Originally Posted by
Sondrelk
I guess this is true in the sense that Cata showed that the way to "design content around flying" was to just make zones stupidly large and not bother with actually designing zones to be effectively playable from the ground. Just place everything 1 minute of flying apart so players don't realize how inane the mechanic actually is.
Theme park argument or not, I find it hard to believe those that enjoy open world content would serioussly argue that zones look lazier than before. Ever since MoP zones have been teeming with life, treasures and easter eggs. Zones being designed to be small and compact in a way that makes them feel larger than they actually are does actually require skill, unline simply placing large amounts of open space between everything.
And even beyond that, open world content has had a renneisance since flying was removed in WoD. Aviana's feather is fondly remember to this day by those that used it, Legion actually had enviromental puzzles, BfA actually managed to revitalize the open world PvP that had died a slow death ever since TBC.
Treasures can now be hard to find from a gameplat perspective, not just difficult to find in parsing where the WoWhead link said it is, movement options are worth considering, learning to consider how a zone is designed actually has merit.
Zones are actually designed as places where gameplay happens near constantly, not just areas to level in and then skip past idly with autorun flying when you reach max level.
- - - Updated - - -
The flying we have in WoW is one of the most detrimental things the developers have added though. There is no depth to it, no gameplay offered, no fun ways to exploit its mechanics to do something interesting with the game.
No other game gives players flying this overwhelmingly convenient. Even Just Cause requires players to at least ensure you don't fly straight into a mountain to your death. The aspect of flying that requires the most skill in WoW is knowing that you are at risk of dying of fatigue if you use autorun and fly off the edge of a continent.
- - - Updated - - -
A lage chunk of players would also mindlessly accept changes that are blatantly unhealthy for the game long-term if they feel it works in their favor short term.
Most importantly though the players that want flying are almost overwhelmingly saying they want it because they openly proclaim they don't want to engage in the open world content. They are unironically saying that the World part of World of Warcraft is unimportant to them and that they would rather just skip all that stuff about you know, actually palying the game.
Flying is a momentary fun activity that is incredibly unhealthy for the game. As evidenced in that enviromental puzzles and fun easter eggs lose almost all their meaning the moment it becomes available.
It is convenient, but convenience doesnt mean it is good gameplay. When you see a treasure hidden behind a large amount of elites, flying doesnt give you a new gameplay option of overcoming the challenge, it simply removes it. And the reason we are made to put up with it is because players are admitting that they don't want to play this part of the game.