Interview with WoW lead: Warcraft needs to be more than “simply an MMORPG"

[Mecheon]

"The reason bfa was bad is because the largely IP defying addition of a clearly zootopia implant race didn't specifically get lathered on the alliance so I personally can indulge in the new furry chat vr friendship power hour direction of the game" is definitely an interesting take, I'll give you that.

I mean, if that's your takeaway from my post good reading comprehension for missing the parts I bring up the actual issues of the RNG hell of war/titanforging, azerite traits, the so-called features being dropped immediately, and how its the birthing place of the System Hell that Shadowlands would blossom into a truly awful weed. We can even dig into the other ones like the story if you'd like, or how each side of the playerbase was handled.

The effort put into each side of the faction divide was absolutely a massive issue, with the Alliance feeling like an afterthought the entire expansion of "Look at this Horde character who gets their massive big cutscene! I guess the Alliance is over at the side or something idk" that, as an absolutely cherry on top of the shit sundae that was the Alliance experience, gave us mecha-gnomes in the most "We literately do not care about this faction" move and are basically its embodiment as a result. BFA was a mediocre expansion. It wasn't reaching the heights of WotLK or MoP, but it wasn't as awful as SL or as 'what the hell happened' as WoD.

[Aernath]

This may be a polarizing topic for this website.

https://frvr.com/blog/news/world-of-...ply-an-mmorpg/



(In my opinion) WoW should definitely expand out of the MMORPG genre solely, but still retain the core MMORPG elements. This notion, of course, is highly debated with a majority voice saying that WoW has long since lost its MMORPG identity. There is much truth to that, yes.

I think the direction they have been going in the last 4 expansions is the right one, but perhaps they are too focused on moving in that direction. The advent of many different Classic WoW releases going on at the same time, I feel, is Blizzard's way of allowing people to play those more distinct MMORPG oriented versions of the game for those who decry the current state of retail.

I guess we'll see in another 20 years.

In my book, it is NOT cool to throw Metzen under the bus like that, knowing the dude has a known condition of serious anxiety, now she made him "the target".
For what?! To prove she's more "badass" than "softie" Metzen?!
It's YOU who softened the game milady! /smh

[KOUNTERPARTS]

In my book, it is NOT cool to throw Metzen under the bus like that, knowing the dude has a known condition of serious anxiety, now she made him "the target".
For what?! To prove she's more "badass" than "softie" Metzen?!
It's YOU who softened the game milady! /smh

I did not take it as her throwing him under the bus. It came off to me more as she was just lampooning the notion he was making.

[Aernath]

I did not take it as her throwing him under the bus. It came off to me more as she was just lampooning the notion he was making.

I still gave her the benefit of the doubt "unintentional" act, then. Because, if it's really a lampooning, then things inside are way worse than it seems.

[Magistrate]

I mean, if that's your takeaway from my post good reading comprehension for missing the parts I bring up the actual issues of the RNG hell of war/titanforging, azerite traits, the so-called features being dropped immediately, and how its the birthing place of the System Hell that Shadowlands would blossom into a truly awful weed. We can even dig into the other ones like the story if you'd like, or how each side of the playerbase was handled.

The effort put into each side of the faction divide was absolutely a massive issue, with the Alliance feeling like an afterthought the entire expansion of "Look at this Horde character who gets their massive big cutscene! I guess the Alliance is over at the side or something idk" that, as an absolutely cherry on top of the shit sundae that was the Alliance experience, gave us mecha-gnomes in the most "We literately do not care about this faction" move and are basically its embodiment as a result. BFA was a mediocre expansion. It wasn't reaching the heights of WotLK or MoP, but it wasn't as awful as SL or as 'what the hell happened' as WoD.

It was my take away because that's the only criticism you said, which seemed really really worrying. The issues were the mechanics (which were horrible) and some horde didn't like being the villains for the millionth time, but other than that it had one of the best raids in history, some very strong zones and more of them than any other expansion iirc.

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Anyway I'm not worried about this interview re them expanding the IP to other media formats or game types. They've been trying that for years--this isn't even new. I'd love a warcraft show if done right. And the game modes don't impact me as I don't play them.

But what does worry me is the ongoing demonization of the roots of the IP. I think in midnight, while it's not totally what I want, it has some core returns and some cool things going for it. DF really had me questioning whether this game was really being made for me, a paying customer a devoted fan whose probably shelled out thousands when adding everything together, and instead being retrofitted to exclusively capture some ephemeral audience who would rather be playing the full strength original games made for them than muted versions within wow.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

I never expected that from christ metzen. But, from observation, starting a family and having kids usually softens you. Plus, the pressure from the "democratized" WoW team.

How does Warhammer not sound intimidating but World of Warcraft does?

I have a feeling Holly Longdale is responsible for the watered down version of WoW we have today.

Holly is the one defending the name Warcraft mate, just the fact that she’s citing warhammer points to her not being the one watering any thing down and that she likely has more experience with the “mature” themes people point to wanting then most wow fans.

[micwini]

Maybe the idea is that Retail WoW will turn into Metaverse/Fortnite and Classic+ will essentially be the "RP version" of Warcraft. I could see them changing Classic+'s name to "Warcraft" to reflect that.

