I am blown away by Wrath of the Lich King.

I had a long post here with a "semi review" of Wrath of the Lich King. I was bombarded by flames. It's okay though, the first two reviews have yielded a 97.5 average for this game.

Regardless of what people say I play for fun.

You know? fun? The reason why we play?

Wait, I thought you were supposed to plant your viral marketers before the game came out?

A big part of the "immersion" is the graphics. WoW graphics just dont' work for me. I find them jarring because they are so colorful, cartoonlike, and I don't particularly care for the artwork.

That is purely preference, and someone else might feel completely the opposite.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

A big part of the "immersion" is the graphics. WoW graphics just dont' work for me. I find them jarring because they are so colorful, cartoonlike, and I don't particularly care for the artwork.

That is purely preference, and someone else might feel completely the opposite.

Since last patch they have done a nice graphics upgrade.  Before my computer was greater than the graphics they could provide...but not anymore.  When was the last time you turned the graphics to full tilt?  Granted there's no cure for not liking the artwork, but appreciate the acknowledgement that it is indeed art.

Sounds like someone has been playing too much wow, and just needed some new content.  I doubt the gameplay has changed at all, and I know they did nothing to enhance the social features or crafting, so it's still the same old game.  The expansion might be pretty, but it's still just WoW.

Originally posted by Rinic

Wait, I thought you were supposed to plant your viral marketers before the game came out?

Don't de-rail this thread. Also check my post history before making "shill" accusations...

Originally posted by saint4God

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

A big part of the "immersion" is the graphics. WoW graphics just dont' work for me. I find them jarring because they are so colorful, cartoonlike, and I don't particularly care for the artwork.

That is purely preference, and someone else might feel completely the opposite.

 

Since last patch they have done a nice graphics upgrade.  Before my computer was greater than the graphics they could provide...but not anymore.  When was the last time you turned the graphics to full tilt?  Granted there's no cure for not liking the artwork, but appreciate the acknowledgement that it is indeed art.

i guess, in the same way you could call saturday morning cartoons 'art". some call it art some call it cartoony crap.

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Sounds like someone has been playing too much wow, and just needed some new content.  I doubt the gameplay has changed at all, and I know they did nothing to enhance the social features or crafting, so it's still the same old game.  The expansion might be pretty, but it's still just WoW.

Nope. Been playing AoC, Warhammer, Ryzom for free, etc, etc. I am not a hardcore WoW player at all.

WoW is just so... WoW.

I'm glad the OP was able to find the "amazement" factor all over again. It gets harder and harder for games to capture that initial feeling when you play your first real MMO.

I don't care for WoW's art direction, class breakdown, or punishing specc system, so I know WotLK won't mean anything to me. It is good to hear that Blizzard continues to raise their own bar though... makes me think Diablo 3 will be fantastic when it comes out ;).

Originally posted by Ravanos

i guess, in the same way you could call saturday morning cartoons 'art". some call it art some call it cartoony crap.

From Caravaggio (who painted the picture I'm using as my portrait) to Warner Brothers, I see art in both forms.  I was merely pointing out the poster who was criticising the graphics acknowledged it was art...so they're in the same boat with me ^_^.  Notice the poster did not call it 'crap'.  That was your word and candidly many fine arts have been called crap before as well.

Originally posted by donjn

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Sounds like someone has been playing too much wow, and just needed some new content.  I doubt the gameplay has changed at all, and I know they did nothing to enhance the social features or crafting, so it's still the same old game.  The expansion might be pretty, but it's still just WoW.

Nope. Been playing AoC, Warhammer, Ryzom for free, etc, etc. I am not a hardcore WoW player at all.

You obviously have a level 70 toon though, right?  So did they enhance the game play at all with new concepts?  Did they add more social or non-combat features?  Did they expand their weak excuse for a crafting and resource system?  If not, it's all just visuals.  The shine will wear off after you get used to it.

Congrats to you for having an amazing time.  I would love to feel that again, but eyecandy (if you can call WoW graphics that) won't do it for me.

Originally posted by Talin

WoW is just so... WoW.

