Macintosh | World of Warcraft panel hit by Cataclysm
BlizzCon 2009: Third add-on to popular massively multiplayer online RPG explained in detail, with Blizzard developers outlining new zones, Worgen and Goblin races, and more; apparently coming next year.
ANAHEIM, California--Diablo and Starcraft have their place, but the real cherry in Blizzard Entertainment's pie is its flagship massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. With its 11.5 million subscribers worldwide, as of the company's last official accounting, the game brings in some $100 million a month for Blizzard. That, and people seem to think it's pretty fun to play, too, with critics lauding praise upon the original and its two expansions, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King.
With Blizzard's opening ceremonies for BlizzCon 2009 just concluded, the publisher immediately convened a panel detailing the future of its MMORPG. Specifically, that topic was the just announced new expansion, Cataclysm.
As had been speculated, the expansion will include the addition of two new races--Goblins and Worgen--as well as raise WOW's level cap to 85. Blizzard also said during the opening ceremony that the expansion signals the return of Deathwing, an ancient evil dragon bent on destroying Azeroth.
With the expansion named, Blizzard now holds forth to delve into deeper detail on what gamers can expect from the latest WOW add-on.
[12:31] With Cataclysm just announced, a panel of Blizzard develops prepare to take the stage.
[12:31] The sound crew is checking the mics, with about three minutes left before the panel is expected to begin.
[12:31] The crowd hasn't thinned at all from the opening ceremony, as Alliance and Horde devout are atwitter to hear more about the new races coming to their respective factions, Worgen and Goblins.
[12:31] The AV guys are still doing their thing. It looks like there are four mics set up, though no word on which WOW devs will be running through the expansion.
[12:33] And here we go, the announcer comes on: Chris Metzen, Tom Chilton, Lynn Sparks, Corey Stockton.
[12:35] Tom Chilton is game director of WOW, Chris Metzen is VP of creative development, and Corey Stockton and Lynn Sparks are lead world designers.
[12:36] With Wrath of the Lich King, it felt good to have the expansion focused on a primary villain.
[12:36] He says that with Burning Crusade, the primary antagonist wasn't in the player's face enough.
[12:36] He's not talking about Deathwing, who debuted in Warcraft II expansion, Beyond the Dark portal.
[12:37] Deathwing is one of five dragon aspects that was supposed to protect the world. However, about 5,000 years ago, he heard whispers of The Old Gods deep within the world, and they drove him mad.
[12:37] The fiery, earthen power that he possessed began to rip him apart so that iron plates had to be affixed to his body to hold him together.
[12:38] His sole purpose has been to subject Azeroth to usher in a Day of the Dragon, where dragons rule.
[12:38] According to Metzen, he's a nutcase.
[12:38] The Old Gods have grown in power and provoke Deathwing.
[12:38] In Deep Home, his lair, Deathwing has erupted into the world, and his arrival into the physical plane of Azeroth has sparked the massive cataclysm.
[12:39] He is ever-present, and the great enemy that must be dealt with.
[12:40] Sparks is talking now and says that elemental planes will be the primary new zones.
[12:41] There are four planes that the titans created many years ago to contain the elementals.
[12:41] Metzen says that these elementals were not been keen on being locked away and are ready to wreak destruction now that they've been freed by Deathwing's arrival.
[12:41] Concept art is shown, with a city rising from an ocean, as well as lava oozing rocks rising from the sea.
[12:42] Metzen is now talking about the Worgen, who are essentially werewolves.
[12:43] The Alliance needed a monstrous race, Metzen says.
[12:44] Metzen then regales the crowd with granular detail about the Worgen's roots. Apparently, the Worgen curse was afflicted upon the people of Gilneas and was created by a sorcerer who was attempting to ward off the invading Scourge.
[12:44] Attendees will be able to play the Worgen and Goblin start areas today.
[12:45] Sparks says that these areas top the Death Knight introduction "by a mile."
[12:47] Apparently, there are surprises coming to level one through five, so players will be able to play today at level six.
[12:48] Metzen is now talking about the new Horde race, the Goblins.
[12:49] Goblins reside on the island of Kazaan or somewhere thereabouts. They are a mercantile, technologically advanced race. Think medieval Ferengi.
[12:49] The specific group you play as is from this island.
[12:49] The cataclysm hit the island of Kazaan very hard, and the goblins became shipwrecked on The Lost Isles.
[12:49] A lot of Wrath Gate cinematics will be incorporated into Worgen and Goblin starting areas, Sparks says.
[12:49] Goblins don't start off as a Horde race, he says, but as a neutral race and are forced to join the Horde.
[12:49] Metzen says that the Goblins should provide some comic relief to the Horde and shows concept art of a goblin driving a hot rod. "That's their mount, by the way," Sparks says.
[12:51] Metzen is now talking about the Upheavel, where certain zones have been transformed by tidal waves, storms, and the like.
[12:51] There's a lot of new stress between the Alliance and the Horde, he says. Can't we all just get along?
[12:53] "While the Lich King will get what's coming to him, we left a bit of ourselves up there in the snow." Metzen is apparently talking about PTSD?
[12:53] As such, the expansion, he hopes, will ramp up the drama in WOW.
[12:53] Sparks says that while the game began as very much an Alliance versus Horde experience, some of this conflict was lost in later developments. It's important that this conflict is revived in a big way.
[12:57] Chilton is now talking about new features.
[12:57] Big happenings: The level cap has increased to 85.
[12:57] The level cap was a key decision for Cataclysm, as they wanted to make sure that they focused their time and energy in the right places, he says.
[12:58] Wanted to spend enough time on revamping old zones and making sure there is plenty of new content for max-level players.
[12:58] Chilton shows an in-game screen of the Worgen, who look like wolves in armor, wielding a cutlass. The crowd seems pleased.
[12:58] Goblins apparently have a rocket belt?
[12:58] The belt is used to propel them forward, as well as let loose some rockets that do damage to targets.
[12:58] A screenshot of a Goblin rogue is shown, wearing black armor and looking actually kind of cute.
[12:58] "Lots of players are going to hate him on the battlegrounds. I'm sure we'll hear all about that by next BlizzCon." Looks like we have a time frame for release.
[12:58] Uldum will be in the game in the south, with Mount Hyjal in the north. The Lost Isles and Sunken City of VAshj'ir will be in the middle of the water. Apparently, the Sunken City will be an underwater zone.
[12:58] Deepholm, Twilight Highlands, Deepholm, and Gilneas in the east.
[1:01] Every zone will feature new quests, art, and items, Chilton says.
we are the world
Source: http://www.gamespot.com/mac/rpg/worldofwarcraft/news.html?sid=6215933
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