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Originally posted by Chivante
I'll respect those opinions, I think I was supposed to put a 6.5 there. I'll take the fall for it though =P; {{{given fantasy parameters}}} if I would choose my 10, I'd pull a scaling system like PWI's in, the gear design quality of WoW, and a gear customization that you find in (insert most free MMOs here)... gear dyeing, glowing enchants, scaling... that sort of thing. I can't remember which games it is, but I recently played one that had the ability to pull stats from one piece of gear and transfer it another so that you could wear your favorite outfit without dampering your character.

I have heard wondrous things about Champions online customization (although I've heard that is its real selling point, which seems lackluster to me). Then again, I'm more of a fantasy guy personally.

EDIT: I'd like to pose another question, if you could add to/change some of the customization features in WoW what would you do?

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Lord of the Rings Online is what you're thinking of, to answer your question.

Simply expanding the amount of options would be all I'd need, there are too few as is, coloring gear, gear coloration for guilds, more faces, more horns, more hanging undead skin arrangements.

Generally just a lot more of what is currently available and the aforementioned coloration options would please me perfectly.

Champions Online has a lot going for it, and a lot of flaws, the main draw for me are the engaging, interactive combat and expansive customization.

The combat allows you to actually block by holding the shift key, and it's very important since things like Knockback are available before you're even level 10, and there are a diverse array of effects applied with other abilities you can avoid with it.

There are even additions to block which greatly increase it's power in only a frontal cone, it's a great dynamic that factors well into a system where "swing swing miss swing block swing" are the norm.

I also take issue with your leveling rating and argument, there is no level grinding in WoW, you grind if you choose to and no other time. You can do your quests and have fun with them(As they get better the deeper you get), or you can stand there blasting Wildkin and grinding instances, but the fact is the middle option is not forced on you. You choose to grind in WoW, in most other MMOs you have absolutely no choice in the matter.

I have to say I disagree with the score on crafting.  It is certainly a simplistic and streamlined system like you say, but I hardly think that makes it ideal.  There is no room for customization or experiementation; everyone's products are identical (with the exception of a few low level randomly enchanted recipes), there is no interactivity to the actual act of crafting, and saying that some of the best items in the game are crafted is a bit disingenious because they might as well be raid drops (taking the one defining mat from a raid drop).  It gets the job done for what it is trying to accomplish (an afterthought system to assist combat gameplay), but there are much more complex and rich systems out there that are more rewarding to the player.

As a side note, I agree that the customization score is a bit too high as well.  It was up there when the game came out, but in the face of more recent titles (CoX and Aion particularly) it doesn't hold a candle.

Hmmm, maybe I'll check out Champions sometime.

The argument can be made for leveling though that a LOT of quests in WoW are "Kill X *insert mob*" or "Collect Y items from a mob". I understand your view on it, and I really liked the leveling experience when I went through and actually read the quests, followed the lore, and watched it unravel some of the key fixtures from the Warcraft series. Leveling is really what you make it, but the majority of WoW players would seem to get lost in their rush to level 80 and quests simply become a manner of gathering EXP... which is a real shame.



EDIT: I'm glad to see some constructive and thoughtful replies, I'm looking forward to seeing more when I wake up =D. Keep them coming guys. Remember, if you have an issue with one of my scores or an evaluation method (remember, I'm a player just like you, I don't do this for a living =P) please reply in a constructive manner... "lol noob"-type responses are simply fodder in this discussion.

Great post . I would agree WOW is nt dying but i think it has peaked in it popularity .Whether it can regain its numbers and retain them when The Cataclysm expansion is released remains to be seen . The issue of community is what leading me to take a break from it more than anything else . Most of the friends i made in the 4 years i ve played have left now and i got fed up with all the immature backstabbing and squabbling in whatever guild i got into . Theres always been an element of players with a bad attitude in WOW but it much worse now than its been in the past . I think its most likly down to the game becoming more appealing to a younger age group . I did see a post a while back from someone claiming that the average age of a Warcraft gamer was 30 . LOL I had to laugh .

They need to solve the issue of Horde winning PVP games almost 95% of the time. When I played this was an issue for me.

While i do agree with most of your review, i fail to see how this game deserves a 9 in graphics, and using The Barrens as an example, (i would think of some zone on the latest expansion).

