World of Warcraft (WoW)

							World of Warcraft (WoW)




     The one that changed the game
MMORPG
Massively Mutliplayer Online Role-Playing
Game
Done on a much grander scale
Provides capabilities to play with or against
other real people instead of just computer
generated AI
Played while connected to the internet
through servers
Multiplayer
 PvE
 ◦ Players team up their avatars to complete
   quests or defeat computer generated enemies
   that are too difficult for one player’s avatar
 PvP
 ◦ Players can square off their avatars against
   other players’ avatars or can team up in
   groups to play objective-based games
    Capture the Flag
    Protect the Territories
Warcraft Universe
 The world of Azeroth
 The first 3 games in the Warcraft Series
 were RTS (Real-Time Strategy) games
 Began with the first installment of Warcraft:
 Orcs & Humans in 1994.

 Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness

 Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
 ◦ Expansion Pack: Frozen Throne
PC Gaming
 All of the games in the Warcraft Series have
 been offered on the PC and Macintosh
 Each of the three Warcraft RTSs allowed for
 players to play without an internet
 connection
 ◦ Capabilities of connecting to other players
   through the internet or local networks to play
   each other
 World of Warcraft entirely online
 ◦ No gameplay without a paid account and internet
   connection
Release
 Blizzard Entertainment announced World of Warcraft
 on September 2, 2001
 Released November 23, 2004
 ◦ 10th anniversary of the Warcraft universe
 ◦ Trailer that rocked the world:
 ◦ http://media.worldofwarcraft.com/movies/video_loader/wo
   w_video.htm?vid=wow-
   intro_en&dir=movies/wow_intro&rating=wow
 Two expansions have followed:
 ◦ The Burning Crusade – Jan. 16, 2007
 ◦ The Wrath of the Lich King – Nov. 13, 2008
 Third expansion announced at Blizzcon 2009: The
 Cataclysm
 ◦ Set for release in summer/fall of 2010
Review
 Graphics and Sound are seamless
 ◦ Loading screens are incredibly rare and short when
   appearing
 ◦ While the game does require a lot of space on the system
   to save all of the files, this helps with load times as you are
   not downloading constantly from the servers
 Gameplay
 ◦ Beauty of WoW: Appeals to the casual and more hardcore
   alike
     Easy to use interface; no tutorial, only helpful pop-up hints to
     guide you through
     The pace of leveling and progression through the game is brisk
     and considered much easier than other MMOs, catering to the
     casual crowd
     So much depth and some levels of the game that are only
     accessible through more hours and effort, catering to a more
     hardcore crowd
     What has led to World of Warcraft’s widespread success
Gameplay Examples
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQsd
 THJDKI
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_Vmq
 x-iorE
Influence
       Blizzard built the game off the Everquest
       model
        ◦ Similar interface, gameplay, focus on quests and
          dungeons
       Has become known as the WoW model
        ◦ Outshined its predecessor
        ◦ Over 11.5 millions active subscriptions as of
          Dec. 2008
        ◦ Guinees Book of World Records for most
          popular MMORPG based on # of
          subscriptions
            Currently holds ~62% of the MMORPG
            subscription market
       Compared to each subsequent MMO that
       has been released
Innovations
 Shorter downtime for characters
 between battles/quests
 Less of a penalty for death
 Rested bonus
 Run from one end of the world to the
 other without a loading screen
 ◦ Blooming graphics loading
 Each area had a different look, feel, and
 soundtrack, giving variety and character
WoW Culture
 Created a whole new community, identity,
 and gaming world
 ◦ Stereotypes along with it
 ◦ Criticized as addicting and “soul-swallowing”
 ◦ http://www.tomsguide.com/us/world-
   warcraft-sweden-lich-king,news-2974.html
 Featured in South Park, Zombieland, and
 many more.
References
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_W
 arcraft
 http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/index.x
 ml
 http://www.youtube.com/
 http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/worldof
 warcraft/review.html