Blizzard still hesitant about console MMOs

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 25th 2009 at 8:15PM }

While expanding the unrelenting grasp of World of Warcraft to home consoles would undoubtedly net Blizzard an extra googolplex subscribers, there's a number of hurdles keeping MMOs from succeeding on non-PC platforms -- hurdles that were identified by Blizzard's executive VP of game design, Rob Pardo, in a recent interview with IndustryGamers.

Some hurdles are self-evident, such as the lack of a "keyboard and mouse" input device, and the massive amounts of storage space required for most online games (WoW is up to 10 gigs). Some have to do with the policies of the hardware manufacturers themselves, such as Microsoft's lengthy certification measures which would make WoW's frequent patches a nightmare to publish. However, according to Pardo, Microsoft has asked Blizzard for MMO advice, and has shown the company "some stuff they have in development." Halo MMO re-confirmed! (No, not really.)

Pardo's MMO outlook for the current generation of consoles is poor, but he thinks the next round of hardware is more likely to get it right -- at which point, people will be able to play WoW on any platform they want, and pretty much everyone will stop leaving the house. Hooray?

Tags: blizzard, console, mmo, mmorpg, rob-pardo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

B3astofthe3ast @ Jun 25th 2009 8:07PM

Um, Release it on PS3! PS3 supports keyboard and mouse, and All PS3s have hard drives AND completely open expandable media so users can add storage in ANY way they want.

Problems solved.

McKeyDee @ Jun 25th 2009 8:13PM

Yup. Plus there are already 3 MMOs confirmed for the PS3.
DC Universe Online
The Agency
FFXIV Online

LameDuck @ Jun 25th 2009 8:15PM

"Completely open" is a relative term. It's more about money and users than anything else. The 360, PS3, and Wii all can use a mouse and keyboard, it's just up to devs to do it. The main problem is, it's hard to get a large fanbase on such a small platform. *Small in compairison to the numbers of PCs in the world that are able to run something like WoW.*

serversurfer @ Jun 25th 2009 8:18PM

Indeed. Blizzard seem to be talking to the wrong console manufacturer.

B3astofthe3ast @ Jun 25th 2009 8:39PM

@LameDuck

The PS3 is the ONLY console that allows you to upgrade its storage in any way you want, including 2.5 HDDs, external USB HDDs, and a wide range of memory cards.

deanb @ Jun 25th 2009 9:00PM

@McKeyDee - And Free Realms, and if you've got an older PS3 FFXI still work's.

I don't get why Blizzard would be talking to MS about MMO's though?
Surely Sony with you know SOE, and several MMO's coming to PS3 over the next year, and all PS'3s having a hardrive, and mouse/KB support it'd be the more logical console maker to go to?
I suppose the SOE link might not be too great though.
Also why are folks suggesting a WoW port? Nobody want something new. In fact they did say they were working on something new so it is possible the next Blizzard MMO may be muliti-plat.

MakoXL @ Jun 25th 2009 9:25PM

ya, Unreal Tournament supports Mouse/Keyboard on PS3.

releasing an mmo on ps3 seems like a good idea.

AoE @ Jun 25th 2009 9:24PM

@deanb,

I will not lie. I am a little shocked that in the same breath you can mention that Sony has an MMO arm that competes directly with ActiBlizzard... and then wonder why Sony's not releasing a competitor's MMO on their hardware and why said competitor hasn't mentioned any kind of plans to release their game on thier (arguably) chief competition's hardware.

D dogg @ Jun 25th 2009 10:18PM

The single most important aspect of ANY massively multi-player game is the online connection. I'm glad you guys stroke yourselves that you can swap out harddrives in your PS3's and can even hook up mice and keyboards but really... who gives a shit. You're not getting WoW this generation, end of story.

deanb @ Jun 25th 2009 11:03PM

@AOE - Yes Sony have their own first party MMO developer, but they also have other first part studios in other genres too that doesn't put off any other 3rd party developer. And this is Blizzard, they won't be worried about competition with other MMO's.
To also add to why PS3 makes more sense for MMO's not paying $50 on top of your MMO Sub is always a bonus, makes free to play like Free realms possible too.

@Ddog - look at already mentioned Ps3 MMO's in this post and then revise your statement. We're not getting WoW (and Blizzard ain't gonna start porting a 5 year old game, especially hen their working on their next one) and we don't expect too, but MMO's are defiently on the rise this gen.

Alphathon @ Jun 26th 2009 3:09AM

@LameDuck: Yes, technically speaking you could use a keyboard/mouse on any of the consoles, but in reality, it's not that simple. On the 360 microsoft has a policy that meens that only Xinput devices with a special chip in them can be used for game input. Xinput only supports 2 analog joysticks (or 4 axes) 2 triggers, a D-pad and 10 buttons. AFAIK the only exception is microphones for rythm games (as obviously they couldn't be done with said inputs). As for the wii, yes you probably use a KB/mouse if the game was programmed as such, but the Wiis lack of upgrade archetecture etc make an MMO impossible.

