Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Sondrelk]

Well, that is true enough. However, when WotLK was released, we didn't quite see the full descent that has become mainstream now. Still, you are right--correlation and causation shouldn't be confused. In fact, it is also possible that correlation did exist, but simply went the other way--the presence of better triple-A alternatives could've contributed to the initial decline.

Like with all things it's probably wrong to assume only a single facotr is true. More likely it was a combination of several factors that made broader changes possible.
Players wanting easier character changes. Shifting views on in-game purchases. If not descent, at least a revenue plateau in WotLK. Potential new leadership or influential shareholders.
Could be lots of reasons for Blizzard to add stuff like the in-game shop.

[Yarathir]

WoW Stiven looked so unimpressed by void elves. Didn't even care to show high elf combos :| I am getting depressed while watching him

He always sounds and looks unimpressed. He really isn't the best guy to preview new player options because he doesn't really seem to care either way.

[Sondrelk]

This isn't really a serious issue. It's mostly just a rather piteous kowtow by a company that's trying to compensate hard in as minimal a way as possible.

- - - Updated - - -

The new Stormwind stormy sky is pretty good. It looks relatively realistic given the usual standards Blizzard has for painted skies.

Wait, we actually have a new Stormwind skybox? I called that way back as a joke, I cannot believe I got that right.

[Marlamin]

To be honest, it's not really Stiven's job to care or get excited. He just needs to mine so the content team has stuff to post. Him streaming makes the most sense because he's the first of the team to see things.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Like with all things it's probably wrong to assume only a single facotr is true. More likely it was a combination of several factors that made broader changes possible.
Players wanting easier character changes. Shifting views on in-game purchases. If not descent, at least a revenue plateau in WotLK. Potential new leadership or influential shareholders.
Could be lots of reasons for Blizzard to add stuff like the in-game shop.

That's probably the best assumption--there's a good number of reasons to want to maximize profits. Still, I do wonder somewhat if there was any sort of primary motivator. It may well just be a desire for profit maximization and I'm looking too deep into it. It's not as if there was some particular event horizon by which Blizzard suddenly decided to start making money as a private firm.

[Yarathir]

To be honest, it's not really Stiven's job to care or get excited. He just needs to mine so the content team has stuff to post. Him streaming makes the most sense because he's the first of the team to see things.

To be fair, not being excited probably doesn't matter.

Not caring enough to look things over proper or understand what is new or old is at least a bit unfortunate.

[Marlamin]

To be fair, not being excited probably doesn't matter.

Not caring enough to look things over proper or understand what is new or old is at least a bit unfortunate.

Regarding customizations, Blizz already partially previewed them so he'll probably look at them after looking other (maybe unexpected and high value) new things.

[Sondrelk]

That's probably the best assumption--there's a good number of reasons to want to maximize profits. Still, I do wonder somewhat if there was any sort of primary motivator. It may well just be a desire for profit maximization and I'm looking too deep into it. It's not as if there was some particular event horizon by which Blizzard suddenly decided to start making money as a private firm.

If I were to guess I would say the combination of players wanting to race change, or faction swap or whatever their characters, which combined with the shifting views on in-game shops leading to Blizzard implementing the shop to allow character changes in a way that was probably seen as reasonable back then.
Adding stuff like mounts and such I want to say was probably just to fill the shop with more than character change services.

[Dracullus]

Well, that is true enough. However, when WotLK was released, we didn't quite see the full descent that has become mainstream now. Still, you are right--correlation and causation shouldn't be confused. In fact, it is also possible that correlation did exist, but simply went the other way--the presence of better triple-A alternatives could've contributed to the initial decline.

In some other thread people show data from 2013 - Blizzard announced were 100M account created (including trials). It's means WoW chew around 10M players per year. People always quit, but during 2005-2010:

a) less people new about WoW, it was fresh game
b) competition was much, much smaller, I don't talk only about MMO; LoL exploded around 2010 and I don't think it's coincidence in 2011 first time wave of new players was not enough to cover people who quit mid expac.

[Pheraz]

To be honest, it's not really Stiven's job to care or get excited. He just needs to mine so the content team has stuff to post. Him streaming makes the most sense because he's the first of the team to see things.

Okay But the whole point of this patch for void elf fans are the high elf combos. I think he is kind of out of touch? No offense

[Yarathir]

Okay But the whole point of this patch for void elf fans are the high elf combos. I think he is kind of out of touch? No offense

I wouldn't say out of touch. Just not his thing.

[Marlamin]

Okay But the whole point of this patch for void elf fans are the high elf combos. I think he is kind of out of touch? No offense

Sure, but void elf fans are not the majority Wowhead news has to cater to. There might be many, but not as many as people interested in story changes or new mounts and such.

[Kiivar86]

Hippogryph's the timewalking mount huh? Not realy surprised, when I was going through unused ones I thought about it.

Also amused to see they're fixing the misspelled Forsworn aquilon mount.

[Pheraz]

Sure, but void elf fans are not the majority Wowhead news has to cater to. There might be many, but not as many as people interested in story changes or new mounts and such.

I don't have numbers on this? Do you?
Anyways, just hoping to try this out myself. I think this was the last wowhead stream I watched. No offense (again)

[Raetary]

Surely there are better things to bring up than Stiven not being enthusiastic enough.

You can just browse the options yourself once PTR is up or wowhead updates their model viewer.
Jeez.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

The broken horn on the fem Lightforged Draenei is nice.

[Marlamin]

Surely there are better things to bring up than Stiven not being enthusiastic enough.

You can just browse the options yourself once PTR is up or wowhead updates their model viewer.
Jeez.

Let us hope it comes up soon because otherwise Stiven appears to be in for a bad time.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

What's with the boot icons? Interesting one is involving dragons.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

The broken horn on the fem Lightforged Draenei is nice.

Agreed. I'd say the Lightforged as a whole look quite nice. The tinfoil side of me wants to suggest this is because of potential Yrel shenanigans on the horizon.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

https://www.wowhead.com/news/rock-n-...h-9-1-5-324028