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These girls show off their WoW boxes - Image courtesy Spong

Thousands of fans queue, some in full cosplay mode - Image courtesy Spong
Blizzard releases its highly anticipated WoW expansion and sells out its coveted Collector's Edition

For over eight million World of Warcraft players, the launch of The Burning Crusade expansion set is a monumental event. Gamers around the world queued in front of storefronts to help ensure acquisition of a copy of the game and to be one of the first to play. Game stores and major retailers held midnight launch events so that customers may purchase the game as soon as the date rolls over to release date January 16, 2006.

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade is now available at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $39.99. A special Collector's Edition of the expansion is also available, at a suggested retail price of $69.99. This limited-edition package includes the expansion on both CD-ROM and DVD, the Art of The Burning Crusade coffee table book, an exclusive in-game pet, a behind-the-scenes DVD, two Trading Card Game card packs and three exclusive cards, a map of Outland mouse pad, and the official soundtrack CD.

A local Best Buy held a midnight launch event, which saw approximately 300 people about an hour before opening. Customers were informed that everyone in line would be able to purchase a copy, as the store received a total of 2,500 copies. Even with the impressive allocation, the vast majority of people in line were disappointed with the news of only 96 copies of the much sought-after Collector’s Edition.

While the regular edition of The Burning Crusade is still widely available, the Collector’s Edition sold out at most outlets within hours of store opening. Copies of the Collector’s Edition are rapidly cropping up on eBay to take advantage of the limited release. Over 600 listings for the Collector’s Edition are on eBay at time of writing, the average auction closing at around $200.

World of Warcraft fanaticism isn’t limited to just North America – the launch of The Burning Crusade attracted more gamers onto the cold, wet streets of London, England than the Nintendo Wii launch, according to Spong. Nearly 3,000 gamers reportedly attended the launch event at HMV London, with some dedicated fans showing up dressed as their favorite characters from the game.

"The Burning Crusade is the single largest expansion we've ever created, and we're grateful for the support shown by our beta testers and the millions of World of Warcraft players worldwide during its development," said Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "We're excited to share all of the new content with players, and we're certain that they'll enjoy the quality and breadth of new experiences that The Burning Crusade offers."

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By AppaYipYip on 1/16/2007 6:28:35 PM , Rating: 2
Am I the only one that thinks this game sucks? I've played many MMO's and find it terribly boring and a major time-suck. Get on with your lives people!




RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 1:58:29 AM , Rating: 3
It sucks, this coming from a guy who has played many a MMO and played EQ1 for 6 years. However, what I think sucks may not be true for someone else. WIth that said, as someone has already mentioned, WoW is all about instant gratification and making you feel like you are making progress at an easy pace. There is no reward and no work. Don't pretend WoW is hard, because I played when it started, got to lvl 30 in a week, and saw lvl 60s after two weeks. At least in EQ1, when you get to lvl 50 finally, it felt like something, mostly because it took many weeks to get there, with diligent play. Even though it's just a game, when you work for something, it feels better, and usually means people that haven't worked as hard aren't as good as you. You actually felt 'special' or accomplished (uber even). It was even harder to get to 55, 60, and 70. Anyway, the point is, is that WoW caters to what most Americans, and apparently most people around the world want, and that is something for nothing. No races for mobs, no camping, no fighting over crap... what's the point if it's all handed to me relatively easy? So yeah, I hate WoW and think the people who play it are usually chumps with nothing better to do. I've been there, done that, and nothing beats just getting together with buddies and heading to the bar/pub or playing some consoles in the living room drinking beer. Why sit in your room and play with people you can see in person? Unless of course you have no friends or they are socially reclusive like you.


RE: ....
By Razlakh on 1/17/2007 11:04:43 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
It was even harder to get to 55, 60, and 70. Anyway, the point is, is that WoW caters to what most Americans, and apparently most people around the world want, and that is something for nothing. No races for mobs, no camping, no fighting over crap... what's the point if it's all handed to me relatively easy?


