My opinion, Blizz is testing the waters for console play, nothing new by any means.  Their latest vague statement concerning their next MMO being different  and the current WoW game engine not being flexible enough to handle the direction they want to take, my interpretation - "We're expanding to consoles".  Dumb down the talent tree, spells, flatten menus, what works with a xBox/PS3 controller...  It's numbers, not current subs, but projected subs by extending the product to consoles.  More platforms, bigger audience, more MONIES!!!  They are a stock based company and therfore the marching orders are SHARE HOLDERS, CUSTOMERS, then EMPLOYEES.  Their share holders demand a certain level of growth from the company, pure and simple. 

This is why I do not 'dicuss', 'debate', 'troll' or whatever word you may use for pointing out the failings of a game- they have enough money to get the right people in play to produce a product consumers want.  If I'm not entertained, they don't get my money.  Let them figure out why I quit along with my friends.  I'm not paying a company to play their product and also help develop it- trying to remember the last "Hey thanks for being a customer for 4 years...." from Blizzard.  Nevah.  There are plenty of other products out there to entertain me and gladly take my money :)  Like I said, my opinion.

Originally posted by jadonc

WoW is bleeding subs, one of the major reasons for the major Cata change. They still haven't fixed the grind problem. Lack of compelling storyline, etc. Same old rinse and repeat with every expansion release.

Take into account that WoW is a worldwide addiction. There are thousands of realms across the US, Europe(english and otherwise), German, French, Spanish, Russian, Taiwanese, Korean and Oceanic. Add all those must add up and I would say that the statistics are fairly accurate. 

To put it in perspective, take a look at the list of games that have been released since WoW. Well over half of all games listed on this website have been released after WoW, and it's a well known fact WoW is still the leader of the pack. Even competitors will agree that WoW does many things right, and they aren't afraid to admit that they steal shamelessly from WoW during game development. 

I have spent years within WoW, and years away from it. I have tried dozens of other MMO's in between, and nothing comes close to the scope of WoW. I don't need to count each player from each realm to deduce a feel for how immense WoW is in relation to ANY OTHER MMO. At this point, the only thing that will "bleed" wow, is the sequel to wow. 

As they say, the proof is in the pudding.

Originally posted by biplex

I don't get it. Why all the hate against Cata? The game is finally fun again. I like it more than vanila wow.

Because on these forums, the 95% who feel as you do are somehow in the minority.

Cata is just the icing on the cake for many displeased with WoW; a 6-year old game.  WoW will be fine, but heck, UO and EQ are still fine, so that'snot really saying much.

There continues to be a flood of players on the WoW forums saying thier good-byes and putting the mods into over-drive deleting their threads and banning them.  No biggie, but yes, alot of Westerners are bailing for Rift which offers massive content and while borrowing from its'predecessors, and is offering it up in a very nice dynamic nature of game-play in a massive open world.  And I think the same folks, many of them, are also anticipating GW2 and SWTOR; 2011 will be a fun year. 

But for now, many are rowing for Rift.

I don't like Blizzard's new direction, nor the way they have been treating their player base lately.

Trying to get a problem fixed that was caused by the latest patch update has been a nightmare for me. No responses on the technical support forums and unhelpful responses from wowtech. Tried every solution before finally they didn't want to deal with my in game issue any more and slapped me with a harassment banishment from the forums with no chance to appeal.

All I wanted was my water to be back to the way it was pre-4.0.6 patch instead of being told to "buy a better graphics card and shut up" by wowtech.

I'll most likely be unsubscribing real soon. Being the guild master of PVP guilds on both Horde and Alliance. That's a big decision for me.

source:
http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/853915-I-d-like-my-shiny-water-back-please-Banished-for-harassment...

Dont think wow will be in trouble. There will come new player's. But the old ones is looking for some new.

Has been playing since 2005.