Since all you review showed a certain degree of unbiaseness i was wondering what score would new games like AoC, Aion, Champions Online and many others get.

I understand the obvious difference from the cartoonish/asian/realistic styles, but whats in question here is the graphic technologies that those new game have and wow doesnt, even if it highly appeals to you.

You must admit that a graphical score muct be given according to the technological possibilities they deliver, and wow is way to limited to get such a high score.

Performance wise i have a low average computer, and i can play wow with all options on high at around 50fps, i can have the same performance on Aion for example, so i dont think wow has such a great advantage in performance since there are other games that allow you to go down to meet lower requirements while allowing for graphics allot more advanced than wow in higher settings.

Edit: And the Customization offcourse, 8.5 is CRAZY... the game deserves half at best, the characters all look alike and at maximum level all use same armor in same color and mostly same weapons, Shamefull.

I generally agree with the rest of the review and the final score, and i liked very much the style and the way you organized your topics, Gratz

I don't get why the OP felt the need to respond to doomsayers anyway. This is the internet -- doomsayers are a dime-a-dozen for any game.

Unlike Everquest's slow slide into obscurity, there's very, very little quality competition to take much from WoW. And it's a good thing too, because WAR and AoC proved that players ARE more than willing to leave World of Warcraft. But it wasn't a huge chunk of their base, and both titles' disappointments just made them go right back to WoW.

Cataclysm is, no doubt, Blizzard's way of saying they're aware that they have a portion of players who are there because there's nothing else good out. The trailer coming out now was no accident, either -- they're not even giving a more specific release date than "2010". But they're aware that there's a fair amount of hype for Aion.

Originally posted by koammudo

Originally posted by Chivante

Character Customization/Uniqueness Rating: 8.5/10

... there are only a few games that have overall better character customization (especially in fantasy games)

 

 

You're kidding, right?

Yeah, what game is he playing because it is not WoW.   The one thing this game really lacks is better character custamization in all areas.   From appearance, to armor, to specs - one hunter will look like the next one in the way of gear.   BE's all pretty much look the same.   You've seen one Shadow Priest you've seen them all.    I'd give WoW a 4.5 in this catagory.   Looking back at some of his other scores I have t oquestion his rating system.    Because some of just as off the deep end as this one.
 

What is with that high crafting and gathering score as well.  That is just crazy.    The spawn rates for some herbs is just sickening low.    It can take hours of just running around certain zones to get what few of certain types of herbs actually spawn.  It becomes an act of frustrating futility when there are others farming the same herb.   Sorry Blizzard would get a 2 or 3 at most from me in this area.   As for crafting.    It would be so much better if we could get our hands on the mats we need to make stuff!

Originally posted by googajoob7

The issue of community is what leading me to take a break from it more than anything else . Most of the friends i made in the 4 years i ve played have left now and i got fed up with all the immature backstabbing and squabbling in whatever guild i got into . Theres always been an element of players with a bad attitude in WOW but it much worse now than its been in the past .

I really, really have to agree with you on this one. I've lost a lot of close friends from WoW over the years, but the majority from this past few months (3.0.8-3.2 mainly)... most of them say that the game has just become too stagnant. On my realm it is very hard to find mature, competent players anymore and the guilds have all but lost the 'family' feel that I enjoyed... it's all about progression or nothing at all (which isn't saying much because there are only like 10 legit raiding guilds across both factions).


" i fail to see how this game deserves a 9 in graphics "
This is mainly due to the combination of flexibility/stability and nice graphic adjustment levels (in retrospect a more beautiful zone probably would've been something Crystalsong Forest). WoW certainly isn't the most complex or beautiful in terms of graphics, but they are nice and yet still playable. I've played a lot of P2P and F2P games recently that have better graphics in quality, but a lot of them are much less stable and offer lower playability unless you have a more advanced system.

All-in-all though it really comes down to opinion, I'm using my rating scale not based upon one game or another, but instead the culmination or options from games... if WoW had graphics as beautiful as newer games like AoC, Aion, etc. it would be pushing a 9.5 or a 10.

Maybe next time that I do a review I'll break the ratings down further ( example: graphics-> playability, stability, effects, etc.).
 

Originally posted by Chivante

Originally posted by googajoob7

The issue of community is what leading me to take a break from it more than anything else . Most of the friends i made in the 4 years i ve played have left now and i got fed up with all the immature backstabbing and squabbling in whatever guild i got into . Theres always been an element of players with a bad attitude in WOW but it much worse now than its been in the past .

