...and the dumbing down continues at an expotentially accelerated rate. WoW has become such a joke, it doesn't even make a pretense of being challenging anymore.

Blizzard again shows that their business sense is why they have so many players.

While this isn't my favorite game, I can't help but be impressed when anyone makes a decision that helps them gain/ and or retain players.

Just smart....

Originally posted by Hammertime1

Blizzard again shows that their business sense is why they have so many players.

 

While this isn't my favorite game, I can't help but be impressed when anyone makes a decision that helps them gain/ and or retain players.

Just smart....

It's a bit strange that you think this is an example of a good strategy from blizzard who loves their costumers.

this is indeed a good change, but a very late one, did they need 4 years to see this was a necessary change to the game?

Why do they deserve congrats if many other game always had this, like Everquest 2 with mounts at lvl 20, and they needed 4 years to implement it?

Nonetheless a good change thats going to help alot leveling and help end the boringness of travel for loads of time, now they just need to sort out those stupid 15 mins travels in the flight paths to something quicker.

I'm torn (not Tauren, snicker snicker) on this. I spent all that time and money getting my mounts which will now be ridiculously cheap and fast. That angers me. But I'm from the UO generation, and back then you could get a mount at any time for pretty cheap. I always thought it was ridiculous having to play halfway through the game before you could even have a damn horse.

So, all things considered, its a good change.

We wouldn't want anyone have to wait or work towards something that would only make people think or be patient. I say give all the players everything at level 1 and then they can go do............? This is exactly why I left WoW it has become a joke and the next expansion should be the game plays itself so you can go play something else. Casuals...

Originally posted by Hives

We wouldn't want anyone have to wait or work towards something that would only make people think or be patient. I say give all the players everything at level 1 and then they can go do............? This is exactly why I left WoW it has become a joke and the next expansion should be the game plays itself so you can go play something else. Casuals...

I've thought and been patient for 1 main, and 4 alts. I think that's enough.  Besides, what does thinking have to do with making gold in WoW?  Maybe I underestimate the intelligence of others, but even when you got a mount at 40, was it that hard? I've been there, done that.  Besides, don't "hardcore" players want to hit "end-game" faster? 

Originally posted by cfurlin

Originally posted by Euphoryk

If it takes any significant period of time to accomplish something, players whine en masse and have the content and mechanics nerfed to oblivion in order to further there own self centered goals for easy advancement.

Sad.

 

It's the same mentality that schools use when they abolish winners and losers in games because they don't want anyone's feelings to get hurt.  God forbid anyone should have challenges, sucesses, and failures and have to learn to deal with them like an adult.

{ Mod Edit }

It's a game for God's sake. You acvt as if everything we do in the world should challenge us??!?

Ever heard of the concept of fun?

If I want a challenge, I will do something challenging. I will take up a new hobby of sky diving or water-skiing. I will work on researching a  major problem or something like that.

I teach so every day I am confronted with challenges and seeing people succeed and fail. When I come come, I want to relax and have fun. I do not play MMO's to be challenged or to succeed or fail. I play to have FUN.

Before you judge humanity (funny I guess you are judging yourself unless you think of yourself as a godlike being), then maybe you should understand that what you want from a GAME and how you think people should be challenged is your opinion.

 Based on the age of the game it makes sense with all of the content to travel accros, but had they done this back in the day I wouldn't have liked it.  Traveling the world at a slow pace keeps the leveling curve down, and forces you to see the scenary they spent years creating.

Originally posted by Hives

We wouldn't want anyone have to wait or work towards something that would only make people think or be patient. I say give all the players everything at level 1 and then they can go do............? This is exactly why I left WoW it has become a joke and the next expansion should be the game plays itself so you can go play something else. Casuals...

Maybe waiting until you get your flying mount at level 60 is good. or working towards level 80.

Right now you wait to get your flying mount at 70 but then cannot use it for another 8 levels even though you can (technically) is just stupid. Flying mounts were cool at 70 when everyone was 70 and stuck there; but now, since most people are in Northrend before 70, its pointless to even get one until 78. At least getting a flying mount at level 60 allows you the time to use it.

