The Next Steps for Blizzard? (WoW Expansions and Next MMO)

[Lavarinth]

As Maglok just informed me:

Maglok says:
"Our network site, IncGamers, got the MASSIVE breaking news that WoW Lead Producer Jeff Kaplan has moved away from the World of Warcraft team to focus all his time and effort on the Blizzard Entertainment’s unannounced Next-Gen MMO."

What do you think? What's the safest way to release an upcoming MMO with WoW still on the rise years to come, SC2 still be releasing at that time, and Diablo 3 still fresh off the shelves?

And what about WoW expansions? Someone tells me there's potential for multiple expansions (Maglok) while another says the core lore of WarCraft ends in the next expansion, maybe two, due to lore (Dreadnaught).

Any thoughts?

[Maglok]

Archimonde is quite, quite dead.

The Emerald dream has nothing to do with him. In World of Warcraft Malfurion says this:

Malfurion Stormrage says: I fear for the worst, old friend. Within the Dream we fight a new foe, born of an ancient evil. Ysera's noble brood has fallen victim to the old whisperings. It seems as if the Nightmare has broken through the realm to find a new host on Azeroth.

A NEW foe, born of and ANCIENT evil. And the OLD whisperings. That is not Archimonde. Archimonde blew up.

[Dread]

Archimonde is quite, quite dead.

The Emerald dream has nothing to do with him. In World of Warcraft Malfurion says this:

Malfurion Stormrage says: I fear for the worst, old friend. Within the Dream we fight a new foe, born of an ancient evil. Ysera's noble brood has fallen victim to the old whisperings. It seems as if the Nightmare has broken through the realm to find a new host on Azeroth.

A NEW foe, born of and ANCIENT evil. And the OLD whisperings. That is not Archimonde. Archimonde blew up.

When Malfurion sounded the Horn of Cenarius he did in fact succeed in rallying the spirits in to destroying Archimonde's physical form; however, the World Tree is intrinsically connected to the Emerald Dream. Archimonde represents the most powerful Warlock of all time. It's conceivable that he succeeded in conveying his spirit in to the Emerald Dream whereupon his physical form would no longer be necessary.

Malfurion would have had absolutely no idea that this would have occurred until he would have entered the Emerald Dream after the battle at the World Tree in order to recuperate. Anyways, Malfurion's image in the temple claiming Ysera's brood was in trouble is somewhat outdated. At this point in World of Warcraft the Emerald Dragons are obviously corrupted and no longer capable of adequately guarding the Emerald Dream's portals (the world events that players run to kill the emerald dragons at each of the Emerald Dream portals. Most definitely an entrance for non-druids).

Archimonde or no Archimonde, the basic concept here is that it's known that the Emerald Dream shares a dimensional boundary with the Twisting Nether. It was once, long ago, used as a method to enter the world of Azeroth by the Burning Legion. In fact, Sargeras almost succeeded in breaching the barrier and entering the Emerald Dream.

Sorry, the ancient and old whispering? That's Sargeras, ha, the Fallen Titan and the leader of the Burning Legion (although Blizzard did screw up their story somewhat, since Sargeras fell prey to the corruption of the Eredar and not the other way around, but hey, Blizzard apologized for this and whatever).

The Demons Came First! =oP

Oh, and the Nightmare is a species of demon from the Twisting Nether, like the Warlock dread and fel steeds. Which would lead to the logical assumption that this breach already exists. It has been theorized that Sargeras has no longer a physical form and is only represented in a spiritual form; however, the Emerald Dream represents a non corporeal dream state. I like the idea of Archimonde taking one last stab in the Emerald Dream, covertly avoiding the loss of his physical form, opening a tear through to the Twisting Nether (something that was attempted and almost successful long ago in the first wars, something a warlock would do), and would allow Sargeras (the fallen titan theorized to have no physical form) to breach in to Azeroth. If this all were to succeed he could reconstitute himself as a corporeal being via exiting the Emerald Dream in to Azeroth.

Um, so... The ancient evil is Sargeras, and Sargeras represents the Fallen Titan for which all demons and the Burning Legion exist, and *THE* EVIL in Warcraft. Oh, and I would imagine Sargeras' arrival would run timely with the arrival of the Titans who decided to fly off in to the Void. That, or the Draenei will finally fix their damn ship and fly off to the Void with a whole dimension to explore.

So far dimensional travel has been demonstrated with the Draenei interdimensional time ship, and the events in Dire Maul for Warlocks and their Dread steed, and the demon boss in there that arrives from the Void. Plus all that hub bub about Titans in the Badlands and Uldaman.

The demons and the corruption of Sargeras is the reason evil exists in warcraft. He's the arch evil in the entire lore, and the source for all of the major wars in Azeroth. Sargeras is a Fallen Titan and will represent an excellent time to return with the other Titans who were in the Void (or sending Draenei ships to find them for help). If WoW users are expected to defeat or purify Sargeras along with the help of the Titans. Well, this would more or less tie in the major over arcing story element that began Warcraft and could end it. I can't really see them requiring more expansions after this next one (the one to tie in the Titans and Sargeras), but sure, lots of patches could be applied to tie up loose ends in Azeroth. Plus Blizzard said three expansions?

Sargeras has frequently hatched plans to enter in to Azeroth, only narrowly being avoided on each occasion.

Oh, and this wall of text is all Lavarinth's fault. I had no intention of spurting this all out, but he wanted to spark conversation. It was not exhaustively checked for spelling and/ or grammar mistakes. =oP

[AA7Dragoon]

^ Wow, thanks for all that, Dread. Who are you, by the way?  I liked your theories.  All that made good sense.

