EQ, and all the bat-slaying that goes on, I think that the MMORPG genre has a lot of potential and I look forward to future games. I just hope that the Blizzard guys don't consider any of the crap on the market now to be their inspiration. EQ is a MUD with a 3d GUI. Spare me. I'd rather play Pac Man. (and I tried to like EQ, I really really did, but it's not the right kind of crack for me at least.)
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1)
I almost never have problems with Battle.Net. I hear other people complain about all the problems they have.
I guess one's milage may very as such, but for the most part, Battle.Net works better for me than having someone else host the game.
True, LAN play works best, but I HATE opened characters. There's no thrill in trading because if you didn't hack the stuff you're trading, the other person probably did.
Battle.Net is as close to a cheat free environment as I've seen (ignoring the exploits that pop up now and then - kudos to Blizzard for being on top of them, though...)
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1)
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:2)
I don't know the sales figures for Max Payne, but Starcraft (which is at heart a multiplayer game) sold millions world wide. Imagine if Blizzard had charged even a tiny amount for what they gave away for free -- that's what they're hoping for here.
You might like single player games, but subscription games are much, much more profitable. They're also much harder to copy. Max Payne had all sorts of fancy CD-copy protection, but was cracked and released quite quickly. Starcraft, however, is practically worthless without a legitimate CD-key for Battle.net.
Game companies don't care that they're not serving you and the few people like you. If a small handful of people don't like their game, that's OK, because a lot of people do, and collectively they'll shell out more money than you will. There will always be a place for games like Max Payne, made whenever a market segment goes unexplored, but they're just not the safe bet that multiplayer games are.
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:1)
Not really worthless. I play it with some friends alot on LAN, all you need is a nice keycracker (the internet servers usually notices that this is not a legimit key and threw you out). And i play it alot at home too, kinda like to when i get home go a round of starcraft against the computer(s).
Re:Am I the only one with Online-Gaming issues? (Score:2)
I actually used to be a RTS game designer (for a real game, at a real publisher, from a real studio). The figures we got from the publisher on multiplayer were fascinating. According to their expensive research, only a few percent of all players used multiplayer at ALL. Now, this was a few years ago, but still... Everyone still put multiplayer code in because if you didn't the reviews would DESTROY you, of course.
I guess times are a-changin' though, there's about sixteen billion people playing CS right this second, and EQ has 400k subscribers or so.
The MMORPG Swarm (Score:4, Insightful)
The things that all successful MMORPGs have in common are, decent customer service, a stable client/world/communication setup, and a "world" rich with content and/or things to do, items to gain, monsters to challenge.
We saw Anarchy Online pretty much crash and burn on release. It was horribly unstable. I had been playing AO since the first public beta. When I heard they shipped version 12.1 in a box I couldn't believe it.
Then we saw them crash and burn again on Customer Service. Do GMs exist in that game? As far as I know there is no phone based support what so ever.
My point is, a publishing company better get it's act together if they want to release an MMORPG. It's a very long term investment. With so many companies producing them, there are going to be a lot of sub-par products, with a few games that actually meet the standards a successful MMORPG has.
4 years after WC3? (Score:1)
(If your lost, check the homepage, they say it takes four years after WC3.)
Grab the DivX file for video gameplay! (Score:3, Redundant)
I have to say WoW for this game!
MMORPG (Score:2, Insightful)
Masssively multiplayer online *what*? (Score:3, Insightful)
"Fascinating stories"? Not mentioned.
"Player-driven plot"? Yeah right.
So, where's the role-playing? As far as I can tell from the article, there isn't any. The trailer didn't show any talking. So, maybe MMOH with an H for Hackfest would be a better name.
Re:Masssively multiplayer online *what*? (Score:1)
Re:Masssively multiplayer online *what*? (Score:2)
I understand that Blizzard knows how to make violence-oriented games. I loved Starcraft, and woulld love to play SC2, if they ever build it. This doesn't mean they know how to make RPGs. As far as I can tell, nobody has successfully made a MMORPG which features any significant amount of RPing for the majority of players.
This trailer is an advertising move for Blizzard. So, looking at what Blizzard is emphasizing in its ads is a good way to learn what they think is important in building a game. Clearly, they see good technology and lots of violence as more important than a good player-driven story and good characters. So, they should be making RTS games, instead of trying to make RPGs.
Guess what? Everquest wasn't original. (Score:1)
Re:Guess what? Everquest wasn't original. (Score:2)
Of course, whether it's a waste of time (compared to MUDs) or not depends on what you want out of a game. Good MUDs (usually actually MUSHes or MOOs) feature good stories, intense player participation, etc. Good MMOHs feature lots of blowing shit up. Which one you chose to play depends on what you want.