Wow, you really relate the game playing itself to getting mounts earlier. Just WOW....that must be some really ill-gotten feelings you have towards the game. Oh wait, going by your last comment, you are one of the elitist raiders who is mad because the game isn't your level 60, 40 man raids where you and only you get to see the content and play. You are mad that Blizzard changed the game to appeal to casuals and moved away from the elitist, raiding EQ clone that is was at launch. Sorry that Blizzard's vision for the game and your vision for the game were different, but I think its time to get over that hate.

Originally posted by krityc

 Based on the age of the game it makes sense with all of the content to travel accros, but had they done this back in the day I wouldn't have liked it.  Traveling the world at a slow pace keeps the leveling curve down, and forces you to see the scenary they spent years creating.

The key word being "forces".  My first real MMO was Asheron's Call.  I went almost everywhere, because I wanted to.  I could spend hours alone, not meeting anyone... even when it was new.  In the middle of nowhere, you could find places the devs knew few people would see.  Freedom in a game isn't bad.

gah, this is really going to change the level 20-29 PvP bracket.

Originally posted by Majinash

gah, this is really going to change the level 20-29 PvP bracket.

Amazing, that might be a valid complaint. 

Originally posted by LunaLupus

Originally posted by Majinash

gah, this is really going to change the level 20-29 PvP bracket.

 

Amazing, that might be a valid complaint. 

mounts make a huge difference.  the instant people can move faster than the flag carrier you have to change how you play.  and its harder to take nodes in AB when defenders can reinforce it sooner.  it was a big change to 30-39 when they let people get mounts that early, before then druids travel form was key.  then in 20-29 it was all about ghost wolf/sprint, but now mounts there too.

not good or bad, just different.

Originally posted by Majinash

Originally posted by LunaLupus

Originally posted by Majinash

gah, this is really going to change the level 20-29 PvP bracket.

 

Amazing, that might be a valid complaint. 

 

mounts make a huge difference.  the instant people can move faster than the flag carrier you have to change how you play.  and its harder to take nodes in AB when defenders can reinforce it sooner.  it was a big change to 30-39 when they let people get mounts that early, before then druids travel form was key.  then in 20-29 it was all about ghost wolf/sprint, but now mounts there too.

 

not good or bad, just different.

I understand.  Having done most BGs at level 70+, it was refreshing to see what it was like with no mounts.  Making the brackets more and more "homogenized", could possibly make it a bit boring.

 They should just give people mounts at the first level and be done with it. What's the point of doing this change? In a few months they will be back to put them at level 10. That is what WoW is good at, constantly ruining their game. I would for once like a developer to create their game from their vision of what they want their game to be and stick with it. I really dislike the marry go round of constant changing of a game.

Imagine how big of a pile of crap all those great hits of the past that are single player games would be if they constantly changed. Single player games become classics, MMOs become heaps of mangled garbage over time.

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Originally posted by qombi
Single player games become classics, MMOs become heaps of mangled garbage over time.

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Originally posted by Horkathane

I think they know the storm is coming and they better do something to make WoW more competitive against the ONLAUGHT OF COOL MMOS hitting this year.

1st up June 29th Mortal online.

2nd up Sept. Champions

3rd up Oct. STO

4th up December TOR

 

In between some sleepers like Borderlands,  Earth Rise, Global Agenda

I'd have to say there probably wont be A Wow Killer, but Killers...could be..

I don't necessarily think preparing for "cool" is the complete removal challenge. Dumbing down a game doesn't equal fun. I don't care about the "hardcore vs casual" debate. When a game is designed it should be designed is this fun or not. I don't think the first thing on devs minds should be is this dumbed down enough.

I think people migrate to fun games, not ones with the greatest lack of challenge. At least I hope not that is what people are looking for.

Originally posted by Xiaoki

 

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Originally posted by qombi
Single player games become classics, MMOs become heaps of mangled garbage over time.

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And people like you and half the others in this topic become bitter old cynics that spout off crap like "back in my day we didnt have mounts, we walked everywhere and we liked it".

 

 

False accusations do not help your argument. You assumed that I was against faster travel when if you read my post I am against constant changing of a game design be it harder or easier. 

