World of Warcraft

[Solver]

So what, exactly, is so attractive about WOW? I've never played a MMORPG, the concept hasn't excited me, but what's the attraction of this game? And why is WoW so much wore successful than the other current MMORPGs?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
There are still people in the world who leave their home to buy a game?

It's quicker than getting it shipped apparently. People who ordered from Amazon haven't even had them ship yet, it seems like.

[Harovan]

I don't know. I order practically all my games online a few days before release, and in most cases I receive it 1-2 days before the official date. Also, many games can be downloaded (legally, as d2d version). Finally, most online games I know install expansion packs directly through the updater.

[lightblue]

I got it the day before the release. Items are ridicously good. Green quest reward has replaced my tier 2 helm.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It appears that people aren't getting WOW before official release date from vendors like Amazon.

And the WOW expansion isn't online.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
I don't know. I order practically all my games online a few days before release, and in most cases I receive it 1-2 days before the official date. Also, many games can be downloaded (legally, as d2d version). Finally, most online games I know install expansion packs directly through the updater.

I always buy online and they usually ship the day before release so you get it on time. There's a risk of course, but it's the same as hunting around stores for a real copy of the game. Online is way cheaper too usually.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Solver
So what, exactly, is so attractive about WOW? I've never played a MMORPG, the concept hasn't excited me, but what's the attraction of this game? And why is WoW so much wore successful than the other current MMORPGs?

You have to play to see. It's a curious phenomenon where people do stuff sometimes they don't even want to get things other people don't have. I guess it's basic human nature.

Plus they can be a great deal of fun, but there's a lot of the above to keep people playing.

As to WoW's success it took the model of character progression that is old and successful, streamlined it, cut out the crap like long travel times that no one except Ralph likes, and delivered it all in a characteristically slick Blizzard package. Next stop megabucks.

[vee4473]

well, just got it at BB. They had a whole display case.

I was like you Solver. Then I played, and if you like the idea of rpg char. progression, it just grows on you.

As spike said, it's just something that you have to play to see.

[vee4473]

oh, and it is somewhat similar in my eyes to the civ "one more turn" effect. There is no logical reason why you should want to play civ AGAIN and conqueer/build the same stuff yet again (or in wows case, level up again), but it's too fun to resist.

so, you fire up civ again. i'm firing up wow again.

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
And the WOW expansion isn't online.

EQ games (both 1 and 2) are pretty good at selling XPs online. One time we had planned a raid in an instanced zone, but as we wanted to enter, one of us couldn't, as it required the "Splitpaw saga" expansion (officially only an "adventure pack" for $4.99) and he didn't have it. He quit the game and came back 10 minutes later. With the expansion.

[Asher]

THAT IS AMAZING!

If only the game wasn't ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.

[Harovan]

Yea, I know, you're the expert of terrible games.

[Asher]

I do have a good eye for what constitutes a terrible game. Thanks.

[Harovan]

And what would that be? Details please.

[Asher]

Simple: lack of fun.