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June 28th, 2008, 00:06 GMT · By Silviu Stahie

Weekend Bashing: Why, Oh Why Isn't World of Warcraft Dead Yet?

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Let's face it, Blizzard is not the best developer in the world and I have to say, from my perspective, it has only released mediocre games so far. I know many will disagree and I'm sure I'll get my share of bashing, but I truly believe World of Warcraft is the reason why the gaming world today is in such a poor state.

Blizzard began its journey with Radical Psycho Machine Racing for SNES in 1991 and continued with various games, most of which no one has heard of. Probably
the first hit was Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994 and followed short after by Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1995) and Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal (1996). All important titles (by some standards), but their definitive title was the first Diablo in 1996, which set them apart from anyone else. Two years later, they launched StarCraft (a game that's played even today for some strange reason) and then an add-on called Brood War in the same year. And then came Diablo II, a game that's haunting me until today; not because it was such a good one but because I was surrounded by Diablo II worshipers, that were practically brain washed. That was the first time I saw physical adverse reactions for playing for too long. People would continuously play the cow level on the battle net just so they could find a ring or some kind of item that was worth wasting two nights in a row with nothing more than Coca-Cola (or some other caffeine based beverage).

They later released the Warcraft III series and a MMO in the Warcraft universe entitled World of Warcraft. The game had one add-on in 2007, The Burning Crusade, and another one it's on the way called Wrath of the Lich King. This MMO has brought profits for Blizzard in the last four years enough to sustain a small African country. You might have heard disputes over the bad influence games have on the life of children and even grown people but you might have also dismissed them with a smile, thinking that it's nothing more than a crazy psychologist talking or some lunatic lawyer in the US.

The problem with World of Warcraft is not that it is literally driving people to their deaths (many have died from exhaustion) because I'm all in favor of natural selection. I believe games and MMOs in particular can influence the life of gamers, not by realistic graphics and violence as the game looks like a glorified turn, but by affecting the priorities of those who play it. The vast majority will not suffer from physical effects but the hard core fans will change their life to suit their MMO desires. School grades are falling, kids have problems integrating in society and normal people lose their jobs (I personally know a case).

You might think a game that brings people together is a good thing but unfortunately that's not the case. People need to take a step back and reevaluate their perspective because games can destroy your life or in any case influence it in a bad way. Anything in large doses will eventually damage the human body, whether carrots or games. Living in a free world has its price and liberty is a tricky thing when it comes to self-determination. I see why some people are incapable of determining their right path in life and when I mention the World of Warcraft problem, most of them are either in denial or simply have an adverse reaction. I can't determine the mechanism that's keeping World of Warcraft alive but I will praise the day when Blizzard starts descending. Unfortunately, until then, Blizzard will probably launch a Diablo III title and players that have managed to escape from the Warcraft universe will be drafted into another void in Diablo. Things are about to get from bad to worse.

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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Joe on 28 Jun 2008, 03:13 UTC reply to this comment

I agree on one point. People who get sucked into video games to the point where they cause themselves physical harm are idiots who will get weeded out of the gene pool.

The rest of the article... Blizzard has made some revolutionary games. The original Warcraft, Diablo, and Starcraft, all helped to shape 3 entirely different genres of gaming as we know them today. Yes, some people took their involvement with all these games too far, but for one reason. They were great.

Now, I'm not a WoW fan. I've never played it. Personally, paying for a game I own monthly doesn't appeal to me. But the mechanism that is keeping it alive is, well, fun. Obviously people enjoy it. And if games that are enjoyable are ruining the gaming industry, I don't know what you want from this hobby.


Comment #2 by: eht on 28 Jun 2008, 06:43 UTC reply to this comment

My Weekend Bashing: First off learn how to spell lose with one 'o' not two, kthnx. Second, no Blizzard won't drop an expansion pack for Diablo 2 or whatever you were trying to say with "Blizzard will probably launch a Diablo II titles" instead we will see D3 come to the light :D. Lastly, I'd give you props on this bashing, but you failed and strayed onto how it affects people's lives and you acted like you had an agenda to propagandize the company's name. Every game developer have their own mediocre games right? Its not strange that SC is still being played today, it's one of the best RTS out there.


Comment #3 by: Jared on 28 Jun 2008, 07:37 UTC reply to this comment

Well, after having played WoW for a little three years; I can undoubtedly agree with you. It left... a spiritual scar that I will most likely carry with me for the rest of my life. I'm fifteen. I did bad in my first trimester of high-school; and the thing is; WoW isn't necessarily the true culprit here, but rather the players. I'm not going to try and claim any form of clairvoyance; or try to superimpose on people's lives; but it can really cause some tragic happenings in one's life. You need to learn how to balance your play time; as simple as that sounds.


Comment #4 by: Orbstah on 28 Jun 2008, 08:12 UTC reply to this comment

Well I cant agree at all really, Cigs n alcohol are more socially acceptable group activities but kill more people.

Blizzard are just a company who listens to what there users want and delivers it. Wow is so popular even today because its not trying to be cutting edge and Visually incredible, it provides a complete experience and it can be as involved as you want it to be.

Anything can be addictive and its always the case that a VERY small minority always take things to excess, but why kurb anybody elses enjoyment because of a couple of loosers that were going to loose their job at some point anyways regardless of weather they play WOW or not ?
Gaming gets blamed for so many things these days and its difficult to remember how the world was before we had Video Games, I'm sure it was a lovely place with no youth crime or any crime at all for that matter, everybody lived in harmony and no one ever got hurt or killed. ( sigh!!!).


Comment #5 by: Drebin893 on 28 Jun 2008, 10:29 UTC reply to this comment

Great ! We have another Jack Thompson here.


