Those are good points Shodan.
I got into WoW largely because of a niece who is really sociable. She likes the social atmosphere on WoW. With the guild she belongs to she is really well known.
I moved over to LOTRO because of the reduced cost. Personally, after 2 year on WoW, I find LORTO so much more interesting. But more, the agressive competitiveness just doesn't seem to have taken over there.
I get a slightly different impression. I get the impression that WoW has created for itself, a market identity as the premier online game. Such that having a high level character has become a point of discussion in itself, rather like the number business types claiming to be black belts in Karate. Being able to boast a high level position in a WoW guild is a bonus.
I don't really think the makers of WoW were in the least bit concerned about game play, or the online bullying.
They issued occasioanl upgrades, hoping for a favourable press to encourage yet more sales. But while previous updates had often incorporated re-writes to utilise newer graphics technologies and faster computers and net connections, I get the impression they chose to issue the latest, with the kung fu pandas along with raising the limit to 90, in a silly attempt to seem to be doing something. And I think they made a serious mistake.
Firstly, raising the max level to 90 meant that owners of the lev 85 characters would need to actually play or be seen to have second rate characters. Secondly, the Kung fu panda idea is insulting, patronising, possible racist and frankly, 30 years out of date! Added to that, the characters look stupid and childish.
I think the makers of WoW have just run out of steam and made a mistake.
That's a cynical view though.