My sole point is that it's not accurate to call WoW a MMORPG, because there's *no role-playing*.
Betting starts now... (Score:1)
Re:Betting starts now... (Score:1)
Beta testing is supposed to start in late October, but I'll bet that's just for signups and the beta won't begin until late November.
Re:Betting starts now... (Score:2)
When do I have the time? (Score:4, Insightful)
It seems the only worthwhile games on the PC any more are these whiz-bang immersive-world internet-enabled games that require 20 hours a week to enjoy, or 40 if you really want to get the most out of them. Where am I supposed to find the time to play these?
Back in the past, there were dozens of great games that didn't take so much time. They were fast, furious, and you could get a lot of fun out of them in a five-minute coffee break. Like Pac-Man, Galaga, and the like. There aren't many "hop on and have fun for a bit" games like that any more. Nowadays, games need commitment.
So I spend most of my time on the PC playing games like MAME.
Am I the only person who has this problem? Am I the only one here who between job and friends doesn't have all evening to chase down the old man who'll tell him to say "syzygy" to get past the rabid monkey guarding the gate to the blue unicorn?
Re:When do I have the time? (Score:3, Funny)
There aren't many "hop on and have fun for a bit" games like that any more. Nowadays, games need commitment.
Oh, I see now. I thought my level 87 Barb had something special with your level 78 Amazon. What are you saying, are you saying you would like to play other games? I thought we had something special...power leveling for 20 hours a day...
I bet it is that Quake3 game, it is such a slut... just there when you are lonely and want to blow some stuff up, in and out huh? No long term commitment... your such a typical gamer.
So you just want to be freinds? If you ever see me power lvling around Hell/Hell Act 4, give me a party invite ok? ok?
I have to go, there is a rumor that some guy is trading SOJs for Prefect Skulls on USEast and have to check it out... hope to see you around.
Love,
Barb_Kill_Joo
Level 87 WW Lance Barb
USEast
Re:When do I have the time? (Score:1)
I've found Quake to be the best solution for me.
You're not alone!
Is it just me or... (Score:2)
1) Standing Still
2) Fighting
3) RUNNING!
A lot like Diablo II...
Doesn't anyone walk anymore?
John Cash? (Score:1)
Nobody learned from any of the MMORPGs that failed (Score:1)
More fantasy? Gah! (Score:1)
Why?
Why not something science fiction, whether full on sci-fi or even near future settings?
Re:More fantasy? Gah! (Score:1)
Re:More fantasy? Gah! (Score:1)
'Nuff said.
Who else thought... (Score:2)
You zap the Wand of Wishing. You may wish for an object.--More--
For what do you wish? Box of World of Warcraft
l - World of Warcraft box
a
What do you want to use or apply? l
You start playing World of Warcraft...
Oh wow! Great stuff!
Four Years after WC3? (Score:1)
Star Wars MMORPG FAQ (Score:2)
The official Star Wars MMORPG FAQ [sony.com] is updated from time to time. (I like this FAQ: [sony.com] "2.13 Will I cast twin shadows on Tatooine?" "We are remaining true to the continuity of the movies, so only one shadow is cast on Tatooine.")
They're saying "second half of 2002"; patient, a Jedi must be.
Re: (Score:1)
Does anyone remember.. (Score:1)
After WC 2 came out, there was a game called "warcraft adventures" in development at blizzard; there was a lot of marketing hype around, too (of course). The basic idea was to create an "interactive adventure" in the warcraft universe. It should have had a kind of "comic look and feel", as all characters + the gaming environment looked comic style (no polygons inside).
It was silently axed some time later, cant remember the reason though.
Maybe they couldnt get over that, because basically its the same idea transferred to todays standards (3D, MMORPG).
"One of the richest settings ever made"? (Score:1)
The concept is made all the more exciting when applied to the Warcraft setting--one of the richest settings ever made for a computer game.
What the hell are they talking about? Warcraft and Warcraft II were brilliant games, but what storyline and immersive world are these guys thinking of?
The "story" of Warcraft (and Warcraft II) was dead simple: somebody ripped the fabric o' the universe a new one and orcs poured out from the hole eager to kick human ass. Now it's up to these humans to kick orcish ass before the orcs can kick human ass. Either the humans seal the hole, or the orcs kill the humans.
What immersive setting did I miss here?
The Requisite OS Flame (Score:2)
For what platforms will the game be available?
The game will initially be available for PCs.
