They're prototyping the new MMO with the WOW engine, yes, but don't forget that Blizzard stated that the new MMO will be nothing like Wow. Why would they want to compete with their own product? The new MMO will be a completely different beast.
This will take Blizzard around 10 years from now until this gets released. For now, I'd be happy if they get Starcraft 2 this year out to the shelves. I also wanna see Starcraft Ghost being made some day.
I never really liked the former Splinter Cell games, mainly because they had this stupid Tom Clancy drama vibe, and I can't press enough how much I hate Tom Clancy stuff. But Conviction seems to turn it's attention into a different direction, so I calmly remain optimistic.
Thief 1 and 2 AI was pretty excellent for its day though.
Yes, but it won't be enough for a 2011 (?) game anymore. They really have to make the guards as challenging and invigorating as in the past titles again, for present standards.
Please don't. Garret isn't some monkey. I say keep the rope-arrows in so that the player has to wage/think a little bit, but get that stupid wall climbing out. This isn't some friggin' Tomb Raider. If Garret could climb anywhere, there wouldn't be the certain feel of being vulnerable and exposed to guards anymore. He's physically no super man.
Story is the least matter I'm worried about. I know about the recycling habit of story/character bits from Bioware, but I'm more worried about the mechanics/camera/combat stuff. I can't endure figthing with the controls anymore. Or have loading screens at every 5 steps.
DA didn't age very well, it looks horribly clunky in a bad way, yet they manage to sell it as the second coming, being the "best Bioware game to date" and all that bs. In fact, I think it could be just another NWN2 in the worst case.