10-27-2003, 10:09 PM
The Arena.net folks left because they saw the writing on the wall: they saw a certain peak performance, and wanted to take that momentum and move onto a new combination of concepts to come up with a different game. Guild Wars looks like an interesting challenge, and a risk if you consider the business model as it has been explained to date.
Good for them: No Guts, No Glory! :) The game looks like an interesting fusion of Starcraft (RTS) and Diablo(fantasy RPG) games insofar as its multiplayer structure.
As to the next defection, there are a few ideas as to why or why not:
1. Blizzard was seen by some inside as ossifying, and those whose creative juices carried them through insane work schedules to put Diablo II and LoD on the street want to keep creating. They are going to where that can happen: to their own turf.
2. Some folks who worked at Blizz started reading their own news clippings, and developed an exaggerated view of their own value. (No slam intended, but it happens in professional sports, it happens in rock bands, so it could happen in the PC game industry.)
3. The Vivendi divestiture has many seamy details that piss off lots of the old timers who have the wherewithal to make a change while they are still hot. So, they left a sinking ship that was being wrecked before their eyes.
4. Blizzard is contracting, WoW is all that is left to work on, and the unannounced project was heading to where Warcraft Adventures went: nowhere. The Blizzard North folks saw that Blizzard North was about to evaporate. Now, these folks are used to getting somewhere, and are used to succeeding, so they went to where they could: their own turf.
In any case, no matter how far from the truth my speculations are, I must tip my cap to all of the folks who brought us the Diablo series: Y'all done good.
Good for them: No Guts, No Glory! :) The game looks like an interesting fusion of Starcraft (RTS) and Diablo(fantasy RPG) games insofar as its multiplayer structure.
As to the next defection, there are a few ideas as to why or why not:
1. Blizzard was seen by some inside as ossifying, and those whose creative juices carried them through insane work schedules to put Diablo II and LoD on the street want to keep creating. They are going to where that can happen: to their own turf.
2. Some folks who worked at Blizz started reading their own news clippings, and developed an exaggerated view of their own value. (No slam intended, but it happens in professional sports, it happens in rock bands, so it could happen in the PC game industry.)
3. The Vivendi divestiture has many seamy details that piss off lots of the old timers who have the wherewithal to make a change while they are still hot. So, they left a sinking ship that was being wrecked before their eyes.
4. Blizzard is contracting, WoW is all that is left to work on, and the unannounced project was heading to where Warcraft Adventures went: nowhere. The Blizzard North folks saw that Blizzard North was about to evaporate. Now, these folks are used to getting somewhere, and are used to succeeding, so they went to where they could: their own turf.
In any case, no matter how far from the truth my speculations are, I must tip my cap to all of the folks who brought us the Diablo series: Y'all done good.
Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the Men 'O War!
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete