For more on this topic, check out Konrad's posts. Seriously, he really doesn't like WoW.World of Warcraft, the MMORPG with the largest subscription base ever known in its genre, is nothing special in terms of the MMO genre in my eyes. Here's why:
1. The Interface
Look familiar? Of course it does. These two MMORPGs, Ultima Online and Lineage 2 respectively, have the same interface as WoW.Or rather, WoW has the same interface as these MMOs, seeing as
both of them were released before it. So in terms of interface, WoW is nothing revolutionary.
2. Gameplay
In pretty much every MMORPG, you:
1. Create a character
2. Get your first quests
3. Level up to adequately participate in activities with your guild/faction/legion/linkshell/etc.
4. Do missions or the equivalent to find out the story to see where your character fits in it all.
5. Beat storyline.
6. Participate in endgame activities (or PvP if you so choose).
WoW is no different.
Some may claim that it is less of a grind than other MMOs, but really, ALL MMOs will be grindy in some way or the other, so I don't complain about this. WoW offers the basic classes to play: Healer, Tank, DPS, Buffer and Generalist who has the potential to be a little bit of everything. All of the other classes that have came out due to expansions, are simply combinations of the above. ALL MMORPGS DO THIS. The only reason why it may seem different, is by what weapon they're holding, or what kind of armor they are wearing.
3. Endgame
Then there's endgame, the most grueling, time wasting experience of any MMO, seeing as there is little gear to go around, and many people want the same piece. This incorporates bureaucracy and takes the fun out of the game. WoW is no different. You spend the average time you normally would spend in a part-time job engaging in raids. Once again, nothing special.
So what makes WoW special? I'll tell you this awful secret, and it is also
nothing special. It's called
commercialism, or advertising. Blizzard is everywhere in terms of advertising. You see it on TV, you read about it in magazines, you see ads on the sides and top panels of every website that is gaming related about WoW. They even had their own special on South Park, and are endorsed by washed up celebrities.
If other MMORPGs were more willing to shell out on advertising, I'd be more than willing to bet that their subscription numbers would raise significantly over the course of a year
, which would pay for itself. Also, providing a promotional benefit (gear, increased XP, etc) for a certain amount of time would easily hook new players and raise sub numbers.
In conclusion, the only thing WoW has going for it is heavy commercialism, due to the fact that no other games in the genre have done it this way before. Its gameplay, interface, and endgame (i.e. the actual game itself) is nothing revolutionary, seeing as it is a mere copy of previous games in its genre (Don't get me started on the story line. That is an entirely different post.).
Do you agree that World of Warcraft is just popular based on marketing and Blizzard's name?
Comments (37)
I think the idea's hilarious. WoW is so commercially known because it is so loved, and all the subscriptions and other various ways it brings income gives them the money to advertise it so much. Not the other way around.
Also, hint: advertisements won't keep a player in a game. They might convince them to try it, but rarely will that be what makes them stay.
How many WoW players do you think played other MMOs before, during, or after their WoW experience? You think that's all they've ever tried? We'll all stick with what we like. And when eleven million players (plus some growing ones) are still playing WoW instead of something else, there's obviously something right about it, which others don't have or don't capitalize on.
I remember when that xerxes person made a similar post in two parts, yet failed to provide any decent arguments. You, on the other hand, were able to bring the point across and giving multiple reasons why it's average.
I agree. The main thing it has going for it is a huge player-base. And although you wouldn't notice the lack of as many players as WoW on other games (players are all divided into servers) the shere advertisement of the numbers make people think that this game will have more people to interact with. Also, it shows that it is accessible, which it is increasingly trying to be by making the content easier and easier to get to.
I'm sick of WoW-bashing posts.
Yeah, WoW is really nothing... at all. It is a very basic game that follows the basic MMO structure.
People are pretty fanatical about WoW and I really don't understand why. : /
I think WoW is just much more....cleaner and organized than most other MMO's. I've played a fair share and WoW has kept me hooked the longest.
WoW is basically the iPod of the gaming world, very good product, but people like me can't stand hearing about it, and especially the peopl that talk about it over and over and over again...just shut up.
@AznFier@xanga - I'm just plain tired of hearing about WoW on HL...maybe ban it like megan fox did to mancouch? xD
And I know theres gonna be the idiots saying "Well, just because its there, doesnt mean you have to read it, blah blah blah", well, i read ever blog on HL, and WoW has been up wayyyy too much.
