Comments on: What Makes WoW Work. http://madscientist.net/2006/05/31/what-makes-wow-work/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:22:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Evan http://madscientist.net/2006/05/31/what-makes-wow-work/#comment-39 Evan Fri, 09 Jun 2006 18:02:22 +0000 http://madscientist.net/2006/05/31/what-makes-wow-work/#comment-39 It's true that name recognition gets people in the door and can even, to some extent, help retain people if a game is slightly sub-par, but I don't really think it will keep people playing or really make them enjoy the game. Sure, the name recognition is part of the reason for their success, since it boosted sales, but I'm wondering what factors it is that keeps people playing (and paying). It is going to be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. EQ II seems to be gaining some ground on WoW as it ages a bit better, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look at what it is that hooked people in the first place. Ideally what a you would want to design is something that hooks people like WoW but which then can age nicely like EQ II. It’s true that name recognition gets people in the door and can even, to some extent, help retain people if a game is slightly sub-par, but I don’t really think it will keep people playing or really make them enjoy the game. Sure, the name recognition is part of the reason for their success, since it boosted sales, but I’m wondering what factors it is that keeps people playing (and paying).

It is going to be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. EQ II seems to be gaining some ground on WoW as it ages a bit better, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look at what it is that hooked people in the first place. Ideally what a you would want to design is something that hooks people like WoW but which then can age nicely like EQ II.

]]> By: EBailey http://madscientist.net/2006/05/31/what-makes-wow-work/#comment-6 EBailey Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:58:42 +0000 http://madscientist.net/2006/05/31/what-makes-wow-work/#comment-6 I believe there is another point to be added that is often overlooked. Blizzard as a company had a large following of PC Gamers who enjoyed their previous titles like Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, etc... Blizzard had a reputation for putting out solid, fun games and people would buy a title just because it came from Blizzard. The same phenomenon can be found with other game producers like Sid Meier. Many of those players decided to 'try' a MMORPG for the first time with World of Warcraft, and found it to be an addictive endeavor. When I talk to some of those players, they view WoW as just another game with some friends online. Often, when they reach max level, they consider the game 'done' and move on, or possibly create one more character. It will be interesting to see in 2-3 more years how many people continue to play WoW versus diversifying into other MMORPG's either of the same genre or different. Also, as for point #4, almost everyone I've talked to will say that EQ2 looks MUCH better than WoW, but that WoW has a sense of style that is pushed through all aspects of the game, and they find that attractive. Especially all of the subtle (and not so subtle) references to pop culture and geek culture. I believe there is another point to be added that is often overlooked. Blizzard as a company had a large following of PC Gamers who enjoyed their previous titles like Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, etc… Blizzard had a reputation for putting out solid, fun games and people would buy a title just because it came from Blizzard. The same phenomenon can be found with other game producers like Sid Meier.

Many of those players decided to ‘try’ a MMORPG for the first time with World of Warcraft, and found it to be an addictive endeavor. When I talk to some of those players, they view WoW as just another game with some friends online. Often, when they reach max level, they consider the game ‘done’ and move on, or possibly create one more character.

It will be interesting to see in 2-3 more years how many people continue to play WoW versus diversifying into other MMORPG’s either of the same genre or different.

Also, as for point #4, almost everyone I’ve talked to will say that EQ2 looks MUCH better than WoW, but that WoW has a sense of style that is pushed through all aspects of the game, and they find that attractive. Especially all of the subtle (and not so subtle) references to pop culture and geek culture.

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