Quantcast
Destructoid Japanator Tomopop Flixist
Dtoid Forums now support TapATalk and ForumRunner on your iOS/Android devices. Whoot.


BlizzCon 2011: I heard you like Pokemon in your MMOs... photo

The next World of Warcraft expansion, Mists of Pandaria, and many of its new features were announced this weekend. I sat in on some of the BlizzCon panels, where many of these additions were explained in detail. These include the new (neutral) Pandaren race, the Monk class, a level cap of 90, a complete redesign of the talent trees, a PvE scenario system, dungeon challenges and leader boards, and many new zones, battlegrounds, dungeons, and raids.

But in my opinion, the best feature that is going to be added to World of Warcraft is the new pet battling system.

This is basically the game I've been wanting since I was in the second grade.

Let's break it down.

At one point in my World of Warcraft pet collecting career, I had over 150 pets, putting me in the top five in the world for number of pets owned at the time. Since I stopped playing World of Warcraft, dozens more pets have been added, and the top collector has almost 200 pets. I never really cared about raiding or gear, all I cared about was getting the newest, coolest pet (and mount), and having everyone ask me where I got it, how long it took me to get, or how much gold I had to throw down for it.

That was when they were called "non-combat pets", and they did absolutely nothing other than follow you around. I don't think it will be the Pandaren race, Monk class, or the nine new dungeons and raids that will pull me back into WoW. I think it will be the release of what will essentially be a Pokémon MMO.

While complete details weren't available, we learned quite a bit about this new system from a BlizzCon panel.

Pets

The almost 200 pets that are already in the game will be able to battle right from the start. All the pets you have are combat ready, and if you've been hoarding pets, your hoarding disorder is about to pay off.

If you don't have a huge stockpile of pets, there will be new wild pets that you can catch and train. To keep track of all of this, you'll receive a "Pet Journal" (read: Pokédex) that tells you about all the pets, where to catch them, and what you need to do to get them to join you.

If you're too lazy to actually go out and catch the pets yourself, many of them can be traded with other players. Your pets well be stored on an account-level, and will no longer bound to a single character. meaning you won't have to spend another 20,000 gold to buy a second Hyacinth Macaw for an alt.

Battling with your pets is similar to Pokémon as well. You can go into PvE or PvP turn-based battles with a team of three pets. If you win, you'll gain experience to level up your pets. As your team gets stronger, you can take on the "Pet Masters" (read: gym leaders) scattered around the world. Beating them gives you a master ability (read: Hidden Machine) to teach your pet.

While the system is planned to be large, don't expect to level up to 90 by just battling pets. Blizzard has said that the pet battle system won't be providing any rewards that will affect your general PvE or PvP progression. It's something to pass the time, not a replacement for questing or battlegrounds.

Pets

That's most of the information that's been released so far. As the unknown release date for Mists of Pandaria approaches, we'll likely see more specific information, screenshots, and more details on the actual pets themselves.

Rest assured, though, I can already tell you that my Kirin Tor Familiar is in the top percentage of Kirin Tor Familiars.








More gaming stories around the web. Got news? Submit yours to tips@destructoid.com



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

34 comments | showing # 1 to 34
prev next

SBC Slam's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:04
SBC Slam
I have every CE WoW release. I will battle, EXCLUSIVELY, with my Zergling, Panda Cub, and MOTHER FUCKING DIABLO.

I will crush all comers.
jjcobra's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:12
jjcobra
I didn't think it was possible, but this has made me lose respect that I never even had for WoW players.

Congrats WoW, you've broken social physics. I understand how to have zero respect for you and your players; but now I've got to figure out how to deal with this negative amount of respect.
MmmFiber's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:16
MmmFiber
This is easily the most exciting feature for MoP. I just hope they completely flesh it out. Can't wait to get all of those new pets.
Dragoonkin's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:25
Dragoonkin
Neutral race. AKA "lazyness".

Of course ever since the first expansion the game has pretty much been about only making any animosity cross-faction exist only in the sense of regulated, scheduled PvP in designated areas and otherwise just completely blurring out what was the original point of the entire fucking game: ORCS VERSUS HUMANS.

Not "humans and orcs team up to battle larger threats to the world". Why even have god-damn factions at that point, except to artificially segregate your playerbase? There's pretty much zero story left at this point that would have the factions exist at all. And a neutral race pretty much just puts the last nail in that coffin.
Namodacranks's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:29
Namodacranks
Omfg the title changed!
SBC Slam's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:33
SBC Slam
@Dragoonkin - Had the original narrative conventions stayed in place for this long, WoW would never have been as success full. Part of the reason Blizzard decided on an MMO was to be able to explore Azeroth in such a detailed way that Warcraft: Orcs & Humans just wouldn't allow. Also, for the most part, the only races included were those that had previously been seen throughout the original strategy titles, deviating once for the Draenei, and then once more for the Worgen. Everything else had already been there, including the Pandaren.

@jjcobra - I like WoW, I like Pokemans, I like WoW Pokemans. Come at me, bro!
DrManik's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:34
DrManik
Guild Wars had a half-baked version of this. No one liked it because you couldn't battle other players,but I could see this being a hit since there's PvP
MonoSodiumGlutamate's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:38
MonoSodiumGlutamate
Smell that?

