This is a followup to my previous comments about Warhammer vs Warcraft. It elicited some good comments from Navith in this thread; go add your two coppers.

"Game Killer" is merely a term used for the new game that captures the gaming public's attention in a big way, from the game that used to be the big boss in the neighborhood.

WoW has such a HUGE playerbase that it is hard to conceive of it actually suffering in the short term from any game release. I like the game a lot, partly because it is eminently soloable - an important consideration when I play after midnight as a rule. It's cute, it's colorful and it's easy. However, content remains WoW's biggest stumbling block to long-term success. I have only played one char to highish level (Wokky is a 59 Warlock). My younger chars all end up having to do the same ol, same ol' to advance, so it always gets dull once I leave the newbie areas.

If Blizzcon this weekend holds an announcement of a new expansion, then good for WoW, but man, they've been slow as hell in the past. I mean, how many times can even a FANBOI play the same content again and again and again and...

UO was the Mud-killer.
EQ was the UO-killer and was king for 5 years.
WoW was the EQ killer; EQII never even got a look in, though it is still my favorite game.

Now WoW has been around for 3 years...
There will be another game to supercede WoW - eventually - it just remains to be seen if it is a Blizzard product or something out of left field.

Warhammer has a chance (at least initially) because so many avid gamers were such tabletop Warhammer geeks. Warcraft borrowed heavily from the Warhammer mileu, and that is certainly part of its appeal to many. However, Warhammer tabletop games could certainly be considered "hard core" and the big money is in the casual gaming market, as few well-adjusted people these days have time to grind 20 hours a week to succeed in a game.

A WOW-killer must cater to that market.

I do have some concerns that in Games Workshop's rabid aim to remain true to their IP (man, do I hate that term; it is as ubiquitous as snot these days), they will end up failing to provide for the casual gamer.

Test this theory - propose out loud that you think they should change how they do "x, y, and z", and they will rise up on their hind legs and roar about a quarter century of gaming tradition. Then they will rip off your head and place it on a pike, or wrap it in a spiky chain and use it in a Bloodbowl match.

In all likelihood they don't care what you think; there is a lot to be said for a game that produces a great game tailored to a niche audience, as opposed to trying to be the generic game everyone wants to play. The Warhammer world is rock solid and well-suited to what they have done in the past.

Still, Warhammer has a chance to cause a stir. Whether this manifests as a ripple or tidal wave is yet to be seen. A lot rides on Mythic's experience in the MMO market; DAOC was a great PvP game, but I found it dull as dirt (not even good dirt) in PvE after about level 30.

My god, I wish I could get my hands on WAR beta so that I can see for myself... all NDA-like, of course.

I'll just go assemble my armor bits for FanFaire now - I need one more trip to the leather store to get fasteners that work.
...After I pet my wonderful White Dwarf 30th Anniversary model.
...And dust my Skaven plaguebringers.
...And put Morg'N'Thorg in a place of honor.

Give me WAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!
;-)#
Brasse