What's the next stage?

With Wrath of the Lich King selling as well as it has, you may think this question need not be asked. Thought I would tend to disagree. It's long been stated that in the M.M.O. world that when it comes to fantasy we have pretty much hit not only full saturation but the crown is firmly on the kings head. Though I'm not trying to take anything away from the others, such as War and Conan.

But after a while we all have to realize that the well is nearing depletion, and that begs the question what now? Well there is some hope in the sci-fi genre. With Bioware taking on the juggernaut that is Star Wars. Plus with the rabid fan base of Bioware hopefully this will help us move on from the dark ages. But that's just the tip. In the depths of the CCP studios they are with any hope working on the World in Darkness MMO. Granted this may not be a nine million plus seller but at least you should hopefully have the chance to kill Vampires. While tearing through nearly anything if you play as an lycanthrope.

That's just a couple ones that are being worked on. So now what is it that makes people keep coming back to WOW? That's the big question, other games have similar things as WOW does on first glance. One of the hurdles developers seem to have a problem on is choosing PVE or PVP. A friend of mine pointed out that WOW does PVE very well. Not so much PVP but the PVE is very easy to pick up and go. Personally speaking MMOs out now and in the pipeline are just as good games. (Well some of them at least,) so what's the issue with these games not killing the king, is it timing releases well? Maybe, but I think that's only half right. You can bring a game out before, after or on the day Wrath launches and it wont matter. What these companies are fighting is something they can't win for now, and that's time invested and still thinking time well spent.

Until most people start thinking what they are doing is complete waste of time why would they stop doing it? Sure I, would rather be a werewolf tearing through the back alleys of New York city. Let's face it what WOW does it does very, very well. So Let's say I have a staff from WOW that only drops one in a thousand boss kills. Look at this awesome achievement for my time spent. Plus the game is very good at making you feel important. With that new staff I can help heal or be a better tank or off dps for my guild. (for the record my raid guild died a week before I was ready to raid.) new MMOs will have to take this account if they want to carve out a name for themselves.

So until a team can come along that can masterfully blend PVE and PVP which War might be able to if you give them a year or so. Or out PVE WOW or at least bring something that makes the grind as much or more fun. I want wish the best of luck to all the developers working on getting us to lay down our axes and shields and get us to pick up a lightsaber or steam powered pistols.