General Discussion

Well I can speak only for myself.

Have been playing WoW intensely for about year and half. It is the first game to which I experimented true addiction. :-) But even of very good things one has in time enough. After two lv. 70, two 68 and all other remaining possible classes between 64 and 67 ... I was looking for something new. For now however nothing beats WoW in how realy complete package is in all senses, how fun, how interesting and fresh at all times .... And yes, graphics are cartoon style ... but I love them.

The best graphics as for realism goes for sure has AoC ... but a way most uncomplete package and constant beta feeling. Have been playing it for 2 months from start but then i left. Maybe at some time I will come back.

And for sure I would not leave Lich King for War! Have played open beta War, actually I like game. And will play it for some time. Graphics are kind of more realistic cartoon style, but far from realisim of AoC. Only that in EU beta start was one of the worst for now.  However in addition I have terrible lag problems with beta client with War. As my computer is a way far superior then minimum and runs smoothly even AoC (not to mention Wow) ... it is not my computer to blame or optic internet connection. As not so many players have this problem I guess there must be some kind of incompatibility with.

Lich king will be im sure great continuation of great game.

seems a LOT like they are scared of certain upcoming games. Hell all incoming reports suggest that WotLK is very very disapointing. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Originally posted by CPTAssistant

Not that this matters:  I have played WoW many times.  I did not play on release, I chose EQ2... which was fun, but was rushed, and thus failed @ launch.  I didn't have the willpower to stick it out until it became stable.  I had 2 60s pre BC, sold that account and went back to EQ2.  Then 3 70s post BC.  Sold that account, stumbled around EQ2, EQ1 progression, DAoC, CABAL, LOTRO, you name it.  >> 3 more 70s on WoW.  Sold that, CS:S'd, AoC'd for a while.  Resub'd to WoW to play with a friend, canceled again.

My reasons for disliking WoW (not hating) are as follows.
:Lack of Originality.  Doesn't it seem odd that Blizzard manages to have all of the distinguishing concepts of ALL others games, about the same time that those games come out?  WoW at launch was a noobed down version of EQ1... with a minor graphical update.  Expansions are basically like Blizzard reaching their hand into each new game, and snagging its core concept, dumbing it down, and throwing into WoW as a side-game.

:Everything is a time-sink.  Cap on arena points per week, lockout timers, gear checks.  The timeline is not playerdriven.  You either progress at a decent rate (hardcore - semi hardcore guilds), or you miss out on the action before the new expansion.  Minor upgrades from PVP arena seasons... Dangling that carrot.

:Gear > Skill.  This mixed with point 2 = Time > Skill. 

:PVP = cookie-cutter combos.  Nearly impossible to make an oddball combo succeed.  Therefor playing with friends is a game of hit or miss.... did they make the right class to coop with yours?  Do you want to play with friends, or do good? Pick one.

I like WoW, I've played it A LOT!  But as soon as another option opens, I try it out and cross my fingers that it will hold my attention longer then WoW... because IMO, there is a lot of room for improvements.

best post describing wow ever. especially the bit about reaching into new games. that is EXACTLY what they do, and sadly they dont even do it well. WoW has such potential, i mean the engine could be brilliant instead of dumbed down ok-ness. the story (for the most part) is so well written that it makes me cry they are wasting it on wow and not war 4. dear god i want war 4 so badly, even just a re-run single player rts of the wow story. i cudnt give  toss about wrath any more, even if you do ill arthus and end that story thread. ill play on a private server at most. tbh ill play happily knowing im ripping them off

Originally posted by CPTAssistant

Not that this matters:  I have played WoW many times.  I did not play on release, I chose EQ2... which was fun, but was rushed, and thus failed @ launch.  I didn't have the willpower to stick it out until it became stable.  I had 2 60s pre BC, sold that account and went back to EQ2.  Then 3 70s post BC.  Sold that account, stumbled around EQ2, EQ1 progression, DAoC, CABAL, LOTRO, you name it.  >> 3 more 70s on WoW.  Sold that, CS:S'd, AoC'd for a while.  Resub'd to WoW to play with a friend, canceled again.

My reasons for disliking WoW (not hating) are as follows.
:Lack of Originality.  Doesn't it seem odd that Blizzard manages to have all of the distinguishing concepts of ALL others games, about the same time that those games come out?  WoW at launch was a noobed down version of EQ1... with a minor graphical update.  Expansions are basically like Blizzard reaching their hand into each new game, and snagging its core concept, dumbing it down, and throwing into WoW as a side-game.

