An Ongoing Tribute to my own lameness.....
General random thoughts about gaming, both within and outside of the MMO genre.

I'll go along with the observation that World of Warcraft is a Jack of all Trades, Master of None game.  I too believe that developers of new games would be wise to focus on a specific style of gameplay; that they should try to become a master of a specific experience.  If the developers then want to become the giant of the industry, they can work from that base.

I know that I don't want an environment to live in.  I just want one to visit and have some fun.  How about MMO Phun?

I'm not surprised that game companies are intent on duplicating Blizzard's success.  What I am surprised at is the various companies' seeming inability to try anything the least bit different in their efforts.  They seem to be obsessed with better graphics and the introduction of realistic physics.  Both are very nice improvements, but the gameplay remains the same.  It's like slapping more and more styling on the rotten cars that Detroit produced in the 60s and 70s.  I sure hope the game industry's Toyota is close to coming out with their first model.

P.S. It would make your articles much more enjoyable to read and listen to if you skipped the crude language.

I think you hit it right on the head when you stated WoW is the jack of all trades. I like to think of WoW as a stepping stone for other MMOs. It lets you get your feet wet in the MMO pool. I also think that due to WoWs lower "grind" rate; meaning you can get to max lvl faster, it caters to people who are just stating out on the MMO scene. The faster lvling pace means you can experince things alot faster than other MMOs. It gives you a little taste of everything.

But I think when you said that the new games need to start focusing on one specific aspect of a MMO you were wrong. Most MMOs have already focused on one specific aspect and you named some of the games in your audio. EvE = community, and heart pumping PvP(never had a bigger rush from PvP in any other game other than EvE). DAOC = RvR, AoC = new combat system(alothough i'm still iffy about it). TB = ...well it equals something. Anyway I think that there are MMOs already out there that focus on specific needs of players; but there will always be "new" MMOs that come out and offer the same thing with new graphics or something that doesn't change the gameplay.

Take EQ2(EQ 1.5) for example. They offer really nothing different from other MMOs except really nice graphics. And for some people thats why they play it(I am currently playing EQ2 and loving the graphics).

My point is there will always be people out there that want specific things in a MMO. And the specific thing might be a jack of all trades game like WoW, or something totaly different. And there will always be a MMO out there for you. You just have to look... Its been 6 years and I am still looking for mine. 

P.S. Your language is fine and enjoyable =P

I really enjoyed this blog. While I think most of your points are relevant and quite valid I had a thought....At any time I can quit WoW and my account sits there somewhere... I wonder do they merely count active subscriptions or do they count overall what they have had since they started? In some other MMOs if u leave u practically have to start over when you come back.

Just a question. Maybe you know.

Second. Do you think it will be impossible for another MMO to get the number of subscriptions WoW has? Or do you think if done correctly someone could supercede their subscription count?

Very well done, keep up the bloging! I enjoy reading them a lot.