There was much goodness revealed at BlizzCon yesterday. An expansion for Warcraft, cinematics for Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone open beta announcement. Beta sign-ups are live for all expansions or new games, so sign into your battle.net account and join the fun.
Where to begin? Diablo II first, The Reaper of Souls expansion. Adventure mode: play where you want, when you want. It is a separate mode from campaign mode, designed for players to freely move between modes and enjoy the game anyway they wish. The game play looks amazing and I’m interested in the Crusader panel today discussing the upcoming class and changes in greater detail. I admit I haven’t played Diablo III yet more than the trial but I am itching to, specially because the transmogrification system coming in the expansion is something that has peaked my interest greatly.
World of Warcraft, the Warlords of Draenor expansion looks to have the potential to revitalize and aging MMO in a competitive marketplace. UI improvements are coming (true Bind on Account Heirlooms!), popular add-ons being integrated into the UI (random mount, battleground timers), and NEW and stunning character models. Oh yeah let’s not forget Blizzard’s take on player housing is coming too!
Initial reaction here was meh, but digging deeper I’m deeply interested because let’s face it, I’m a lore junkie. I think they took the easy way out and reworked old, familiar favorite characters from past Warcraft games but at the same time, they are bringing the past to bear on the present. I didn’t play the RTS games but I know that the MMO I play today is based on what happened in those previous games and thus I’m looking forward to meeting the current day iterations of those beloved characters from RTS games. Do I think they need to clear up some of the time travel that isn’t time travel confusion, oh yeah. I think the potential is there, especially on the lore front. Orc history, Draenei history, Ogres, and the incredibly juxtaposition of Thrall and Garrosh going back in time to meet their parents with affecting the timeline that we all know.
Heroes of the Storm is the Blizzard entry into the rapidly expanding and incredible popular arena style of multiplayer game.
Heroes is all about your favorite Blizzard multiverse characters into the same game. Models for characters are familiar but different and game play looks fun, like a fast paced RTS with friends.
Hearthstone, Heroes of Warcraft is the online card game that is set in the Warcraft Universe. It has been in closed beta since August and open beta hits next month.
I’m in closed beta for Hearthstone, although I haven’t yet fired up the game. It looks fun but at the same time I can’t seem to find any excitement on interest for an online card game. Maybe I’m too old? Also announced was the game will be coming to apple and android phones in beta form sometime next spring.
Overall, the first day left an overwhelming impression that Blizzard has spent more time listening to the player base and is more focused on creating games that their players want to play. Hopefully, the trend continues and they follow through with that potential.
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