Blizzard Job Board looking for a "Next Gen MMO" team.

OzzymandiasKJ · 04/27/07, 5:43 PM

I'm speculating that they're going to port WoW to next gen consoles. But interesting nonetheless.

Grub · 04/27/07, 5:47 PM

Err, WoW is no longer a "next gen MMO". I think its pretty clear they have been developing a new MMO to make billions of dollars off of. You can speculate wildly on exactly what it will be, but either Diablo or Starcraft would be your best bets. With the recent strongly substantiated rumors that Blizzard is announcing their next product May 19th at the 2007 Korean Invitationals, something related to Starcraft fits into place nicely. Or maybe they're announcing Starcraft 2. *shrug*

Lupison · 04/27/07, 5:48 PM

If memory serves... the d00ds on Final Fantasy and the normal folk didn't mix too well.

Maybe it's for Starcraft MMO.

OzzymandiasKJ · 04/27/07, 5:49 PM

The May 19th rumors are strongly indicating that Starcraft 2 will be announced. Whether or not it'll be an MMO is highly up in the air but I'm betting it'll be an RTS. Blizzard would be wise to release a new game to support their e-sports line-up.

"a new MMO to make billions of dollars off of" seems highly unrealistic. They're not making billions of dollars off WoW, that's for sure. And I don't think WoW was ever considered a "next gen MMO", but I do believe the reference is in respect to next gen consoles. Which alludes back to my previous assumption, WoW on the Xbox 360.

After all, they're obviously interested in consoles (ie: Starcraft: Ghost).

Lupison · 04/27/07, 5:51 PM

Is having Starcraft 2 on next gen consoles all that far fetched? Not really.

Brando · 04/27/07, 5:54 PM

The job listing is for lead programmer for designing a game engine for their next-gen mmo. Not sure how this would tie into console porting WOW or making a new RTS game. Seems pretty obvious that they already have plans to come out with a new MMO however many years down the line, doubt we'll know more than this anytime soon.

• Chicken · 04/27/07, 5:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lupison

Is having Starcraft 2 on next gen consoles all that far fetched? Not really.

StarCraft wouldn't be an MMO however, and the job board specifically says 'Next-Gen MMO'.

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Blizzard is looking into the possibility myself, I wonder which console would be the most likely? XBox might be the easiest to integrate considering the interactions with Vista that were being planned.

That or they could just be planning Universe of Starcraft, or indeed Gemshard of Diablo.

OzzymandiasKJ · 04/27/07, 5:55 PM

Porting WoW to consoles could still require substantial changes to the engine. But I suspect you're right.

There's also the possibility of (gasp) a new franchise.

Quasar · 04/27/07, 5:56 PM

I highly doubt they'd release a different MMO with their first still active and their expansion-a-year policy, and I highly doubt SC2 is going to be an MMO. I'd suspect that they're initiating a team to architect the engine for WoW 2 (which should take quite a number of years to develop).

Emeraude · 04/27/07, 6:02 PM

Ugh I hope the next game isn't an MMO, I'm looking forward to a nice casual RTS game I don't have to log into on a nightly basis to enjoy.

OzzymandiasKJ · 04/27/07, 6:04 PM

Originally Posted by Emeraude

Ugh I hope the next game isn't an MMO, I'm looking forward to a nice casual RTS game I don't have to log into on a nightly basis to enjoy.

You don't have to log on WoW on a nightly basis either. But that's another subject.

I too would love to see a new RTS, I'm tempted to go back and reinstall Starcraft for a couple rounds online.

Quasar · 04/27/07, 6:12 PM

Originally Posted by OzzymandiasKJ

You don't have to log on WoW on a nightly basis either. But that's another subject.

Well, to enjoy, which I interpret similar to how I felt about Counterstrike (and also WoW) - every day that you're not playing is a day that other players are, and are getting better as a result. Gets too stressful sometimes if you have that kind of competitive mindset. Anyway.

I too would love to see a new RTS, I'm tempted to go back and reinstall Starcraft for a couple rounds online.

Absolutely. I hope to see SC2 live up to the legacy of SC and Brood War. Fantastic games deserve fantastic sequels. I can't really see SC becoming an MMO unless they go all Eve Online and throw it in space or something, and I'd rather not see that. SC is the best RTS series, in my eyes. I expect nothing but.

Dozer · 04/27/07, 6:19 PM

There are millions and millions of people waiting for continuations of the Diablo and Starcraft franchises; starting a game not based on existing IP would be a horrible business decision.

• Ultramagnetic · 04/27/07, 6:22 PM

With any luck it will be a Lost Vikings MMO.

Heh let someone invent a side scrolling MMO game. There's a side-scrolling RTS game already called Steam Brigade: http://www.pedestrianentertainment.com/

topojijo · 04/27/07, 6:24 PM

It is confirmed they will announce a game on May 19th. What game they announce is a different story.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/46732

Edit: Following rumors from Korean website ThisIsGame that Blizzard would be unveiling the long-awaited StarCraft II at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational on May 19, company representatives have confirmed that Blizzard plans to reveal a new game at the event and that the company plans to revisit the StarCraft universe someday--but stopped just short of saying if that to be announced game is StarCraft II.