[Aptorian]

I have to admit, ever since I learned that Blizzard was planning a new MMO I've been speculating what it might be, so I thought we could have a thread swaping ideas. I'm sure the WoW heads are more up to date on Blizzard rumours than the rest of us.

Personally I am rather confident that Blizzard is setting Starcraft up to become its next MMO. Think about it. Warcraft III and it's expansion paved the way for the MMO, it expanded upon the world, lore and characters basically building a large fanbase and setting up the story from which WOW could pick up.

I can't help but think that Blizzard are doing the same here. While there's Diablo 3 as well, it's Starcraft II that we are getting a lot of delicious CGI teasers for. Stories about the protoss searching for some ancient remains of the ancestor of the Zerg and Protoss some kind of Hybrid of the two that it sounds like will be the big bad (just like the Demons and Scourge from WC3) omnious warnings to the Terran Commander from some shadowy Protoss, The Queen of Blades also searching for these hybrids, etc.

It would make sense to pick up Starcraft next. Blizzard had said they wanted to move away from WOW and try something new. So they're going into space. The rumours that it would be a FPS oriented MMO could imply that the Terrans are using guns, then perhaps you have the Zerg as a Melee faction and the Protoss as some kind of "Magic" faction or something in between the two others.

What do you reckon will be the next Blizzard MMO?

[Stalker]

Starcraft would be my guess as well.

It is one of Blizzard's best known games (can't say series or franchise with only 1 game and an expansion lol) that redefined RTS games and still has a following over 10 years later. I replayed the campagin just a few months ago and even though it looks dated graphically, it still plays fantastically. Plus now they have all the interest in Starcraft 2, so what better time to launch a MMO.

I think there would be some issue, at first, trying to create balanced classes/factions just due to alliances between races in the campaign and different skills (like melee, range, special abilites, etc.) but if any developer could pull that off, it would be Blizzard.

[Gothos]

Sorry to disappoint guys, but they've stated that this new project will be set in a completely new universum. Warcraft has, and will have for a considerable while still, an MMO going already. Starcraft II is about to hit the shelves this year and that will fill that setting for the next several years. Diablo III is incoming also, so nothing there to do on the side.

So yeah. The new MMO project will introduce a whole new setting.

[Aptorian]

Awwhh

Are you that it is a completely different universe? I only remember reading that they wanted to move away from the "WOW" type MMO.

They've out right dismissed Starcraft?

[Pallol One Eye]

Gothos, on 14 April 2010 - 07:01 PM, said:

Sorry to disappoint guys, but they've stated that this new project will be set in a completely new universum. Warcraft has, and will have for a considerable while still, an MMO going already. Starcraft II is about to hit the shelves this year and that will fill that setting for the next several years. Diablo III is incoming also, so nothing there to do on the side.

So yeah. The new MMO project will introduce a whole new setting.

I am looking forward to Starcraft 2. Both Starcraft and the expansion Broodwar were excellent, well balanced, fun games.

I sincererly hope though that developing the new MMO doesn't delay Starcraft 2 due to them transfering resources (Gas and Minerals LOL) to the MMO. I mean Starcraft Ghost died a death and never even made it onto the store shelves.

[Gothos]

Yes I'm pretty sure. I'll forward you some data when I get a moment (like, tomorrow maybe)

[Werthead]

Here.

Quote

On Tuesday, Blizzard rep "Zarhym" posted on the World of Warcraft forums that the new MMOG was already underway and that "it'll be a brand-new franchise, which means the lore, art, and gameplay are being developed entirely from scratch." He added, "We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it's a shell of a game thus far."

[Mentalist]

WOrld of Starcraft would have to be way too massive. given Blizzard's attention to detail, and th ebackground lore, the size of the project would be about 20-30 times the size of WOW. the entirety of WOW, (except the first expansion) took place on a single world/planet. World of Starcraft would have several DOZENS of such planets, each one different and probably having the same level of detail. it's bad enough (in a good way) that the story of SCII will require 3 full-size games, which will include tons of lore and backstory as it is on their own. If Blizz was to decide to flesh out ALL that they intend to mention, the game would take several decades to make.

[Kanubis]

The question is whether they will release another 'Theme park' MMO (think WoW, LoTRO, EQ2) or a sandbox one (UO, old SWG.)

Blizzard have a diligent approach to making sure a game is polished and stable ahead of release. However, making a theme park MMO run smoothly is a hell of a lot easier than making a sandbox run smoothly. Also sandboxes traditionally have a lot less commercial success. But why would they release their own competitor? What could they put in a another theme park MMO that would entice players that don't get tempted by WoW? 

If anyone wonders what the hell I'm going on about with theme park vs. sandbox, please say so

[Gothos]

I'm guessing it's two approaches: "do one/some of the things we've prepared for you" and "make your own adventure". Am I correct?
Now that they have some extensive experience doing an MMO, I don't know if they'll follow one pattern clearly. Maybe they'll take a shot at another sort of breakthrough.

As for their own competitor, Mythic has both WAR and DAoC going on (I know, bad example as their numbers suck donkey cock). The games could be different enough for players to play a bit of both, but... hardcore guilds will have to pick one.

[Kanubis]

Gothos, on 15 April 2010 - 06:57 AM, said:

I'm guessing it's two approaches: "do one/some of the things we've prepared for you" and "make your own adventure". Am I correct?