Comment #6 by: Mynsc on 28 Jun 2008, 12:15 UTC reply to this comment

So like ... what's this got to do with Blizzard or WoW? Everyone falls in this trap and I see you're the newest victim.

Every MMO, no matter how poorly it is designed influences people's lifes and drives some to do rather stupid things. Everyone is jumping in the wagon and blaming WoW for this just because it's the most popular. In reality, all MMOs that are based on the simple level reward mechanism (and they're all are) have this hook on the players.

And about Blizzard ... saying about a game that became an official sport in a country (Starcraft in S Koreea) that it is mediocre is first of all insulting a whole country's intelligence and secondly is just a weak attempt to prove a point, a point I'm sure not even you agree with :P


Comment #7 by: Jaguar Paw on 28 Jun 2008, 15:30 UTC reply to this comment

Diablo2 and Starcraft were(are) good games because they are the kind of games you wont get boored with

Today they announced Diablo3 and Starcraft2 is coming in december so will get over Diablo2 and Stracraft ... :P


Comment #8 by: lianabena on 29 Jun 2008, 15:46 UTC reply to this comment

I will tell you why WOW is not dead. Take for example my aunt and uncle - both in their fifties. Two lvl 70s each. They play with their daughter and son-in-law who in turn play with their two oldest children. They live on different sides of the states. Add in Ventrillo and Grandma and Grandpa can do more than just say hello to the grandkids, they can walk through Elywnn Forest with them, or take part in holiday events. It would be great if they could fly back and forth once a month, but the 15 dollars for wow is much cheaper than airfair. I myself started playing to have something in common with my brother. I took close to two months off of wow just to prove to myself that I was not playing to much or being controlled by it. I use the parental controls to help regulate my time if I feel like I am spending too much there. As with most things, what you take from it is determined by what you bring to it.


Comment #9 by: Rick Goodmannoneofyourbusiness@a on 29 Jun 2008, 15:54 UTC reply to this comment

It depends on the person. I play WoW sometimes, yet still maintain a 4.0 gpa average . I t depends on how strong the will of the person is. Since I was raised in another country, my will is strong. Those born in the US are just horrible.


Comment #10 by: Michael on 29 Jun 2008, 23:19 UTC reply to this comment

Okay, don't go bashing Starcraft just because WoW destroys people's lives. And by the way, I know people who play WoW casually without letting it take over their lives. But as far as Starcraft goes, it is still played today because there is so much in-depth strategy involved in playing.


Comment #11 by: ryan on 14 Nov 2008, 06:06 UTC reply to this comment

i hate this game with a passion!!! its ruining my relationship!!!! i bet almost ever women in America hates this stupid game!!!!!


Comment #12 by: Henjos on 23 Feb 2009, 17:46 UTC reply to this comment

I totally agree with you, I have been playing WoW since the stress test, which was opened like a month or two before the game was actually released. I was sucked in for many years of my life and after the release of Wrath of the Lich King is when I realized I'm wasting my time. Since I've been playing I went through High School and most of my Freshman year in college. Instead of making relationships or honing on my programming/math skills I sat and got fat. Not saying that everyone does this but its my story. This semester of College I've been getting straight A's compared to last semester of C's during my play time of WoW, and I'm taking 6 more credits this semester with harder classes. WoW just sucks the time and logical thought right out of you. When I was playing I would always deny I had a problem, now that I've broken the addiction I know I had a serious one. This is spot on, but its for all video games that are goal oriented, you would rather meet the goals in the game that will be obsolete within the next two years than meet goals that could have a major impact on your life or society. Get off the game and start inventing the next space craft to fly us to Mars!


Comment #13 by: john hanson on 21 Apr 2010, 02:36 UTC reply to this comment

You kinda strayed out of the point there and got abit more personal towords bliz, the way i see it is people escaping reality abit so they can enjoy a game.. its "entretaintment" after all!! .. so why stoping them?, its true some minorty goes a bit out the track.. but come on r u tellin me its bliz's foult for making a really good game??? that kinda sounds like it came from someone who had a really bad personal expirence with bliz... and if u ask me then you -such as those who got too much addicted to this game- should have used the breaks at some point there.


Comment #14 by: Wiser on 18 Nov 2010, 15:20 UTC reply to this comment

Funny to see all the Blizzard fanatics blindly defend "their" game to death, despite the fact that this article rings true on all accounts. WoW is responsible for the highly negative effects being bought onto players, the players are at fault as well albeit to a lesser degree than the game... Gotta love immortal profiteering.


Comment #15 by: Wiser on 15 Dec 2010, 14:49 UTC reply to this comment

Joe's reply is a prime example of video game addict rhetoric.


Comment #16 by: Wiser on 15 Dec 2010, 14:50 UTC reply to this comment

ryan and Henjos made the best replies in this User opinions section.


Comment #17 by: Wiser on 15 Dec 2010, 14:52 UTC reply to this comment

I mean, *immoral* profiteering.


Comment #18 by: CyboHmoob on 28 Dec 2010, 06:17 UTC reply to this comment

WOW is dead. I already quit. There's no more reason to play. It lost community. Lost it's Epic feel, lost character flexibility, lost its challenging feel of a level 1 - end game. Everything is a handout now and to play is to effortlessly waste time. Dead? Yeah it's dead. At least it is for me. Those good ole fun days when guilds hang out in masses to * slap ony are gone. It's just not the same anymore because of dungeon QUE. No longer do anybody care about any help from anyone. It's dead.


Comment #19 by: peter on 07 Jun 2011, 11:14 UTC reply to this comment

i recently quit playing after like 8 years, and man its nice, i even sold my account and bought some real physical gold with it, kind of a laugh about that

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