Blizzard's New MMO Could Hit Consoles

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It looks like Diablo 3 isn't the only potential console game that acclaimed World of Warcraft creator and PC developer Blizzard is considering for the future.

While the company has remained extremely quiet regarding its "unannounced next-gen MMO," World of Warcraft director Jeffrey Kaplan has hinted that the new project, which won't be officially unveiled for "a while," may end up on consoles.

"I don't think World of Warcraft would really work that well on the console, but that's not to say that other MMOs couldn't," Kaplain told MTV Multiplayer. "We have a pretty savvy group of console developers."

"A lot of the guys we inherited from [StarCraft Ghost developer] Swingin' Ape really know what they're doing on next-gen consoles," he continued. "So we might have a few tricks up our sleeves in that regard."

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    October 13, 2008 10:01 AM

    lol. I'm not a WoW fan, or even an MMO fan but i thought i'd throw in my two pellets of rabbit shit anyway.

    I can imagine there being a lot of "OMG what are Blizzard thinking?" and "multi-platform release = EPIC FAIL" comments posted. Honestly though, how many people really expect Blizzard to make another MMO even close to the same level as WoW? It was amazing it had as much success as it did, I really dont see it happening again.

    It's like asking the original Deus Ex developers to make another equally (if not better) game. Pretty much not gonna happen, not that i'm comparing WoW to Deus Ex.....cos it's clear whih is superior ;-)

    I was never into Starcraft either, but I can just see the fanboys rage at Starcraft 2 when they realise it doesnt capture the 'magic' of the original. Just like SupCom to TA.

    Anyway, this is my preemptive counter-comment to any of these posts. Don't know why i'm bothered really.

    • reply
      October 13, 2008 10:06 AM

      When was the last time Blizzard shit out a turd?

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        October 13, 2008 10:25 AM

        From my point of view? Pretty much everythin except Diablo 1 and 2. And the guys responsible for those are out of the picture. Kinda why I think Diablo 3 is gonna suck. I really hope it doesnt.......but i'm not holding my breath.

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          October 13, 2008 10:35 AM

          Unfortunately, while you are obviously entitled to it as you should be, your point of view is certainly in the minority. So much so as to a point where scientific experiements could probably easily be conducted with the % of people who think as you do.

          You don't have to like the software, but as an enthusiast, you should try to recognize some of the intellectual feats that some of the great companies we have out there now produce and bring to the market.

          BTW - I too hate MMO's.

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            October 13, 2008 10:40 AM

            I didn't expect anyone to agree with me. I know how many people love Blizzard and pretty much anything they churn out.....it's the same with companies like Valve.

            Anyway, the initial point of my post was to highlight the still-to-come and unnecessary attacks on Blizzard for deciding to also go for console development for their next MMO.

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          October 13, 2008 1:24 PM

          I'll agree with you to an extent. Although Warcraft III and World of Warcraft are good games both, they haven't come close to holding my attention as long as Starcraft and the Diablo-games have.

          I still play Diablo II, and sometimes Starcraft, but I'd never touch Warcraft III nor WoW again, and I haven't for a long time. Well, aside from the odd UMS, but I haven't even done that.


          Still, I look forward to what they have in stores for us next, it'll certainly be worth a good chunk of my time. But will they last as long as some of their previous titles? That we'll have to see.

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      October 13, 2008 10:24 AM

      It would be easier for Blizzard to make a better game than WoW, they do it with every patch and expansion.

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        October 13, 2008 10:24 AM

        easy*

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        October 13, 2008 10:28 AM

        Im not saying that the game won't be better, because in all honesty I thought WoW was balls, so to me it wouldnt be hard. But everyone who loves WoW will pretty much be expecting more of the same but improved. When you take a game with that much success it's hard to introduce new features and drop the ones people dislike without radically altering the way the game is played.

        And then when it is released all the WoW lovers will look back with a tear and think "It's not as good as WoW"

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          October 13, 2008 10:44 AM

          Yeah, some people will do that no matter what. People STILL say that about Diablo 2 vs Diablo 1, and you know what? They're a minority. More people liked D2 over D1 than vice versa. (On that note, its hilarious that you're already thinking Diablo 3 will suck.) Just like you thinking WoW is balls, nobody cares because you're one of the dissenting few.

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      October 13, 2008 10:42 AM

      People were wondering the same about Starcraft after war2 and D2 after D1, but Blizzard again and again have massive success. Even most of the original Diablo developers failed with Hellgate London, but Blizzard haven't 'till now.

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      October 13, 2008 10:50 AM

      youre comparing one of the greatest development studios ever to those that pale in comparison. i have no doubts that they will deliver.

      • FTY legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        October 14, 2008 12:58 AM

        To be one of the greatest development studios in my book, you have to do something else as take an already existent IP, modify it a bit to your liking and release it under a new name, and that's what they're doing all the time, Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo.

        The only true in-house idea games which were released by them sucked balls, except maybe lost vikings was semi enjoyable at that time, but there were a lot better games.

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      October 13, 2008 11:12 AM

      Since the real technology breakthroughs they've made are backend/infrastructure related, I'm going to predict their next MMO will be very good. Their technology is entirely platform independent with respect to the client (short of memory concerns).

      I just don't think they'd have as much success with a console MMO since the majority of MMO players:
      1. Don't live play on console
      2. Don't live in North America, where console's are popular

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