Blizzard: Diablo 3 Can ''Cannibalize'' WoW Players
Blizzard would rather that Diablo 3 steal players away from World of Warcraft than any other 3rd-party title.
Is Blizzard worried about competition pulling away paying customers from its monster revenue machine, World of Warcraft? Not in the slightest-- or at least, that’s what it seems for the moment. There's no question that Blizzard's fantasy-based MMORPG is a mountain that currently can't be conquered. With the third expansion Cataclysm under its belt, the virtual realm only seems to be gaining momentum rather than slowing with age.
But as Blizzard co-founder and EVP of product development Frank Pearce points out, someone will eventually cannibalize WoW players. A developer/publisher will come along and steal players away with something new and original. For now, however, all seems calm. If anything, the only real threat that poses to throw a wrench into the WoW subscription gears will be Blizzard's own long-awaited action-RPG game Diablo 3 when it finally hits retail shelves.
Of course, that doesn't mean Blizzard's upcoming Titan MMO won't hurt subscriptions either. But Pearce said that, in the short term, Diablo 3 poses as a bigger threat because it's similar to WoW in terms of the RPG feel even though both titles offer completely different experiences.
"For us, I think it's really important that we recognize that somewhere, sometime it's likely that someone is going to cannibalize World of Warcraft players," Pearce told Gamasutra. "So it's better we cannibalize them ourselves than let someone else do that, because if we cannibalize them ourselves, they're still a Blizzard customer."
In the long term, however, Titan could very well mark the end of WoW. Why? Because the veteran WoW developers have been moved over to the project not only due to their AAA experience, but to prevent career "burn out." According to Pearce, WoW itself has been in development since around 1999 or 2000. That's a long time to be married with any one project, and any fatigue brought on by a growing disinterest shows up in their work. Better to move them over to the new project and let the "fresher" developers take the reigns of WoW.
"If we can keep people on the team that are really enthusiastic about playing the game, that energizes the other people around them that maybe aren't necessarily playing the game," Pearce said, indicating a huge level of excitement for the new MMOG.
Little is known about Titan at this point save for the fact that it will "compliment" Blizzard's current MMORPG. As for Diablo 3, the upcoming action-RPG game may actually launch by the end of the year... if we're lucky.
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Guild Wars 2 might be doing that first... the first Guild Wars was still a far superior game than WoW, and no monthly subscription. Then again, I hate WoW so I might be biased.
I'm still thinking it's going to be World of StarCraft - which will have to be HUGE. They let that other guy keep developing to get everything to think they aren't going that way.
WoW sucks and I bet D3 will be rather disappointing in terms of graphics.
WoW sucks and I bet D3 will be rather disappointing in terms of graphics.
A game doesn't rape every setup available with amazing graphics, and instead offers fun, refined, and addictive gameplay, and you have a problem with that?
I'm still thinking it's going to be World of StarCraft - which will have to be HUGE. They let that other guy keep developing to get everything to think they aren't going that way.
It's not going to be. Blizzard has already stated that "Titan" will be a brand new IP. So any existing franchise is out of the question.
I'm still thinking it's going to be World of StarCraft - which will have to be HUGE. They let that other guy keep developing to get everything to think they aren't going that way.
Unfortunately, I think there are more fantasy fans than SciFi fans, so, no, I do not think that WoStarCraft will kill WoW.
I think the best setting for the game to kill WoW is something in between. Like W40K, were you have Orks, Elves (sorry, Eldars)just modernized, and you still have spells... Starcraft even though has roots (he he) in W40K completely misses the fantasy part.
So, World of Warhammer 40K (WoW40K) is my prediction for the best WoW killer.
I'm still thinking it's going to be World of StarCraft - which will have to be HUGE. They let that other guy keep developing to get everything to think they aren't going that way.
Whatever the new MMO is, please, please, please do not let the art director from WoW touch it. As stupid as it sounds I have a difficult time getting into WoW because I want the fierce cataclysmic mentality, but I'm stuck in a Walt Disney backdrop...it just doesn't work for me. What would be nice if they could actually make their cinematic art style follower closer to the in-game art style (WAR being a good example).
On Topic:
I don't play wow in the first place but I did for about 2 weeks, then stopped but I'll definitely be getting this game.
Off Topic:
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I hate it when they don't look into what they advertise but I guess money is money right?
RS was hosting adverts that took over the users PC and installed software, everyone was in a panic lol.
IMO, Rift is likely to do so before D3. Blizzard is notorious for missing deadlines. Rift already has well over 1M subscribers, and if you ask me, the game is much better looking, and has a better feel to it than WoW. After playing wow for multiple years, (from release to WotLK), I can say that I am much happier with Rift.
Now, if only I were confident that Blizzard would be able to stop the rampant cheating that has plagued all of its previous Diablo games. I may be a minority in this regard, but I would gladly pay a subscription fee to Blizzard for D3 if it meant they would be able to address cheating to the same extent they do in WoW.
It will be fine for now Blizzard. It is the calm before the storm... The Old Republic is coming...
i wuld say rift is a good counter part agenst wow
Off Topic:Advert to the right of this comment says "Cheap WOW Gold"$1.8/1000GI hate it when they don't look into what they advertise but I guess money is money right?RS was hosting adverts that took over the users PC and installed software, everyone was in a panic lol.
Adblock Plus. Works wonders.
Guild Wars 2 might be doing that first... , and no monthly subscription.
Unfortunately, I think there are more fantasy fans than SciFi fans, so, no, I do not think that WoStarCraft will kill WoW. ... I think the best setting for the game to kill WoW is something ... Like W40K, were you have Orks, Elves (sorry, Eldars)just modernized, and you still have spells...
IMO, Rift is likely to do so before D3. Blizzard is notorious for missing deadlines. ...
It looks like several different games will eat away at WoW. I have not played Rift, but I do like what I have seen so far. Even though Blizzard pushes back deadlines often, the resulting games look good and have a lot of re-playability.
WoW sucks and I bet D3 will be rather disappointing in terms of graphics.
Blizzard has "game player trailers" posted that show exactly what the graphics will look like... No reason to speculate....when you can see the graphics in trailers made from actual game play...
http://us.blizzard.com/diablo3/media/
The problem with all these "WoW Killers" is that they focus on gamer personalities. As someone who still leads a guild in WoW its amazing to me how many applicants we get who have never played another video game outside of their iPhone.
Gamers probably make up something like 10-20% of WoW and the rest are non-gamers who got pulled in off the streets. Until a MMO comes along that can grab non-gamers and make them want to log in and group with others (make a gamer wanna-be out of them) then WoW is safe.
...Advert to the right of this comment...
Adblock Plus. Works wonders.
I seriously read his comment twice, then looked at the comment box, found no ad, and wondered "...huh?" then realized I had Adblock installed!
Guild Wars 2 might be doing that first... the first Guild Wars was still a far superior game than WoW, and no monthly subscription. Then again, I hate WoW so I might be biased.
Guild Wars was excellent! Very tactical gameplay and so well balanced. Can't wait for GW2
Diablo 3.... when's that due, 2012, 2014? 2020? I mean i'm sure a 4billion a year company with over 2,000 employees could somehow produce sequels to their non Warcraft franchise every 10 years...
uggg, just think, imagine if Blizzard plans to announce a new Warcraft RTS expansion or sequel, like Warcraft IV... Hey, it'll only be 15 years.
Guild Wars 2 might be doing that first... the first Guild Wars was still a far superior game than WoW, and no monthly subscription. Then again, I hate WoW so I might be biased.
Tried Guild Wars and just couldn't get into it. Very VERY pretty, but didn't really like the gameplay and the grind.
But yes, you're biased.
While I do play WoW, I'm all for the WoW-killers out there. I played the demos for a few mmo's and wasn't impressed. Rifts looks decent, but the screen shots weren't inspiring. There are so many ways to play WoW that can keep one entertained, it's tough for new mmo's I think. I don't think WoW will hold up when the "average system" has at least a quad-core and the capabilities of a 570 or 6970....in two or three years. The graphics are cartoonish, but the game is still fun. Unreal's new engine in an mmo...that would be smoke'n.
