The Digital Continuum: Blizzard's mysterious MMO Part 2
by Kyle Horner 
May 19th 2009 at 11:00AM
Filed under: Opinion, The Digital Continuum, Rumors
Dark Fantasy
Diablo fits into this category, but so do many other games and settings. Everything from BioWare's upcoming Dragon Age -- which leans a little more towards classic fantasy with elves and dwarfs -- to the aforementioned Warhamchine, which while heavily steampunk also carries many dark fantasy connotations.
It's hard to guess what's going to be popular in a couple years, let alone the several it takes to develop an MMO. Still, one thing you can count on is for people to be interested in a dark world with a mysterious backstory. That's why I'm fairly certain that whether it's science fiction, fantasy, steampunk or whatever, it'll probably be darker than World of Warcraft.
Science Fantasy
It's not a term you hear too often, but Science Fantasy is something everyone probably quite familiar with: Star Wars. This is basically a world where, while science fiction is seemingly the source setting, fantasy is always lurking somewhere in the background. Star Wars being the very obvious example with the Force, evil emperors and Jedi, but there are other settings as well.
A more recent franchise would be Mass Effect, which leans more towards sci-fi, but still carries some classic fantasy trappings like the game's reliance on dark energy to explain why people can perform the equivalence force push and create gravity wells. Still, Mass Effect is largely a sci-fi game first -- but the example holds.
Obviously this would be double edged choice with Star Wars: The Old Republic coming along in a few years. Could Blizzard out-Star Wars, Star Wars? That's a pretty tall order and something I don't even really know how to answer. Part of me just wants to see them try it, to be honest.
Conclusion
Whatever it is that Blizzard is cooking up you can bet that it'll be their take on an established genre. Will it be a mixture of one or more of the above? Possibly, especially since I did cover a decent spread.
There's always the chance that we'll all be pleasantly surprised by something completely unexpected. I would say that with two major fantasy heavy titles and only one sci-fi title under their belt, chance favors this new IP to be sci-fi focused. On the other hand, Blizzard can kind of do whatever they want, It's really up to the men and women in charge. Something tells me that whatever they do, it'll be worth playing regardless.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
URALLNERDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!!!!1 said on 11:11AM 5-19-2009
what ever route they go down Im sure they will stick to there tryed and tested method of palgerisum.
BadPanda
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T said on 11:23AM 5-19-2009
Yep, palgerisum. Blizzard can stick to palgerisum, and you can stick to not spel to gud.
Utterance said on 11:21AM 5-19-2009
Think about this, a StarCraft MMO was not unique or different enough for Blizzard to justify developing. They obviously feel that it would still pull too many people away from WoW. With that said, it's looking more and more likely that their next game will have something to do with space and nothing involving characters on the ground.
You could easily think that StarCraft is so wildly different from WoW that it would likely be the next setting for an MMO but you would be wrong now for thinking that. I used to swear up and down their next MMO was based on StarCraft and I was dead wrong all along. The only thing I can think of that StarCraft and WoW do have in common is that both involve (but are not limited to) ground combat.
Which is why the only setting mentioned in this article that seems likely to me is Sci-Fi and only if it has something to do with playing in space. Otherwise Blizzard might as well make a StarCraft MMO, which would be money in the bank.
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Stan said on 11:43AM 5-19-2009
I was really hoping for a starcraft mmo that would imitate planetside gameplay but incorporate resources, crafting and more customization overall minus the third person view. I'm pretty disappointed to hear it's a new IP.
I really think the concept of planetside was near perfect and starcraft sounds like it would fit perfectly. Where did starcraft ghost go? Blizzard could make a mmofps and have microtransactions or charge $5-10 on top of a wow sub. I think a lot of players would chip in a little extra cash to have access to two types of games, and blizzard could have more money to swim in.
Planetside hit it right on keeping player hitpoints the same not matter what rank you are and making all abilities and equipment available to all ranks. Then everyone is a threat on the battlefield, you don't have the high levels wiping the floor with newbies. High ranks do however have more certification points to spend on equipment. Too bad sony sucks at advertising and let planetside go down the drain.
I guess for now I'll remain in MMO limbo and hope earthrise or fallen earth is decent...
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URALLNERDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!!!!1 said on 11:45AM 5-19-2009
Ooh I feel the heat of your fan boy burn but if your going to point out that I made a spelling mistake don't make the same one your self dumb arse. Its spelled plageriasm and heres a link to what it means http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism .
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Stropp said on 10:25PM 5-19-2009
And even with the correct spelling in the Wikipedia link, he still manages to spell it wrong. lmao.
Francisco said on 12:34PM 5-19-2009
I cant even imagine what these guys are up to.
the thing i know is that probably is not a space mmo neither a fantasy game.
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Adeus said on 12:54PM 5-19-2009
If you ask me.... it's going to be a hybrid mmo/fps.
Using the system which was to be Ghost.
It's a surefire way to keep most people playing wow, but still pull in all of the FPS kiddies.
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Jack said on 12:54PM 5-19-2009
We are years away from ever see this new Blizzard MMO! Unlike others Blizzard take there time on game designs, WoW was in the work for 5 years and BC was 2 years in the making and so was Wotlk!
And this game will be base on a all new IP it will even take longer!
But things look bad for World of Warcraft there are not that many designers working with Blizzard I really think that's why things take so long to come out with both Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 in the work we may not see any WoW XP for the next 3 years and I do think that will be too long and WoW will loss some of there more hardcore players waiting for the next big mmo!
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Psychotic Storm said on 12:56PM 5-19-2009
I was hoping for SC MMO and still hope for Science Fiction MMO, from all the things you suggested all are fantasy and WoW has steam punk in it (ok sci fantasy is fantasy with guns but still more fantasy than sci fi).
I have quite a few ideas on what I would like to develop or see been developed and no clue on what runs on Blizzards collective head, To be honest I hope it will be a Sci Fi colonisation MMO based on people and not faceless ships running in cosmos, were player factions can build colonies and defend/ expand them in different planets and have access in different suits and vehicles.
who knows I may even be right.
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ScytheNoire said on 1:01PM 5-19-2009
I'm hoping for CyberPunk. Would love something that mixes Shadowrun with Syndicate with The Matrix.
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Temploiter said on 1:37PM 5-19-2009
Here's hoping beyond hope that they leave WoW as their cash cow and they make this new one a sandbox with tons of story elements and storybuilding tools set in a steampunk victorian past-as-future land of awesome.
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NeuroMan42 said on 1:51PM 5-19-2009
Cyberpunk or Steampunk please. Blizz can also take a look at Sci-Fi but for the love of all that is holy steer clear of ANYTHING Fantasy. That dead horse is fully beaten.
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Brian! said on 1:54PM 5-19-2009
This is a funny article - speculation for fun eh? I suppose we will know what Blizzard's next MMO setting will be when it leaks or is released. Until then - walk into a bookstore and look around... it could be anything, just like all those books.
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mikejl said on 1:58PM 5-19-2009
I agree with no more fantasy (even though it’s my favorite genre). With little sci-fi MMO choices I would not mind a pseudo-StarCraft MMO that focuses more on vehicles and ships. Above all I hope Bliz offers a “station pass” monthly package. Two MMOs for $20 a month..I may bite at that.
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Psychotic Storm said on 2:07PM 5-19-2009
and what about those who are not interested in playing WoW? at all, with a passion?
Hypester said on 2:11PM 5-19-2009
At this point, I'd be very, very, VERY surprised if they went with something niche like Victorian Steampunk, Sci Fi Cyberpunk or even Science Fantasy, though that'd be the most likely of this group if it weren't for overlap with WoW.
They're going to go with something that is both very different, but still has a very basic intrinsic double coded appeal. I wouldn't put it past them to have something set in the present day that incorporates some fantastical elements, perhaps a bit of everything?
But honestly, I'd be less surprised to see a superhero mmo from blizzard than a Steampunk mmo.
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Sir said on 2:12PM 5-19-2009
My guess is that Blizzard will return to what they had set out with WoW and Diablo II and that their next MMO will be a PvP based mmo.
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droid said on 2:25PM 5-19-2009
Whatever it is I will play it and it will be good. I really don't care if they rip off some story or setting from some 1st generation table top fantasy. Blizzard usually shows your company that they can do a video game better than you. Their RTS's are still the most played RTS's online than any other and there's a reason for that. They are damn good.
WoW has had its ups and downs and depending on what type of MMO player you are, you may love it or you may hate it. At least they expanded the genre and opened peoples minds up to a genre that is usually made fun of even by gamers that don't play MMOs.
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neododge said on 2:34PM 5-19-2009
My guess is Urban Fantasy. We're seeing the genre sprout here and there right now (WoD Online, Secret World and then some), so they may follow the trend. New IP doesn't necessarily means new ideas, right ? :P
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