Originally posted by Pale_Fire

Originally posted by rickwired

To say there is no other game in existence with the level of polish as WoW is simply untrue. WoW has it's bugs.  The reason WoW sits on top of the market is not it's superior gameplay or polish.  The reason it's boss is it's super low system specs, which makes it easily accessible to the masses.   Everybody can play WoW, not everybody can play say, LOTRO or EQ2, but those games, in my opinion, are just as superior as WoW.  EQ2 is not as polished as WoW, but LOTRO certainly is.

Blizzard also knows how to market their product.  They advertised to those that the others do not.  I mean if some other games on the market would advertise outside of the current player market, their subscription numbers would jump up there with WoW.  I mean I doubt Mr. T, Ozzy Osbourne and William Shatner actually play WoW, but it's a sure fire way to get folks to pick up that WoW box the next time they are in WalMart.

Don't take this as a WoW hate post.  I played WoW.  It was not the game for me, but I do know it is a good game. Have a good day!

 

That simply isn't true.  If the fact that the low end specs were key to success, then older games and F2P games would have toppled WoW long ago.  The OP has it right.

absolutely... I myself and probably 2/3 of the people I know are serious gamers with high end gaming rigs, and WoW is still the MMO of choice among them... though they, (and I) can run any MMO (in my case even vanguard) at max settings.  Yes LOTRO is well done, but IMHO WoW is much better done.... LOTRO takes 2nd place not on my list of favorite MMO's, but on my list of top Quality MMO's.

Originally posted by PatchDay

Originally posted by Swiftblade13

Originally posted by PatchDay

omg why is it so hard for people to create World of Warcraft threads in the WoW section? My time just got wasted reading the praises of yet another fanboi.

Please PUT there threads in their game section!

 

First off, you saw the title of the thread and didn HAVE to click it.... second off... just because a thread is about a certain game doesnt mean it has to be on that board... 

This thread is directed at the general population who (like me) arent really interested in WoW, and therefore wouldnt be reading on the WoW forums.

 

So quit crying, and oh.. LOL @ you for calling me a fanboi... I stated TWICE in my post that I'm sick and tired of WoW.... 

 

I clicked on it because I thought it would be a good thread that belonged in GENERAL Discussion. Not some drivel praising Blizzard. I stay away from the WoW forum section to avoid that mess. Please don't bring it here.

 

First off its not drivel, its a well formed opinion based on fact... second, just because you are a WoW hater doesnt mean that threads that are pro-WoW should be eliminated from your forum of choice.... and the fact that you seem to think they should be.. well it proves the first sentence of this post true.

{ Mod Edit }

Originally posted by bodypass

Originally posted by rickwired

To say there is no other game in existence with the level of polish as WoW is simply untrue. WoW has it's bugs.  The reason WoW sits on top of the market is not it's superior gameplay or polish.  The reason it's boss is it's super low system specs, which makes it easily accessible to the masses.   Everybody can play WoW, not everybody can play say, LOTRO or EQ2, but those games, in my opinion, are just as superior as WoW.  EQ2 is not as polished as WoW, but LOTRO certainly is.

Blizzard also knows how to market their product.  They advertised to those that the others do not.  I mean if some other games on the market would advertise outside of the current player market, their subscription numbers would jump up there with WoW.  I mean I doubt Mr. T, Ozzy Osbourne and William Shatner actually play WoW, but it's a sure fire way to get folks to pick up that WoW box the next time they are in WalMart.

Don't take this as a WoW hate post.  I played WoW.  It was not the game for me, but I do know it is a good game. Have a good day!

So tell me where is the arena system in EQ2 or LOTRO?
 

Where are the massively played BG's like in Wow? And since WotLK: destructable Keeps with Air and land artillery and real combat tanks. LOTRO has no underwater worlds, let alone underwater dungeons.

Where is the personal flying mount over the lands you quest in like in Outalnd or Northrend. Flying and landing over forests, mountains, cities and land anywhere you want...

Where is the competitve e-sport addition in those games?

Just a few thoughts of gameplay value for extreme fun. Oh yeah, Wow doesn't support player housing. Wow a real game breaking issue.

Well as I originally said I was not bashing and will not bash any game. I was simply stating that saying WoW is the only polished game on the market currently was totally untrue.  LOTRO is in my opinion just as polished as WoW.

All the things you list took nearly four years and two expansion to release.  Based on the lore and game style of LOTRO I doubt there will ever be massive keep seiges with tanks and the like.  However if LOTRO continues to build and perfect their Monster Play platform we very well could see something similar.  

EQ2 has it's own set of neat features.  For crafting and people who enjoy player housing, I think it is probably the best system in the industry.  You may not like it and it may not add value to a game for you, but to many other it does.

The one thing that I don't understand is that every single MMO forum I've ever visited had everyone bash the living f*** out of WoW, yet somehow I find 11 million people subscribed to it. For anyone who is still new to MMOs or video games in general, that would severely puzzle him.

I think OP had a good point and said it in a civilized way. Why not accept the facts? Why is there always a constant struggle between players of different MMOs? These threads usually start out nice until some idiot comes in and turns it once again into a thread of war.

Conclusion: I think some MMO players bash WoW to show how elite they are and impress others by playing cooler more exlusive games unlike the common filthy mob that plays that abomination. (ironic how some of them actually play WoW).