Those are downsides to MMORPGs, not things you should look for.

quote:
So yeah, I hate WoW and think the people who play it are usually chumps with nothing better to do. I've been there, done that, and nothing beats just getting together with buddies and heading to the bar/pub or playing some consoles in the living room drinking beer. Why sit in your room and play with people you can see in person? Unless of course you have no friends or they are socially reclusive like you.


Unless of course you have both real friends and online friends, and hang out with both. Not like I'm a lazy drunk with other drunk friends. Hey, aren't generalizations great?


RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 3:28:46 PM , Rating: 2
Downsides, no, challenge, yes. If everyone can easily get to 60, everyone can semi easily to high end content. This is fine in WoW I suppose, since you can instance almost anything useful and rarely see a case where you race for a mob. But yeah, I'd rather be a lazy drunk with drunk friends then be lazy in front of a computer, or worse yet, lazy while I wait in line to play I game I PAY for, by my lonely self. I also threw in usually chumps, not always chumps. I have lived the life, but I was in high school. Those pics above show a LOT of people way older then late teens/early twenties, so I know what's wrong with it. Now, with that said, if you want that life, fine. However, get a real game to play that requires effort and dedication. You haven't had a challenge until you have to wait for things to pop, then race to get it, not to mention actually beating the thing. Half the fun of EQ was doing exactly that, having people camp spots with mule characters and then racing to something. But on to the next post!


RE: ....
By novacthall on 1/18/2007 10:43:12 AM , Rating: 2
You should see the blood elf starting area. It's an absolute madhouse. I created a character on a new server because my old ones are overpopulated, but within hours, the need to be ultra-competitive just to get mobs and drops became a questing imperative. Whereas before you could quest in a relative bubble without aggravating anyone, now you're bound to step on more than a few toes just to get at that level 1 mana worm that warlock's gunning for!

My suspicion is that in a few weeks, the level distribution on the servers will calm down a bit (especially with blood elves, which seem to have ballooned the population of the Horde) and things should (read: may) return to normal. People will either abandon their new characters before 40, which is fairly common, or see them through to 60 and start on the end-game content.

Like you, I'm an EQ vet, but I've never quite seen anything like this. I understand that some people saw the leveling mechanics and the camping in EverQuest as an elevated difficulty, but most people I know saw it as a chore. I know I'm not alone in saying that I dreaded every hell level that came my way. What they've tried to do with WoW is create an environment in which the leveling isn't the game. That way, they've opened the game up to being able to focus on other things, such as player interactions, story elements, and unbelievably huge content rollouts that tie into world events (the likes of which I haven't seen since Microsoft destroyed the world in the Asheron's Call beta).

To that effect, I'm of the impression they've done quite well.


RE: ....
By DrKlahn on 1/17/2007 11:34:15 AM , Rating: 2
It's very obvious that you saw leveling in WoW as the challenge and not the content. Which is a big mistake. The game (pre expansion) began at 60 not ended. The majority of EQ players I talk with feel the opposite about the 2 games. They felt the grind in EQ was needlessly painful. WoW can cater to the casual player who wants to simply level their toon and complete quests. It can cater to the hardcore PvP player. And the high end instances provide enough challenge to keep players busy for months at a time. Sorry you didn't like WoW. I respect your opinion. To bad you don't have enough respect for the 8 million people who play the game to not call all of us friendless chumps.


RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 3:34:51 PM , Rating: 2
There is one point to an MMO, besides the ability to play with others online, and that is getting to the high end and being the best (well, as best as you could be I guess). The end game, so to speak. Now, if there are 5 thousand on a server, and 4 thousand of them are 60, how is that fun? Who applied effort? Or, was it handed to them? 4 thousand can now do the instances they want, when they want, and get the rewards they want, in due time. So maybe you can explain to me why that is a good waste of time and why, if noone is really that much better then anyone else, you would want to keep playing?


