11-01-2006, 01:42 AM
>LoD may not have been the greatest step forward in terms of balance, but it is exactly what the players want.
Yep, and it's definitely not by accident.
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/200010...fer_01.htm
The above link is about D2 classic, but it's quite informative imo. (This isn't addressed to you specifically Laz, just people in general in this discussion. Good to see you around with your mod though.)
Bliz never claimed they were about a premium product that caters only to the elite few. The great success of their brand is catering to the many and the few, their goal imo seems to be whatever your level and experience as a player, you should walk away with the impression that bliz makes a polished, well crafted product with mass appeal.
And I think they reached that goal, I remember a buddy who worked at a game shop saying during the first few weeks of WoW release, there was quite a few returns. Not because they were not satisfied, but they didn't know it was an online only game. They bought it mostly because there was 2 things on the box:
- (world of) WARCRAFT
- The Blizzard logo
It's easy to feel smug and a bit superior, and call those n00bs stupid herd shoppers. But the bigger truth is there are people that would kill for the kind of brand recognition Blizzard has. One of my friends hated D1, he bought D2 and didn't like it. He now regularly plays WoW. Whatever dislike he has for D1&2, he readily says that to him that bliz logo says 'quality'. And from what I've seen, he's not a minority in this.
People like me and Merlinios (just using an example) can kvetch endlessly about what details should be what and what bliz did wrong, but let's get real. For every 1 thing they did wrong that we criticize, bliz probably did 10 things right. And many of those things aren't noticed or taken for granted -because- they were done right. Stepping back might gain a better perspective, sometimes the detailed view is great for focus but too narrow of a scope.
I'm not saying that Bliz is the greatest game creators of all time with no faults what so ever. But they are great at what they do, polish something to a high degree, and knowing who is the main audience to cater to. If we get too esoteric and narrow with our criticism, we might as well start complaining that Mcdonald's don't serve steak and fine wine.