Wake up CVG!!!

Note to computerandvideogames.com: Wake up and smell the coffee. Why? Read on…

MMO developers trying to copy World of Warcraft is “definitely not the right move,” says Blizzard lead producer, Shane Dabiri.

Speaking in the latest issue of PC Zone magazine, Dabiri argues that trying to emulate the success of his company’s MMO isn’t what gamers are looking for, and devs should try to create “innovative new MMOs”. In other words, stay away from Blizzard’s profits, you thieves.

“There are a lot of people that try to emulate World of Warcraft – and as flattering as that is our end it’s definitely not the right move,” he says.

“I know that World of Warcraft is very successful, and so people think if they were to make another game just like it they could somehow capture that audience. However, I don’t think that’s what players are looking for. –   PCZone Magazine via computerandvideogames.com

There are several thoughts here upon reading the comments by computerandvideogames.com (CVG) and the first would be “would this (Blizzard Entertainment) be the same company that “borrowed” so heavily from Everquest and the Warhammer Tabletop game themselves? Isn’t this a bit like the “pot calling the kettle black” as grandmother used to say?

Beyond our initial impressions, it seems that the author from computerandvideogames.com (not PCZone Magazine) has missed a point or two somewhere along the way.  First, what Shane Dabiri is saying here is obviously not, as the CVG author so erroneously interprets “stay away from Blizzard’s profits, you thieves.”  Now we here at No Prisoners, No Mercy can’t entirely blame the cvg author for their naiveté in the matter – many is the gaming journalist who has the mistaken impression that developers in the video game industry are always at each others throats.  We would humbly suggest that before anyone over at CVG goes about cramming words down anyone else’s throats (using what seems like an incredibly large hydraulic press in this case) that they go back and listen to our shows with Mr. Paul Barnett and Mr. R.W. Harper to get of a more realistic perspective on the inner workings of the video game industry.  Consider the quote from Shane Dabiri taken from the same interview:

“Players that have invested time in WOW don’t just want to do the same thing in other game – they want to try something completely new and different” – Shane Dabiri, Blizzard Lead Producer

This, after all, is the crux of the issue [pay attention now CVG] the issue isn’t who is using who else’s intellectual property – The issue is innovation.  As we discussed on show 49 (and at some length) with JMO from the MMO Voices podcast and Tipa from West Karana, the issue is that players are looking for something different.   As Tipa put it, “I already have a World of Warcraft icon on my desktop.”

However, before we leave the issue lets touch on one last aspect of the cvg article:

“We can see his argument. Even the excellent Warhammer Online – an unashamed and well-built WoW-alike – doesn’t seem to be doing that well these days.” – CVG

Our first thought here is, of course, wake up and smell the coffee CVG; an “unashamed and well built WoW alike”? If anything this is more of a chicken or the egg argument as the artists over at Games Workshop, upon which the Warhammer Online mmo is (obviously) designed, were penning their now famous orcs long before then Blizzard Entertainment even thought about it.

As we discussed with Cryptic’s Bill Roper on No Prisoners, No Mercy show 50 (still in the editing process) we hear at No Prisoners No Mercy believe that the punishment of Keel Hauling should be brought back for any imbecile who insists on dredging up the same tired term “WoW clone” or any other derivative (something which caused our own Julie Whitefeather to coin the phrase “writer clone” not long ago).

That said, only a complete imbecile totally ignores the game mechanics (note here we are not talking about art designs, nor about intellectual properties) which are used by a successful competitor.

See you online,

The No Prisoners No Mercy Team

SIDE NOTE:

Today’s side note is also today’s “tip of the day” from Fallen Earth (reformated to fit your screen as they say)

A Case of Selective Hearing

Grandmother used to call it “selective hearing”.  I should point out at the outset that there is a world of difference between those among us who need hearing aids, someone who is hard of hearing, and someone who has selective hearing. We have a dear friend of many years who needs a hearing aid for no other reason, like all of us, than the years eventually take their toll

But “hard of hearing” and “selective hearing” are different altogether – at least as my grandmother saw it.

At some point in the youth of our lives we all experience “hard of hearing.” Actions we take that would merit the application of the phrase are usually followed by our mothers saying things like “YOUNG LADY ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?”

Ah but selective hearing – that is something special.

Our dogs have selective hearing; especially the little one.

When I give our little dog a treat followed by the words, “That’s all there is, no more” she doesn’t hear that. Instead she somehow hears the words “hop up on the table and help yourself.”  But selective hearing isn’t limited to dogs and little children – adults get it too from time to time. I know of a business that has had two separate audits of its business operations that determined the problems it was having were due to poor management.  As unlikely as it seems, the executives of this fine organization heard the words “poor management” as “a problem with the employees.”

That, my friends, is selective hearing.

Now it seems that Mythic Entertainment (or now that they have been reorganized by EA do I call them “the developers formerly known as Mythic”?) have developed selective hearing.

Don’t get me wrong. It was a pleasure to have their creative director on not one, but THREE of our shows.  After all, if nothing else, Paul Barnett gives good interview.  But that is where it ended.  After that he doesn’t call, he doesn’t write. We are starting to think he doesn’t love us here at No Prisoners, No Mercy any more.  All we can say to that is, “Oh Well” – he isn’t the first and he won’t be the last.  Leave fifty dollars on the dresser when the interview is over please and we will call you when it comes out.

If Gamastura.com is to be believed (after all we weren’t at the Austin Game Developer’s Conference) it seems that Jeff Hickman has developed a bit of selective hearing as well. 

“There’s a big difference between easy play and ease of use. And one of the lessons that we thought we learned from ourselves and other games, was that it’s important to have ease of use, and it’s also important to hit the right balance between easy gameplay, challenging gameplay, and too difficult. We thought we hit that, but Warhammer, in PVE, in the beginning, is too easy. It doesn’t make you thrilled to do it.” – Jeff Hickman at the Austin Game Developers Conference, as reported by Gamasutra.com

He goes on to talk about the second problem and says the following:

“We had great ideas for all of these really cool social tools, and we built them into the game. But the game doesn’t require friends. Part of it is that it’s too easy.” – Jeff Hickman

It amazes me how so many players can say things like:

“The game crashes too much”

“Public Quests don’t work”

“Fortress Battles don’t work”

“I shouldn’t have to PUSH my way to the level cap, it should be enjoyable”

“The lower levels of the game are deserted.”

Yet Jeff Hickman somehow hears.”

 “The game is too easy.”

Selective hearing is a hell of a thing when it happens.  It is made all the worse when someone thinks they are communicating when instead they are TALKING AT the community. He does go on to point out “Economic models are its third biggest problem”. Now THAT I will certainly hand him – I think he is “spot on” as it is sometimes said.  Mind you, not everyone can do as good a job at virtual economics as CCP (the good folks who brought us Eve Online) have done.

Perhaps I should throw in the usual adage at this point saying “I have a great deal of respect for Jeff Hickman.” It wouldn’t be a lie. You don’t get to where he is by being a fool.  On the other hand, you don’t stay at places like where he is by not listening.

 See you online,

 Julie Whitefeather