Lets discuss upcoming changes

[Slats]

I am quite surprised at this direction. I don't really understand why they keep making such dramatic changes to the basic "mechanics". It almost seems like they are heading in the direction of a console game. I hope I am wrong, but I don't really see a lot these changes as positive.

One of the DTV guys asked one of the cheif operations officers or something about wether it would goto a console.

They said for WoW - never. It was too much work and they didn't think the game fit that enviroment. They have talked about there other projects but overall they seemed like they are a PC games company.

Same for phones they arn't interested in putting there games on phones (it was mentioned BioWare is making Mass Effect for the iPhone) but they are going to use the mobile space to add features to support the PC game - ie mobile armory, authenticator and possibility of accessing Guild Chat or the AH from your phone but never the actual game.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

One of the DTV guys asked one of the cheif operations officers or something about wether it would goto a console.

They said for WoW - never. It was too much work and they didn't think the game fit that enviroment. They have talked about there other projects but overall they seemed like they are a PC games company.

Same for phones they arn't interested in putting there games on phones (it was mentioned BioWare is making Mass Effect for the iPhone) but they are going to use the mobile space to add features to support the PC game - ie mobile armory, authenticator and possibility of accessing Guild Chat or the AH from your phone but never the actual game.

I think Heff's talking about the dumbing down of the game to a console-like smaller set of operating parameters, not actually going to console release or hardware. :P

[heffner]

I think Heff's talking about the dumbing down of the game to a console-like smaller set of operating parameters, not actually going to console release or hardware. :P

Yes, sorry. That was what I was trying to say.

One of the major attractions for me in playing PC-based games, particularly online games, is the complexity. Although I realize console games have come very far, I typically do not play them as I get bored quite fast. When you have a game where the player base is deconstructing the mechanics with Matlab, well that's the game for me

If they make sweeping changes it doesn't mean I won't play or it won't be fun, but when they do make these types of changes this becomes a possibility for me. Perhaps the younger console generation needs a different game. Marketing does drive all these decisions after all. Time will tell.

[RobinGBrown]

When you have a game where the player base is deconstructing the mechanics with Matlab, well that's the game for me

You should try EVE Online, it's massively over complicated.

OK back to original discussion:

I like the fact that Blizzard have been 'dumbing down' WoW for a long time, I wish other games would do the same, I like playing WoW but one of the reasons I multibox is becasue there are a lot of players out there who are really hardcore and they aren't fun to play with.

WoW succeeds so massively because its easy to sit down for 15-30 mins and have fun, working out itemization using a spreadsheet is not fun and is not quick. In EVE you can't get anything done in under an hour and you need at least two third party applications to work out how to progress. It's the total opposite of WoW and it's almost entirely without fun at all.

When I spend my leisure money I want to get the most fun out of it. Blizzard have figured out that more fun is more players paying them money. It's a win-win. Other games should be as 'dumb'.

[Multibocks]

Actually I like what they did. Did you know that to see what piece of gear was actually an upgrade for you that you had to run an excel spreadsheet to figure it out? The existence of Rawr is an abomination for those people who like to min/max.

I used to follow it and then I realized that it was too much work and time figuring out what piece was an upgrade that I spent more time staring at a spreadsheet than I did playing the game. That's stupid. It should be something you can do a little mental math and figure out. Currently the game is too complicated for the average person to know what's what. Armor penetration anyone? Bleh.

I think the intent is to make it more obvious and I aplaud that effort. Just because they are moving it down to less stats does not mean it will be easy. You are forgetting all the talent changes(masteries, etc) and how they can increase the complexity of equipment management.

[Bigfish]

All I want is for their gear progression to be constant enough that I don't get stuck hitting my relative gear ceiling and quitting for 3-6 months while I wait for more content to be added.

[Marious]

damn and I worked hard to get my 2 pally tanks def cap, so kind of sucks that it dont mean crap when expansion comes out. I guess that will make leveling the new guys easier, but damn i wanted a worgen shaman. I guess it will have to be 5 DK worgen lol. But yeah some of the changes kind of make sense. And can you see an 80k HP tank!

[Multibocks]

I want worgen druid team. /sex

[Khatovar]

I am so relieved that they are streamlining stats, there's just too much crap to consider now. Armor is starting to look like a grocery list. Though it does sound like there's going to be a pretty big tear-down and rebuilding of classes, which always scares the crap out of me.

[mmcookies]

I was a bit disappointed with reforging.

The moment they announced the name, I immediately imagined something altogether different, like being able to reforge the stats of one armor piece with the looks of another piece that you own(other games do this).

The stat boost thing is pretty meh in comparison >_>