Breaking News: WoW for Consoles

[SlappingOysters]

Hi Guys,

Just spotted this story (http://www.n4g.com/NewsPending-98911.aspx) over at n4g and thought it was worth posting. Tried to do the same on the offical forums but I am at work and can't remember password.

Direct link is here (http://www.gameplayer.com.au/Home/NEWS/NEWS/tabid/1482/Default.aspx?CID=3ab06082-2c52-4d4d-ba67-167b6fb19d1c).

I just wanted to know if you guys thought this could be true?

[Moo Cow]

ZOMG I'm going to cleeeek those links right away so you can either keylog me, or try to sell me gold...

*CLEEK CLEEK*

[Elly]

For those cautious of suspect links or those of the big jessie variety here's the lowdown...


Developer Leak: WoW for consoles

Executive leaks existence of WoW on ‘next gen’ systems.

by: Chris Stead 11/01/2008

Is World of Warcraft coming to consoles? It could be the biggest question of 2008. Ever since Blizzard’s mighty MMO burst onto the scene in 2004 it has taken the planet by storm, surging into the homes of millions, turning the epidermis of entire communities into a seedy shade of white and increasing global obesity by an estimated 5%*. It’s the ultimate in escapism, transporting close to 10,000,000 users to the fantasy land of Azeroth where they can forget their day jobs as schoolteachers and plumbers to become all-powerful Warlocks taking down fiery beasts in the depths of active volcanoes. To date, it is an experience only enjoyed by PC gamers.

Until now…

A bigwig with connections to the highest levels of Vivendi management has seemingly confirmed that World of Warcraft is coming to consoles.

At a recent showing of upcoming Xbox 360, PS3 and PC release PROTOTYPE (check out our huge preview on this kick arse game) this bomb was dropped. Given the sensitivity of this issue and to ensure everything remains in context, we’ll set the scene…

Following the presentation of PROTOTYPE we approached Chris Ansell, Director of Product Globalisation for Radical Entertainment – and nice bloke – regarding the online component of the game. We were expressing our disappointment that the exciting co-op mode will be online only (an issue in Australia where online take-up is relatively low) and was wondering whether such a thing could appear down the track in the form of DLC. He said no, explaining that online co-op was their focus for this game, and that they would be exploring a host of new multiplayer ideas in PROTOTYPE 2 and 3. This lead into the following quote…

“…we have to make sure we support it. Because next-gen consoles demand it. We have to be online. Obviously it’s gonna get more and more like what WoW are doing, with thousands of players on consoles, eventually. Which is pretty exciting. I can’t wait for that. It’ll be pretty fun.”

This would suggest that within Vivendi and Sierra’s inner-circle, the knowledge of WoW coming to consoles is not only cemented, but that future iterations of their games will be using it as the benchmark for their own multiplayer experiences. And if Mr. Ansell believes they will be able to tap into WoW’s console iteration for inspiration for a PROTOTYPE sequel (the existence of which is news in itself) that would suggest a launch for the MMORPG in 2009. That is, between PROTOTYPE 1 (due Q3 2008) and a follow-up (which you would expect in 2010).

Blizzard has been toying with the concept for years, at times pussy-footing around the issue, or flat out denying it. Is this the mystery MMO Blizzard is working on? Obviously this is all speculation, but it would be stupid to think that Blizzard hasn’t explored and even demoed the idea. Tapping into the massive console market would be an extremely lucrative move and in the end, Blizzard is in the business of making money.

[xXmarkXx]

To me, all that says is that they are using WoW as an example of how they want online games in the future for consoles.

Couldn't see WoW on a console though, unless they finally added keyboard/mouse support on the xbox360 for games. The whole addon scene would be difficult to get working without there being some serious security flaws to be exploited on the consoles.

[Morollan]

“…we have to make sure we support it. Because next-gen consoles demand it. We have to be online. Obviously it’s gonna get more and more like what WoW are doing, with thousands of players on consoles, eventually."

Sorry but that just doesn't read in the way that the reporter seems to think it does. He's just saying that console games are becoming more like WoW with lots of people playing online.

[Xaero]

I seriously doubt we'll see wow on consoles. Ignoring possible input compatibility issues, WoW is a huge game disk space wise, and with the consistant patching and mod updates, these consoles would run out of room PDQ.