Rift and Guild Wars 2 won't stand a chance against WoW. EVERY MMO that has ever been released says that they're the 'WoW-killer', but none have done it so far. Knights of the Old Republic will probably be a success. I would guess a couple million subscribers at the most. But NOTHING can bring down a Blizzard game except for another Blizzard game. Also, don't talk about the bots in D2, they were Blizzard North's fault. This is the first Diablo game made by the actual Blizzard company.
What's going to ultimately hurt Rift, is the lack of trial accounts. Most people aren't going to dump $50-60 into a subscription based game, without being able to try it out first...especially from a new company they've never heard of before. Trion Worlds, according to their own website, has 2 completed games and is working on a 3rd in conjunction with Syfy (Formerly Sci-Fi) yet they claim to be the "premier publisher and developer of connected video games".... Trion World's even got their Rift site directly from Blizzard's World of Warcraft site....lol.
I'll give Rift a try, when the people are Trion Worlds finally pull their heads out of their asses and allow free trials.
Some of these articles aren't exactly News. Wow is like 20 years old and, therefore, is on the decline. Of course Blizzard wants to keep its players. Titan should have targeted release summer 2012, not Q4, 2013. They're gonna lose a lot of players by then because Wow's graphics are only tolerable because of their cartoony look nowadays.
WoW sucks and I bet D3 will be rather disappointing in terms of graphics.
I was just playing Sacred Gold lately. Sure, looks like garbage, but damn it's fun.
To be honest, if they weren't so pissy about using the custom resolution hack, I'd probably still be playing Diablo 2 today.
Some of these articles aren't exactly News. Wow is like 20 years old and, therefore, is on the decline. Of course Blizzard wants to keep its players. Titan should have targeted release summer 2012, not Q4, 2013. They're gonna lose a lot of players by then because Wow's graphics are only tolerable because of their cartoony look nowadays.
Blizzard, as a company, is 20 years old. WoW is only 10 years old. If you pay any attention to the gaming industry, you'd have already known that WoW is in fact not on a "decline" as you claim. WoW recently recorded 12 million active subscriptions....that's an increase from the previous count of 11 million active subscriptions. I don't see where an increase in active subscriptions qualifies as declining...
I don't think the players of WoW are going anywhere. Some may go to Diablo III, but I'd wager that many will take out dual subscriptions.
From the screens Diablo 3 looks like a 1999 game anyways...
Every single MMO launched in the last five years has been dubbed a 'WoW Killer'. Quite frankly it's a dream that hasn't even been close to realized.
Since WoW launched only four other MMOs have even seen over a million subscribers. Those titles are Aion, Lineage, Lineage II, and Runsescape. Of those four the only with even moderate success was Aion. Aion peaked at 4 millions subscribers (only a marginal 25% of WoW) and has begun a decline. All those WoW Killers like Warhammer, Conan, Galaxies, and LotR? They didn't even hit the million subscriber mark.
As for the future of WoW? Subscriber rates dropped some at the end of WotLK but are right back up to the 12 million mark. I fully expect WoW to have dips in active subscribers until the end of its run but should maintain 10 million or more until the lights go out. So please, can we stop with the 'WoW Killer' nonsense until a game manages maybe even 50% of the subscriber base WoW has. 6 million wouldn't actually be that close, but at least it wouldn't be laughable.
Guild Wars is awesome, still is and GW2 is going to blow socks off.
There is one simple reason: I refuse to pay for a game I already bought.
WoW is definitely getting old and tired, however Blizzard will flog that horse until it has no blood left in it. It is just too much of a cash cow to be retired so eventually WoW as we know it will die a slow horrible death. Rift is similar enough to WoW to gain the most from the WoW customers and new enough to offer a shiny new gaming experience. Not that you can really blame Blizzard for keeping on pushing WoW, would you give up something that gave you mountains of money everyday?