Ace Steel @ Jun 25th 2009 8:07PM

I would love to play a MMO that is not FF Xi or PSU on a console. I can't stand playing games on the PC beside The Sims, it's just too uncomfortable.

chispito @ Jun 25th 2009 8:15PM

Well some of us can't stand analog sticks.

To each his own.

Ace Steel @ Jun 25th 2009 8:17PM

@Chispito: People without thumbs?

Ihavepants @ Jun 25th 2009 8:19PM

That's like saying people who can't stand keyboards have no fingers.

The Baron @ Jun 25th 2009 8:54PM

Hey guys, I have an opinion. Everybody else must be plain stupid to not have the same one as me!

Kael @ Jun 25th 2009 10:20PM

Most people (including me) have the consoles hooked up to the biggest screen in the house and have the most comfortable seat in front of it, but have the PC set up in a sort of in-the-corner spot with a kinda lame seat, and the experience can get really uncomfortable.

Yeah, you (the general you, not YOU you) may prefer playing on the console because it's much more comfortable, but I'm just saying that doesn't really have anything to do with the console or the PC, just the way you have stuff set up at your house. You COULD hook your console to your computer monitor and play in that uncomfortable chair, or play your PC on the couch with the big screen with a wireless mouse and keyboard on one of those comfy lap boards. It's not the PC that's uncomfortable, it's your furniture.

Ace Steel @ Jun 25th 2009 10:32PM

@kael: That's not the only reason I find it uncomfortable, I also find Keyboard+Mouse controls uncomfortable. It just feels weird. And yes I am very well aware they make control pads for the PC.

koehler83 @ Jun 25th 2009 8:09PM

Just let it go. Blizzard doesn't do consoles.

Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 25th 2009 8:13PM

At least for now, there's just too many consoles and owners for them to ignore.

Magresda @ Jun 25th 2009 8:18PM

@cosmo

That is true, but I'm willing to bet at least 98% percent of console owners have a computer capable of running WoW. The system requirements are minimal, pretty much anyone who wishes to check out WoW can.

Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 25th 2009 8:23PM

Sure, but I'm also sure many wish to play this game on their couch and do not want to hook up their PC to their HDTV.

Einhanderkiller @ Jun 25th 2009 8:28PM

But wouldn't a keyboard and mouse require a table? I've tried playing my PC on my couch and it's kind of awkward. Doable with some hard surfaces, but still awkward.

Magresda @ Jun 25th 2009 8:36PM

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I wouldn't switch from playing WoW on a PC to console unless they did something as big as revamping all the graphics to optimize them for console usage or something. Which I'm fairly certain they would never do.

Part of the reason why I still play WoW 2+ hours a day is because it's so convenient. Break at work? Pull out my macbook and play for 20 minutes. WoW to me is definitely not a couch game.
Oh, and there would be no point in hooking it up to an HDTV unless aforementioned graphics revamp happens. Which, again, I'm fairly certain won't^^

Saria the Cat @ Jun 25th 2009 8:15PM

Don't do it! No one will ever hear from me again...

Magresda @ Jun 25th 2009 8:15PM

While all the technical issues are easily solvable (especially on the PS3), Blizzard has no reason at all to port WoW over.

WoW already runs on pretty much any computer out there - including Mac's. This wouldn't widen the audience by very much, and it would cost them a whole lot more than it would make them.

Sizer @ Jun 25th 2009 8:20PM

This is just nitpicking, but I'm pretty sure my WoW install was up to 15 gigs after 3.1 (including whatever caches they have). I had to move it to another drive or I'd never have noticed. On a PC 10 vs 15 gig is just 'whatever'. On a 20 gig X360 or PS3 it's a lot.

Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 25th 2009 8:24PM

I'm sure they can compress it, optimize it to lower the footprint. I have never played WoW but I've heard that for recent PC games, they install either most or all of the game to the hard drive and the disc is used for authentication, just like installing games to the 360 with the NXE update.

Magresda @ Jun 25th 2009 8:42PM

If they shipped WoW for PS3 tomorrow they would of course include all current data on the disc. It would then take another ~4 years for 15gb of patches to build up again and considering you can't get a PS3 with less than 80gb these days, that doesn't sound too much. I could definitely see there being some problems on the 360 though.

So the question isn't if they CAN, it's if they SHOULD. Or would, but I think it's pretty much established by this point that they won't.

deanb @ Jun 25th 2009 9:05PM

I'm now on a 320GB hardrive, so on that 10-15GB is "whatever" too.
Also this is just patches, if you delete the patch installers it's 9GB(or at least that's what I'm upto). Though after 5 years, 2 expansions(which everyone even on the base game still get's most of) something like that is to be expected.

tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 25th 2009 8:27PM

WoW on PS3 is the most logical place for a console MMO if they were to do one. Easily upgradeable hard drive, mouse and keyboard support, mod support.