Wow, that helps. They do forget that not all the world's a Windows box, don't they? Where's the (Linux/BeOS/*BSD/QNX/other-fave-thing-that-runs-o
The obligatory reality-check response (Score:2)
Remember, this is the team... (Score:2)
Don't expect them to release this unless they can do it right. (This is a good thing.) So don't get your hopes too high. If it doesn't come to fruition, it will be because they couldn't make it as fun as they thought it should be. If it is released, it will probably be late. (Blizzard has a reputation for taking the extra time to do things right.)
It will probably also be very good.
Re:Yet another junky EverQuest rip off. (Score:1)
EQ has been improved upon, balanced, debugged, secured, nerfed, and un-nerfed ever since its release. When it was first released, it was fun but unbalanced, buggy as hell, hacked inside out, and overcrowded. If you say EQ is balanced, you'd be right... but ask the players who played as Rogues before high damage weapons and strong armor became available for them. Ask them if they felt balanced compared to the Druids who solo'd their way to 50 in a matter of weeks, or if they felt balanced compared to the Necros who used their specialized spells and pets to solo monsters that other classes STILL can't solo at level 60.
The "wow! it's so huge!" factor wears off of EQ. It lasts for a good while, though. Long enough that you decide its worth the $10/month to keep on playing. Its not until you cancel your account and tally up 1 1/2 years of monthly payments, software (and expansion) purchases, and time invested (over 100 days on my main character alone, others I know have over 300 days on a single character), that you realize its just a big "press button, get cheeze" experiment which happens to have some REALLY nice environments and monsters and character abilities for the first 30 or so levels.
Level 30 takes twice as long to get through as any other normally scaled increase (they all take longer, but 30 is twice what it should be). Most people would quit at this point, but they've become immersed enough to see those shiny new toys that are "only 20 more levels". Yah, I forgot to mention that levels 35, 40, and 45 are also designated "hell levels" like 30.
Oh, but you want to see the dragons? You want to go on a dragon hunt with 30 of your friends? That sounds fun, right? Wrong. First you have to go get a whole bunch of additional armor and gear to improve your resistances for the type of breath the dragon has. If you don't, you die. If none of your 29 buddies does, you all die. Preparation is key, and it takes a LONG TIME and a pretty good amount of cash. Then you all have to schedule a time to kill the dragon, since everybody has their own life... hopefully, the dragon will actually BE THERE when you've scheduled your raid, although there's a good possibility that some other group will kill the dragon about 2 hours before you get there (did I mention the most accessible dragons only spawn once a week?). But lets assume the dragon is up... it will now take your designated "raid leader" approximately 3 hours to orchestrate all of the individual players into cohesive groups and organized with signaling through designated channels of communication that will transform all 30 of you into a single, well-oiled machine. During these 3 hours, people will crack jokes, get pissed off at others not paying attention, curse the fact that this is a waste of time. Finally when everything is placed, you bum-rush the dragon and have a 5-10 minute long fight which you MIGHT win if you're experienced. If you have never done this before, you will fail and have to start the 3 hours of prep over again, this time including a corpse retrieval from under the dragon's feet. Its a great adrenaline rush, but nothing different than what I can get by jogging for 30 minutes. And I don't have to prep for 3 hours when I go jogging.
So what's the point of EQ? Simple, figure out the system. Just like any complex system, it will take you about a year to figure out all the parameters, interfaces, levels, customizations, content and context, characters, and MOB AI. This is the draw for ALL of these types of games, and they are forced to make the system more and more complex in order to retain their customers.
So what happens once you lose that sense of newbieness? You realize that it really wasn't a magical realm and the other players weren't really your friends and the game wasn't really all that much fun.
Gimme Diablo II any day of the week. Sit down, kill a ton of monsters for 30 minutes, and quit. Sweet instant gratification, and no monthly charge!
Re:Simple RPG... (Score:1)
--Jubedgy
Re:Simple RPG... (Score:1)
Perhaps a better comparison would have been ...
If you want an in-depth CRPG, go grab a copy of Arcanum now.
http://sierrastudios.com/games/arcanum/ [sierrastudios.com]
The Baldur's Gate series just don't cut it ... I enjoyed them, but there's no way I would play through more that the twice I have on each. OTOH, I am 70 hours into my first run through Arcanum - female half-orc diplomat-tech (smith/gunsmith/firearms master). I'm probably about 75% of the way through, if I'm lucky I've received about 30% of the available side quests, and I'm already planning my next 4 characters ... (think I'll go with a male elven mage - then maybe a half-ogre thief ;)
Warcraft is not a CRPG. However, World of Warcraft may well be a good online CRPG. Personally, MMORPGs don't appeal to me though ...