I think the game that beats WoW will be simple, runs in a browser, and emphasizes socialness over epics/rep grinding.
Hopefully someone will step up and do it.
The Fallout MMO can do this. Warhammer can do this. I see this as just another example of how Blizzard is being flushed down the drain as we speak. Pointless content that will be majorly unviewable to the majority of the MMO populace that plays the game. They continue to make content that a very very small percentage of people will see, all while making the game more difficult - and making the gap between normal and high end that much wider.
They are becoming an extremely cocky company, and one that has become slower than ever at releasing new items. They are in a competition of pushing content to appease the watching crowd. And as of the moment, they find they are so far ahead that they can just stand around and pose for the cameras, worried more about image than they are being quality, humble and number one. Right now, they are just seeming to be in it for the money.
So it doesn't take 1 billion to overthrow Warcraft. The money is usually negligent. All that needs put in is quality.
And on that quality, I shun Blizzard every time they cite themselves as creators of the entire Warcraft line. Anyone who has researched it knows that Warcraft would not have existed if it were not for Warhammer. And this reflects to an extreme, especially in concept images. The art style of warcraft was directly taken from Warhammer. And Starcraft the same from Warhammer 40k... So what matters more when making a quality game? Making a concept that people did not think about before, that wasn't stolen from another company... Or just a lot of money for slow content, new expansions/WoW with incomplete release content, predictable storyline and developers constantly going back on their word?
And its not anything new really...WoW felt rather similar to EQ and a bit of Ultima Online mixed with it. Take that and add in the Warcraft namesake and you got yourself a solid fanbase.
So whoever makes the next big MMORPG needs a name or series that can help launch the game and something totally new and awesome to turn people from WoW.
You're right but EQ just got too old and EQ2 just seemed like they got a group of 14 year old LOTR fans and had them design the game. I would still rather play EQ if the servers were still well populated and the grahpics got a better tweaking.
Seriously, though, put together a good story, good gameplay, a good interface, and make it worth people's time. That's how you beat WoW. Also, stop trying to be like WoW. You don't beat Mario by making a game about a Spanish electrician called Super Pedro Brothers.

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