 

I really, really have to agree with you on this one. I've lost a lot of close friends from WoW over the years, but the majority from this past few months (3.0.8-3.2 mainly)... most of them say that the game has just become too stagnant. On my realm it is very hard to find mature, competent players anymore and the guilds have all but lost the 'family' feel that I enjoyed... it's all about progression or nothing at all (which isn't saying much because there are only like 10 legit raiding guilds across both factions).


" i fail to see how this game deserves a 9 in graphics "
This is mainly due to the combination of flexibility/stability and nice graphic adjustment levels (in retrospect a more beautiful zone probably would've been something Crystalsong Forest). WoW certainly isn't the most complex or beautiful in terms of graphics, but they are nice and yet still playable. I've played a lot of P2P and F2P games recently that have better graphics in quality, but a lot of them are much less stable and offer lower playability unless you have a more advanced system.

All-in-all though it really comes down to opinion, I'm using my rating scale not based upon one game or another, but instead the culmination or options from games... if WoW had graphics as beautiful as newer games like AoC, Aion, etc. it would be pushing a 9.5 or a 10.

Maybe next time that I do a review I'll break the ratings down further ( example: graphics-> playability, stability, effects, etc.).
 

I ve actually openly argued for  graphics engine update in these forums with the next expansion pack . The problem is that so many people are so hooked on Warcraft that they will even argue against a graphics upgrade . I think adult servers would be a good idea but again if you put the idea up in the forums you will find people again are against the idea because they think immediatly your having a go at the way Blizzard runs Warcraft . It seams now there cant even be sensible discussion when it comes to this game .
 

Originally posted by Chivante

I'll respect those opinions, I think I was supposed to put a 6.5 there. I'll take the fall for it though =P; {{{given fantasy parameters}}} if I would choose my 10, I'd pull a scaling system like PWI's in, the gear design quality of WoW, and a gear customization that you find in (insert most free MMOs here)... gear dyeing, glowing enchants, scaling... that sort of thing. I can't remember which games it is, but I recently played one that had the ability to pull stats from one piece of gear and transfer it another so that you could wear your favorite outfit without dampering your character.

I have heard wondrous things about Champions online customization (although I've heard that is its real selling point, which seems lackluster to me). Then again, I'm more of a fantasy guy personally.



EDIT: I'd like to pose another question, if you could add to/change some of the customization features in WoW what would you do?

That game that you played recently that you can't think of...that's Aion :)

To quote Iron maiden: "As soon as youre born you start dying"...

And the OP have many points, Wow is not the same game it use to be. And the game is also aging fast.

However have the game change what kind of players it aims for so it will take many years for Wow to die. And they have also a new lboss, he might change the game in a new direction that could either be a second coming or a fast slope down, that is yet impossible to say.

I doubt that Wow will be the biggest game in 3 years, the game had a great run and is still going strong but nothing lasts forever except death and taxes. And Blizzards arch enemys Bioware are also making a MMO, that could impact it.

Of course I could be wrong and Wow will be the biggest game for the next 10 years and noone else will make a good game or improve the genre but that would be very sad. It is really time to change the MMO experience, we are still close to old EQ 10 years ago, time for something totaly new.

And we shouldn't forget Blizzards upcoming MMO, Blizzard wouldn't have moved Kaplan to it if they didn't believe it would be their next big game. If they would have thought it would be as big in 10 years they would have kept him where he was.

Originally posted by TheStarheart

Originally posted by Chivante

I'll respect those opinions, I think I was supposed to put a 6.5 there. I'll take the fall for it though =P; {{{given fantasy parameters}}} if I would choose my 10, I'd pull a scaling system like PWI's in, the gear design quality of WoW, and a gear customization that you find in (insert most free MMOs here)... gear dyeing, glowing enchants, scaling... that sort of thing. I can't remember which games it is, but I recently played one that had the ability to pull stats from one piece of gear and transfer it another so that you could wear your favorite outfit without dampering your character.

I have heard wondrous things about Champions online customization (although I've heard that is its real selling point, which seems lackluster to me). Then again, I'm more of a fantasy guy personally.



EDIT: I'd like to pose another question, if you could add to/change some of the customization features in WoW what would you do?