Yes - that's pretty much it. It's hard to define exactly because the elements do cross over a bit, but some of the usual differences thrown up are:

World: Static aside from scripted changes (TP). Dynamically changeable by the player - player cities etc. (SB)

Character Progression: Classes and Levels (TP). Open skill system without restricted class structure (SB)

Crafting: Simple, 'have necessary ingredients, press button' (TP). Complex variables to effect item quality - resource quality, bonus ingredients, components required from other crafters (SB)

Items/Loot: Best loot dropped by bosses/mobs (TP). Best items all player made. Items degrade over time to keep a true economy and make crafting a viable primary play style (SB)

...so basically yeah. In WoW I'll spend an evening raiding a dungeon. In SWG I'd find out that the hide from a certain creature on Ewok was currently really good for crafting composite armour, so I'd take a contract from a decent crafter to go get a bunch for them. For the record, I enjoy both types.

Gothos, on 15 April 2010 - 06:57 AM, said:

As for their own competitor, Mythic has both WAR and DAoC going on (I know, bad example as their numbers suck donkey cock). The games could be different enough for players to play a bit of both, but... hardcore guilds will have to pick one.

Good example. I suppoer it could be argued that DAoC was waning and that WAR was the 'next gen' from Mythic. It could also be argued that Mythic managed to acquire the license and the potential revenue it could bring over-rode any concerns about trumping their existing product. I'm not a big PvPer but I've heard a lot of hardcore fans of DAoC say that the big problem with WAR was the two faction system - part of what they loved about DAoC was the PvP dynamics of having three factions.

[Garak]

Quote

the hide from a certain creature on Ewok

Ewok is a creature. They are from the moon of Endor.

[Gothos]

Personally, I'd say DAoC and WAR are extremely similar games. I'd even go as far as saying that they almost copied DAoC's mechanics, with the one change in the number of factions and cosmetics.
DAoC seems more interesting, all things considered. Go Midgard!


As for TP/SB games... I never really had a chance to play a sandbox MMO, with the exception of the EVE Online 14 day trial... The concept is interesting, but the potential scope and scale of such a game is daunting.

[Kanubis]

Garak, on 15 April 2010 - 07:59 AM, said:

Quote

the hide from a certain creature on Ewok

Ewok is a creature. They are from the moon of Endor.

Right you are, it's early Amusingly one of the much hunted but very rare creatures on Endor was taken from the godawful Starwars Christmas special.

Gothos, on 15 April 2010 - 07:59 AM, said:

As for TP/SB games... I never really had a chance to play a sandbox MMO, with the exception of the EVE Online 14 day trial... The concept is interesting, but the potential scope and scale of such a game is daunting.

They are, but often the communities are a lot more helpful and forgiving. For my part, I find it very hard to get in to existing MMO's - generally I need to play from day 1 to really get in to them.

This post has been edited by Kanubis: 15 April 2010 - 08:12 AM

[Garak]

Never played an MMO beyond the trial period.

[Gothos]

Maybe that's why I can't really give up WoW with finality
I'm definately coming back for Cataclysm.

[Kanubis]

I'm honestly excited about Cataclysm. I enjoy all the lore stuff so seeing the progression to Azeroth is exciting stuff for me. 

It seems you kind of approach it like I do. I already accept, and am happy with, the fact that no WoW expansion will keep me interested for the full life cycle. I can't be arsed to raid much these days and sooner or later I get bored. I don't see this as a problem with the game, and I'm quite happy to suspend my sub now and again until an exciting patch or next expansion comes along. I would still have got more enjoyable playing time per pound spent than the vast majority of single players games would give me.

[Gothos]

I've had my prime time during the second half of Ulduar (Hardmodes) and ToC... by the time ICC came out I was really getting fatigued from raiding which is a bitch cos I've missed the most important boss of the expansion - teh Lich King, of course. Pity. However, looking at LK25 hardmode videos, I'm not so sure I'd be up to level in that fight. Maybe later, with further stacks of the zonewide buff. Maybe. It's one hell of a fight.
Might be taking a more casual approach this time, transferring over to a server where a considerable amount of people from my local social network, it seems, play. Cata looks awesome with both lore and gameplay mechanic changes, and it's a definite go-play for me.

And yes, the amount of play per monetary unit spent is very, very good, all things considered. WAY over a year /played. Tonnes of new content on the way.
But! You need a good guild, else this game ain't much.

[Kanubis]

I've been lucky with my guild (been to a couple of real-life meet-ups, very fun!) We also have a very good balance between casual play and raiding. But you're right, the game would suck without a decent guild.

I refuse to look at my /played. I've been playing since the day it was released (with a few breaks) and still play the same character I rolled within minutes of the servers launching. THe potential number scares me. 

I did most of my raiding pre-TBC to be honest. I've seen all the raids released since then, and still LOVE the feeling of being at the guild's first kill of a certain boss, but just can't really structure my time around attending them any more.

[Gothos]

I've juggled characters a bit over the years. Started out as a shaman and healed (doh!) in classic. In TBC went enhancement DPS, then temporarily rolled rogue, then back to shammy... guild fell apart, got invited to a top3 guild on alliance, rolled a new shammy there. Guild First Brutallus had me standing there in Karazhan level gear mostly. Was awesome, even if we didn't get past Felmyst (another guild that started falling apart... cursed? )
Come WotLK I wanted to try tanking so I combined this with rolling a DK... Did almost everything in Ulduar (never got around downing Yogg-Saron 25man sadly) and everything in ToC (anub hardmode = ouch)... but when I got haxed I actualyl enjoyed the free evenings. Pity I won't be able to join these guys for Cata. Awesome bunch - <Heretic> of EU-Stormrage, now #1 on the server since <Elitism> transferred over to Vek'nilash (Stormrage is a first generation server and has TONNES of problems. Very annoying).

Guild first kills are awesome, that much is true. Though, as much as some fights are really awesome in WotLK, I can't say any of these kills even compared to the feeling I had when I first killed bosses like Ragnaros, Razorgore or Kael'Thas. Or battling Nefarian. These were just something different.