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Originally posted by qombi
They should just give people mounts at the first level and be done with it. What's the point of doing this change? In a few months they will be back to put them at level 10. That is what WoW is good at, constantly ruining their game. I would for once like a developer to create their game from their vision of what they want their game to be and stick with it. I really dislike the marry go round of constant changing of a game.

Imagine how big of a pile of crap all those great hits of the past that are single player games would be if they constantly changed. Single player games become classics, MMOs become heaps of mangled garbage over time.

---

One difference between an MMO and a static single-player game (SPG) is that people play, beat and move on from SPGs a lot sooner than they do with an MMO. They've beaten it. There's no more challenge. On to the next one. It's easy to have good memories of an SPG because aspects of the game you liked didn't change.

MMOs, on the other hand, try to keep people interested as long as possible. It's fairly common for people to stick with and enjoy an MMO for a year or more which is nearly unheard of with most SPGs (some FPS like Halo being exceptions). After a while, MMOs become top heavy. Most players are at max level and wanting end-game stuff. In order to keep people interested, they have to both add content for their existing max-level players and alter some of the older aspects of the game to get new players caught up with everyone else. The issue becomes more pressing for the developers when you're not bringing in a lot of new players, so your low level zones become ghost towns.

Originally posted by Nizur

 

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Originally posted by qombi
They should just give people mounts at the first level and be done with it. What's the point of doing this change? In a few months they will be back to put them at level 10. That is what WoW is good at, constantly ruining their game. I would for once like a developer to create their game from their vision of what they want their game to be and stick with it. I really dislike the marry go round of constant changing of a game.

 

Imagine how big of a pile of crap all those great hits of the past that are single player games would be if they constantly changed. Single player games become classics, MMOs become heaps of mangled garbage over time.

---

 

One difference between an MMO and a static single-player game (SPG) is that people play, beat and move on from SPGs a lot sooner than they do with an MMO. They've beaten it. There's no more challenge. On to the next one. It's easy to have good memories of an SPG because aspects of the game you liked didn't change.

MMOs, on the other hand, try to keep people interested as long as possible. It's fairly common for people to stick with and enjoy an MMO for a year or more which is nearly unheard of with most SPGs (some FPS like Halo being exceptions). After a while, MMOs become top heavy. Most players are at max level and wanting end-game stuff. In order to keep people interested, they have to both add content for their existing max-level players and alter some of the older aspects of the game to get new players caught up with everyone else. The issue becomes more pressing for the developers when you're not bringing in a lot of new players, so your low level zones become ghost towns.

There has to be a better way though. Waiting for the producer to give it to us.

In the official blue post you see the answer why Blizzard does this.

ANY succesful MMORPG needs to have ONE thing: PEOPLE who play it.... and if possible together ...

Remember ?

Now the success of Blizzard is that they CAN cram the 3.5 K users on line in one server to the END game.

END game now meaning level 68 - 80. It is the LATEST part, with the LATEST new techniques. So it is obvious they want players to travel to this world of 68 to 80 as light as possible.

Sure it will be 95% solo-able content in the run, but it IS needed to know the class you are playing for the average person and ... it still is a good designed world.

But like patch 2.3 in TBC, this patch makes leveling easy and they bring people to their goal: "Wrath of the Lich King".

------> It is the only way to follow to bring everyone in on the new expansion(s) in the same zones.

 Guys who laugh about this, sadly laugh about themselves, because they usually play games ... with NO people playing :)))

And remember ANY mmorpg needs to have .... people in its (latest) endgame.... or they simply ... fade away.

This is Blizzard remember

Pity that 5000 gold still applies for an epic flying mount =( Oh well, at least we get faction discounts.

 Next,instant lvl 80 chars ,fully geared that raid by themselves.

I personally think its a good change

especially for new players or anyone with tons of alts -- its only TRAVEL in the end

Originally posted by demolishIX

 Next,instant lvl 80 chars ,fully geared that raid by themselves.

In Guild Wars you can create a maximum level, fully geared characte for PvP whenever you want. I personally think it's awesome. You can hop in and out of PvP and swap and change between characters without grinding in the least.