I've always thought StarWars was going to be successful but the degree of success was always in question . The elephant in the room was always what Blizzard were going to do to combat the potential competition from TOR . With the annoucement of the Kung Fu Panda expanion yesterday which seams extremly weak in concept I think Blizzard have given it to TOR on a plate . If the game is as polished and fun as early reviews make it out to be the potential exodus from WoW to StarWars could now be on a epic scale . There must be howls of delight and relief in the Bioware offices at the huge miss step by Blizzard just as they are about to release TOR .

An early Christmas present indeed .

This is just the first round.  If I remember correctly the Deathwing grand-finale raids for Cata start December.  The die-hard raiders won't budge if that happens.  However, overall I agree.  I was expecting something far more serious from WoW than one race and a couple zones, especially pandas.

Loads of players have wanted Pandarens to be playable since vanilla. I suspect this will be a positive thing for the game overall.

Yes... because more content, a new playable race, and a raised level cap will certainly cause a mass exodus.  This is only because the wow playerbase won't appreciate any of these new additions.  *sarcasm off*

I'd disagree. Even tho personally i do not care for MoP, and am not subscribed to WoW for quite a while now, they did the best they could. First thing first - for the majority of players that still play WoW the MoP will be great. They haven't really made the game for any mystical "hardcore" crowd for years, and they aren't now either, it's clearly aimed at their current player-type. 

Second thing, the deal with free D3 for 12 months of subscription will keep some people subscribed to WoWrather than moving fully to other MMO, simply because that way they get a game for playing a game, so why not? 

All the features in MoP look great for those that look for that kind of gameplay, even more streamlined talent system, pet battles, PvE scenarios, MOBA styled PvP (payload, dota, murderball PvP modes),  it all will keep WoW going despite ToR. People who were tired/bored of WoW made their decission long time ago already, and either left it by now or already pre ordered ToR so it changes nothing for them. The rest will stick around unless ToR really makes an impact. 

Pretty much this expansion screams "Casual hardcore!" If thats even a word, I'll make it one. 

Casual hardcore: A game that is so intuned to casual players, its considered an extreme and his unforigen to dedicated or traditional hardcore players.

As for giving it to SWTOR... sorry, not going to happen. Plenty of other games out there. If anything, the expansion just makes it a little less 'bad' on the game. Over-all, SWTOR I feel will have to struggle to prove itself being a game. Not only will it have to get over the hurdle that its a 'generic' style game in terms of combat (given they don't massively change things), but they will also get over the hurdle that MMo players will skim over or completely skip story for gameplay

If they manage to get players interested into the story elements bioware is well known for, then I'd say this 'expansion' could do well in boosting SWTOR's likely playerbase. While I'm doubting ToR will be good in terms of how it plays out (though I WILL try it out, just not buying it and only playing free trial when it comes out), if there is one thing I'm hopeful for, its that this game manages to find a way to make story a more focused aspect of an MMO, and if possible it can actually make it feel like a multiplayer game with it, rather then a single player 'online' experience. While I have my doubts, as a game enthusiest and one who plans to get involved in the industry sometime, i can't help but also cheer and hope for the best with this game while being very iffy on actually playing it myself. :)

Originally posted by nerovipus32

(mod edit)

Aaaaaand, a lot of folks will be thinking the same thing when they try SW:TOR.

There won't be any mass exodus from WoW to SW:TOR like so many of you think. Not everyone is a Star Wars fan, and not everyone enjoys the sci-fi setting.

People still playing WoW are comfortable there; they feel safe; they feel secure.

If I had to put money on it, I'd bet a good majority of those still playing WoW are going to hang around until Titan.

Blizzard has a massive built-in fanbase. They will play just about anything Blizzard shovels out to them.

I was looking forward to playing Pandarans as I liked the race/class from WC3, but it does make WoW look even more childish, and the pet battles dont help.

I think what we are seeing in the negative reactions is the fact that many older WoW players are simply growing out of the game, the infamous 10 yr old WoWers are not 10 anymore.

Bundling D3 with a years sub strikes me as desperate, I suspect Blizz see a possible chain-reaction of cancelled subs, as those keen for the new mmos of 2012 leave, and take some fence sitters with them, causing others to leave due to emptier servers. I feel sorry for any hardcore players who get the annual sub and regret being commmited to the game when they see how much richer the gameplay (hopefully) is in SWTOR or GW2.

I would rather get new players in SWTOR, fans of Star Wars, Bioware and story heavy rpgs in general, rather than millions of WoW players, with all the bad habits you pick up from that game though. I miss the days when I and a group of all noobs would wander areound trying ot figure a mmo world out.

Originally posted by Axxar

Loads of players have wanted Pandarens to be playable since vanilla. I suspect this will be a positive thing for the game overall.

I agree. While Pandas are not what the "kewl" kids wanted I think this will be nothing but positive for WoW. I love how everyone is only looking at the Panda part of it. The fact that there is also..

• Class: Monk
• Pet battle system
• PvE scenarios
• New talent system
• New continent
• Level cap increase to 90
• Challenge mode dungeons

Id rather recommed BW to throw their net into untainted waters rather than the cesspool of the WoW community.

