Cosmik (not verified) on January 18, 2005 - 09:48.
I'm not going to speak for Lum since, well, he does that himself quite well, but I see it as a double-edged sword. A double-edged sword that could swing either way.
Yes, WoW's screwy server problem is undoubtedly one of the worst ways to introduce legions of new MMO players to the genre and keep them strapped into WoW. The only way it could get worse would be if more servers suffer this ailment. Not even a huge nerf to experience, combat, or potions that turn you into a skeleton would have the same effect as a server choking on a player.
For many, being able to play > being able to play and not have fun.
However, I took the stance that this issue can also be seen as a blessing for other MMO companies as customers return to their "old and tired" yet dependable game. DAOC was one game in which players noticed a significant lack of players post-WoW release. No matter how much it sucks for fellow industry employees to suffer from a fate everyone fears, its gotta feel even the slightest, miniscule bit good that people once again pick up your banner and take up the space on your server.
It's also likely that a number of players, after having a taste of WoW and hearing about the MMOs that other players came from, will plonk their toes into the waters of another MMO at least once. As new MMO players either meet up with existing guilds or help create their own, there's a fantastic chance that the guild will move onto another MMO. Community (friends) uber alles, as I always say.
And let's face it. Bob down at the water cooler is going to keep recommending WoW as a game to MMO virgins. It's fun. Only after this shamozzle, he's going to recommend playing on the less populated servers.
Yet on the other side of the coin, how likely is it that Mr. Richards, the father with 2 kids, the much touted "casual player", and who is experiencing a great WoW launch, will turn away from his Undead and Night Elf to play another MMO? Even in another 3 years when a slew of new MMOs have left the stable? With the quality of WoW as a game, pretty unfrickinlikely. In fact, it's equally as likely that a player who stays with WoW for a while, becomes bored and moves onto the next MMO will instead stay with WoW for a while, become bored, and go back to single-player games.
People are an unpredictable lot. That's what makes us so cool and yet so stupid at the same time. Personally, I feel WoW has already given a boost to the MMO industry and there's only so much more it could have given with a 100% successful launch. It's a case of diminishing returns.
I guess the only way we'll know for sure is to try and notice if subscriptions in general pick up or not. But for my liking, it's going to take a case of more than one polished game with a good launch for people and the media to really get hyped up about the genre and give a boost to MMO companies across the board.
I'm not going to speak for Lum
I'm not going to speak for Lum since, well, he does that himself quite well, but I see it as a double-edged sword. A double-edged sword that could swing either way.
Yes, WoW's screwy server problem is undoubtedly one of the worst ways to introduce legions of new MMO players to the genre and keep them strapped into WoW. The only way it could get worse would be if more servers suffer this ailment. Not even a huge nerf to experience, combat, or potions that turn you into a skeleton would have the same effect as a server choking on a player.
For many, being able to play > being able to play and not have fun.
However, I took the stance that this issue can also be seen as a blessing for other MMO companies as customers return to their "old and tired" yet dependable game. DAOC was one game in which players noticed a significant lack of players post-WoW release. No matter how much it sucks for fellow industry employees to suffer from a fate everyone fears, its gotta feel even the slightest, miniscule bit good that people once again pick up your banner and take up the space on your server.
It's also likely that a number of players, after having a taste of WoW and hearing about the MMOs that other players came from, will plonk their toes into the waters of another MMO at least once. As new MMO players either meet up with existing guilds or help create their own, there's a fantastic chance that the guild will move onto another MMO. Community (friends) uber alles, as I always say.
And let's face it. Bob down at the water cooler is going to keep recommending WoW as a game to MMO virgins. It's fun. Only after this shamozzle, he's going to recommend playing on the less populated servers.
Yet on the other side of the coin, how likely is it that Mr. Richards, the father with 2 kids, the much touted "casual player", and who is experiencing a great WoW launch, will turn away from his Undead and Night Elf to play another MMO? Even in another 3 years when a slew of new MMOs have left the stable? With the quality of WoW as a game, pretty unfrickinlikely. In fact, it's equally as likely that a player who stays with WoW for a while, becomes bored and moves onto the next MMO will instead stay with WoW for a while, become bored, and go back to single-player games.
People are an unpredictable lot. That's what makes us so cool and yet so stupid at the same time. Personally, I feel WoW has already given a boost to the MMO industry and there's only so much more it could have given with a 100% successful launch. It's a case of diminishing returns.
I guess the only way we'll know for sure is to try and notice if subscriptions in general pick up or not. But for my liking, it's going to take a case of more than one polished game with a good launch for people and the media to really get hyped up about the genre and give a boost to MMO companies across the board.