I decided to do an assessment on what World of Warcraft needs based entirely on the search terms that brought people to this site in 2010.
While you must admit that there are worse ways to determine what a game company needs to address, I am not exactly sure this best route for Blizzard to pursue. Still, let’s see what people search for.
5 – Dalaran Portals
A heavy favorite since the launch of Cataclysm. Blizzard apparently needs to put up a big sign where the portals in Dalaran used to be indicating that they have been removed and that you either need to find a mage or fly on out to Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra and take the boat back home from Northrend.
Remember how EverQuest used to have big signs all over? Blizzard could do the same thing. You couldn’t miss it.
Suggested Signage
The war in the north is over. Arthas has been thawed or something. The funding for portals could no longer be justified in the Stormwind military budget, especially with a cataclysm to clean up after. Set your stone Stormwind and pick up one of those Argent Crusader tabards if you feel the need to go back to Northrend regularly.
4 – Bolvar Fordragon
I have no idea why so many people are searching for Bolvar Fordragon. I have personally never had any problems finding him when I needed him, though I haven’t needed him all that often. But based on the search terms, there is a demand for him and his location. The last I saw him he was out at Angrathar the Wrathgate exchanging steamy glances with Dranosh Saurfang.
Bolvar and Dranosh and Innuendo
He looked like he had everything under control once some dragons showed up, so I am sure nothing bad happened to him and that he lived a full and wholesome life and was never entrapped in an effort to save Azeroth. Nope, not a bit. So Blizzard should get with it and add “Bolvar Fordragon” to the tracking options available there on the mini map.
3 – Dire Maul Summoning Stone
Nobody can find it, or so I gather by all the searches on it. I am not sure why they need to find it since Blizzard introduced the whole Dungeon Finder thing over a year ago, but the demand is there if I read my search results correctly. So Blizz, get somebody to make the summoning stone just a bit more obvious. (Make that lighting effect strobe or something.)
Until then, it is just off to the left when you are heading into Dire Maul.
Dire Maul Summoning Stone Pictured
Or, to put it on the map, it is just about where my little arrow is pointed below.
2 – WoW Account Hacked
Hey, an actual issue, and one that they have been focused on for a while. Not one that Blizzard has been able to solve, but not for lack of trying I suppose. Here is your best option so far.
Roll Stock Authenticator Footage
Of course, if your account has already been hacked… well, now you know better.
1 – Guild Name Generator
Besides prognosticating cephalopds and anthropomorphic felines, nothing has brought more people to this site in 2010 than Nick Yee’s WoW Guild Name Generator. Blizzard should give Nick Yee some money and integrate his guild name generator into the game.
Or they could just do what they do with any addon they like; integrate it into the game without a nod to the originator and act like they thought of it first.
Really, That is it?
Well, those are the things that bring people here looking for answers about World of Warcraft. A bit further down the list there are things like Phishing and Cataclysm Beta, but these are the top five.
Of course, there might be other things on which Blizzard ought to be focused.
I think you’re letting them off easy on the Dalaran portals. It’s not just a matter of signage, it was just a stupid decision on their part to eliminate them in the first place. I can’t even think of a reason that it’s justified via Lore.
I think a larger area they are falling flat is the first set of dungeons in Cataclysm. If you start in Hyjal you will level past the point where you can even queue, via Dungeon Finder, for Throne of Tides and vice versa, since they are capped in DF at level 83. Barring traveling there, which is a pain, you are missing out on content.
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“I can’t even think of a reason that it’s justified via Lore.”
It doesn’t need to be. The reason is simple. Blizz wanted us all to move back to EK and Kalimdor as our base to experience all the new content as it was meant to be. If they’d have left portals in Dal, we’d all have stayed there for ease.
A better plan might have been to make the portals stop working for 80+.
But then, now, 70-80 don’t need to leave Northrend – Dal has all trainers, vendors and an AH.
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