Blizzard Denies all-MMOG Rumor

[SymetriX]

WorthPlaying.com (http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=34822) has reported (http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=34822) that Blizzard employees have denied the rumor that all new Blizzard titles will be MMOG games:

Blizzard poster Drysc stated:

I believe this was a misquote. We haven't announced any specific development plans beyond the upcoming expansion for World of Warcraft, and we don't have any intentions to focus on only one genre or platform with our future games.
EnoYls added:

Nothing in that rumor is true in regards to Blizzard. If I had to guess, there was some confusion between what Vivendi has planned for its its game division versus what Blizzard has planned. While Blizzard is owned by Vivendi, their game division operates seperately from Blizzard.

[Paranoia]

Never trust a Final Fantasy fanboy.

[violentp]

It seemed like a possibility. Glad it's not.

Where the hell is Diablo 3?

[Chimpbot]

It seemed like a possibility. Glad it's not.

Where the hell is Diablo 3?

I know the Diablo games were pretty fun for most and all...but is having a third really necessary? Where could they possibly take the story, what with the title character and his two brothers having been permanently killed off? The only loose end they haven't tied off yet is the two remaining Lesser Evils still running around...and they're not something you could base an entire game around.
Story-wise, there's really nothing left to cover...at least, not as far as I can tell. Things were wrapped up pretty well with the end of the D2 expansion...

[DoubleUranium]

I know the Diablo games were pretty fun for most and all...but is having a third really necessary?

Easy: Yes. I don't even remember the story from the first two. I do remember having a great time playing that game with my friends and would love to play a new, more refined version of it that does not have monthly fees.

[Abash Alarmist]

Easy: Yes. I don't even remember the story from the first two. I do remember having a great time playing that game with my friends and would love to play a new, more refined version of it that does not have monthly fees.

Alright, I will one up you: StarCraft. Ask any fan of the StarCraft universe in regards to its story and you will likely get masterful. The story was top-notch with a Shakespearian way to its delivery with its turns, ups, downs, deciept, and revenge with Kerrigan The Queen of Blades, Raynor, Tassdar, The Enclave, Zeratul, Arctanus, Mensk, The Overmind, The Cerebrates, Zerg, Protoss, Terran, Duran, and the Xel'Naga. And thats just the story.


It was fucking amazing, with a finely tuned and balanced single player and multiplayer (which is being played in tournaments to this day) and the game itself was/still is an amazing work of art. Diablo already has its sequel. Its StarCraft's turn to shine once again.

En Taro Adun. My Life for Auir!

[Savok]

Ended up being so good they ripped it off for WC3.

[ChronoKill]

Story-wise, there's really nothing left to cover...at least, not as far as I can tell. Things were wrapped up pretty well with the end of the D2 expansion...
Perhaps you don't remember the ending, then, where Tyreal destroyed the worldstone that had been taken over (or corrupted, it's been a while) by Baal. I believe he even says that it could have dire ramifications for the world. If I remember correctly, it would weaken the barriers between heaven, hell, and Earth. Diablo 3 could unleash any number of lesser demons vying for power over hell and earth and could throw the player in the middle of that.
I'd love to see PCs able to choose sides in the war and fight their way through (randomly generated) hordes of enemies. Half a dozen classes or so, two different story lines...
Nothing left to cover indeed.

[Abash Alarmist]

Perhaps you don't remember the ending, then, where Tyreal destroyed the worldstone that had been taken over (or corrupted, it's been a while) by Baal. I believe he even says that it could have dire ramifications for the world. If I remember correctly, it would weaken the barriers between heaven, hell, and Earth. Diablo 3 could unleash any number of lesser demons vying for power over hell and earth and could throw the player in the middle of that.
I'd love to see PCs able to choose sides in the war and fight their way through (randomly generated) hordes of enemies. Half a dozen classes or so, two different story lines...
Nothing left to cover indeed.