If this happens, it would be fun to see how retail gets drained flat and classic+ becomes the top dog.

[GratsDing45]

Metzen had to be semi sarcastic saying that…

When I was 8 and so first saw Warcraft 3 at my cousin’s I was anything but intimidated… it opened me up to pc gaming. It was badass and so needed to play it. The “cartoony” graphics still made it accessible but still had grit.

If anything kids will be turned off from the new direction of Warcraft because they want to turn it into a Disney game for girls. But then I remember Fortnite exists and maybe they want to grab that audience.

[meroes]

Thank GOD I like classic and won’t be dragged into wherever retail is headed. Sorry mates it’s over.

[username993720]

We're talking about a person who in -01 wrote a warcraft novel about racism bad, he didn't change.

Pretty sure he was metal.

Holly is the one defending the name Warcraft mate, just the fact that she’s citing warhammer points to her not being the one watering any thing down and that she likely has more experience with the “mature” themes people point to wanting then most wow fans.

She doesn't seem like the old wow developers in the slightest. On the contrary, she seems like an exact opposite.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

She doesn't seem like the old wow developers in the slightest. On the contrary, she seems like an exact opposite.

It’s the old wow dev Metzen saying Warcraft is an intimidating name and Holly who spear headed brining back classic which has all the “mature” themes your complaining are no longer there who is saying that the name Warcraft is fine and comparing it to warhammer.

It’s the old dev who’s being softer while
It’s the who “seems like an exact opposite” holding up the validity of the darker themes.

[username993720]

It’s the old wow dev Metzen saying Warcraft is an intimidating name and Holly who spear headed brining back classic which has all the “mature” themes your complaining are no longer there who is saying that the name Warcraft is fine and comparing it to warhammer.

It’s the old dev who’s being softer while
It’s the who “seems like an exact opposite” holding up the validity of the darker themes.

How great men have fallen...

[Smeeh]

Thank GOD I like classic and won’t be dragged into wherever retail is headed. Sorry mates it’s over.

Just like last time i guess.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

How great men have fallen...

It’s been the nature progress of his works for the past 30 years it really shouldn’t be a surprise to any one who’s been paying attention through out the years.

[Just Passing through]

WoW would do great as a western animation, not another shite animefication like Rohirrim. Something like What If

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Disagree. WoW in real life looks goofy and lame. No amount of set pieces and million dollar+ makeup budget could stop Warcraft movie's Alliance characters from looking like cheap medieval prop pieces.
They should commit to full CGI if they want the real life look. Orcs looked good. Humans looked like extras from a Camelot film.

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Is it predatory though? Its giving the people what they want. A slap of nostalgia, a shit ton of fomo collectibles, a free for all to push the game to limits for the sake of seeing how crazy you can make stats go in WoW. There was hardly any structure, Blizzard just opened the gates to an amusement park and let the kiddos come flooding in for pure fun nothing more.
You aren't saying remixes were poor content, right?

Okay...right...wrong verb. "but remixes really seem to target nostalgia and transmog collectors" - should have worded it that way.

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Thank GOD I like classic and won’t be dragged into wherever retail is headed. Sorry mates it’s over.

If you can drag out the golden oldie of " ...it's over", I can add my pet peeve of "leave bloody god out of this". Seriously...very few things piss me off more than people thanking god for the most inane shit out there. I I give zero f.... if it is just a saying or a proverb. Just don't do it....it is cringe and pathetic. And putting him / it / her in capitals makes it only worse.

[WowIsDead64]

Online Diablo-like solo-with-optional-multiplayer RPG, based on MMO, that utilizes 22 years of content? Nope, never. Bunch of dumb online mini-games? Yeah!

As always, it's nothing more than populism. They have been telling it since Cata's disaster. Yet they never do, what players actually ask them to do.

[meroes]

Okay...right...wrong verb. "but remixes really seem to target nostalgia and transmog collectors" - should have worded it that way.

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If you can drag out the golden oldie of " ...it's over", I can add my pet peeve of "leave bloody god out of this". Seriously...very few things piss me off more than people thanking god for the most inane shit out there. I I give zero f.... if it is just a saying or a proverb. Just don't do it....it is cringe and pathetic. And putting him / it / her in capitals makes it only worse.

Ok. I'm agnostic it was just for emphasis. Thank the DEEPS OF SPACE! (I didn't feel like thanking any WoW characters, they all have negative sides).

[vincink]

"We want [Warcraft] to be approachable. Even with Chris Metzen, sometimes he's like: 'Man, I wish we hadn't called it Warcraft. Sounds kind of intimidating.'"

Very sad, if Metzen actually said this.

[Ghostile]

Very sad, if Metzen actually said this.

Can't blame him tho, the "IT'S WARCRAFT!!!! REEEEEEE!" crew is fucking cringe.

[HanziePanzie]

Can't blame him tho, the "IT'S WARCRAFT!!!! REEEEEEE!" crew is fucking cringe.

That is not the point.

What's being said is that that Warcraft should be a little bit The Sims and a little bit of Fortnite. And little bit of anime.

That Metzen getting dragged into this says more about the community.