I'm glad the OP was able to find the "amazement" factor all over again. It gets harder and harder for games to capture that initial feeling when you play your first real MMO.

I don't care for WoW's art direction, class breakdown, or punishing specc system, so I know WotLK won't mean anything to me. It is good to hear that Blizzard continues to raise their own bar though... makes me think Diablo 3 will be fantastic when it comes out ;).

Thanks for intelligently commenting on their art direction. I find your words to be more thought provoking than Ravanos' "Saturday Morning Crap" remark.

I happen to like the art direction in WoW very much. I am not always happy with the pixel count, but that is another story :)

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Originally posted by donjn

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Sounds like someone has been playing too much wow, and just needed some new content.  I doubt the gameplay has changed at all, and I know they did nothing to enhance the social features or crafting, so it's still the same old game.  The expansion might be pretty, but it's still just WoW.

Nope. Been playing AoC, Warhammer, Ryzom for free, etc, etc. I am not a hardcore WoW player at all.

 

You obviously have a level 70 toon though, right?  So did they enhance the game play at all with new concepts?  Did they add more social or non-combat features.  Did the expand their weak excuse for a crafting and resource system?  If not, it's all just visuals.  The shine will wear off after you get used to it.

Name a game out there right now with a better social system, non-combat features, crafting and resource system. DONT mention one category, your example must be better than WoW's in ALL above mentioned categories. Yes WoW has some failings in those areas, but no-one can do all of those things perfectly.

Blizz is under more and more pressure these days to keep up with the Jones'.  In that situation the customer wins, so I'm grateful for it.  They seem to be responding fairly well overall and are trying to pluck things off of their customer's wishlist and deliver.  As long as they continue this progression with more frenquency than the 2005-2007 years, that'd be good.

Originally posted by donjn

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Originally posted by donjn

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Sounds like someone has been playing too much wow, and just needed some new content.  I doubt the gameplay has changed at all, and I know they did nothing to enhance the social features or crafting, so it's still the same old game.  The expansion might be pretty, but it's still just WoW.

Nope. Been playing AoC, Warhammer, Ryzom for free, etc, etc. I am not a hardcore WoW player at all.

 

You obviously have a level 70 toon though, right?  So did they enhance the game play at all with new concepts?  Did they add more social or non-combat features.  Did the expand their weak excuse for a crafting and resource system?  If not, it's all just visuals.  The shine will wear off after you get used to it.

Name a game out there right now with a better social system, non-combat features, crafting and resource system. DONT mention one category, your example must be better than WoW's in ALL above mentioned categories. Yes WoW has some failings in those areas, but no-one can do all of those things perfectly.

You just illustrated my point.  WoW has very little in the way of social features, non-combat systems, and the crafting is pathetic.  Every game that has come out since WoW is trying to carbon copy WoW's success suffers from the game lack of innovation.  Games that are 90% combat and 10% everything else will always bore me and many other people to death.  WoW is my main example of what is wrong with MMO's today.

I played through to 70, then left.  I had a decent time, but it certainly wasn't a memorable experience.  I found the whole game to be shallow, and everyone was sort of disconnected.  All the other new MMO's are the same way.

Originally posted by donjn

 

The quests in WOTLK are typical World of Warcraft lore (meaning very good), however I cannot wait to get involved with the siege PvP as I level up.

 

Well that alone tell me that it's not worth picking up again. The quests are boring and distract from any main focus of what is going on in the "world. "Go kill x boars." I like the Missions from Guild Wars and the PQs from War more.  Glad the fanbois enjoy it though.

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Originally posted by donjn

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Sounds like someone has been playing too much wow, and just needed some new content.  I doubt the gameplay has changed at all, and I know they did nothing to enhance the social features or crafting, so it's still the same old game.  The expansion might be pretty, but it's still just WoW.

Nope. Been playing AoC, Warhammer, Ryzom for free, etc, etc. I am not a hardcore WoW player at all.

 

You obviously have a level 70 toon though, right?  So did they enhance the game play at all with new concepts?  Did they add more social or non-combat features?  Did they expand their weak excuse for a crafting and resource system?  If not, it's all just visuals.  The shine will wear off after you get used to it.

