The WAR versus WoW Launch – A Day of Infamy or Celebration for MMOG Enthusiasts?

[Cody Bye]

All of the eyes in the MMOG industry are fixated squarely on WAR and WoW as their two development companies square off for what appears to be launches sometime this year. In his editorial, Ten Ton Hammer's Cody "Micajah" Bye explores the idea of these two games launching at around the same time, and whether this would be good or bad for MMO gamers. Read the editorial, then jot down your opinions in the forums!

In truth, MMOG developers really haven’t seen anything comparable to this situation since the genre really began hitting its stride in early 2000. Even the competition between EverQuest II and the original release of WoW isn’t comparable. The market was a fraction of its size in those days, and both games were new entrants into the market. While Warhammer Online is a new entry, gamers know exactly what they’re going to get with World of Warcraft. However, if Warhammer Online succeeds in carrying its own weight, there could be a massive migration from WoW to WAR as Warhammer aficionados opt for the universe that they’ve enjoyed for years.

Click here to read the entire WAR/WoW editorial!

[Mikes]

I've said in another thread that I really don't envy Mythic's position. They're a new game on release and will suffer all the new game bugs, and with those bugs come with vocal dateless wonders who have the time on their hands to make sure as many people know just how much of a failure WAR is as tey see it. Compounding this, there's the sections of the press, mainly the mainstream, who will view the WAR launch a failure if WoW's sub level doesn't drop noticably upon it's release. And don't forget Games Workhop Interactive's checkered past when it comes to quality products.

All the people will perspective will know WAR has 'won' if it has a reletively smooth release with a few bugs as possible and attracts enough subs to secure a healthy future. However, the wider view given to the less informed may not reflect this.

Also - 'chomping at the bit'? For shame.....

[Sardu]

I agree that the bigger the battle between releases, the better it is for the industry. I think I'd mentioned it in some thread or another, but this fall looks to be one where the spotlight might easily shine brightest on the MMO industry, provided some of the proposed launches happen and do so relatively smoothly.

While I'm sure there will be tons of console buzz for the Force Unleashed, it could quite easily pale in comparison to the accumulated hype of:

WotLK
WAR
the LotRO expansion
JG:E
Stargate Worlds
TCoS
the next EQ2 expansion
The Agency

and for all I know I've left even more off of that list Then heading into next year we'll likely see Aion, GW2 might be seeing an open beta / release, Champions Online etc.

So yea, I think the future looks pretty bright for the industry. As far as the two juggernauts go, I'm actually looking pretty forward to seeing the hype machine in full swing. Once you throw Spore into the mix, I'm curious to see how many "PC Gaming is DOOMED!" articles and panel discussions we see in early 09 when compared to the start of 08.

[FiveTonWrench]

Without declared release dates this editorial is strictly speculation, but understandable given the towering presence of WoW and the history of both Warhammer and Mythic. However, there are other games in the mix, and one or more might be a sleeper hit.

The gist of my own thoughts is that Mythic has the upper hand because WAR is new, innovative and in a more advanced stage of development compared to WLK by two to three months. I think WAR could release by late September and will draw many subscribers away from WoW and other games. AoC's sales are strong evidence of players' desire for something NEW.

I agree that developer competition is good for players, because it gives us more and better choices, but it's less desirable to publishers in a crowded market. There are so many new MMO's on the horizon that publishers must be troubled in their decision of when to release.

[Matthemus]

In my opinion the head to head (or eerily close) releases of WoW: WotLK and WAR will be a huge undertaking for gamers and both Blizzard and EA Mythic alike. They obviously will be struggling for the wads of cash in every players pocket for the WoW expansion or the initial release of WAR, not to mention the cost of subscription fees after that. I have taken a look at the WAR site and i feel it will be a close rival to WoW for some time to come if it gives its fans all of the promises shown. I myself am a devoted fan of WoW and love its features, WAR will have a tough time competing with the industry giant at the start, however i still feel it will draw many players to itself and maybe even for those with thick wallets and nice computer rigs may be seeing them playing both. If i could afford it and my computer would be able to run it i would try WAR because of its promising look. All in all though it will be prosperous for the MMORPG industry for them to release head to head, but may ultimately be the downfall of WAR if it starts with too many bugs.

WoW Hype: 9.5/10
WAR Hype: 8.9/10

[Miralyn]

Like Matthemus and as many of you know I love WoW and have just not found anything to take me away from it and unfortunately for me Warhammer is just not my cup of tea at this point. But....can one of these games remotely live up to the hype and stop becoming a poster child for "how not to release a game"? I know Conan is not bad having played it but the initial great reviews seemed to have led to an exodus and even my friends who left WoW for Conan are grumbling a bit more as they are reaching the higher levels.

Again I would like to see Warhammer do well because I will be interested to see how Blizzard reacts to the new competition. Yeah it will be a shame if it releases and does well but because it doesn't cut WoW's numbers in half it is considered a failure. Honestly if the game got 2 million subscribers who stayed and I am EA Mythic I am doing the happy dance.

This fall with these two heavyweights looks to be fun and I am curious to see what happens.

[heerobya]

WAR will have to have a fairly perfect launch in order to stand toe to toe with the champ.

Any percieved "problems" will be blown way out of proportion by the WoW faithful and will hurt WAR's chances.

Blizzard is not afraid of launching at the same time as WAR.

But I bet EAMythic is afraid of launching at the same time as WotLK.

Personally, I'm sure I'll end up purchasing both. I've already pre-ordered WAR CE (naturally)

I think we'll find that a LOT of people are hoping WAR will replace their WoW addiction, but if WAR fails, at least we/they know that WotLK is available and (hopefully) will allieviate some of our gripes about WoW.

It's kind of win win for us, the gamer in my opinion.

[Cody Bye]

Originally Posted by heerobya

It's kind of win win for us, the gamer in my opinion.

I think so too, unless you don't have a lot of $$ to spend. Then it sucks.

[Vulturion]

Both these scenarios are a bit off-the-beaten-track, but I can see how WotLK releasing at the same time could be a positive for WAR :

- 1 -

If WAR were to release in an imperfect state...
And WotLK released at the same time / just before and kept the regulars in WoW a bit longer...
Then Mythic would have some breathing space to patch up the game before the WoW crowd try it out, creating a much better first impression.

Plus ; as sure are there are players who will be condemning WAR for launch bugs, a week after WotLK there are going to be players sitting at the end of the new content telling everyone who'll listen that it's too short, nothing's changed, all the old items are redundant, the new class plays just like the old ones etc.
If WAR is released or patched up to coincide with the end of WotLK's honeymoon period, it will be all the better for Mythic - much easier to go head-to-head with 'WotLK the reality' than have 'WotLK the hype' loom over them.

- 2 -

It feels weird typing this because Blizzard must have roughly a kazillion dollars by now, but they are just phenomenally slow at releasing new purchasable Warcraft content - if someone like NCsoft had a game with the playerbase of WoW they would be churning out expansions every 6 months and raking in those sweet golden era dollars.
My point being that, despite the unimaginable resources at their disposal, if Blizzard actually do release WotLK without any of their usual delays specifically to challenge WAR... it could be a bug-ridden damp squib of a launch.

Releasing an unpolished mess of an expansion head-to-head with a competitor that may well be the most polished MMO-at-launch ever is one of the very few ways those whacky subscriber-poaching figures could actually be met.
An angry subscriber is an easily lost subscriber.

[Cody Bye]

I like scenario II.

That said, I don't think Blizzard would launch an unfinished game.....

But Activision would. *cues the scary music*