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Tuesday, March 13, 2007
World of Warcraft as a role model
The BBC news report some interesting stories from the Game Developer's Conference.
Quote: ""Viacom has launched three MMOs and nobody noticed," said Raph Koster, president of Areae and the former head of Star Wars Galaxies. He added: "Anybody who is not watching how big media is moving into this space is missing a major major story."" With Mark Jacobs and Rob Pardo agreeing that "there will be a lot of corpses". Sounds obvious to me. Optimistic as I am about the future growth of the MMO genre, there is an obvious limit to how many multi-million subscriber games there can be out there.
But besides clones, what could World of Warcraft be a role model for? Quote: "Five years from now a social networking site without a 3D universe will look like a dinosaur." Yup, I can believe that. As soon as the technology is there, hanging out in a 3D universe is of course more interesting than hanging out in a place that just has text and photos. Although I'm not convinced of the "Second Life" model of a virtual world without a game. Hanging out around a well-defined activity, a game, is usually a lot more successful than hanging out in an empty space the users can fill with content. There is a reason why lots of real world social interaction happens around activities like bowling or playing golf. It gives a nice background to talk about, and fills those odd silent moments when nobody has to say anything.
But whatever virtual worlds will develop into, unsurprisingly the prediction is that WoW won't always be the top dog. Quote: ""WoW will have its day and it's nothing to do with how smart they are," said Mr Jacobs. "It won't be for a while but it will happen."" Which is probably true, but given how the people who say that are game developers who have a vested interest in *their* game rising to the top of the heap, you'll have to take these predictions with a grain of salt.
- posted by Tobold @ 1:04 PM Permanent Link
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As someone who started out in MUDs and MOOs, socializing over the internet sure has come a long way.
Who hasn't run through IF or Org, spotted a friend and given them a /wave, then stopped for a chat.
Who hasn't run through IF or Org, spotted a friend and given them a /wave, then stopped for a chat.
""Five years from now a social networking site without a 3D universe will look like a dinosaur." Yup, I can believe that. As soon as the technology is there, hanging out in a 3D universe is of course more interesting than hanging out in a place that just has text and photos."
pft...
Virtual reality was all the rage 10 frigging years ago. And it is not really matter of technology. The 1st question is, what is the point; why do I want to chat or whatever in some 3D enviroment?
As for dinosaurs, they are very much still around - they are called bird.
pft...
Virtual reality was all the rage 10 frigging years ago. And it is not really matter of technology. The 1st question is, what is the point; why do I want to chat or whatever in some 3D enviroment?
As for dinosaurs, they are very much still around - they are called bird.
Some on the panel predicted that World of Warcraft would not always be the world's most popular MMO.
"WoW will have its day and it's nothing to do with how smart they are," said Mr Jacobs.
"It won't be for a while but it will happen."
Yes, WoW will eventually be knocked down to the number two spot.
By Universe of Starcraft )
Let's face it; it's Blizzard's world, and we're just living in it.
"WoW will have its day and it's nothing to do with how smart they are," said Mr Jacobs.
"It won't be for a while but it will happen."
Yes, WoW will eventually be knocked down to the number two spot.
By Universe of Starcraft )
Let's face it; it's Blizzard's world, and we're just living in it.
# posted by 
: 13/3/07 17:31
: 13/3/07 17:31
I think virtual worlds are still nubile in comparison to what they will become.
WoW is moreso a virtual world that is emphasized on being a game. Video game poker is a virtual world based on being a game as well. Not many companies have tried taking the game element out of the virtual world formula, and for a few reasons. There definately is some ethical/moral/political/monetarial reasons that a "virtual world" becomes a hazard. Take for example, if they cloned what real life is and condensed it into a virtual world... now would the virtual world have the same laws/regulations would there be punishment for making someone lose real life money or taking real life harm from their interaction with the virtual wolrd?
Its a deep pool of unknown and the companies avant garde enough to make a virtual world that doesnt have emphasis on gaming have hardly put their feet in. Sony announced a virtual world for their Ps3 and I think it is finally more than putting your toes in the water.
WoW is moreso a virtual world that is emphasized on being a game. Video game poker is a virtual world based on being a game as well. Not many companies have tried taking the game element out of the virtual world formula, and for a few reasons. There definately is some ethical/moral/political/monetarial reasons that a "virtual world" becomes a hazard. Take for example, if they cloned what real life is and condensed it into a virtual world... now would the virtual world have the same laws/regulations would there be punishment for making someone lose real life money or taking real life harm from their interaction with the virtual wolrd?
Its a deep pool of unknown and the companies avant garde enough to make a virtual world that doesnt have emphasis on gaming have hardly put their feet in. Sony announced a virtual world for their Ps3 and I think it is finally more than putting your toes in the water.
"WoW will have its day and it's nothing to do with how smart they are..."
Wishful thinking at best.
WoW is as much a success for its originality as it is for its careful copying of good ideas and - more importantly - clever avoidance of flawed ones which not long ago seemed the only way to do things. For example, I think four major factors in WoW's greatness and success were a deep love for Anarchy Online & Asheron's Call 2 paired with a deep hatred for those games.
Let's not forget that before WoW the most popular game in the world was Halo. Why? Because Blizzard was busy making WoW. Prior to that, if I remember right, the most popular online game in the world was Diablo II, and before that it was Starcraft. Warcraft II was also no slouch.
These are wise, artful, sharp-as-nails people and I very much doubt they're going to lose their spot at the top simply because it's someone else's turn at the good luck fountain.
Wishful thinking at best.
WoW is as much a success for its originality as it is for its careful copying of good ideas and - more importantly - clever avoidance of flawed ones which not long ago seemed the only way to do things. For example, I think four major factors in WoW's greatness and success were a deep love for Anarchy Online & Asheron's Call 2 paired with a deep hatred for those games.
Let's not forget that before WoW the most popular game in the world was Halo. Why? Because Blizzard was busy making WoW. Prior to that, if I remember right, the most popular online game in the world was Diablo II, and before that it was Starcraft. Warcraft II was also no slouch.
These are wise, artful, sharp-as-nails people and I very much doubt they're going to lose their spot at the top simply because it's someone else's turn at the good luck fountain.
I thought counterstrike was and still is the most popular game in the world???
# posted by : 14/3/07 12:58
: 14/3/07 12:58
Good grief. I can hardly concentrate on the subject with the sound of all that fapping. WoW is a great game, certainly. But technology changes, and there will eventually be a successor to Blizzard in the number one slot.
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# posted by : 15/3/07 15:27
: 15/3/07 15:27<< Home