I think the new MMORPG might be StarCraft related.  Because Diablo 3 can already host a MMORPG-style multi-player platform through Battlenet, it would seem logical to create a third tier for StarCraft.  This would allow Blizzard to tap into the science fiction market of gamers, whereas World of WarCraft is fantasy oriented.  There is also a tapped out market that is tired of the structure WoW rests on.  A StarCraft MMORPG with a different approach to leveling, grouping, and gameplay could offer a fresh perspective for Blizzard's franchise, and bring back those retired players who wouldn't play another WarCraft but would drool over a StarCraft concept.

And the fact that Jeff Kaplan is overseeing the new project tells me they're reviewing an already well known franchise, not something completely different.

[WB]

I can't imagine what it could possibly be.

But hey they're moving him, read this on kotaku earlier, I honestly didn't see it coming.

[Whiplash!]

A NEW foe, born of and ANCIENT evil. And the OLD whisperings

I'm pretty sure they are talking about the old gods and the elementals.


Well honestly I can say that a new MMO with a SC theme would be awesome but I'd be weary as to play it or not.

[Maglok]

While that wall of text shows you know your lore (I know that as well btw), you are just guessing with Archimonde while my quote is not outdated. The 4 green dragon encounters at the portals had been in game then. Hell you had to get quest items from them to get to this particular discussion. Let's face it, a NEW enemy does not constitute Archimonde, however much you would want it to be.

Whispering could be Sargeras I agree, though let us not forget that whispering is more of a signature character of the old gods so then Sargeras. C'thun and Yogg-Saron are proof of that. Metzen has mentioned that Sargeras is still out there, he is still doing things, still up to no good. He just has a out of body experience at the moment.

But let's face it. WoW is not the end of Warcraft lore. Like they said, they will create new villians, new heroes, and a possible WC4 in time. As for the 'this must be the last expansion coming up', based on lore. I find that kind of a strange conclusion. Let's say, for your sake, that it is indeed villains that define an expansion set. Then let's talk villains. Off the top of my head we got the emerald corruption (whatever it might be), Sargeras (maybe the same thing... but I dunno), the whole Mealstrom business Nazjatar anyone? Azshara? Then there is Deathwing who is definitely up to something, Nozdormu who seems to be leading the infinite flight. The Old Gods, the Yogg-Saron line would not be resolved in WotLK (Listen to Blizzcast 7 for source). Then there is the whole situation with the Titans returning that might spawn interesting lore, though that could be entitlted to Sargeras. There is still an interesting questline in the Nathrezim, they do keep popping up all the time and did Mal'ganis not get away at Onslaught harbor? I am sure he will be involved in the Icecrown raid, but counting the Nathrezim out is ... well they just always get back. And I have not even started delving into my collection of books. Oh Kil'jaeden only got kicked back to his realm in SWP (nice raid btw).

The whole point that they are introducing new villains and getting them ready to play major parts is the most interesting though. We know they can do this cause everyone is buzzing 'Yogg-Saron in Ulduar', while I don't know if I should believe that, they have in fact succeeded in taking a very bare bone concept of the faceless ones in Azjol-Nerub in WC3 and convert it to an enemy with a background and potential to be a major boss down the line.

Finally. Things change. Lore is not the deciding factor in these kind of things. If they want another expansion, they will get the lore. Financially it would be a big mistake to not release another expansion just because of the lore. They would not release an expansion if the fanbase dwindles or they want to get people to another game perhaps, but not because they have no lore. Which brings me to my last 'point' so to speak. When WoW started they have said they had a 5 year arc of content in mind. They wanted to release an expansion once a year (syeah right!) containing Outland or Northrend, etc. This alludes strongly to them having 5 expansions in mind, or at least 4. But like I said, things change and we can't be certain of anything.

[Lavarinth]

^ Wow, thanks for all that, Dread. Who are you, by the way?

Dread? He's STF Dreadnaught from the old STF forums.

[IskatuMesk]

A NEW foe, born of and ANCIENT evil. And the OLD whisperings

Come on, I can't be the only one that cracked up into hysterical giggling when he read this.

Maglok, you've made my day.

Also I really doubt they're gonna just jump ship into WoW2 right now. They'll probably release at least one more expansion. I don't know/care what it would be, though. I only play to kill lowbies.

[Maglok]

*Whistles innocently*

[AA7Dragoon]

Notice how Jeff didn't say "MMORPG?"  He just said MMO.  Could we be looking at a StarCraft MMORTS?  Where players own their own armies, ban together as guilds to rule planets, and war across the galaxy?  Methinks the omission was intentional.

[Dread]

Notice how Jeff didn't say "MMORPG?"  He just said MMO.  Could we be looking at a StarCraft MMORTS?  Where players own their own armies, ban together as guilds to rule planets, and war across the galaxy?  Methinks the omission was intentional.

Wouldn't surprise me, and not the first person to make that kind of assumption and mention it to me. Would be fun! =o)

Oh, and I suppose I could believe in two more expansions for World of Warcraft. Blizzard has us sitting at a maximum level of 80, which is uncomfortable, and feels like a transition to 90... Duh, and then a transition to 100. But who would want to surpass 100? It's such a nice number, and... I'm sure all the level 100 people out there would be able to subdue Sargeras and all of Blizzard's newly made up and terribly implemented baddies.

So World of Warcraft and Four Expansions... If only to arrive at level 100 before what I hope are the Draenei blasting off in to a new dimension and running in to Kerrigan, and the Universe of StarCraft.. =oP

[Maglok]

Please that April fools joke again?

[Rocco]

I would really like to see a StarCraft MMORPG, like Galaxy of Starcraft or something.

[Marco]

If StarCraft is the next universe to go big, it would further explain them releasing SC2 in 3 big expansions.  That way they add a lot of lore, characters, etc to the mythos, giving a 'World of StarCraft' a lot of material to work with.