Blizzard Developing a 'Next-Gen MMO'

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15965

Blizzard Developing a 'Next-Gen MMO'

Excited? 8.5 million paying World of Warcraft subscribers' heads are probably spinning with this news. Blizzard Entertainment has yet to make an official announcement about the game, but a job listing has let the cat out of the bag. Let the speculation begin...

A new massively multiplayer online game from the folks responsible for the best selling World of Warcraft would appear to be in the works, according to Blizzard Entertainment's recently updated jobs listing page. Just the thought of a new MMO from Blizzard is probably enough to get the millions of Warcraft players around the world to start salivating.

The three job openings for this as yet undisclosed next-gen MMO title include a lead engine programmer, a lead tools programmer, and a lead technical artist.

GameDaily BIZ has put in an inquiry with Blizzard and will pass along any new information they're willing to share. For now, however, all we can do is speculate. The World of Warcraft game has long been rumored to come to consoles, and perhaps this next-gen MMO is simply a port of the title for consoles (Xbox 360, PS3). That said, according to the job posting for lead engine programmer, Blizzard will design a new engine for the unannounced MMO. If this project actually is WoW, we'd venture to guess that the team would simply adapt/tweak the current PC game's engine to work on consoles.

Perhaps Blizzard will finally give the StarCraft universe some more attention. We've learned that Blizzard is getting set to make a major announcement on May 19 in Korea. Given the location and the scope of the event, rumors are leaning heavily toward something to do with StarCraft. World of StarCraft may be a possibility, but our rumormill is putting bets on a StarCraft 2.

Of course, there's always a chance they'll revisit some other properties such as Diablo or Lost Vikings, or maybe even introduce a brand-new IP.

[UPDATE] Blizzard Entertainment has gotten back to us, and as expected the company said that they're "not ready to reveal any new projects at this time." The representative added, "I can say that we have multiple unannounced projects in development and are exploring various options for the future of our franchises."

Starcraft,Diablo or Lost Vikings we cant lose.Maybe they are going to mix all 3 games.

Satancraft Vikings!!.The MMO.

World of Starcraft :P.11Marcel

If it is StarCraft I will never buy another Blizzard game ever again.

StarCraft is a RTS. 

I'd prefer Diablo III... or Starcraft 2.

Sadly, with the MMO craze going, I don't think these will ever see the light of day. 

For the love of god, NO STARCRAFT MMO. I only want my Starcraft in one form: RTS.

As for Blizzard's next MMO, they have ton of experience and recognition in the genre thanks to WoW. Blizzard will most likely aim for a MMO that finally lives up to the name: A massive online sandbox game. MMOs nowadays are becoming more linear by the day and hopefully Blizzard will address that.

[QUOTE="11Marcel"]World of Starcraft :P.magus-21

How about just, "Diablo Worlds" ;)

Warcraft VS Starcraft

The MMO

"The World of Warcraft gets invaded by Space Aliens"

For the love of god, NO STARCRAFT MMO. I only want my Starcraft in one form: RTS.

As for Blizzard's next MMO, they have ton of experience and recognition in the genre thanks to WoW. Blizzard will most likely aim for a MMO that finally lives up to the name: A massive online sandbox game. MMOs nowadays are becoming more linear by the day and hopefully Blizzard will address that.

Redmoonxl2

World of Starcraft :P.11Marcel

Probably UNIVERSE of Starcraft.

If it is StarCraft I will never buy another Blizzard game ever again.

StarCraft is a RTS. 

foxhound_fox

And what was Warcraft?  A Puzzler? :roll:

Dammit.  I hate you Blizzard :x.

I won't pay for your games in MMO form!  I refuse.  Give me the games I want.

Something tells me, if it's a new MMO, it would almost HAVE to be Starcraft. A Diablo MMO would be pretty similar to WoW already.

Unless they make a Diablo MMO for consoles... which I would totall and completely love.

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

If it is StarCraft I will never buy another Blizzard game ever again.

StarCraft is a RTS.

callmewaffle

And what was Warcraft? A Puzzler? :roll:

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

If it is StarCraft I will never buy another Blizzard game ever again.

StarCraft is a RTS.

callmewaffle

And what was Warcraft? A Puzzler? :roll:

You make it seem like Blizzard didn't get scolded for making the Warcraft universe into a MMO. Another one of their RTS series going MMO would pretty much cause the community to turn their back on Blizzard. 

For the love of god Blizzard, please just make Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2. As much as I love WoW I NEED another Diablo.bloodychimp

[QUOTE="bloodychimp"]For the love of god Blizzard, please just make Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2. As much as I love WoW I NEED another Diablo.11Marcel

Anyhow, I bet they'd just be taking from WoW with another MMO...

Though, how many people would be subscribing to WoW and whatever this new thing is?

It's brilliant... but it's not what *I* want.

Starcraft,Diablo or Lost Vikings we cant lose.Maybe they are going to mix all 3 games.

Satancraft Vikings!!.The MMO.