Congrats to you for having an amazing time.  I would love to feel that again, but eyecandy (if you can call WoW graphics that) won't do it for me.

New Concepts
Siege PvP warfare using various weaponry (cannons, launchers, etc, air to air dog fighting, two and three person vehicles ala Halo.

Social and Non-Combat
A Calendar system for Guild Members to schedule events. In game voice was added a while back. Not sure what else you want in this category.

Crafting and Resources
Crafting has been improved not only with Inscription but the new recipes for WOLTK are amazing. Think about building your own plane or helicopter? What can be cooler than that? How about crafting your own epic armor? Crafting in WoW is very underrated. It is actually quite good.

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Originally posted by donjn

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Originally posted by donjn

Originally posted by MindTrigger

Sounds like someone has been playing too much wow, and just needed some new content.  I doubt the gameplay has changed at all, and I know they did nothing to enhance the social features or crafting, so it's still the same old game.  The expansion might be pretty, but it's still just WoW.

Nope. Been playing AoC, Warhammer, Ryzom for free, etc, etc. I am not a hardcore WoW player at all.

 

You obviously have a level 70 toon though, right?  So did they enhance the game play at all with new concepts?  Did they add more social or non-combat features.  Did the expand their weak excuse for a crafting and resource system?  If not, it's all just visuals.  The shine will wear off after you get used to it.

Name a game out there right now with a better social system, non-combat features, crafting and resource system. DONT mention one category, your example must be better than WoW's in ALL above mentioned categories. Yes WoW has some failings in those areas, but no-one can do all of those things perfectly.

 

You just illustrated my point.  WoW has very little in the way of social features, non-combat systems, and the crafting is pathetic.  Every game that has come out since WoW is trying to carbon copy WoW's success suffers from the game lack of innovation.  Games that are 90% combat and 10% everything else will always bore me and many other people to death.  WoW is my main example of what is wrong with MMO's today.

I played through to 70, then left.  I had a decent time, but it certainly wasn't a memorable experience.  I found the whole game to be shallow, and everyone was sort of disconnected.  All the other new MMO's are the same way.

Yet you didn't answer my question.

Look up the theme song from "The Spy Who Loved Me"...

Originally posted by natuxatu

Originally posted by donjn

 

The quests in WOTLK are typical World of Warcraft lore (meaning very good), however I cannot wait to get involved with the siege PvP as I level up

 

Well that alone tell me that it's not worth picking up again. The quests are boring and distract from any main focus of what is going on in the "world. "Go kill x boars." I like the Missions from Guild Wars and the PQs from War more.  Glad the fanbois enjoy it though.

The "kill x boars" thing is such a cliche. Wow has become so much more. Bombing run quests, etc.

Early in the Death Knight starting area, you are able to control a large orb. This orb floats over a small town in which you have to gather information about the various structures. At your disposal you can turn invisible, or unleash a horde of ghouls upon the villagers and watch chaos take place as these ghouls attack villagers and defenders. Almost like a mini-RTS in a way. This distracts the militia as you gather this information, then return back to the Lich King to give him your information.

Later you are given a quest to torture innocent civilians for information. This is the dilemma your character goes through as you realize that the Lich King is wrong, and you must become good and break free. It is thought provoking, and interesting, as you are presented with morals.

Kill "x boards" are 10% of what WoW is now.

It's a shame that stereotype still exists..

I just resubbed the other day.  I've been gone from WOW for a long time, so I just rolled a pally draeni (however you spell it) and it's pretty fun so far.  I guess I will keep playing as long as I am being entertained.  I have a long way to go before I get to appreciate Northrend...

They improved the graphics.  Everything maxed including the new shadow effects I'm getting about 30 fps which is I am ok with at the moment.  No the graphics are not realistic.  Yes I tend to prefer realistic graphics.  But the atmosphere and style of WOW's graphics are very well done for what they are trying to achieve.  I guess if I was gonna gripe I would say remake the other avatars to be on par with the bloodelves and draeni who look much better than anyone else.  Especially the male humans who are so butt ugly I can't roll one.  Looks aren't everything but jeeze louise...