RE: ....
By Aikouka on 1/17/2007 3:43:56 PM , Rating: 2
Well, there may be a bunch of 60's, but give me ample time and I can easily weed away a lot of the bad-I-don't-know-how-to-play-because-I-got-power-le veled 60's away and you'll find the numbers a lot nicer.

I remember back in the day... very little would people ask stupid questions like, "Where's Mankirk's Wife?" (Barrens joke) or where's something that I'm too dumb to read where the quest tells me it is. But while playing Burning Crusade, all of those sucky people who can't read a quest log are now flooding the channel asking the dumbest questions because they need someone to hold their hand.


RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 4:06:54 PM , Rating: 2
I know what you mean. But, I'm assuming those players needing to hold their hand are lvl 60? That's my problem with WoW, you shouldn't be able to get to 60, unless they bought their character or something, and be asking dumb questions. In EQ, for the first 3 or 4 years, those who asked those questions, were no where near 50 or 60. Oh well, as long as you and your guild aren't dumb and are having fun.


RE: ....
By Houdani on 1/17/2007 11:42:25 AM , Rating: 2
Awe, c'mon now. Don't be calling other folks chumps for playing WoW ... particularly after admitting a six year affair with EQ1.


RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 3:39:56 PM , Rating: 2
I said usually chumps, and didn't say I wasn't a chump for 6 years on EQ, of which I pretty much was. :-p This is always fun for me, because I spent my high school years and beginning college years on EQ, and spent time at WoW, so I know how to get to WoW players. I did sales at Frys for awhile, and I was the only one who didn't play WoW, but always found a way to piss everyone off because it seemed easy to push their buttons. By the replies I am getting, it's easy on the internet as well.


RE: ....
By mcmoo on 1/17/2007 11:53:45 AM , Rating: 2
Whoa, where does one even start? From my experience in EQ and WOW, you totally seemed to contradict yourself. I wouldn't call someone a social recluse for playing WOW considering that out of the two games, it seemed like EQ required a lot more of a time investment to acquire the next level, item, etc. versus something in WOW. Like you said, WOW is definately scaled down to level pretty simply through step-by-step quests/zones and all can be done individually. I bailed on EQ because I disliked the races for mobs, the camping, fighting over a single spawn point ... plus, it's easier to play WOW for only a few hours and still have enough time to go out with friends to the local pub for a drink or ten.
But personally, I enjoy WOW because a few of my friends also play and it's just fun enjoying something together and the game itself is pretty well done ... as expected from a Blizzard product.


RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 3:47:55 PM , Rating: 2
Thank you for a put together reply. But I was a social recluse in a small town during my high school days, the people in those pics seem to look well into their 20s and 30s. I have been there and done that, but I never saw the point in WoW. You are right, EQ took a lot of time, camping, racing, fighting over mobs etc... but that was more then half the fun. People dropped the game who couldn't take it, which left a much smaller base of last level characters during most of my time playing. That is, it took a lot of effort, not just in time, but patience to get there. It was worked for, not given to you. Ultimately, I dont see why you'd play an MMO when everything, compared to EQ, is handed to you. You are correct and it takes less time to give you more time to go out. But you also prove my point, why play an MMO if you and your friends have no chance to be better then everyone else? Oh well, I guess I'm just like an old man saying "well back in my day..!", who thinks life is to easy now a days. Only this refers to MMOs, not real life. :-p


RE: ....
By rushfan2006 on 1/17/2007 12:06:03 PM , Rating: 2
I love this post...this stuff makes me laugh my ass off when people sound so bitter at what other people like..lol.

If you don't like what people are doing and you think it is illegal, immoral or hurtful to others THEN ranting on about how people are chumps or losers for what they do is one thing. However if what you are ranting about and calling people chumps for is just innocent, minding their own business, what they do with their time -- fun....that its just stupid beyond reckoning.

For me, for example...I think drinking is stupid, pointless and a silly waste of money -- but yet many friends I know and family enjoy getting together to go out to drink. I don't slam them for it (I would if they were irresponsible drinkers though...but that's different).

