Over the weekend, Blizzcon took place, one of the most important events for online games this year. What do you think of the revelations about WoW, Hearthstone, Overwatch, and co?
Blizzard has established such an exceptional position in the online gaming market that their in-house event generates more headlines and information in this niche than “the right” conventions with … you know, more than one developer.
This year’s Blizzcon did not bring any major surprises or even a new title, but we learned more about Blizzard’s plans to expand existing games. This week there is already a new Hearthstone expansion, and the planned shooter Overwatch for next year was outlined . Many gaps in the huge puzzle that the WoW expansion Legion currently is have been closed. And the big trailer for the movie was shown.
Our Assessment of Blizzcon
Hearthstone, Diablo 3, and Hearthstone – Solid Development
Shoe Man says: I feel somewhat lukewarm about Blizzcon. I think the surprise of Hearthstone being announced this week is good, but it was also due; this is now the 3rd adventure of this kind. It didn’t blow me away.
Heroes of the Storm had a nice highlight with Cho’Gall, but overall it’s more of the same. The arena mode was unnecessary to me. Diablo 3 sounds solid, they continue to develop it sensibly. It will surely be another 2 weeks in January that people play it before putting it aside, just like it always is until a new expansion is released.
Somehow, that’s how all the announcements felt to me: Guys, we are now at step 48C – here are steps 48D to 52C! Enjoy!
Overwatch – Oh, you only just realized it’s going Buy2Play?
I am generally skeptical about Overwatch. This whole “Yes, we knew from the beginning that we would bring it to consoles, but the ‘free2play’ was only a later decision. And we don’t know how the release will proceed…” you could also tell that to the fox. The fact that it’s coming to consoles and that it will be a Buy2Play title could have been stated at the announcement a year ago. I think that would have been fairer. Because the decision, “We are bringing it to console” and “We are opting for a Buy2Play model” surely went hand in hand.
Now about the fact that: Yes, we still don’t know how we will bring future heroes into the game, if at all. Please find that out quickly because I base my interest in your game on that, and of course whether I will buy it or not.
WoW: Legion – Too Often Disappointed
WoW: Legion sounds good in terms of what they are doing. But every WoW expansion sounded great before it came out. I’ve encountered the disillusioning WoW routine too often in recent years. I also struggle to celebrate Blizzard now for a wardrobe system like Guild Wars 2. That was the solution they would bring. I think everyone was aware of it: Guild Wars 2 solved the transmog problem with the wardrobe. The question was: When would other MMO studios follow suit?
Here is the article from March 2015 about it: Rift switches to Guild Wars 2 wardrobe system; WoW and TESO are still hesitating
But why something like this has to be part of an expansion and not just come as a “side feature” in a larger content patch isn’t clear to me, and I don’t like it either. Other MMOs release such “comfort” features from time to time and do not wait, even though it’s overdue, another 9 months until the addon comes out just so it becomes bigger and more important.
Such changes belong to patches for me, not expansions. And selfies or not: WoW’s patches could surely use some more highlights.
Overall, I found it a solid Blizzcon without any real highlights for me. The fact that the most important information, the release dates, were leaked 24 hours earlier due to silly mistakes by Blizzard, because the pre-order pages went live, didn’t help the excitement either.
Now the question to you: How did you like Blizzcon? What were your highlights? Were your expectations met or disappointed?
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