What went wrong? Is it the game or the grenre?

[DSX]

The "modern" way time and again killed every single game that went that route save for the inventors of said way. none of them survived half as long as the old way games yet people will try to convince themselves and convince others that its the only way to keep subs and acting blind to the grave yard of games that what it actually is. I guess the main reason is those people is they never liked the MMORPG as it was (well at least didn't like some aspects of it but sadly those were vital for the genre) but still wanted to play and whatever changes that will suit their fancy will be welcomed and considered "correct" way of doing it regardless of if it will just kill every game in few months or a couple of years if they are lucky, in the end they get to play these games and sleep at night thinking yeah they are MMORPG players, that genre is not beyond them (for whatever reasons legitimate (like school or real life) or otherwise (like "too diffecult for me to comprehend this complex gameplay mechanics") that they can tackle anything (even if it was sedated first so they can win).

The result? yeah send this recently released game to the grave yard, make the next fresh one so we have new toy for a while then send it to the grave yard too and see what company will go in head first next for our future toy.

The old way longevity (whether you like how it was done or not) made the gaming companies big and small alike take notice and salivate over the profits that was made and the money flow for decades (yes I know you think those player base number are not big but it was a cash flow for decades that the companies saw as gold mine otherwise they wouldn't even try to cash in). The new way (which those companies think will earn them the same stability of the cash flow the old way got but with larger player base) is making those companies bleed money and be lucky if they broke even or if they made a small profit that is not worth the time and effort they put in the project (even if you think it was enough just go to the financial department of those companies and see what they had to say to the management about the numbers).

Its a matter of time. The old way profits made the companies rush in this genre for cash, but the new way is wrecking so many bank balances that you will see less and less get into this genre and whoever actually do it will be a cheap fast cash grab. A big change needs to happen otherwise this "modern" way will keep sending games to the grave yard and haunt the makers of said games and the others who consider going the same bath for all eternity.

The genre fans will suffer for it as they can never have a game they can call home for decades as they used to and will only have cheap knock offs on their hand for the foreseeable future.

[Ri_ri]

Difficult / gated content doesn't hurt the game.

Then explain me how WoW's decline began in Cataclysm (difficult content), and is worse than ever in Mists of Pandaria (gated content).
Or how the moments it could stop the decline, was on Mists of Pandaria launch (gear reset) and 4.3 patch (gear reset).

The comparison isn't valid anyway. Back in Burning Crusade WoW had no rivals. Now there's themeparks everywhere.

"MMO veterans" aren't any more valuable than "diehards, unskilled casuals, FF fanboys and curious newcomers". I'm willing to bet they're the ones who spread hate ingame towards anyone who doesn't meets their standards.

[Syrellaris]

Difficult content won't make it into the game since most people prefer accessible and doable by all type of content. They simply do not have the patience to die over and over and actually learning content anymore. WoW is a good example of that as from Burning crusade and onworth it had not a single piece of Difficulty left. Cataclysm had no difficult content in any kind of way. Gated content(I am guessing that means all the reputation grinds etc?) is horrible when it is to much. WoW was feeding on that type of content and it got annoying. Everything new contained Either Rep grinds, token grinds or anything similar to that.

[Ri_ri]

Cataclysm had no difficult content in any kind of way.

Nevermind the fact that only 2% of raiding guilds killed Heroic Ragnaros.

The ones that beat him on normal? They've come "Too soon" (if you don't get it, Google it). As in, they don't even get to kill the boss.

gg Blizz, -2.000.000 subs.

[Despite]

Difficult content won't make it into the game since most people prefer accessible and doable by all type of content. They simply do not have the patience to die over and over and actually learning content anymore. WoW is a good example of that as from Burning crusade and onworth it had not a single piece of Difficulty left. Cataclysm had no difficult content in any kind of way. Gated content(I am guessing that means all the reputation grinds etc?) is horrible when it is to much. WoW was feeding on that type of content and it got annoying. Everything new contained Either Rep grinds, token grinds or anything similar to that.

You're right.
Archimonde? Simple.
3 drake Satrharion? A cakewalk.
Lich King? Did it in my sleep.
Can't speak for Pandas. I quit by then.

[BoltNixter]

Both....
Theme Parks need to die already!!!!!

[Syrellaris]

Nevermind the fact that only 2% of raiding guilds killed Heroic Ragnaros.

The ones that beat him on normal? They've come "Too soon" (if you don't get it, Google it). As in, they don't even get to kill the boss.

gg Blizz, -2.000.000 subs.

It stems from my personal experience, but I do have to admit i was in a decent guild for the majority of the time. The longest time raiding In that entire game I've had(i stayed up till cataclysm with breaks here and there) was when it was only Vanilla content.
But I welcome challenging content and not just in MMO's, but if I look at this game it isn't really challenging. I really would not mind some actual challenging solo, raid or group content that actually makes people work, know there class abilities etc.

[Wadoka]

Lots of thoughtful posts. I suppose I'm an older MMOer. I played the original Neverwinter Nights when AOL was still pay-by-the-hour and everyone maxed out at half-elf Fighter/Cleric/Magic User 10/11/11 (because any higher and MU's would get Disintegrate, which would kill PvP). I played UO a little; never did EQ; played a lot of Gemstone III and DragonRealms (*text*-based MORPG!); still play SWTOR; and went to look at WoW but didn't stay (eye-searing colors and cartoony graphics).

I came here because I am first and always a "Final Fantasy" fanboy. The MMO aspect is secondary... and the RPG seems nonexistent anyway. Those old text-based RPGs... now there, there you saw roleplaying.

Here's my short gripe list:


- I hate being forced to team up with other players to advance the main story.

Yes, I know, MMO... but still, not cool. Teaming up should be left for free-form, at-will content.

- I don't like this (now apparently industry-standard) slotting of roles - DD, Tank, Heal. Archetypes do have strengths and weaknesses, but it's contrary to my nature to accept being locked in to a role with no flexibility. That's left over from years of paper and pencil D&D.