News
Blizzard confirms unannounced 4th project
2nd Jul 2008 04:40 AM GMT | Kalos | 12 comments
Thanks to Freelancer for the following:
Despite the fact that Blizzard is now working on 3 projects: Diablo 3, Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard have now confirmed that they are working on a 4th project.
Rob Pardo has confirmed that all the recent job listings for an "unannounced next-gen MMO" where/are not related to Diablo 3 or World of Warcraft. Direct result from this statement is that apparently this project is "a next Gen MMO", whatever that means.
Rob Pardo has confirmed that all the recent job listings for an "unannounced next-gen MMO" where/are not related to Diablo 3 or World of Warcraft. Direct result from this statement is that apparently this project is "a next Gen MMO", whatever that means.
 Blizzard Quote: (Source) |
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| A few months ago you offered a job on the official Blizzard webpage, Considering a next gen MMO... A community manager added that its about a game that hasn't been announced yet. Is there any new information on that or is Diablo the mentioned next gen MMO? Rob Pardo: No, its obviously not, since it is not an MMO! We have another development team, that is... So there is still one project? Rob Pardo: Yea, there is still one "unknown" project... |
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If we combine this quote with another statement made by Blizzards Paul Sams, chief operating officer at Blizzard Entertainment:
| Blizzard Quote: (Source) |
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| Blizzard has very strong IP, but it also seems like all of it was created in the last century. PS: First of all, that’s true that we’ve not introduced any new franchises this century. I think what it really comes down to is, we ask the teams what they want to make next. I think the folks at our company are concerned, if they’re going to do a new franchise, that it be worthy – and that it be something that is equivalent or better than what we’ve done before, because they don’t want to do a franchise that’s not. These are three of the best-selling franchises of all time, and very well-loved. So you’ve got a pretty high bar of trying to figure out what those franchises might be. What I will say, though, is that the idea of a new franchise is very intriguing to employees of the company. Are we ever going to release a new one? I would absolutely say we will at some point. I just don’t know when that day will be quite yet. |
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So there you have it: Blizzard have another gem in the works and we can restart the speculation all over again. What could it be?
Tags: blizzard, next gen mmo
Comments
68 days ago
starcraft ghost online ftw
68 days ago
I could see them trying something new outside Starcraft, Diablo and Warcraft.
68 days ago
well they pretty much said they would at some point. Whether that's the next gen MMO... who knows?
If I were them (and I'm not) I'd look at (re)building the foundation for building MMOs, then build a game on top of it. The WoW code might be fine for all I know... but I'd love to have a clean, modern architecture and authoring platform that would allow me to build a new MMO, the next rev of WoW, a Diablo MMO and a SC MMO if I wanted to.
This might exist with WoW... but it might not - the game code and generic MMO functionality might be tied together... Separate it and you make authoring easier. You could also do interesting cross-game things. For example, let's say you're burnt on WoW... just BURNT. But you're intrigued by the Diablo MMO that Blizzard recently released... what if you could somehow translate toons and assets from one to the other? Your level 70 with epic gear becomes a toon in the Diablo MMO that's not level 1... it inherits something from the fact that the WoW toon was max level with good gear. THAT could be cool... and would be an interesting way for Blizzard to keep people within their system.
If I were them (and I'm not) I'd look at (re)building the foundation for building MMOs, then build a game on top of it. The WoW code might be fine for all I know... but I'd love to have a clean, modern architecture and authoring platform that would allow me to build a new MMO, the next rev of WoW, a Diablo MMO and a SC MMO if I wanted to.
This might exist with WoW... but it might not - the game code and generic MMO functionality might be tied together... Separate it and you make authoring easier. You could also do interesting cross-game things. For example, let's say you're burnt on WoW... just BURNT. But you're intrigued by the Diablo MMO that Blizzard recently released... what if you could somehow translate toons and assets from one to the other? Your level 70 with epic gear becomes a toon in the Diablo MMO that's not level 1... it inherits something from the fact that the WoW toon was max level with good gear. THAT could be cool... and would be an interesting way for Blizzard to keep people within their system.
68 days ago
It's the StarCraft MMO.
--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRp7I-b3yj8
--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRp7I-b3yj8
68 days ago
If its anything it's probably a new IP, I doubt they are building SC online or Diablo online as they are making single player games for those IP's.
Then again you never know it might be "LOST VIKINGS ONLINE"
Then again you never know it might be "LOST VIKINGS ONLINE"
68 days ago
Would just like to point out that they were working on both WC3 and WoW at the same time as well. WC3 is also a single player game, with multiplayer options.
Diablo Online is unlikely, considering it shares the same genre as WoW (fantasy), and that would be cutting into their own market share. An SC MMO on the other hand lets them tap into a new genre (Sci-Fi), of which there are not a lot of good MMOs out there. Pretty much a fresh field, ripe for domination.
The new Star Trek Online MMO by Cryptic Studio's and EVE not withstanding.
Having said that, a new IP might be possible, but it could be just as possible that a new IP won't be an MMO either.
Diablo Online is unlikely, considering it shares the same genre as WoW (fantasy), and that would be cutting into their own market share. An SC MMO on the other hand lets them tap into a new genre (Sci-Fi), of which there are not a lot of good MMOs out there. Pretty much a fresh field, ripe for domination.
The new Star Trek Online MMO by Cryptic Studio's and EVE not withstanding.
Having said that, a new IP might be possible, but it could be just as possible that a new IP won't be an MMO either.
68 days ago
I'd believe it is a StarCraft MMO. There's been things Blizz people have said which implies that what they are doing for StarCraft... the depth of the setting and such, is akin to what was done for Warcraft... I believe one of the BlizzCasts talks about that.
68 days ago
however in the WWI they expressly stated the diffrence in starcraft and Warcraft strategy franchises, "warcraft is deep with units with multiple spells, choosing the right spell and right time to use them is the key to winning, in starcraft on the other hand the emphasis is on speed and numbers with very few activated powers"
68 days ago
That is the mechanical differences between the two RTS game franchises, but is not really saying anything at all about the depth of the setting material, and how it is being expanded. Honestly, it is a bit irrelevant to that point.
68 days ago
I thought W3 was put out to set the stage for WoW (or was that the Frozen throne?). Maybe SC2 will be creating some nice new loose ends for SCO (Starcraft Online).
68 days ago
Yeah, I've been thinking that myself TPMdm
68 days ago
Sounds like a plan. it worked before.
