I know Blizzard is working on a next generation MMO. I bet we’ll see more acknowledgment there at the very least. I’m still hoping though that WoW itself is retrofitted.

It was brilliant. A simple little device and yet I spent the entire duration of the event patrolling the grounds, making the ogres bow before my apparently awesome presence.

Unfortunately it was over all too soon. The ogres in the area don’t even remember me. Sure I saved their tribe but what of it? That was yesterday’s news. Those ogres are a fickle lot.

Think of what a permanent acknowledgment system could lead to. With the proper writers on board Blizzard could implement a SCUMM-style dialog system that would not only remember the choices made but change the outcome accordingly. Going even further, the dialog could be set up in much the same way as a western PC RPG, where you essentially have good and bad choices. The bad would lead you down a darker path, opening up new possibilities, negating you from others, and making the town citizen gasp in fear as you run by on your way to the auction house.

Good obviously would have a similar effect, but townspeople would whisper your name in astonishment and characters such as Tirion would be much more likely to give you a quest to kill 10 ghouls instead of 30 to prove if you are, indeed, trustworthy.

Though it would take some work I honestly think it would be a fairly easy task when compared to adding new dungeon or holiday event content (not that I’m against that sort of content, of course). It would take some creative planning, a dedicated team of writers, and some clever coders but I don’t see why this isn’t possible. I know I’d be willing to do it and I’d work for peanuts (salted peanuts). The potential to make World of Warcraft into an even better, more immersive game is there.

Sorry about the rambling comment. I believe you’re fighting the good fight!