Unless you want to see all your gameforums in the first months full of cries and demands to change this game even more into a real WoW clone in space than they already do, as that would be "wiser" "make more sense" or "would save the game", simply because they dont want to adapt to alternative gameplay or how they expect the game to be played and when it doesnt work out then everything is "broken". Then after a few months all the WoW fans quit again and only leave negativity, because it might not have been the World of Star Wars as they unconsciously expected and wanted it to be.

Drag in as much player from outside of the genre into your nets as your can, rather than fish in some pool of piranhas on antibiotica.

Besides the haters on this website Pandas are the #1 most asked for race since the game was first talked about.  They were and are a favored hero in the WC3 game.  They are demanded every year.  Frankly it is about time they put them in.  It is the whiners needing something to whine about here because they fear their games will flop at the start.

Originally posted by nerovipus32

(mod edit)

I suspect not too long after playing SWTOR many folks are going to be thinking, "hey, I've done this before"

Standard theme park MMO's are pretty much all alike.

I saw the pic with that announcement and all that came to mind was "Kung Fu Panda". Then I facepalmed and laughed till my sides hurt. What next, "My Little Pony"?

You're not really defending Blizzard, you're just being realistic.

How many times have we heard this before? "X game is going to kill WoW because everyone will move to it..."

It never happens.

And now that people know TOR is pretty standard fare and nothing really new, it still ain't happening.

Titan is the only game that has a shot at drawing a good portion of WoW's (very loyal) population away.

Originally posted by Gruug

I saw the pic with that announcement and all that came to mind was "Kung Fu Panda". Then I facepalmed and laughed till my sides hurt. What next, "My Little Pony"?

Originally posted by RefMinor

Originally posted by Gruug

I saw the pic with that announcement and all that came to mind was "Kung Fu Panda". Then I facepalmed and laughed till my sides hurt. What next, "My Little Pony"?

 

Didn't they have sparkle ponies in the cash shop already?

and they made tons of cash off of them.

Originally posted by GreenHell

I agree. While Pandas are not what the "kewl" kids wanted I think this will be nothing but positive for WoW. I love how everyone is only looking at the Panda part of it. The fact that there is also..

• Class: Monk
• Pet battle system
• PvE scenarios
• New talent system
• New continent
• Level cap increase to 90
• Challenge mode dungeons

..well good or bad we can ignore all of that and just focus on the Kung Fu panda. Ya I'm sure Blizzard never saw that reference coming. The monk class alone will draw people back just like the DK class did. Curiosity about the rest will keep people there. I don't play WoW and I probably won't play TOR either but to think for a moment that Blizzard gave anything to TOR is just insane. I can't believe that I am defending Blizzard.

I think after discovering that Pandas (yes, Pandas) are going to be the new race, most people (above the age of 10) are putting this expansion into the "who gives a shit" bin. It's just a little too much, really. As another poster said: what's next...My Little Pony?

If you're not a youngster or a girly girl, frankly, I do not see how anyone could continue playing an mmo that has Pandas as a race. Pandas ffs!

Originally posted by Gruug

I saw the pic with that announcement and all that came to mind was "Kung Fu Panda". Then I facepalmed and laughed till my sides hurt. What next, "My Little Pony"?

Someone in another thread and myself were thinking Bugs Bunny with maybe Elmer Fudd as a raid boss.  At this point, nothing will surprise me.

Just because a race has been in a games' lore doesn't mean it should necessarily be playable.  I think this just makes WoW look even more juvenile.  Whimsy is one thing....taking yourself seriously when doing things like this is another.  To me it just appears foolish.  I hope it pays off for them like they think it will, but I'm one of the ones that isn't compelled to return by this news.

Originally posted by Gruug

I saw the pic with that announcement and all that came to mind was "Kung Fu Panda". Then I facepalmed and laughed till my sides hurt. What next, "My Little Pony"?

I was thinking more Samuri baby seals myself, this only confirms why I've never been attracted to WoW and why my son at the age of 12 felt is was too childish and stopped playing after one day. I'm certain this appeals to the greater portion of their playerbase in that is situated in China but for most people raised in a western society I'd have thought the kung fu panda thing to be a big turn off.

Sure the expansion is far more than just a kung fu panda but it'd just grate on my nerves too much to see big fat pandas running around like Sammo Hung in fancy dress. The playskool graphics were enough to turn both myself and my son off from it without seeing that kind of thing running around all the time.

I think SWTOR has somewhat sabotaged the announcment of the new expansion but Blizzard have also shot themselves in the foot too. WoW was an 800lb Gorilla but is now an 800lb Panda but for your information a Panda is still a bear with some damn sharp claws and will f*** you up if you get too close!

dont fool yourself. people will fuss and rage but when the xpac comes out Every one of them will be rolling Pandaran Monks.

Right now people and  "playing cool" jumping on troll bandwagons raging against the HORROR!!11!one

theyll get over it.

As for SWTOR dont be supprised when its not recieved as the 2nd coming its being hyped as.