Some very good content here thus far, and I'm not even finished with all the 80-85 content. I feel sorry for some of the players with jaded views of the game, it's enjoyable if you stop to smell the roses; read the text, take a good look at your surroundings and whatnot, this is beutiful stuff that blizzard worked hard on to provide for us. Also, as for that one commenter that says it's the same old spell spam... how far through level 1 did you get? At least for the few classes I play thoroughly you have to really pay attention to what you're doing, switching up spells and abilities and managing cooldowns. Fairly good challenge they've put into the game.

I feel the same way about this, when I started playing World of Warcraft I didn't quite understand this wierd concept (talkin when I finally got to endgame), coming from a much simpler game where items were just more of a fun thing rather than a focus: Graal. But it kills me now that I find myself telling my poor dear little brother so often that his gear isn't shiny enough to do what he wants to do...

This doesn't have anything to do with WoW's success. It was awesome before and it is still awesome. I don't use any of these premium features and yet I still play it.

This looks pretty awesome. A very basic, well-balanced field. Despite what some may see: The labels do NOT mark where you start/spawn and the ships and base seem to be equal distance from the waterworks, which seems to be the main point of conflict. All I'm concerned about now though is if they'll reuse all the battleground mechanics! I'll truely miss capture the flag if not... :(

I, for one, would be completely fine with this as long as they don't pick up that dreadful micro-payment crap that has become ever so popular amongst eastern games. I mean, sure it generates revenue, but sometimes in the most underhanded of ways. But, the reasons stated above make plenty of sense, not so much the "If another game comes along and blows us away" one, but more rather the one stating if they were to make a game that is as equally popular as WoW.

This China deal has to do with their censorship, something about bare bones and the like, if you'd take the time to do the slightest bit of research instead of posting about something you don't know a whole lot about you wouldn't be so clueless. (take no offense to this, people do it all the time, just remember this for future reference.) And for those of you complaining about ther subscription numbers: I believe the number they throw around was a peak in their active subscriptions, or it could rather be their total subscriptions (active or unactive) which is still an important number because it shows potential income.

Interesting, I too don't like hearing about World of Warcraft all the time. This is currently my favorite MMORPG out of the good deal i've tried within my genre of intrest. That's all that bugs me though, yes i'm sure many decent or great games are being created, but i've yet to see a really good MMO rise from the undertoe that is still within this genre. (besides DDO, a fairly nice game) I've really been waiting for something interesting to show up, that can take the place of WoW when it finally does die out. (or even succeed it)

Whether someone reads this or not, let it be known: You do NOT NEED to buy these things. They are for fun, for people with extra cash to blow. It's not like this hasn't happened before in any other game. I also agree with the other posters, blizzard has been doing this before Activision anyway with the collector's edtions. (you ever seen the prices of those things on ebay?) So, stop complaining just because you want it and can't afford it or are too cheap. (it's just sad.) There are only a concentrated few who agree with you anyway... go ahead to warcraftpets.com and you can even see those who appreciate it.

All i'm saying is: Forget about it and let it be.

Not a bad article, though you failed to realize that Blizzard is fixing the cross-server friend/foe problem with the Battle.net friend list which should be making it's way ingame this year, i believe. Also skimmed over these posts and saw a few stale viewing points... Communities in WoW aren't dead, whether or not you like to accept it as one the trade chat on some realms is a community of people who regularly log on to chat there. The community you percieve can also be affected by the friends you make, if you refuse to make friends that's on you, but can also be determined by your in-game peers, by this I mean guild mostly. Take me for example: I'm in a social guild, I enjoy the game thoroghly, I even make some time to raid and you know what helps with this? I've got other friends who are into raiding, one of them even has his own raiding guild. But the friends you make and the guild you join is all dependent on you. One other, minor thing, that I noticed amongst the replies was that someone said that noone in the random groups talk, yes it could take just one social person, but even if you are a bit shy all you need to do is break the ice and the group can be much more lax and enjoyable, especially if you are in one of those very annoying or long dungeons. To reference both scenarios: I've been in one of those dungeons where noone talks, maybe not at all, maybe just until the end where everyone says thanks and good-bye. I've also been in dungeons where the group would have trouble with it. I've actually made it a habit to try and find the oppurtunity to crack jokes in order to loosen up the atmosphere, this can keep your group from getting annoyed and falling apart.  ((though there can always be that one spoiled sport who says everyone but them fails and leaves))

This was quite interesting, a good analyzation of the reality of player housing.

(My opinion past this point, do NOT read if you don't have the time/don't care)

Though I can't help but notice you failed to mention RuneScape's player housing. Not a big fan of it myself, tried it, notably expensive and requiring a good amount of materials to increase the skill level and build things. RuneScape's was customizable to a good point, you could build in several different ways pertaining to the dimensions set by your current skill level and have one of several different looks to your overall housing theme (ie. brick, stone, wood, etc.). You could also live in different locations pertaining to your needs. And combine the ability to set up trophies showing your greatness and the feature that lets others visit your house... there's your player housing. Lazy? Kind of, but it gets the job done. Another kind of player housing that you did not mention is the, what I like to call, "dedication" type. Don't think I've seen or heard of it anywhere else but if you take a quick look at Graal Kingdoms while having a gold subscription you'll notice that on the other islands there are many different houses. This system works a little differently though, it relies on "higher-ups" to expand and to fully customize your house requires an administrator to upload a level you custom-made yourself. Now, the reason that I call it "dedication" is this: In order to build the house you must gather a great amount of materials, in order to keep your house alive you must continually add the same materials to it, in smaller amounts, but still, you get the idea. Although the instance method may be lazy, it can be made to work. Also, I could see the system Graal Kingdoms has working but it may have to be put into a more popular game. Bringing me to my last point: World of Warcraft. First of all, if you are a WoW flamer, shut up now, put your opinions under the game's forum. If you are to take a peek into the plethora of 3-D models, with a model viewer, that have taken a back-seat ride with the game you may notice some things... 1. You can look at bosses and their animations(cool!) 2. There are some hefty, non-muscular, humans here! 3. There are already models created upon the idea of player housing. This just goes to show you that the idea just must be considered at one point in time in the game's development history. Now the reason I bring this up after the Graal Kingdoms thing, is that the system could well be implemented in a popular MMO with adjustments of course... Some being: The building does not decay so fast (maybe), the decaying process is frozen when your account is, the system does not rely on "higher-ups" so much(of course), blahblah(whatever else you may think of...) Main point being: There can be many more ideas in order to perfect the system of player housing, what is that term again? "Think outside the box." I believe...

