World of Warcraft’s disjointed story ‘is something that we need to improve’, says MMO’s director, ‘I can completely acknowledge that is a weakness’
Never-ending story
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In an interview withWorld of Warcraft’s player-led Community Council, game director Ion Hazzikostas weighed in on issues with the game’s story and the steep narrative learning curve faced by newcomers.
During thepanel discussion, a Community Council member asked Hazzikostas and his colleagues if there were plans to “fill in some of the lore gaps” in the game. It’s “hard to figure out the lore,” the question continued, “A lot of the older lore is in books and stuff that [is not found in] the game.” (viaPC Gamer).
In his response, Hazzikostas attempted to “speak to the narrative side of it. I completely acknowledge that is a weakness, it’s something we need to improve [and] it’s something that Chris Metzen and I chatted about a bunch recently; how we could better integrate in-game mechanisms for getting people caught up.”
For those not in the know, Chris Metzen is aWorld of Warcraftveteran who recentlycame out of retirementto work on the MMO once more. Metzen’s time with the franchise dates back toWarcraft: Orcs and Humansin 1994 - the first-everWarcrafttitle.
Hazzikostas used the example of Anduin Wrynn, one of the game’s major characters, to illustrate the steps he and the team could take to help onboard newer players.
“What was [Anduin’s] journey? Where did that start? […] What has he lost? Gameplay isn’t fully the right way to get someone caught up there, but, in-game journals, the ability to view cinematics, things that don’t require you to go out toYouTubeand watch compilations there [… this is] something we’re definitely discussing.”
Given therecent announcement ofWorld of Warcraft’s next expansion,The War Within,now seems like an excellent time for Hazzikostas and the team to implement these sorts of quality-of-life adjustments for lore-hungry new players. Plus, withThe War Withinacting as the first part of the newWorldsoul Sagatrilogy of expansions, players old and new will want to have all the relevant lore at their fingertips as they embark on the next stage of the MMO juggernaut’s journey.
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World of Warcraft is one of thebest MMORPGsof all time, but those looking for solo adventures should check out our list of thebest single-player games, too.
An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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