WOW still aiming for annual expansions News

What's next? "WoW: Making Magic?" WoW: Bustin' Out?"

Or what about "Wowz: Elvz in the City?"

WoW: Ikea Furniture edition?

WoW : My little mount!

Yes guys, it's helps if you have some decent lore to support these expansions rather than just knocking out an new island that imaginery appears in the world/universe.

Something like Kul Tiras would be nice though.

I must say I find the comparison to Sims expansions, by previous posters, to be a bit misguided. WoW is an MMO. Those need regular content updates, in the form of minor patches and larger expansions. That is how you keep your playerbase paying subscription fees. It's not really comparable to additions to a single player game.

I must say I find the comparison to Sims expansions, by previous posters, to be a bit misguided. WoW is an MMO. Those need regular content updates, in the form of minor patches and larger expansions. That is how you keep your playerbase paying subscription fees. It's not really comparable to additions to a single player game.

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It's more about the workmanlike/production line mentality this points to: "Well, it's that time of year again, time to roll out another cash cow..."

Expansions are good but only when the time is right. It comes off as forced to say there'll be an annual expansion and can even lead to the scenario where "free" content/updates are delayed or removed so they can be added to the expansion.

I wonder what they'll come up with next. Draenor and Northrend were already existing lands. As far as I know, they've run out of those. So the next one has to be something totally new.

Unless they're letting you play in the past.

Oh, not that I care by the way. I quit WoW when TBC came out.

iok - But when have they actually done that?

iok - But when have they actually done that?

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Blizzard have usually given the "when it's ready" line relating to release dates. To suddenly say, "We're releasing a pack every year" is a bit of a turnaround.

And there are a LOT of the features in Lich King that could have been released as patch updates. The point I'm making is that how long will it be before the "free" content is shifted to be part of an expansion? It makes sense from a commercial point of view to do that, as it not only saves Blizzard having to patch the game but it also means people who want the new content will have greater incentive to buy the new expansion.

Put it this way: what do barbershops have to do with the Lich King lore? Nothing. So why is that feature being included in the expansion? Could it be because it was one of the most requested features on the Suggestions Forum?

>Unless they're letting you play in the past.

They have that. Caverns of Time :)

Next one will probably be the Maelstrom of Emerald Dream.

There is still a lot of uncovered terrain in Azeroth... Areas that are spoken of in there lore but currently not accessable... My bet would be on the old gods being the new 'baddies' To be honest there back catalogue of evil doers is becoming thin and i can't think of anyone else to fill the shoes.

If they don't begin introducing more world events with characters - possibly introducing new ones. We will be forced to contend with complete unknowns.

"Who is this guy were supposed to be fighting?"
"Shrugs shoulders"
"I never heard of him before... Why is he the big new evil?... He eats puppies you say!?... Damn him"
"Shakes fist"

looking forward to World of Warcraft: OMFG Zerg invasion.

Well, normally, especially with such things as sport titles, the yearly cosmetic change smacks of cash ins. However in this case it feels more like a developer apologising for not fullfilling promises to consumers. After all they promised yearly expansions at the release of TBC, and have fought off accusations of a lack of content updates ever since, and now they are lowering customer expectations regarding when the next one arrives, to deflect further criticism. So I don't think thee complaint about production line development really applies her.

What should and shouldn't be in a expansion instead of a content patch is a little beside the point.

There is also the Undermines. Like northrend but on the southern side of azeroth. Goblin's "home land" and plenty of lore able to be put there. Was also on some azeroth concept maps for the start of wow (with northrend) so I'm guessing its planned for an expansion like maelstrom.

What should and shouldn't be in a expaansion instead of a content patch is a little beside the point.

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Actually, it's the entire point. You pay subscriptions for in-game support, bug-fixes, bandwidth and content updates. Blizzard have released some huge patches in the past and done well in listening to the community, adding content and generally being good eggs about it. I'd hope they would continue to do that. But looking at the feature list for Lich King, I'm disappointed to see a lot of stuff there that personally I'd expect to get without buying the expansion.

You see, the big difference is that you're already paying for content in patches. Paying again for an expansion that features content that by rights could and should have been included in "free" downloads is, to me, Blizzard simply milking the market.

Blizzard have usually given the "when it's ready" line relating to release dates. To suddenly say, "We're releasing a pack every year" is a bit of a turnaround.

Not quite, for one it's not sudden, since they said they wanted to release annually since before TBC came out and secondly they still stick to the rule of when its done, since the expansions have yet to come out yearly.

I think the free patch to paid expansion ratio is fairly generous, so far, as well.

Not that I got to play in half of what was released.