Originally posted by Pale_Fire

Originally posted by Mrbeengreen

Originally posted by Briansho

Originally posted by -Zeno-

Shadowbane is a better game than WoW.

 

QFT

QFT, anything is better than wow

 

You're absolutely right.  I'm simply amazed every day at the 12 milion subscribers flocking to Shadowbane.  It's quality and appeal are second to none.

A game does not need quality and appeal to be better than a game that fails on its watered down concept.

Warcraft was about war, winning, and destorying your enemy.  What is it now?  Lets see who can kill the bigger NPC boss faster to get the l33t items while following quest chains!  No war.

Shadowbane was about playing to crush ones enemy.  What is it now?  Playing to crush ones enemy.

McDonald's has billions and billions served.  Its quality and appeal are second to none?  I would rather eat at the fast food restraunt Mrs. Winner's if I could find one.  MMORPGS may be a diffrent industry, but its the same damn concept.

I think I agree with the OP on almost all points, except about playing EVE right now. I can never stomach that game, but that's ok. I'm playing LOTRO right now I think because it is just beautiful and full of great and helpful people. Anyway, I also loaded up WOTLK to see if the game had done what I wanted it to. It didn't, which is why I canceled my sub last 2 days ago.

First, and I'll explain my reason for canceling after this point, the OP has it right about the polish and seamless beautiful world. I was riding through Grizzly Hills, just to see and hear the new zones a bit before I cancel and was just amazed at the beauty, the music, and when a stampede of horses ran past me it all just fit nicely. If only the community wasn't so childish and self congratulatory.

My reason for canceling, even though I think the game is very good, and COULD be persuaded to come back, is the way the content patches are going and how long it takes them to push them out. I want horizontal content, not more vertical. Give me housing, collection quests, mini games, things to do on the side in this awesome world besides seeing who can level the fastest or get the best gear based on mindless hours of raiding.

WAR has potential, but it really needs to make some drastic changes with open rvr and pve content to make a difference I think. If anything, LOTRO is a good example of a game that didn't do well at launch yet grew rapidly into one of the better if not best mmorpg's out there right now.

Yes I agree with the op, although I don't play it anymore it does deserve to be king.

It is polished, has easily accessable gameplay, low system specs and enough different content to keep most people happy for a long time.

I think it's biggest draw is that although it may not do everything particularly outstandingly, although it does in some cases, it provides solid and annoyance free gameplay. 

There is nothing about it which would make a customer think "the implimentation of this particular feature is below an acceptable standard", it may not be exactly how they would like it in their perfect game but it is more than good enough. 

I haven't played any other mmorpgs where the same can be said, there are always faults that make them less enjoyable than they should be and detract from the overall experience. 

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Originally posted by DaPrinz
The one thing that I don't understand is that every single MMO forum I've ever visited had everyone bash the living f*** out of WoW, yet somehow I find 11 million people subscribed to it. For anyone who is still new to MMOs or video games in general, that would severely puzzle him.

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Because WOW is an MMO for people who don't play MMOs.

Originally posted by AntiFear

If everyone that played WoW switched to Warhammer, and the servers were populated, everyone would be much happier.

If I was forced to play WoW or WAR, both of which I don't enjoy, it would be WoW by a long shot.  I would level a 1-80 before I ever went back to WAR.  I tortured myself playing that game because it was so god awful boring.

""Because WOW is an MMO for people who don't play MMOs.""

Bull

Myself and MANY others who have been playing MMO's since the beginning can appreciate WoW.  I'm tired of WoW, but after playing it nothing else has been up to standard. 

A little update:  I'm actually quite surprised that I'm really enjoying playing WOTLK... maybe I was gone from WoW long enough this time =).   Sure I wish it had more "horizontal" content like someone said... housing etc., but what it does it does extraordinarily well.

Love it or hate it, but one thing is certain: WoW manages to cater to almost any kind of player. It isn't what they may REALLY want, but they are fine with it.

It's a bit like the fast food burger joint of MMOs. You may like steaks more, or you may be more the hot dog person, you may prefer a bowl of veggies or would rather go for pasta, but while your friends would not share your prefered food, you can usually agree on burgers somehow.

That's basically what WoW is. I wouldn't say "lowest common denominator" because that doesn't cut it, but WoW is about this. Someone would probably prefer a game that has a lot more emphasis on PvP, but he would have to go alone since his friends who are more into PvE won't come with him. Someone else may be the more casual player and dreads the idea to grind bosses for hours, but he'd have to go to a more casual MMO without his raiding friends. A dedicated competitive player would probably prefer a game where only the "elite" players will ever see high end content, but he stays because his friends actually have a life. :)

So they "settle" for WoW. The PvPer is pretty ok with the ability to go into PvP at least BG-style, the casual player finds comfort in the idea that he'll get that today-epic items in about 6 months to a year for something he can grind over the course of a few days or weeks, and the competitor settles for being the first to have something as his trophy because he knows he won't have it alone for long.

That way WoW manages to be so successful, it simply does offer something for everyone. Maybe it isn't THE right game for anyone, but it is sufficiently good for everyone to stay in WoW instead of leaving his friends behind for another game that might fit their liking better but forces them to find new people to play with.