let's hope a mmoRTS. the only real mmorts is starting to get old (shattered galaxy)

Well, I see many of you guys referring to MMO versions of Diablo and StarCraft, but I personaly think it's something totaly new, without an established name. Diablo itsself seems inlogical, since it's a Next-Gen MMO, this means it quite likely takes part in the open area of the universe, Diablo wouldn't be fit for that kind of thing, since it'd require a HUGE leap forward in time.

StarCraft is a possibility, but not logical, why would they make 2 versions of a StarCraft game at the same time, it could end up making them lose money, since people might want to play only 1 of both versions, instead of both of them, which would seem more logical if they'd put atleast half a year between the release dates.

I have no idea what it could/would be, but I think it'll be something which wasn't previously part of the Blizzard franchise.

Just my 2c :P

I think with the Vivendi / Blizz merger that even though they are "staying 2 separate entities" , a new MMORTS or MMORPG concept might not be THAT out of the question. Not to say they might not revisit the Diablo universe, but with the original devs now on HG:L , and SC2 already on the horizion, I think it could be a totally new concept could be the most reasonable expectation. This is all just conjecture until something solid is announced, mabye BlizzCon 08 will have a big announcement for us.

Edit: guy below me beat me to the punch :(

Perhaps they'll finally create what we've always wanted: World of Lost Vikings.

I can't see them doing Diablo, since the Diablo team left and came out with Hellgate London which is Diablo 3.

Starcraft MMO would be fun, and I'm betting they were watching the development of Tabula Rasa very closely since it pretty much is the current next-gen mmo out there. Specifically that it's more action based, less whack a mole, no bullets that you watch curve to hit a running target.

We'll see....

Why do I not see this on the dev tracker?

It can't be Starcraft or Diablo, like everyone else has said, but I don't think it will be a new franchise either. Think about it, WoW just hit it's fourth birthday, it's getting kind of old. It will take at least another 2 years to see anything come out of this news, and by that time WotLK will be getting tired.

We're looking at WoW 2 people.

Blizzard just hit 3 years, not 4. I do not think we will be seeing WoW 2. I want to see Diablo 3, and just because the crew from Diablo left to make Flagshop Studios, doesnt mean they can't make it anymore. It is a new game, so they can make anything they want.

So what youre saying is that a next gen-MMO is a MMO, but in the future.

HAHAHA. *More uncontrollable laughter* HAHAHA.

Well, next-gen kinda says it, it takes place later than the current time, and generaly that means space-age-ish.

What else would it be, enlighten me...

"Next-gen" is a marketing term meant to convey a more modern product, not a product set in a more modern time. The basic idea is that the product type in question have generations in which several producers put out similar products with similar features. A "next-gen" model then is one from the next generation, with new features that, in theory, put the last generation's features to shame.

World of Warcraft was next-gen compared to Eve Online when it launched, despite Eve Online being set in a significantly more futuristic world.

Ty, for saving me what would have been a very condescending explanation of the generation concept in tech/gaming.

Even though I would argue against EVE being a generation older than WoW. As far as I am concerned, we are almost at the thirdish generation (MUD, 2D, 3D) with WoW. Oh sure, WoW is the most polished game which brings together the best of all other MMOs to date. Except for a bit of sandboxing, but that is personal preference.
There hasnt been much of a leap in the MMOGs, like ever. And for me to mark a new generation, leaps have to happen. Maybe I have a skewed concept of it, but calling the 360, PS3 and Wii next generation sort of pisses me off. The 360 and PS3 are just an upgrade in graphics and hardware, while the Wii that could have been the real next generation fails because its graphics were almost dated when it came out.

blizz has already announced MANY MANY times there will be no wow 2, first of all it doesnt even make sense, why make a sequal (not expansion) to an mmo that is a sequal to 4 other games? it just wouldnt make sense, expansions add more depth to the storyline, mmos dont get sequals, just expansions (final fantasy guild wars).

The 360 and PS3 were next-gen for the fact that they were upgraded graphics and hardware. That is what defines the next-generation. Though now they are current gen, simply due to the fact that what they are here and now, though marketing has been sticking with the next-gen tag due to it making people feel like they are ahead of the game.

Next Generation games are games that take advantage (on any level) of the newer generations of hardware. 3-4 years ago it was Shadermodel 2&3 and the usage of specular/bump/normal maps throughout a game. Today it is the usage of DX10 and the focus on multi-core support.

There will always be a next-gen as long as there is new hardware on the horizon. Though the 360, PS3 and WoW are no longer next-gen, but current gen, any game to come out that makes usage of hardware that is brand new (Dx10) or coming soon would dub that game 'next gen' until the point that that new hardware is in most systems.

Hehe ok, thanks for the explaination guys :)

World of Starcraft.

I know, that is how the generation concept is used, doesnt mean I like it anymore. To be next gen its like having two brothers showing up, not father and son, like I feel it should be.

Marketing gimmick FTL.

o well, im playing wow and not those though, anyways blizz has already said that they are not making a wow 2 in many forums :p
sc2 isnt that far out of the question, knowing a blizz mmo = 3-5 years development... but it would be odd getting an epic claw equippable by zerglings :p

it takes the hardware to have the game ;)