I am bored with WoW.
OMFG, how wonderful it is to type that phrase. Let me do it again:
I am seriously bored with WoW.
I even added another descriptor to indicate the depth to which I am bored. How empowering, how liberating....
I like WoW a lot, but I confess I am tired of it. No, I am not tired of the "Go out and kill me 10 of <insert critter> and return with <insert insipid item>" type quests. I am not tired of the reputation reward approach (although I am a little tired of grinding for stuff). I realize these are just piece and parcel part of the MMORPG deal, and I don't mind it. It's as close to a pen and paper game as an automated system can really manage (not WoW specifically, but MMORPGs in general).
No, I am tired of the scenery and the same ol', same ol'. So, I pre-ordered Warhammer for $10 because it allows me access to the open beta. Open beta was believed to begin August 15th and the go live was September 18th...with a three day window for pre-order folks to play by themselves before general release day (assuming you liked the game well enough). I figured $10 for a month of something new was a good deal, and I might decide it was good enough to quit WoW.
Anything that sounds that good usually isn't, and this wasn't either.
Turns out we could register for the open beta on the 15th, but the files weren't available for download until the 18th....at which time it was announced the beta wouldn't start until September 7th. One month of beta just got whittled down to a week (once you consider the three day pre-start). Not such a good deal for your $10. I figure they aren't ready, and the open beta was pushed back to give them some time to work out some last minute kinks. Which means the open beta quality is not likely to be all that great. Combine that with the fact the beta is content restricted and level capped...not sounding too great. I wish I'd known a purchase those last two facts; I'd not have purchased it if I had. 'Course, it's only $10....but it's my $10.
What troubles me the most is that the game folks really seem to be considering keeping the same release date, which means the "release" will actually be "beta" for weeks to come. I already tolerated that in AoC for as long as I could and ultimately said good-bye to Conan's world.
Perhaps I'll stay with WoW a bit longer as I doubt Warhammer is going to be up on all cylinders before Lich King is released for WoW. I am hoping Warhammer is going to prove to be great, but I suspect it isn't for some time after release. Releases of MMORPGs are rarely pretty events <shudders thinking about AoC release>, but not having a good, serious beta in front of it only means it's going to be even worse. Let's hope I am wrong.
Just my two cents.
posted @ Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:26 AM