Why is the game going down every expasion?

[Souljacker]

Unfortunately, it does seem like there is an innovation lull at the moment. I would like to see them improve a lot of the systems, like the mini games, which other developers have made very engaging. I particularly like the "pipes" puzzles over in wow, there is nothing like that here. Instead we have the same "go emote at this npc three times" and that is apparently what the devs consider engaging.

I am not sure what is happening, but it feels like they don't have the green light to be more creative + the personnel to implement because all we get are the same recycled things over and again with very little variation.

[Jeeqbit]

I particularly like the "pipes" puzzles over in wow, there is nothing like that here. Instead we have the same "go emote at this npc three times" and that is apparently what the devs consider engaging.

I don't think SE regard the MSQ itself as content, but rather the precursor to content that provides the story setup for it. All their content is normally instanced - such as dungeons, trials, raids, etc. So if they were to have a puzzle involving pipes, they would probably put it as an actual mechanic in a boss fight.

They have done little bits of innovation with it, but it tends to be things such as NPCs following you, or you following them, aiming at something, the sort of features that were common in old single player games.

it feels like they don't have the green light to be more creative

I think that has to be it. The team is there and some of these things are blatantly obvious, but they haven't done anything about them for 10 years. The only explanation has to be that they can't do it without permission, and either they don't request permission or the permission is not granted.

On top of that, an otherwise simple task most likely has to be put through numerous different departments to handle each segment of the task - when a single person could just do it. Chat bubbles has got to be an example of an otherwise simple feature that already exists for NPCs and just needed a minor code adjustment, taking years to go through all their procedures and polish.

[Souljacker]

I don't think SE regard the MSQ itself as content, but rather the precursor to content that provides the story setup for it. All their content is normally instanced - such as dungeons, trials, raids, etc. So if they were to have a puzzle involving pipes, they would probably put it as an actual mechanic in a boss fight.

They have done little bits of innovation with it, but it tends to be things such as NPCs following you, or you following them, aiming at something, the sort of features that were common in old single player games.

You probably don't know what I mean by "pipe puzzle" so I will explain - it's a small graphic that appears on the screen where you slide parts of the pipe system into place a square at a time until you complete the puzzle. Tetris with pipes. Where SE puts things like "Stand on the destination for 5+ seconds looking around" or "walk over and emote at three different NPCs", Blizzard is using that time to give you a cute and fun puzzle to solve.

Really, I am just disappointed with the lack of innovation - we have had the same emote, follow, and zoom\shoot quests since ARR. Nothing has ever changed. As for dungeons and trials - they definitely do NOT have any minigames worth it in those, either. Active Time Event is literally "roll your face across the keyboard" for ten seconds. It's so bad I can't believe they keep doubling and tripling down on using it. Instead of accepting that it's just not something that would ever work in an mmo, they keep putting it in content! It is so watered down from its original form it's practically a meme at this point. I rolled my eyes when the first solo fight at 92 had one of these at the end.

[Exmo]

You probably don't know what I mean by "pipe puzzle" so I will explain - it's a small graphic that appears on the screen where you slide parts of the pipe system into place a square at a time until you complete the puzzle. Tetris with pipes. Where SE puts things like "Stand on the destination for 5+ seconds looking around" or "walk over and emote at three different NPCs", Blizzard is using that time to give you a cute and fun puzzle to solve.

Really, I am just disappointed with the lack of innovation - we have had the same emote, follow, and zoom\shoot quests since ARR. Nothing has ever changed. As for dungeons and trials - they definitely do NOT have any minigames worth it in those, either. Active Time Event is literally "roll your face across the keyboard" for ten seconds. It's so bad I can't believe they keep doubling and tripling down on using it. Instead of accepting that it's just not something that would ever work in an mmo, they keep putting it in content! It is so watered down from its original form it's practically a meme at this point. I rolled my eyes when the first solo fight at 92 had one of these at the end.

I have to laugh at the implication that a pipe puzzle is innovative. It wasn't even innovative when Bioshock did it 20 years ago.