Yesterday we told you that Activision boss Bobby Kotick said that even one billion dollars in development for a new MMO couldn't take over World of Warcraft. Now, Lars Buttler, formerly the VP of for Global Online at Electronic Arts and currently the CEO and co-founder of Trion World Network, would like Kotick to get his pinky out of his mouth.
"Nice try Mr. Kotick. We understand that Activision has to defend its merger and scare competition - but I have to call his bluff," Buttler told GameDaily. We couldn't be more impressed with what Blizzard has started but WoW is just the beginning; it's pretty wild to suggest that there's only one team that could ever realize the potential of the connected era - and that there's no one out there that can deliver, no matter what the investment."
Buttler's feelings are right in line with many of Destructoid's readers in yesterday's post. Not surprising.
He continues, "They are truly a great team but there are other great teams out there who will make smart decisions, leverage the full advantage of connectivity and define the future of interactive entertainment."
Even though Trion doesn't have much to show at this time, Buttler has no problems calling ActiBlizzard and Kotick out: "Our message to developers and gamers alike is: there's been a paradigm shift everyone; join the party! We would go so far as to say: if you disagree with Mr. Kotick, call us!"
Wouldn't that be nifty if whatever Trion is working on turns out to be the WoW killer?
[Thanks, JB]
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
15 comments | showing # 1 to 15
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
5:06 PM on 02.29.2008
| 
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.