A few days ago, Activision Blizzard announced the mobile game Warcraft Arclight Rumble. A tabletop looking strategy game with action elements. It will be released for both Android and iOS and should ensure exciting tower offense games on mobile phones in the future. But what sounds like a concentrated load of gaming fun seems to cause an uproar among some core gamers even before the release. We wonder: Why is Warcraft Arclight Rumble dividing the fan world?
On Wednesday, May 4th, the time had finally come. Players around the world waited spellbound in front of the Blizzard live stream for the unveiling of the new mobile game. Previously, there was speculation on social media in all directions. Many Warcraft fans would have been looking forward to a pocket-sized MMORPG. But the viewers were rewarded with something completely different, namely a mixture of tower offense, dungeons and raids. Dressed in Warcraft garb. This sounds familiar to most gamers. Tower defense games, which is apparently comparable to Blizzard's new creation of tower offense, are among the most popular games in the app shops.
Tower offense and raids instead of MMORPG
Let's take a look at what Warcraft Arclight Rumble has given us so far according to the trailer. Similar to the popular Moba League of Legends, a number of deployable miniatures await players here. Which are reminiscent of tabletop figures and belong to one of the five well-known Warcraft factions, Alliance, Horde, Blackfield, Wild Animals or Undead. Each of the 65 miniatures offers different special abilities that players can use in-game to take down their opponents. In addition, the miniatures can be leveled and equipped. The announcement stream has already revealed popular characters like Gommash Hellscream and Archmage Jaina Proudmoore. The figures are to be collected as the game progresses.
Warcraft Arclight Rumble is played according to a game principle that is reminiscent of Moba. In the campaigns, the player and his opponent send melee, ranged and flying units into battle in parallel to destroy enemy troops. To do this, both players use predetermined paths that always lead in the direction of the opposing base. Meanwhile, contested control points must be taken. You also have to collect objects and gold from treasure chests and mines. The winner of the game is the one who destroys the opponent's base or defeats their boss. All in all, a variety of different campaigns, as solo or co-op mode, PVP carnage as well as instances and dungeons, are waiting to be discovered in Warcraft Arclight Rumble.
Sounds great? This is where the gamer world splits
Streamer and World of Warcraft player Asmongold commented positively on Blizzard's new mobile game. The gamer, known for his Twitch and YouTube videos, sees Warcraft Arclight Rumble as a money printing machine and a stroke of genius. So he said in a recent stream that mobile games would almost print money. He also commented on the negative votes. The streamer thinks that for every player who says, "Oh, this is so stupid, I hate it," there might as well be other players out there who would spend $150 on the game in the first week.
“Because mobile games print money. For every one of you guys that's like 'Oh, this is so dumb, I hate this,' there's a few other people out there who are gonna spend $150 in the first week of the game."
He would even go so far as to say that Blizzard's mobile game could be hugely popular and a great game. The funny thing, he says, is that Warcraft Arclight Rumble could make more money than World of Warcraft. In fact, he's pretty sure the game will bring in more money than Diablo 3.
“I actually do think that it could be very popular and that this could be a big game. The funny thing is this game might make more money than World of Warcraft. I'm pretty sure this game will make more money than Diablo 3."
On social media such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, the opinions of potential players and some long-established Warcraft fans seem to differ greatly. As a reader of the comments, it seems like there are only two camps: casual gamers and core warriors. One of the proponents and one of those who would most like to tear the game apart with harsh words. A disappointed Facebook user writes in clear words: "No fixes for an unfinished remake of Warcraft 3, but throwing away money for a mobile game. Selling out the soul of Blizzard and brand prostitution. My opinion."
Regular players want a different mobile game
Something that resonates again and again. Rather, regular players would have wished for a revision or completion of the Warcraft video game. You feel betrayed by Blizzard's new Warcraft Arclight Rumble. Some other players compare the game to other mobile fighting and strategy games such as the mobile game Clash of Clans by Finnish game developer Supercell. They underline the indiscriminate replaceability of the topic, which is hidden under the Warcraft cloak. Many commenting Warcraft fans agree on one thing: A tower defense and hero collecting game like Arclight Rumble has nothing in common with Warcraft!
"A hero collection game, is such an oversaturated genre, even with the tower defense elements [...]. Do yourself, your playerbase and your company value a favour, scrap this and make something better [...]."
At least as often, however, one reads neutral and positive posts. This is what many future players say, who think that the trailer and especially the short gameplay video from streamer Towelliee looks colorful and like varied fun. It is also emphasized again and again that it is free to play. Which would be an incentive for many to definitely test the mobile Warcraft extensively in the future.
"Looks fun and free, so I'll give it a go.".
But even regular players respond in a soothing manner and point out that you first have to try a game in order to form an honest opinion. Everything else is unfair nagging.
"According to the motto "What the farmer doesn't know, he doesn't eat"? I also consider myself a core fan. Grew up on Warcraft 1 and 2. In the army then Warcraft 3 wanted and last of course WoW. I imagined something else under a mobile offshoot, but I'm happy to play it and I'm curious how it is. To judge something before you've played it is bullshit!!".
Ultimately, what unites most commentators is the joy, or at least the acknowledgment, that Warcraft is reflected in the artwork and factions. Warcraft Arclight Rumble won't be a pocket Warcraft, but a tower offense game with your favorite heroes can be entertaining, even if it's mainstream. It is not without reason that there is a great demand for this genre in the app stores. Maybe one or the other inexperienced player gets interested in the original Warcraft and thus secures its future together with all other fans of the universe. A user writes: “this eternal whining “Blizzard is doing this wrong, Blizzard is doing that wrong” calm down and play something else. the largest group of gamers are still casual gamers and therefore also the largest target group.”.
The question of why Arclight Rumble is splitting the gamer community seems clear: some regular players were expecting a familiar Warcraft video game on the go, while others were hoping for an MMORPG like World of Warcraft. In addition, the desire for exclusivity shows up again and again in the comments, sometimes between the lines, often written out in big letters: We Warcraft players against the mainstream.
The question that arises: can a video game only exist through a die-hard fan base? One that calls disappointed for a Warcraft 4 and therefore rejects a mobile game. A game that could be attractive to any player, even those who haven't played Blizzard games before? We think: think outside the box more often and have fun.
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