"ZOMG! A console guy was talking about WoW! That must mean its in the works!!111oneeleventy". Sorry, I just don't buy it.

[Racoonknight]

hmm wow's too complicated for console whores :P

[Your Average WoW Player]

I couldn't see a game as complex as WoW going to the consoles.

[WatcherZero]

Many Complex MMORPGS have done consoles, FFXI, Everquest, etc.
But this guys just saying consoles need the infrastructure to support online games that millions play.

[piscene]

Not sure what the point would be. I'm guessing more than 90% of the people playing WoW have console game systems as well, but seem to be perfectly satisfied to play it on the computer.

[Govadina]

Actually you can add a keyboard and mouse by connecting it to the consoles USB ports.:cool:

[DrScience]

There had better be dedicated servers for people who play on the console versions.

[spadron]

I'm pretty sure wow will one day make it to a console, but this comment has clearly been ready incorrectly.

[Felhoof]

Gameplayer has now updates it's information and his source.

From MMO-Champion:



WoW on console isn't going to happen

Or at least, not anytime soon. Yesterday a quote reported by Gameplayer started a rumor about WoW eventually becoming available on next-gen consoles, I got a few mails about this and it's been reported on a few sites already but if you check Gameplayer's site, you'll see that the news has been updated :

"A representative from Vivendi’s Australian office has been in contact with us and issued the following statement: “Regarding the statement above made by Chris Ansell at the recent Prototype event in Sydney. Chris was referring to the future of next-generation game development and how multiplayer online play was going to grow to encompass much larger groups. He was only making a link to World of Warcraft as a great example of where online play is going, not a reference to World of Warcraft on console"

[Morollan]

Gameplayer has now updates it's information and his source.

From MMO-Champion:

Told ya! :grin:

[snowieken]

ZOMG I'm going to cleeeek those links right away so you can either keylog me, or try to sell me gold...

*CLEEK CLEEK*I understand your concern in these days of gold spamming, but you don't get keylogged simply by clicking a link. So it might be worth to check things out properly before accusing someone, it also takes considerably less time than writing an abusive reply.

[Baboon]

Just give those people different servers then please. Imagine trying to explain macro's to some guy who is waving Wii controllers.

[alliancefever]

if any of you saw my OMG TOP SECRET!!!?!?!? thread KNOW WE KNOW!!

[alliancefever]

THIS IS TRUE LOOK!!http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/

***notice on the side it says TOP SECRET and next gen MMO***

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

That job app has been around for a while now. It isn't new. We *know* there is a MMO in development. We don't know what it is, but it isn't an expansion to WoW, and it isn't WoW on consoles. It is something else.

[rubberdubbie]

but you don't get keylogged simply by clicking a link.

Yes you can. If you have a vulnerability on your system, a softare package can be loaded into your computer without your knowledge.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

I understand your concern in these days of gold spamming, but you don't get keylogged simply by clicking a link. So it might be worth to check things out properly before accusing someone, it also takes considerably less time than writing an abusive reply.

Actually, Internet Explorer does allow a site to run scripts which can do such things without you knowing it. That has been one of the fundamental problems with IE I've had for years, and it still is the case. In particular, originally it was that VBScript could do anything on your computer, including copying over a trojan/virus/malware app, and execute it just by you viewing the site. I believe that MS fixed that particular vulnerability, but others that do basically the same thing exist.

Firefox also has some vulnerabilities that are fixed by using an extension like NoScript.

[Janfader]

Main reason for WoW to go to consoles is simply the money factor. WoW is the biggest game in the world. Why wouldn't console companies want that? I'm sure Blizzard and "whomever else" will work out a deal to get WoW onto consoles ASAP. Not too mention Blizzard would want more people aware of WoW due to the movie coming out.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

Main reason for WoW to go to consoles is simply the money factor. WoW is the biggest game in the world. Why wouldn't console companies want that? I'm sure Blizzard and "whomever else" will work out a deal to get WoW onto consoles ASAP. Not too mention Blizzard would want more people aware of WoW due to the movie coming out.

Blizzard's people stated that they are not working on bringing WoW to consoles. The article quoted in the OP of this thread was incorrect, later posts in the thread point to it as well, the person who wrote the article misunderstood what was being talked about.