Well that’s the equivalent of playing through the tutorial. I’m not sure how much that says about the game in its entirety, but I suppose it does say something about its immediate presentation and first-impression. At least for you.
Generally-speaking, then I like games that don’t have outright tutorials, but where the gameplay is taught intuitively by simply playing the game. Blizzard are more traditional in their design and always include these overly educational tutorials. Mass-market design, know your audience, lowest denominator, and so on, I guess.
It does open up as you play beyond the initial experience. Again, like other Blizzard games. But of course, then it’s only fun if the gameplay and genre appeals. If not, then it’s obviously going to be “lame to play”.
But for what it is, it’s fairly solid within that Clash of Clans genre. People who like that type of game, they will also like Warcraft Rumble.
Yeah that works for about 5 minutes, and then the game gets serious and you need a ton of wins and rewards to make substantial progress. That’s where the grind and the store comes into the picture. Again, normal fare for mobile games.
That’s surprising to hear, because I’m sure one of Blizzard’s design goals is that it should feel like World of Warcraft.
And in many ways, when you play Warcraft Rumble, then you are playing World of Warcraft.
It is World of Warcraft is someone asked for World of Warcraft to be put on mobile and given a different genre.
But if you’ve played World of Warcraft, then it’s all recognizable.
It has all the heroes you know. Jaina, Tirion, Maiev, Sylvanas, and so on.
It has the classic map with Kalimdor and The Eastern Kingdoms and all the known zones.
It has the villains like Hogger and King Mukla.
It has Dungeons like Blackfathom Keeps. Just like WoW.
It has raids. Onyxia. Just like WoW.
It has PvP. Just like WoW.
It has guilds. Just like WoW.
It is WoW.
For the younger generations.
Blizzard’s biggest weakness is that they have this billion dollar franchise – Warcraft – that is immensely popular and known far and wide amongst old people. Folks who are 30+ have a history with Warcraft. And Blizzard have milked the success of Warcraft for the past 3 decades by relying on people like you and I.
But the younger generations? They have no idea what Warcraft is all about. They’ve never played a Warcraft game before. Thrall? Who’s that?!
And Blizzard can’t appeal to them with their current portfolio of games. World of Warcraft is an old, bloated behemoth of a mess that no one under the age of 20 would even consider trying out.
And Warcraft as a whole is a decades old franchise with a history that makes The Lord of the Rings look like a comic strip. Where do you even start with Warcraft?!
That’s Blizzard’s biggest business weakness. This massive franchise is just dying before them, because if it’s supposed to go on for another 20 or 30 years, then they need kids and young teenagers to get into it.
And that’s what Warcraft Rumble is meant to do. Give young people an introduction to Warcraft that they can understand and appreciate and enjoy.
If you and I also end up playing Warcraft Rumble, then that’s a bonus for Blizzard. But the one and only goal is to sell Warcraft to the younger generations.
It is.
Who do you think Warcraft III and World of Warcraft were made for back when they were released? A bunch of sweaty 30 year old nerds? No! Kids! Us, when we were kids!