Avian Gamers Network

Vivendi (who own Blizzard) made a presentation to Wall Street yesterday, where they finally revealed how much it cost to make WoW. €50 million ($62 odd million at todays rates) over four and a half years.
They say they now have a model in place where they can make a MMO for $50 million in 3 years.

Which leads to the statement that

"All Blizzard franchises will become MMOGs."

I saw this too and find it a bit disconcerting but predictable I guess.

The massive success of their games makes me wonder, from just a business perspective, where the sequels to Starcraft and Diablo are?

Both of those games must have made well over $100 million each. I don't understand how they can afford to let so much time go by before coming out with new versions.

Because Blizzard doesn't usually release a game until they feel it is complete and fairly bug free.

I think it's been a cornerstone of their success as a game producer. i know WOW has had (and still does) Server problems as they are new to that type of programming and support. I expected that as it was an MMO and their first entry into that environment.

It's still their biggest problem, but I'd say it's a relatively small problem comparted to many.

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Dalaran: Arindel - Frost Mage (Mining/Alchemy)
Dalaran: Roran - Paladin (Weaponsmith/Blacksmith)
Dalaran: Baine - Rogue

Once the "cheaper, faster" corporate model is created off a successful platform, then the over-saturation of cookie-cutter products begins. And that usually ends in one big crap-fest of useless, boring products. And the PC game genre is already loaded with those now.

I would love for a Diablo sequel to come out and I do think they are working on something to that effect. As has been said, its been way too long for them to sit idle and let a franchise that big dwindle.

Same goes for Starcraft now that their FPS "Ghost" has been scrapped. A Starcraft MMO would be interesting.

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"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

That statement can be said for platform and single player games as well and look at all the amazing games (surrounded by crap games) that are made every year.

Personally I think MMOs will follow this path and start to have franchise MMOs. I would love to see a WoW II in 2 years. Bigger better and all that.

Yeah cookie cutter is going to happen but look at Turbine or Blizzard or any other top shelf game maker. They could make cookie cutter platform games but choose quality over quantity.

I think what we will see if crap MMOs from crap devs and continued quality from quality game makers.

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Moge

Blizzard North split from blizzard... I think that may be the reason we have not seen another Diablo title. The division with license is not be the group who created the game. That is what I think.

That being said, Blizzard takes their time between games. It has always been that way.