Hater3000

Lmao, but seriously, I don't want another MMO. I want a Computer game that has a great singleplayer I can play, rather than sitting here hearing about all my friends and them paying for their WOW accounts and buying characters and selling their guys...gahhh it's driving me nuts. Release something I don't have to pay monthly fees for, and a game that'll I'll love!!! Liiiikkee....Diablo 3..? or Starcraft 2....? Come on Blizzard!! 

Now why would it be World of Starcraft?

Wouldn't "Universe of Starcraft," or "Starcraft Universe" make more sense?  In either event, I wouldn't mind seeing Blizzard expand on the Starcraft or Diablo stories, MMORPG or otherwise.

If it is StarCraft I will never buy another Blizzard game ever again.

StarCraft is a RTS.

foxhound_fox

I 100% agree with you 

If it is StarCraft I will never buy another Blizzard game ever again.

StarCraft is a RTS. 

foxhound_fox

Any of you played an MMOFPS? Played Planetside?

World of Starcraft is very viable.  I'd rather see the RTS sequal to SC though. 

Any of you played an MMOFPS? Played Planetside?

World of Starcraft is very viable. I'd rather see the RTS sequal to SC though.

NobuoMusicMaker

UNMC MMO:P

World of Starcraft :P.11Marcel

I have a feeling those arent really related.

I dont know about you guys, but when they announced WoW it was also with a video showing off one of the earlier areas in game and some players fighting each other. I'm pretty sure for whatever they will anounce it will be farther into development that they wouldn't be looking for such key positions now.

I remember, like 6 years ago Blizzard hiring people with Half-Life 1 map-making experiece. Looking back, it was likely for WoW dungeons and terrain. but to look for lead tool and engine programmers this late into the announcement of a game....i dunno.

For the love of god, NO STARCRAFT MMO. I only want my Starcraft in one form: RTS.

As for Blizzard's next MMO, they have ton of experience and recognition in the genre thanks to WoW. Blizzard will most likely aim for a MMO that finally lives up to the name: A massive online sandbox game. MMOs nowadays are becoming more linear by the day and hopefully Blizzard will address that.

Redmoonxl2

World of Warcraft is a fine MMO, but even more linear as most other MMOs out there. So what does make you think Blizzard will go another path, if they are developing another MMO that is.  As much as I like World of Warcraft is novelty is slowly fading for a lot of players. The Bruning Crusade just made the game even more a grind fest and that is indeed dull to play. Players are getting tired of such games, where you need to be grinding the same monster for 5 hours to get enough gold to be able to participate in 2 hour long raids. Basicly what is happening now, players go let's say 1000g (ingame currency), they just log in 5 minutes before a raid, and after it they go repair and log out and don't play at all.  

This is indication number one of how boring the game got, and any new MMO release in the future will draw away players from WoW. Especially the Warhammer MMO is a big threat, may it be good or bad it doesn't really matter, it's something new and that is all that counts for the players who play WoW for almost 3 years.  

So in the end, I don't think Blizzard has really grasped yet what is wrong with their game. So a new MMO will probably work by the same rules as WoW is thus making it really fun for few months and then boring as hell if you don't happen to be raiding and enjoying your game time making jokes on Ventrilo or Teamspeak. 

And the biggest number one flaw in Blizzards policy is, that tey don't communicate with their players. They just force some changes upon players without proper reasoning and testing, thus making the game a lottery everytime a patch is released.  

This is not the old Blizzard with Bill Roper, their quality is not what it once was. 

World of Starcraft :P.11Marcel

YES!

I wonder why people think that by "next-gen" Blizzard for sure meant consoles.AdrianWerner

Cause PCs don't have gens 

[QUOTE="AdrianWerner"]I wonder why people think that by "next-gen" Blizzard for sure meant consoles.gamer4life85

Cause PCs don't have gens 

MMOs do. Plus a year ago Blizzard was having a panel where they discussed their "next-gen projects' and everyone assumed it were console ones, while it turned out that by "next-gen" they meant dx10 and vista 

I'd prefer Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 and an original IP for the MMO 

Hopefully they'll forget about the damn MMO's and start making great RTS's again. We NEED a Starcraft 2!

[QUOTE="AdrianWerner"]I wonder why people think that by "next-gen" Blizzard for sure meant consoles.gamer4life85

Cause PCs don't have gens

Vista and Directx 10, though technically incorrectly, are consider the new generation of PC gaming. 

If they plan on making a BIG announcement here in Korea, then let me tell you, its DEFINATELY STARCRAFT 2..... as Starcraft is still the most played game here, its crazy.... its broadcasted on TV on 2 different channels for about 16+ hours per day.... they have ProLeagues that have sponsors and everything, its CRAZY!.... I watch some of the games when im bored.

Also Blizzard employees have gone on record that they would not go 10+ years between Starcraft games..... and since Starcraft was released in 1998, I'd say its just about time. WOOT!!!!

If they decided to go the MMO route with Starcraft, I will turn my back on Blizzard for being money grubbing wretches.... I dont see that happening though.

If it is StarCraft I will never buy another Blizzard game ever again.

StarCraft is a RTS. 

foxhound_fox

 why not MMORTS?