:Everything is a time-sink.  Cap on arena points per week, lockout timers, gear checks.  The timeline is not playerdriven.  You either progress at a decent rate (hardcore - semi hardcore guilds), or you miss out on the action before the new expansion.  Minor upgrades from PVP arena seasons... Dangling that carrot.

:Gear > Skill.  This mixed with point 2 = Time > Skill. 

:PVP = cookie-cutter combos.  Nearly impossible to make an oddball combo succeed.  Therefor playing with friends is a game of hit or miss.... did they make the right class to coop with yours?  Do you want to play with friends, or do good? Pick one.

I like WoW, I've played it A LOT!  But as soon as another option opens, I try it out and cross my fingers that it will hold my attention longer then WoW... because IMO, there is a lot of room for improvements.

 QFT, I couldn't have said this better myself. Not to mention the fact that a lot of mmorpg fans are looking for a fresh game/fresh start. Grinding 1-80 and finding groups could turn out to be brutal. It's Pretty sad when WoW is concerned of losing (Hopefully a lot) of the 9 million player base.

i watch the wife play wow.  i watch friends play it.  i've still yet to see anything "good" about it.  nothing that makes me want to return.  the wow that is today is definitely not the wow that was advertisde pre-retail release, not by a long shot.  i see kaplan/pardo as being the ones who changed wow into what it is today.

for all the complaining i do about COx... they've actually added 10 *classes* since release (2 heat, 6 villain at, 2 veat) and have plans of more.  everything in that game is customizable.  while the mission generator may be a letdown as it is not a new underwater/space-station zone, it does mean there will be a crapton more content available soon after i13 is released.

eve-online is going to be introducing human avatars either this winter patch or possibly a bit later.  every expansion pretty much adds more professions and specializations, along with new ships and star systems.

neither of these is a fantasy-setting game.  honestly, depending on how mines of moria look and if they expand upon the monster play, i may well end up playing lotro for my fantasy game.

it's really not a matter of this game vs. that game.  that's a fanboi thing, and as we all know -- fanbois actively pursue a course which ruins games.  i want a game that's fun.  a game that's fun for me IS the best game out there. 

billions of people eat at mcdonald's and burger king... that seriously does not make me want to eat at either of those places more than i want to currently.  something that has a lower common denominator should, by definition, have a larger customer base.  that does not in any fashion, imply quality.  rather, by having a lower common denominator, it would imply the quality IS lesser.

wow doesn't have housing or customization.  i can't pick some oddball talent set-up and expect folks with whom i'm playing to be cool with the fact that my talent build isn't "optimal" for raiding/arena/whatever.  add to that the tier-progression of gear...  adding a few hairstyles isn't providing any type of customization that i care the least whit about.

i'm not afraid to start a new character in a new game.  my COx toons and Eve toons actually have *stuff* that would make me feel attached, even moreso as time progresses and new expansions allow them to customize and have any more *stuff*.   games like eq2 and uo also have *stuff* like your home and such.

wow offers me nothing other than an endless grind to maybe get what i'm looking for...  and then no housing (either personal or guild).

i'm happy that fans of wow are getting some new content and goodies.  i'm thinking... wow fans that post on forums make up the minority.  ofttimes i ask the wife, friends, etc about different aspects of wow and they don't know/care.  these are items that my OCD-self am intimately familiar with, in any game i play; but, i would seem to be in the minority there.

so, for people quite content in their gameplay being 80%+ of nothing but "dailies"...  i'm sure wotlk will be great fun... for THEM.

for me, i'll try war, i'll try wotlk to make the wife happy; but... odds are i'll still be playing COx & Eve and may even take up lotro... who knows.  but i'm willing to be open-minded and hold out hope that wotlk is FUN.  the lack of a base/housing will always be a LARGE drawback for me, as will the lack of power/talent/gear customization.

I know that to some people it sounds trite, but....my biggest complaint with WoW has always been the lack of player housing.  Not that I don't have some other complaints as well, but that one has bugged me from day one.

Originally posted by PinkCat

Also it will mess with WAR subscriptions to some degree. Many people are going to play WAR as a temporary filler while they wait for their beloved Blizzard:WoTLK. Im one of these individuals as well as my whole guild.

I agree, I ordered WAR last week and EA still hasn't processed my order, so I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be getting into the head start thing, Wouldn't be surprised if the WOW patch comes out before I get into WAR.

EA it's because we're lame.

    Arent people sick of WoW yet?? When I played in beta I thought players would play it 4-6 months max then get bored and move on to something else........