As for your implications of trying to childishly sound "uber" (I remember EQ..blah blah blah...Wow is so easy...blah blah blah)....

First I have to say DUH!..Hell in the 2 YEARS *BEFORE* the game was released in article and article of interviews with blizz about the game they said up front they are looking for a game that CATERS TO THE MASSES. It's easier to level in WoW than other games...BECAUSE THAT IS BY DESIGN..its ON PURPOSE!!

And save the uberness stuff about how hard prior games you played were....you are calling other people chumps for enjoying a game and not bother you...but yet you carry on about how the game is easy......I don't know about you but you sound more bothered and "geeky/nerdy" than the folks who merely enjoy WoW and don't bother anyone. Because who after all brags about their "uberness" IRL, regarding a computer game? Outside of joking with your friends that play ...of course.

Finally I've played games for 20 years....remember SSI? Those were thinker games...real strategy....ever play Civ? RPG Genre -- Might and Magic, Wizardy, Bard's Tale....I think all those games in one form or another offered more individual challenge that any current MMORPG (even your precious EQ)...so what's your point?

I play WoW because I truly enjoy the game.

As for challenge -- isn't the real challenge of any MMORP really just a timesink investment? It takes a while to get the pvp rewards...it takes some effort to get the better instances down...BWL, Naxx anyone? So no I don't think you feel like stuff is "handed" to you.

Of course...I'm only a casual player, I guess if you play 40 hours a week it might be a different vibe.


RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 4:00:04 PM , Rating: 2
Well, I am not IRL right now, and I am talking to people who obviously play WoW or other MMOs, so yes, you just attacked me and gave me the response to defend myself. Thanks. Sounds to me like you are a bitter WoW player who doesn't like getting told you didn't work for what you have, just like all the WoW players I meet in person. They all react like you and claim WoW is a challenge and is hard or some other such nonsense. You are the guy/girl who makes it fun to go after all the WoW players. And DUH!, I KNOW it's by design, and therefore why I am IMPLYING that the MASSES are IMPATIENT and want SATISFACTION from a game ASAP. Yeah, I played all of those SSI games, in fact, I have an old computer with my old voodoo 2 sli in it, DOS, Win95 etc. etc. just to play old DOS and Glide games. And no, they didn't require half the patience or time of EQ, which makes me a loser at the time on one hand, but someone who can argue the point on the other. I have no qualms about saying playing EQ so much for 6 years was stupid and lauging about it. To answer you last question, yes, the real challenge of any MMORPG is a timesink... of which there is very little realtive timesink in WoW, thanks for making my point.


RE: ....
By rushfan2006 on 1/17/2007 4:23:40 PM , Rating: 2
Words can't describe how silly you sound, reading your reply to my first post and then your other replies.

I'm not a bitter WoW player. That in and of itself is making my point about you..and you can't even realise it...which is all the fun for me...LOL.

Why would someone play a game that makes them bitter? Either IRL or while playing it -- that just makes no logical sense to me.

I reply to a lot of posts on a variety of subjects, based on my feelings -- because I'm a very outspoken and opiionated person. A lot of times this makes people get mad or whatever. But I believe 100% in being truthful and expressing yourself. I'm the person that is a sucker to reply to something I think is wrong, low or just simply untrue.

It's how I'm made...so no you didn't get to me regarding me being so hung up on WoW persay....but your arrogant, judgemental nonesense - I view as off the wall..regardless what subject we are talking about.

This thread could have been about the car I like to drive and then you could have said "what a chump for liking that car, I drive (insert car here) now...that's a real car"....

Basically I think your an idiot, with nothing better to do to be an ass to folks.




RE: ....
By novacthall on 1/17/2007 10:09:17 AM , Rating: 2
Most likely not. And, as your opinion, you're certainly entitled to it.

The game's not for everyone. It doesn't have to be for you. You won't hurt any feelings either way.


RE: ....
By Lakku on 1/17/2007 4:02:10 PM , Rating: 2
Apparently, I did hurt feelings. :-p