World of Warcraft Interview

GameBanshee News · #1 (**permalink**) 08-31-2008, 08:50 AM

WoW Stratics was able to gather some comments from the Blizzard guys at the World of Warcraft PAX booth.

Warhammer release - I asked that speculation was going on that this new patch was going to be released simply because of the Warhammer upcoming release and that Blizzard was scared. To be simply put, no, they're not scared nor do they even care and it's just pure coincidence that the two things are coming out somewhat similar times. Blizzard only is caring about their development because they know if hey put out a good product, people are going to play it no matter what the competition is doing.

Xandax · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-2008, 09:35 AM

These WAR vs. WoW speculations and questions to developers looks very much like trying to force some kind of conflict.
While both cater to MMO players - after all do cater to different types of MMO players.

Having played both, I can say the games - while having similar traits (then again, so do most MMOs) are definitely different games.
WoW have nothing to fear from WAR. I doubt WAR will get anywhere enough customers to threaten the foundation of WoW to begin with, but they aren't aiming to.
WoW is now looking towards WAR for inspiration as well, as the other way.

WAR's more imidiate "competition" is Age of Conan if anything.

Brother None · #3 (**permalink**) 08-31-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xandax

These WAR vs. WoW speculations and questions to developers looks very much like trying to force some kind of conflict.
While both cater to MMO players - after all do cater to different types of MMO players.

I find it interesting how people view MMOs as this monolithic genre while it has the potential for a very diverse group of market segments. I'm sure Second Life and WoW have some overlap, but it won't be much.

It's the way people "forget" that the modern-day FPSRPGs are not really the same genre as the older RPGs and the titles that attempt to bring back older-style RPGs (like Drakensang: The Dark Eye).

Genre labels often means people just assume they're going to compete. It doesn't really work that way.