Blizzard wasn't Blizzard before either since they were owned by Vivendi Universal Games. Blizzard hasn't been Blizzard for about a decade (1998 or whenever they became a part of Vivendi). Companies evolve all the time. It would be plain retarded to attribute any seemingly changes in direction to the "buyout" (which BTW it was not - it was more of a real merger with Activision just being the dominant partner).

Even back then they weren't Blizzard. Before they were aquired by Vivendi (who still actually owns them due to a 51% share ownership in the rebranded ActivisionBlizzard), they were owned by Davison & Associates, then Sierra, then Cendant, etc.

Diablo: To hell and back

Hey you guys see Roper talk smack about Diablo3? I laughed my anus off and got mad afterwords lol lol

I'd go crazy over a new Blackthorne over anything.
There's not enough good "new generation" sidescrollers out there. Too bad most developers only sees in 3D, imo, there's still a lot of potential for 2D/3D sidescrolling games.

...it was more of a real merger with Activision just being the dominant partner

So, basically, Activision took Blizzard out for a night on the town and then maybe went back to Blizzard's place for a night cap and, hey what'dyaknow!, look at that, nine months later you got Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3...I wonder if they'll look like their father...

=-Rigs-=

This comment was edited on Mar 27, 2009, 22:43.

As a caveat to that, the merger is a big question mark and very much should be something to be concerned about. Only the future can tell us what to expect. If the quality drops, so will their status and fan base. I hope they keep on kicking ass.

I don't know why people keep wondering about this, Blizzard has stated repeatedly that they retained their own offices and autonomy from Activision. If anything I was more worried when it was just Vivendi.

I can understand how "some people" are green with envy of Blizzard's success. But you know I was singling them out as the one to watch 15 years ago and "some people" didn't understand it. What's worse is I don't see a lot of other companies really learning and implementing the steps they took to reach that success. They would rather continue the wrong way because it works *good enough*. To those "some people", go ahead and keep releasing half baked, unfinished, boring, uninspired cookie-cutter work and whine about how Blizzard is beating you. I will keep on praising Blizzard and buying their stuff.

As a caveat to that, the merger is a big question mark and very much should be something to be concerned about. Only the future can tell us what to expect. If the quality drops, so will their status and fan base. I hope they keep on kicking ass.

This comment was edited on Mar 27, 2009, 18:52.

I can't find the article but I think the producer left World of Warcraft to work on another Blizzard project. However, Dave Kosak of Flintlocke fame will be making content for the game.

It was Tigole, the story/raid designer for wow. Went to work on the new mmo.

There's currently a contest for "design your own Blizzard theme park" on their WoW site...who knows.

Anyway, some things i think the game will incorporate:

1.) Something of a mmorpg but with real-world rewards. For example when players level up they get points to use for online purchases at various advertiser/sponsor sites. Just a thought. Would be cool to actually get something out of a game that charges 15bucks a month. If i hit levels 30,40,50,60,70,80 etc. and got a ton of achievements and finsished a ton of quests, i should have a ton of points to use in any way i wish.

2.) A X3/PSO type space mmorpg game but with the ability for players to build things in real time and use them. Say if your in a guild and you have some engineers, miners, blacksmiths,etc. They could all use their gained abilities and items to eventually build a spaceship to travel to other parts of the universe and planets. Every single part of the ship would be built. As players advance/quest they find different/rare items to use and in tern build a better ship. Maybe the more advanced ships could take weeks to build.

When players are at the stage for space travel the ship would transverse the atmosphere's in real time. It wouldn't be instantaneous. Skill would be required. Each player would use their gained abilities/traits to make sure the ship stayed aloft and at power.



Overall i think these ideas are where WoW is heading. Who knows? A more advanced graphics engine is obviously needed.

This comment was edited on Mar 27, 2009, 17:34.

I'd still rather it be Blizzard responsible for Blizzard. Being owned and being merged are two separate beasts and I will always wonder if those changes will become noticeable in the quality of their products.

I wouldn't be concerned if I did not care.

Blizzard's boots are not yet clean. Keep licking them and don't forget their table scraps.

Diablo on an HDTV would be pretty kickass.

You don't need a console release for that.

I'm with Gandhi and Dades on this. I truly hope this is a console version of Diablo 3. I have the first Diablo for PS1, it's a little goofy on the controls, but it's playable. Now days I bet they can make it sing interface wise, especially since they have a few more buttons.

But what worries me is that they may be trying to make a console client for WoW since it is already being reported starting a real decline and other online games are moving in to that area.

This comment was edited on Mar 27, 2009, 16:12.

Rock and Roll Racing: MMOR (Massively Multiplayer Online Racing).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_N%27_Roll_Racing

Diablo on an HDTV would be pretty kickass.

I hope they release Diablo 3 for the PS3 - it already supports mose and keyboard, as well as game installs. I would actually prefer Diablo 3 on a PS3 over my computer.

As for this fifth game, lemme guess

Call of Duty: World at Warcraft - Space Marines

Who wants to bet me this new project is a console game?

Almost guaranteed that Activision will push them into it since, just like UBIsoft, now care only about consoles and mindless games for the masses.

So long as Bliz has the resources and can hire top quality they can work on multiple fronts. Seeing as the new MOG is supposed to be a new IP, I can only imagine this will be WoW 2. I just wish they'd hurry the f up with Diablo III!

Well with multiple of gaming sites all having recently posted articles headlined similarly too: "Blizzard & Microsoft in talks regarding next Xbox System", I think it's possible. Of course everything is just speculation.

Who wants to bet me this new project is a console game? Activision knows they have a winner here, if they can successfully get a Diablo for consoles.. they know they'll make potentially billions off it.

It would be plain retarded to attribute any seemingly changes in direction to the "buyout"

Really? Having watched the changes to several game companies when being bought out I think it is retarded to assume that it will be business as usual.