WoW is overrated.
@AznFier@xanga - seriously! if these guys got nothing good to say about wow. Don't say it at all.!
Um, yes? I think anyone who knows a bit about WoW knows this already. Somebody has to be the top MMO. In my opinion, they're all a huge waste of time and money.
Anyway, the bigger the better, right? It doesn't hurt to have more people to play with. Some FFXI servers are dead or are dominated by Japanese players who hate to associate with anyone who can't speak their language because some dumbass fucked them over in Limbus or something. At least with WoW you're not forced to depend on other people or so I've heard.
I do agree that WoW is nothing special in terms of a game though the accessibility of that game and the simplicity of the game play are what drive the subscriber base. Just a note the top two images in this post are noted as Ultima Online and Lineage II, the second image is in fact from Lineage II though the top image is from Asheron's Call 2 and not Ultima Online.
I totally agree. I downloaded a trial of the game and didn't even get 10 minutes in because I was so bored. I'm just waiting for The Old Republic
*Le sigh*
still trying to down play a game that obviously is well loved by many ? Me thinks it is popular because SOME people LIKE it . Not because of the famous actors they get for their commercial , not because of the HYPE it generates ........people LIKE IT . heres the thing if you don't like it ......DON'T PLAY ?
I love it , will always play it , I don't go around playing a game because millions of other people play it ....i play cause i LIKE IT
imagine that . there are plenty of other games I have played and didn't like ...but I don't talk about them constantly and bash them everytime I think some one is listening I just don't play them . The only thing I hate about WoW is that they keep trying to down grade it for all the whiney little babies that complain about .
Personally, I think Warcraft 3 is a better game.
So true.
Everyone has personal game preferences, some people love WoW..others don't. It's not down to advertising, because in all fairness, the adverts are shit and don't even show any of the decent game play. (ozzy osbourne ffs?)
The people slating it, are the ones who never progressed beyond the starting area at level 10, hit end game, your opinions may change. It's not about the gear, it's about the progression and people you meet along the way.
Simplicity, Cleanliness.
That is what drives WoW.
- John
This post = I'M SO COOL BECAUSE I GO AGAINST SOMETHING THAT IS (relatively) POPULAR.
WoW isn't special, but it's enjoyable. I play SEVERAL MMOs. And I always end up back in WoW. I love it, I have a ton of friends on, my guild gets together IRL every so often to do stuff. I don't get why people waste so much time bashing WoW. If you don't like it, you don't like it. Every game has a bit of games that came out before it in them. It's the community of the game that makes it as popular as it is, and we love it.
So :-p
Also? Yeah of course theres little gear to go around in eng game, only so much drops off of one boss encounter. But it shouldn't be about the phat lewtz. It should be about getting shit done and doing it with people who make it worthwhile.Sorry, end game*
WTF. Of course WoW isn't special...anymore! It was introduced at the end of 2004! And to have you still talking about how WoW isn't good anymore is a testament to how great it is! For a game to have popularity FIVE years later and still releasing expansion packs?
I didn't get into WoW b/c I saw it was cool on TV or on South Park. I got into it because my friends thought it was cool, and I wanted to play in MMO with them.
@GoldSilk@xanga - which MMOs do you play?
Lol WoW is really nothing special, but I guess I didn't really see it in time. xD
Well I'm glad I don't pay for MMOs anymore, they get boring at a certain point and not really worth the bucks, since the country is in such an economy pinch.
Played WoW for over two years. My conclusion based on my experiences is that it gets watered down with every patch/expansion. Vanilla WoW, was amazing, Burning Crusade rocked, WotLK just for some reason made WoW put a gun to it's head and pull the trigger. It wasn't really the expansion, it wasn't too bad of one but there were signs of bad things to come. Then the more I played, the more I felt cheated, all the time and work I'd put in, was losing it's meaning. It's just become more and more casual, after a while, all the gear I'd worked up for epic Tanking/Healing/DPS sets for my Pally just felt. Bleh. There were people hitting 80 in just a few days. I mean. It was ridiculous. Then with every other patch, things got easier and easier. To the point where I just thought, "I can't take this any more." And I left. I've been playing Aion and honestly, I've been happy with it, nice change of scenery from WoW and then I'll probably be getting Star Trek Online when it comes out too to try that out.
i like it :(
i sort of agree that it gets easier with every patch though.