 

 

 

That game that you played recently...that's Aion :)

 

Ahhhh come on? Aion is still the same thing just with much better graphics.  OOOOOhhhhh I have wings!......brilliant!  so do pantyliners.

 

 

 

Originally posted by spookydom

Originally posted by TheStarheart

Originally posted by Chivante

I'll respect those opinions, I think I was supposed to put a 6.5 there. I'll take the fall for it though =P; {{{given fantasy parameters}}} if I would choose my 10, I'd pull a scaling system like PWI's in, the gear design quality of WoW, and a gear customization that you find in (insert most free MMOs here)... gear dyeing, glowing enchants, scaling... that sort of thing. I can't remember which games it is, but I recently played one that had the ability to pull stats from one piece of gear and transfer it another so that you could wear your favorite outfit without dampering your character.

I have heard wondrous things about Champions online customization (although I've heard that is its real selling point, which seems lackluster to me). Then again, I'm more of a fantasy guy personally.



EDIT: I'd like to pose another question, if you could add to/change some of the customization features in WoW what would you do?

 

 

 

That game that you played recently...that's Aion :)

 

Ahhhh come on? Aion is still the same thing just with much better graphics.  OOOOOhhhhh I have wings!......brilliant!  so do pantyliners.

 

 

 

 

PANTYLINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!  NO WAY!!! I am playing Aion for sure NOW!!!!!! THX for the information!!!!!

Originally posted by teco221

Originally posted by spookydom

Originally posted by TheStarheart

Originally posted by Chivante

I'll respect those opinions, I think I was supposed to put a 6.5 there. I'll take the fall for it though =P; {{{given fantasy parameters}}} if I would choose my 10, I'd pull a scaling system like PWI's in, the gear design quality of WoW, and a gear customization that you find in (insert most free MMOs here)... gear dyeing, glowing enchants, scaling... that sort of thing. I can't remember which games it is, but I recently played one that had the ability to pull stats from one piece of gear and transfer it another so that you could wear your favorite outfit without dampering your character.

I have heard wondrous things about Champions online customization (although I've heard that is its real selling point, which seems lackluster to me). Then again, I'm more of a fantasy guy personally.



EDIT: I'd like to pose another question, if you could add to/change some of the customization features in WoW what would you do?

 

 

 

That game that you played recently...that's Aion :)

 

Ahhhh come on? Aion is still the same thing just with much better graphics.  OOOOOhhhhh I have wings!......brilliant!  so do pantyliners.

 

 

 

 

PANTYLINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!  NO WAY!!! I am playing Aion for sure NOW!!!!!! THX for the information!!!!!

Lol, to be honest if they really had included pantyliners, I wouldn't have canceled my pre order.......but.....just imagine would it could be like??????

These guys would rate WoW under f2p mmos if they could.

I'm sorry but the OP reviews are so far off the mark I wonder if he really even played wow.

I may have taken the bait in this obvious troll/bait thread but someone needs to bring this thread back to reality and away from these crazy fanbois that actually think any of their opinions mean anything.

You people are a very small minority and I'm happy that it's this way. You have no idea what a good MMO is, you confuse games being accessible with games being easy, all of you are so far off the mark I feel like I'm on another planet.

WoW may not be for everyone but it's far from a terrible game. If a new mmo player came to these forums they would think WoW was unplayable with as many negative threads we have on this game.

If any of you are new to this site, please for all that is holy do not listen to anyone on this site.

Go download a trial of an mmo and play it, do not be swayed by these forum warriors that have plagued these forums for years with a WoW smear campaign.

It's pathetic what these guys do.

Those are some very generous scores.. is everyone afraid to go under 5.5 these days?

Some parts of WoW are still 9/10 and some parts are closer to 2/10.  Listing ten negatives and giving a score of 5-8 is silly.

Originally posted by Fortenc

Those are some very generous scores.. is everyone afraid to go under 5.5 these days?

 

Some parts of WoW are still 9/10 and some parts are closer to 2/10.  Listing ten negatives and giving a score of 5-8 is silly.

Not everybody agrees with your opinion. The OP did an excellent job and I think the scores are fair.

I'm sure that not everyone agrees with my opinion.  That is why it is an opinion, and so I offer it as an opinion.  Thanks for clearing that up...