They'd have to pull something out of their ass like none other to get that going. The worldstone severed ties that between Earth and Heaven/Hell. If they want to make a game just about lesser demons, that would be boring as hell...*Oh, noes. I am fighting a lesser demon artificially inflated to act like Diablo...But Diablo is dead.What the hell* Diablo would have to be the main dude, and since he is dead...No.

[Wyrm]

Why would Diablo have to be the main dude? That's just the title of the game. It's not like the last boss of Starcraft is Starcraft.

They can do a whole lot with the Diablo universe. I'm thinking we'll see another one pretty soon.

[Goronmon]

Why would Diablo have to be the main dude? That's just the title of the game. It's not like the last boss of Starcraft is Starcraft.

They can do a whole lot with the Diablo universe. I'm thinking we'll see another one pretty soon.Agreed. Its just the title of the game. How else would you refer to the world the game takes place in?

[CannibalKid]

I'm kinda relieved they're denying this. The first problem seemed to be that "MMOG" indicated that their cloning WoW with the startcraft characters. However, the article i read seem to be quoting that Blizzard can refine their MMORPG development process, and ultimately build a game of the same calibre with a shorter schedule and 1/5 less money.

But i really don't understand that. It seems like there is enough evidence that Sequels to MMORPGs divide your subscription base, and whlie i'm sure a world of startcraft and a world of diablo would be very successful, it's not like World of Warcraft is in a subscription decline. Will it be in 3 years? Probably, but if the Diablo, SC, and WC3 battle chests are any indication of long term sales, we'll probably still see WoW on the shelf in 2010.

The second problem i see: Isn't this already the case? Although WC3, SC, and D2 have been released prior to the "MMOG" buzzwords, they're pretty much the leaders in online gaming for a non-FPS.

I'm still skeptical, because WoW has made Blizzard multi-millionaires, but i sure hope they develop a world persistance game mechanic or more robust community features and figure out a way to allow them to futher refine their pre-existing RTS and hack and slash dungeon crawl games, as opposed to rehashing MMO success with ttheir other franchises.

[Abash Alarmist]

Agreed. Its just the title of the game. How else would you refer to the world the game takes place in?

Because Diablo is a name of an entity/person/diety/whathaveyou. And was also the main boss in both previous Diablo games. When you think of Diablo, you think of Satan. Not 4-5 lesser known lesser-demons. That would fuck with their demographics and wouldn't spread the game as well.

[Orosco]

I pray this is just rumor and not fact.

[Goronmon]

Because Diablo is a name of an entity/person/diety/whathaveyou. And was also the main boss in both previous Diablo games. When you think of Diablo, you think of Satan. Not 4-5 lesser known lesser-demons. That would fuck with their demographics and wouldn't spread the game as well.So call it Diablo 3: The Aftermath or something. I don't know.

Either way, by calling the game Diablo 3, you pretty much guarantee it to be a huge seller. Saying it will "fuck with the demographics" is just BS.

[Abash Alarmist]

So call it Diablo 3: The Aftermath or something. I don't know.

Either way, by calling the game Diablo 3, you pretty much guarantee it to be a huge seller. Saying it will "fuck with the demographics" is just BS.

It will since it has nothing to do with Diablo. Thats like having the next Halo game have nothing to do with Halo-planets, or King Kong not having King Kong. Its the name game, and it fails...Just give me StarCraft 2 before Diablo 3 and I will concede.

[Wyrm]

Dude, blizzard could sell a game called Diablo: This is the worst game ever Edition (tm), and people will buy it.

Plus, I promise they'll find a way to either 1) Bring him back, or 2) Make the game interesting anyway. I wouldnt be so concerned with it. It will sell either way, and it will be a good game regardless.

[[VSK]BadCRC]

What if they did a World of Blizzard online account though, where, if they do release any additional online MMORPGs that they decide to make, and you pay the same rate to play any of their MMORPGs at any time. Just charge the same $14.95, but you get access to all of their MMOs.

Then you really won't lose your split your fanbase up because everyone can enjoy any of the other games whenver they feel like it.