I have an issue with the expansions in MMO's. What should happen is this: You buy the original box, the monthly fee pays for your bandwidth, support and new features. As the new features are introduced you get to experience that content.

Every year (or so) they should refresh the retail package to include all the new content. Anyone buying at that moment in time will be up to date content wise. This then also gives the original buyer the opportunity to re buy the retail package years down the line should they want to reinstall without patching etc etc.

With the monthly fee, all the revenue goes through those producing the software. With a retail box, the producers get less than a third of it. This is bad value for the end user and the producer.

First of all Northrend is not a new island; its been around in the lore for years; where do you think Arthas went after Warcraft 3? Also a lot of the features of the expansion that people say should be free....well they are; barbershops, achievements, improved UI (greater view distance, increased poly counts on new models, improved spell effects) expanded talents etc. These are all available to people who don't buy the expansion. The expansion just provides levelling above 70, access to Northrend and access to Strand of the Ancients

Not quite, for one it's not sudden, since they said they wanted to release annually since before TBC came out and secondly they still stick to the rule of when its done, since the expansions have yet to come out yearly.

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I hadn't seen that statement, but I do still stand by my comment. It's a cash-in, plain and simple. Nothing wrong with that, as they're in the market to make money (and more power to 'em) but I think there's also a consideration to be given as to just WHAT is going to be in these expansions and how much of it is really "new" content and how much is simply delayed to be included.

Also a lot of the features of the expansion that people say should be free....well they are; barbershops, achievements, improved UI (greater view distance, increased poly counts on new models, improved spell effects) expanded talents etc. These are all available to people who don't buy the expansion.

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Has that been confirmed? I'm not doubting you but I haven't seen anything that says that. Good work Blizzard if it is, though!

in other words they are working on another mmo so not as many developers to work on the expansion packs :P

"Has that been confirmed? I'm not doubting you but I haven't seen anything that says that. Good work Blizzard if it is, though! "

Yes.

"Also a lot of the features of the expansion that people say should be free....well they are; barbershops, achievements, improved UI (greater view distance, increased poly counts on new models, improved spell effects) expanded talents etc. These are all available to people who don't buy the expansion."

This is true. These all roll out to all WoW players this very Wednesday in patch 3.0.2 "Echoes of Doom" which has been sitting as a 1.57GB patch in most WoW players folders for a couple of weeks as a background download. This will bring all the things mentioned above to all players regardless of whether they buy WotLK or not. The expansion pack introduces Death Knights and the Northrend area for level 70 to 80, but you can play standard WoW with all the tweaks without it... not sure why you would though.

Has that been confirmed? I'm not doubting you but I haven't seen anything that says that. Good work Blizzard if it is, though!

Yes. That has been confirmed. It is also as it was back at the TBC launch. You pay for access the level cap raise and new areas. Gameplay changes introduced will apply to all players.

And to say that yearly expansions are cash ins, when in this case Blizzard are trying to explain to players why they won't get them for some time, despite the players wishes, is missing the mark a bit. If Blizz were to start charging for content that would normaly be a regular patch then you'd have a point. But at this point in time nothing is pointing in that direction. They are simply saying that theey are aiming for delivering the type of expansions we've seen so far once a year, but that they still haven't been able to deliver sufficient value in time.

WOW: Peon Uprising? "what?"

Well, that's a good move on their part.

I still think the expansions come off as sounding like cash-ins though. Don't get me wrong, I had fun playing WoW when I played but I don't see a future for it beyond new expansions introducing more zones to grind through. It's a shame, as WoW was pretty innovative when it came along, but now all it seems to be is more of the same. Sure, there's an argument that says that's what people want, but for me, personally, WoW stopped being interesting once I hit 70 and I don't see levelling up to Level 80 as being anything I'm interested in.

WOW: Kitty Vendor Roller Rescue?

@iokthemonkey

If you were still into WoW and had to listen to endless whines about lack of content your opinion about what Blizzard meant by htese comments might have been different.;)

If you were still into WoW and had to listen to endless whines about lack of content your opinion about what Blizzard meant by htese comments might have been different.;)

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Yeah, I jumped ship when I saw the rot starting to set in... :)

Personally I'll play to lvl 80 because I genuinely think that even as a single-player game it's better than most offerings in the RPG market. To continue playing at 80 will take a lot more.

Personally I'll play to lvl 80 because I genuinely think that even as a single-player game it's better than most offerings in the RPG market. To continue playing at 80 will take a lot more.

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Exactly how I felt at 60-70. The problem I have is that WoW offers nothing to me unless I want to buy this expansion, complete those 10 levels (in stupidly fast time, as I did with 60-70) then keep paying my subs but not playing until the next expansion comes out.