Smells like desperation. ><

The general mechanics of the game is over 6 years old now. Every expansion is more of the same.
People are getting bored. Icing like this pet battling mini-game I doubt is going to cut it.
Taylor Boatright's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:39
Taylor Boatright
@Dragoonkin

From what Chris Metzen said at the opening ceremony, Blizzard is changing all of that in MoP.

There isn't going to be one big boss that the whole expansion is leading up to. The story will revolve around the horde and the alliance bringing their war with each other to Pandaria and getting the Pandaren involved in the conflict.
TheDirtyHeadband's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:39
TheDirtyHeadband
Being a veteran wow player, i don't know if it's the content or the fact that the game is really old that makes me turn away from this.
But i don't care, i'm all hyped for guild wars 2.
DimmuJed's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:42
DimmuJed
I liked this article better when I read it 2 days ago on Kotaku...with nearly the exact same title...
Azzurus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:43
Azzurus
@Mr. J.J. Cobra
Don't worry, we don't respect you either. =)

Looking forward to reactivating my subscription when this expansion comes out. The "PokeWoW" really did it for me.
doomknight66's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:48
doomknight66
gonna go the way of the dance studio and Ariel battles
Corduroy Turtle's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 20:51
Corduroy Turtle
@DimmuJed - But you had to go to Kotaku so.....
TheNephilym's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 21:26
TheNephilym
@Corduroy Turtle

DimmuJed's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 21:29
DimmuJed
But I have 7 tabs open when I open my browser. Ahhh...6 cores, 12 threads and 16gb of RAM :) I <3 my puter.
smurfee mcgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 21:36
smurfee mcgee
@DimmJed: Stop wasting that lovely machine's time.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 21:48
Tubatic
Yeah well, my computer is 5 years old I'm browsing with like 12 tabs open! OOOH YEAH!!! COME AT ME BRO!

It'll be interesting to see how well they can steal the Pokemon MMO idea that everyone thought should be made.
TheRedComet's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 22:18
TheRedComet
Pandaren choose Horde or Alliance at level 10.
Gravityboots000's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2011 23:54
Gravityboots000
I hope Destructoid reviews this expansion.
MmmFiber's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 00:07
MmmFiber
I hope Destructoid reviews your mother.
Mabans's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 00:39
Mabans
I love how everyone has the scenario all figured out how everything with WoW went down. LOL The new features are cool, if you haven't played in a while then stop telling me "How", "Why" and "When" you left, because you just sound like a dude not completely over your last break up. Don't like, play or care about the game, still find time to comment on it. LOL

I haven't played in over a year because I've been too into fighting games but this definitely peaks my interest and I'll be coming back..
SBC Slam's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 00:54
SBC Slam
@Mabans - "...stop telling me 'How', 'Why' and 'When' you left..." followed by "I haven't played in over a year because I've been too into fighting games..."

Hmmm... ;-p
DasPooch's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 02:09
DasPooch
@SBC Slam - The difference being that he didn't leave in a huff like those loud-mouthed morons who think Blizzard "ruins the game" every time they release a new major content patch or expansion. Those are the people he was talking about.

Way to miss the point.
SBC Slam's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 02:27
SBC Slam
@Poochie - Nah, I'm good. You seem to have missed the point on my obvious piece of sarcasm, though. It was a good attempt.
Brian Green's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 03:42
Brian Green
agrees with SBC Slam
Mabans and DasPooch missed the point that their stupid
Enzi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 04:41
Enzi
I think it's a completely retarded idea. Not because it's bad but the main game is dying. Now they quickly add stuff in a uninspired way and shove it as quickly out of the door as they announced it. I bet after that it goes F2P. ^^

Oh, and it's amazing how many things they have ripped of of Guild Wars 2. Yes, even the Pokemon. It's all there, already in GW1.
Epic-Kx's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 07:48
Epic-Kx
I WILL NOT GET BACK IN THIS GA--ooooh Pets.
Epic-Kx's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 07:49
Epic-Kx
@Enzi
WoW is F2P. F2P until you're lv 20.
Enzi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 08:25
Enzi
Yeah, I mean everything will be F2P. I don't think they can hold the subscription fee for very long. Not when GW2 is coming.
bubmario's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 08:27
bubmario
Pokemon texture hack incoming...
Soulcage's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 09:13
Soulcage
It never fails that in every thread mentioning world of Warcraft, there will be some guy(s) declaring how much they hate the game and how stopped playing, how Blizzard jumped the shark, or whatever else makes them feel better about having quit.

You don't have to publicly try to convince yourself to not come back by hating on it.

As far as WoW dying, even if it lost 80% (which is a huge amount), they would still have a couple million. 2 million is plenty for an MMO to survive and grow. Look at Everquest and Ultima Online: those games are still alive today, and they are ancient!
Nitex's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/24/2011 09:57
Nitex
I think WoW won't go F2P for a very long time still. Even with SWTOR and GW2 it will still hold millions of users. It's just the way Blizzard games work. What's really nuts is people still playing StarCraft 1 and Diablo 1. How is that even possible?
tist00's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/26/2011 22:34
tist00
tyreal says hi

http://www.wowtcgloot.com/images/screenshots/tyrael_pet_gm0.jpg
prev next

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!