WOW, I got carried away!

Originally posted by Ozmodan

 Demonology warlocks are a dime a dozen and are generally horrible when they get to end game, they never bothered to learn how to play their class.

That is just your opinion, I am a demonology warlock, I know how to play my class.  I pick demonology because it better suites my play style, it's not like I don't know how to play other trees either because I have taken destruction as my spec too.  Please think about these things before you post them.  And on another note: Warlocks can differ between servers, on my server destruction and affliction are "a dime a dozen".

What a well-written article! This is so very true, I believe that this is where the whole "Go back to WoW!" phrase originated from of course. I don't see why people would use World of Warcraft as a measuring stick, I mean it is truly the dynamo of MMORPGs, judging by subscribers not opinion, but there is much more potential out there. There will, someday, be a game that rises above WoW and becomes a measuring stick itself, until that day we'll just have to stick to our favorites and put up with the fact that there is nothing that we can do, individually, about how popular a game becomes. (I mean, if someone likes it, they like it.) I hope to someday make that game, the one that rises above the rest, myself.  Though I do indeed think that there should not be a measuring stick for MMOs but rather people need to pick the one that is most fun (yes, fun) to them.  Fun is something many gamers forget.

Originally posted by haratu

Those new classes make this sound more of a rumour than anything else listed. Most of those classes are like taking the lore, putting it on an old 5.25" disc, magnetising, printing using Microsoft works, and putting it through a washing machine. 

All I can say to this is... YES!   I laughed, but sadly enough this sounds so very true, the lore is being completely construed here and doesn't sound right at all; no matter how you may try to put it, this just sounds off.

Originally posted by bigsmiff

Originally posted by DevilXaphan

I didn't see the transfomation food Savory Deviate Delight which transforms you into a ninja or pirate, also a fun food buff.

 

It actually isn't a buff...so, how can it help you in a boss fight?

 

 

Yeah, the emotional foods aren't stat buffs either, they were included...

Also, regarding the overall article:  you didn't include the put buff treats, why is that?

For those of you being concerned about how powerful this weapon is and how this would work with any future expansion:  Do you really think that this sword will fend off our worse nightmares if/when we make it into the Emerald Nightmare?  Think this can fend off the even more evil forces that forged it within the demonic plane?  This couldn't even possibly compare to a shard of Gorshalach! (*hint hint* to Blizzard)  There will always be a weapon more powerful, just like the fact that there will always be  player more powerful than you.

At least they are trying...  There are a lot of things they could do to make this game "fit" into our western culture, but you have to give them time to get it adjusted.  I personally think this game isn't bad at the moment.  I just wish they'd  make the controls more customizable.

I love his quest, it's great he got to customize the voice of the character for his quest.  When I heard news of his passing on, I was saddened, I wish I could have gotten to know the young lad.  This is quite saddening indeed.  I give his family, friends, and guild-mates my condolences...  may his essence live on forever in our memories...

Indeed, that would be nice, b u t...  they've been stalling for soo long and their other games have been coming along fine, this makes me a little peeved.

Timeline:
1. OMG, COOL!
2. So when's the release date? 2006!
3. the year is almost over....
4. ok so it's coming out later?
5. anyone heard when it will be released?
5 1/2. wow this looks cool!  <--- latecomer
6. where's the game?
7. where's the f***ing game!?
!!! 8. OMGWTF!

*SMASH!*

crap need a new monitor...

MAIN TOPIC HERE:

ANYWAYS, as you can see, this game has been anticipated for soooooooo long that you can make a timeline out of peoples reactions to the game as it has been in "development".  Where's the love?  All of us who have been waiting for this game for so long, so patiently, so willingly, some of us are starting to lose our nerve and want the game out.  OF course it seems like they are caught up in other games...  yes that is a nice defensive standing point there except for the fact that they havn't even given ANY updates on the game in 2 years nor have they explained themselves pertaining to the postponed release of the game, yeah I know, good games take quite a while to perfect for maximum enjoyment    but this is just completely rediculous.  I mean cmon they shouldn't have even mentioned the game in the first place if they weren't going to keep the people updated on it.... I mean, we ARE THE GAMERS WHO KEEP THE GAMES ALIVE!

my personal opinion: they are just...

OH, and YES i do love smileys!

To answer your question, Forcan, i'm actually thinking up concepts for a whole new game world... eh, so to speak.  It sends the player into the world with a different perception on reality, they are a visiter to another dimension from Earth.  It's very deep and there's more detail to it but I really don't want to tell you all everything now, at least not RIGHT now.

Oh, and yes i'll keep posting updates on how my development is going.  Don't expect too much too soon though, i'll need to wrap up my current learning experience in the ways of designing my own website (which is a childhood dream of mine) and basic Flash.  I'm actually taking classes. 

But, who knows, maybe someday we can all see my game on that glorious list here at mmorpg.com
makes me anxious just thinking about the possibilities...