I wish Blizzard would look at an entirely new MMO concept, to be honest, as I'd love to play a new game by them.

you dont really pay for the new content though, you pay for the ability to ding another 10 levels and get extra abilities to boot - and with expansions coming in at around 17 quid (depending on where you shop) its not a massive amount to ask, especially for a game of WoW's quality

you dont really pay for the new content though, you pay for the ability to ding another 10 levels and get extra abilities to boot - and with expansions coming in at around 17 quid (depending on where you shop) its not a massive amount to ask, especially for a game of WoW's quality

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But for me, that's not enough. I want something beyond grinding through the same level-based progression and earning new skills. The problem is WoW is too narrow a game and has nothing to offer beyond levelling your character.

EDIT: Clarified a point about levelling.

@MightyMouse
"Personally I'll play to lvl 80 because I genuinely think that even as a single-player game it's better than most offerings in the RPG market. To continue playing at 80 will take a lot more."

Yep, I'll probably be the same, get to 80, muck about a bit at 80 do some instance runs then let my subscription lapse because there probably won't be enough content at end game for people who don't PVP, can't guarantee the time required for raiding and don't feel like spamming "Lock 80 LFG anywhere for anything" for hours before ending up escorting someone through Scarlet Monastery. :)

WTF kind of stupid news piece was that? Are you suggesting Warcraft will still be going strong in 2010?

WTF kind of stupid news piece was that? Are you suggesting Warcraft will still be going strong in 2010?

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lol, of course it will be you fool, thats only 14 months off.

"Yep, I'll probably be the same, get to 80, muck about a bit at 80 do some instance runs then let my subscription lapse because there probably won't be enough content at end game for people who don't PVP, can't guarantee the time required for raiding and don't feel like spamming "Lock 80 LFG anywhere for anything" for hours before ending up escorting someone through Scarlet Monastery. :)"

To address some of those points;

1) World of Warcraft PVP has always been a bit of an afterthought. Arena is the classic example of this - cookie-cutter in the extreme, best gear wins. It's just a bit bland, though in WotLK they are finally giving a purpose to world PVP - and upping the ante with rewards and needing new strategies. Eventually it'll peter out and be boring, but in the short term after the release world PvP will certainly be a big thing for a lot of players. That said, if you're really after PvP then there are plenty of MMO's out there that cater specifically to that kind of player. WoW, for all it's showmanship, is more about the PvE.

2) Pugging is the bane of existance for most, however find a good group of people on your server and you can do a lot more content without the pugging. My rogue more or less levelled and went right through to Black Temple with the same nice, friendly people whom I met in Wailing Caverns. It's not the duty of the game to give you the content so easily, more up to you to find good people to do it with. It's hard, but it's certainly doable.

3) If you think to pass the time boosting people is valid... it can be, no question, but there's usually plenty more to be getting on with than that - and again, up to you to find people to do things with. Just suggests maybe you were far too interested in one aspect of the game to really persue the other.

There's loads to be doing aside PvP. If anything, the instancing and raiding is a far larger and more challenging prospect than more arenas and battlegrounds.

I'm going back to WoW tomorrow. My hunter is out of retirement and hungry for Northrend. I can't wait, not least because it's new content but all the talk this year of WoW-Killers has been a heap of hot air... and WotLK is still probably going to be the highlight of the MMO year.

WoTLK will be more of the same grinding bullshit. Although if you're the kind of person who willingly rolled a hunter then I suppose it would look wonderful.

All this negativity is quite amazing. If the game bores you don't play it .
Although is did like the WOW Ikea edition and WOW My Little Mount comments :)

Patch day tomorrow? Nothing clean right?


Patch day 15th October includes all of the stuff from the current test realms (not Wotlk Beta)
Some of that stuff:
Barbershop
Inscription tradeskill
New talent trees for all classes
etc etc
Plus all this moaning about the game sounds like smokers trying to quit but they just can't.

World of Warcrack. How do you know that your addicted? Your microwave goes 'ding' and you shout 'gratz!'

We'll probably end up seeing as many expansions for WoW as EQ had. Let's hope they don't completely bankrupt the lore by then and strive for a bit of innovation.

World of Warcrack. How do you know that your addicted? Your microwave goes 'ding' and you shout 'gratz!'

Brilliant! :)

There's loads to be doing aside PvP.

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Such as?

I stopped playing WoW because there wasn't anything to do at Level 70. Unless I wanted to hang around looking for a group, spend an hour waiting for a raid to start or just go and farm cash. WoW IS a great game: until you hit Level 70. Then it just grinds to a halt.