[Drinking_Buddy]

I really dought Blizzard has any plans to make another MMOG. Why would they want to create competition for World of Warcraft?

[CannibalKid]

Looks like someone unrolled their Jump to Conclusions mat.

I believe these are the exact slides from the Vivendi presentation. It only shows a table that illustrates a "potential" for other blizzard franchises to be developed as an "MMOG".

Vivendi Slideshow Presentation (http://www.cesspit.net/drupal/node/1386)

[Jasonp107]

I think it's still pretty likely that Blizzard will spend time developing a MMOG within another game universe. I don't think they have to sacrifice anything re:WoW for that to get done (and I don't think they would do so very soon, anyway).

The point is, it makes a lot of sense for them to add a second game to the genre - they've done so well with WoW, and they have ready-made game-worlds that would have an instant and realiable fan-base to populate it.

Give how ridiculously lucrative WoW has turned out to be, I'd put money down on another Blizzard MMOG inside five years.

[Vanthar]

I don't think you'll see a new MMO from Blizzard until subscriptions for WoW start to decline heavily. Even at half their current subscriptions, they'd be dominating the market (minus maybe the Lineage games). They will churn out expansions for WoW to keep the subscribers in the game, and to add graphical updates, but I don't see why they would put out a new game for at least 5 years.

Diablo and Starcraft sold well enough on their own to be profitable releases as your standard game.

[CannibalKid]

I guess it all depends on your interpretation of "MMOG". Some are assuming this means MMORPG exclusively, while the presentation doesn't specify, but the comparisions of WoW don't help propigate the idea that's format of the new game. But nothings stopping them from evolving Diablo or SC into a more persitant game without changing the core gameplay mechanics.

But i haven't seen another MMO company successfully make a "sequel" to their MMOs. EQ1 and EQ2 pretty much divided their subscription base, as did Lineage and Lineage 2, and if i was told correctly, AC2 was shutdown while AC1 continues. If the Starcraft franchise is popular enough to still pull in more accounts after dividing WoW's subscription base, (and overcoming the smaller Sci-Fi MMO market limitations) why didn't they just spend $50M to develop WoSC instead of WoW?

[OrangePulp]

I had heard the rumor about all blizzard games becoming MMOs, but I just dismissed it as the bullshit ramblings of some clueless exec, who only saw the dollar signs behind WoW, and nothing else.

[balamoor]

I really am Interested in seeing where Blizzard is in six months. Jeff Kaplan and his Life Partner Furor (Does anyone know what this Ass Pirates Real name is?) Are on their way to Sigil games to further Fuck up Vanguard (If that is possible) and No one I know has a clue who is going to be the new lead designer....meanwhile BC is pushed further back. I don't think we are going to see this puppy till Xmas 2007 guys.

So considering Blizzard can’t produce an expansion pack for its one MMORPG…no there will be no other MMo’s from Blizzard for a while.

[Abash Alarmist]

I really am Interested in seeing where Blizzard is in six months. Jeff Kaplan and his Life Partner Furor (Does anyone know what this Ass Pirates Real name is?) Are on their way to Sigil games to further Fuck up Vanguard (If that is possible) and No one I know has a clue who is going to be the new lead designer....meanwhile BC is pushed further back. I don't think we are going to see this puppy till Xmas 2007 guys.

So considering Blizzard can’t produce an expansion pack for its one MMORPG…no there will be no other MMo’s from Blizzard for a while.

Stopped reading after the second line. Try again.

[Montgomery_Python]

I really am Interested in seeing where Blizzard is in six months. Jeff Kaplan and his Life Partner Furor (Does anyone know what this Ass Pirates Real name is?) Are on their way to Sigil games to further Fuck up Vanguard (If that is possible) and No one I know has a clue who is going to be the new lead designer....meanwhile BC is pushed further back. I don't think we are going to see this puppy till Xmas 2007 guys.

So considering Blizzard can’t produce an expansion pack for its one MMORPG…no there will be no other MMo’s from Blizzard for a while.

If that was satire - brilliant!

If not - the opposite of brilliant...