The problem is do you let them play with regular WoW people, or create a whole "new game" where only ps3 people play?

Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 25th 2009 8:36PM

No way, they should make it cross-platform, so that PS3 and PC owners can play against each other. Making the game PS3 players only would cut them off from a lot of other players.

Urza @ Jun 25th 2009 10:57PM

Except that the PS3's hardware is so foreign they'd have to design the game from scratch. IF you want to play WoW, stopped waiting and go out and buy it, it's $20. It'll work in any computer you can buy in the store, it'll work on any computer 5 years old.

The cost of redeveloping the game for any console, especially the PS3 though, completely out weighs any argument. You're not going to get any of the 11.5 million users to rebuy the game on the console and you're not going to get any of the 11.5 million users that don't own one to go out and buy one.

With WoW on the PC for $20, who in their right mind would buy WoW on a console for $40 or $50. It's insane. The user base of people on consoles only is way too small.

dagamer43 @ Jun 25th 2009 8:31PM

Microsoft already has a policy of not allowing keyboards and mice on the 360. Until that changes, you aren't going to see a MMO from Blizzard on their console.

And rightfully so. Because of the amount of modding that goes into an MMO like WoW, hardcore players wouldn't even bother with the 360 version. Plus, you have to realize that while tiny text is ok when the monitor is less than 2ft away, it would be hell on a HDTV without heavy reconsideration of the UI (more costs). Plus think of all the mods that would need to be reworked!

Let PCs do what they do best and leave the rest alone.

AverageJoe @ Jun 25th 2009 8:32PM

I wouldn't mind seeing WoW on my Xbox 360 but they should only port to consoles when they're sure that it would work properly. Don't rush into anything Blizzard, wait as long as you need to.

ChuckBartowski @ Jun 25th 2009 8:32PM

psshhhhh.... the outside world is soooooo overrated.

whylekat @ Jun 25th 2009 8:39PM

Dumb. The last MMO for consoles bombed terribly. Does anyone still play Phantasy Star or what??

koehler83 @ Jun 25th 2009 8:48PM

Never heard of Final Fantasy XI, which predates WoW and 8 years later has 2 million current subscribers?

Doesn't sound like a bomb to me.

Mr Khan @ Jun 25th 2009 10:24PM

Lots of people still play PSU. Lots still play PSO, too (illegal, private servers that can actually do more than Sonic Team was willing to do, like cross-platform play between DC, GC, and Xbox versions)

whylekat @ Jun 25th 2009 10:54PM

Well word to all that.. I was unaware.

Whatever happened to that Marvel Universe MMO I heard rumored for the 360, I assume to rival the PS3's DC Universe MMO? Anyone know?

Peace Fog @ Jun 25th 2009 8:39PM

I wouldn't play WoW if it came to consoles if I wanted to play WoW I'd play it on PC which I don't so I don't care maybe my friend would he loves WoW but hes not going to turn his PC off to turn his Xbox on so I guess Blizzard just figures ppl would play it on PC if they really wanted to

ChuckBartowski @ Jun 25th 2009 8:43PM

hey. On your keyboard, towards the bottom, noooo above the spacebar, to the right. It has a > on it and a. Yeah, try hitting that key more.

ryanpaulmcgowan @ Jun 25th 2009 8:43PM

Who cares how big the game is? Fit it on a Bluray like everyone else is doing with console MMO's. A typical 2GB install, have the rest on a disk.

Pretty simple =\.

Mouse and Keyboards aren't an issue if you're creative or develop for the PS3.

Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 25th 2009 8:51PM

Blu-Ray doesn't matter, most of the game needs to be installed on a hard drive, unless you like long loading times.

ryanpaulmcgowan @ Jun 25th 2009 9:25PM

A typical install is all that's needed. Just because a game is big doesn't mean you need to install of the data on the HD.

2GB for a 15GB game for normal load times.

Not a big deal at all.

jrhawk42 @ Jun 25th 2009 8:46PM

Any company should be cautious about releasing an MMO period. An MMO's success is completely based in it's community which is something that nobody really understands. Sure blizzard has been successful, but they've never really given a good solid explanation for their success, and those that have tried to copy their methods have failed miserably.

ChuckBartowski @ Jun 25th 2009 8:57PM

Advertise on cartoon network, like free realms, and you'll get millions of people.....

kinjodourden @ Jun 25th 2009 9:05PM

Well I think its been proven that if a person wants to play a game they will do just about what ever it takes (with in there means sometimes), like deleting info for room on there HDD, The ps3 has many units with 80gigs out there,with all my demo's, DLC,games,saved files and media(pics+movies+music) Im 10gigs away from 50% disc space! and as mentioned above KB and mouse support is there(any USB keybord works ) mouse