worldofwarcraft posts

World of Warcraft Cataclysm is the third expansion pack for Blizzard's hit MMO game. However the expansion isn't actually adding new lands to the game world. Instead it is remaking the game's two continents (the "Cataclysm" of the title) while still adding new playable races, dungeons and quests.

But the upcoming fourth expansion for the game will likely go back to the tried and true format and add an all new continent to World of Warcraft. Blizzard's lead systems designer Greg Street told Computer and Video Games, "I think the next expansion will be something more like a new continent approach. More like the Burning Crusade or Nothrend, where we send players somewhere new that they haven't seen before." Street says that Blizzard might also go back and fix continuity issues with the game's Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King content, saying, "We're going to have to do something to bring that up to speed."

As always check out our sister site WoW Insider for all of your World of Warcraft Cataclysm needs.

Gallery: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Screenshots

Video Games Live has announced a partnership with record label EMI Classics to release a compilation of some of VGL's orchestrated video game tunes via digital distribution and compact disc. Entitled Video Games Live: Volume One, the assemblage will showcase "some of the more popular segments from Video Games Live performances. The album contains several unique arrangements that were created along with the original composers exclusively for the show, and have never previously been released," according to a press release issued by VGL.

Video Games Live: Volume One will be released in two stages: a digital release available in the United Kingdom starting today, July 7; and a CD / iTunes exclusive complete with bonus tracks that coincides with VGL events beginning in San Diego, CA, on July 24.

The full track list for Video Games Live: Volume One is available after the break.

Our sister site WoW Insider has revealed what appears to be the official box art for World of WarCraft: Wrath of the Lich king, the forthcoming expansion set for Blizzard Entertainment's life-devouring MMO.

"Is it the real deal or a mocked-up forge?" asks WoW Insider writer Matt Warner. "The WotlK box layout has many exact elements used on The Burning Crusade box. The placement for the Blizzard logo and ESRB rating line up exactly, and the font used to spell 'expansion set' is identical to its cardboard predecessor. In another photo that lends to its authenticity is a printer's mark. The box also notes that you need The Burning Crusade to play Wrath of the Lich King which means no free TBC bundles."

Though Blizzard has yet to unveil an official release date, Wrath of the Lich King is believed to be available later this fall.

One Voice Technologies Inc. has released a beta of Say2Play, a voice-command program that allows users to speak the names of in-game actions rather than press their respective keys.

"Say2Play revolutionizes the gaming experience by providing voice control to the world's most popular PC games," according to the official Say2Play website. "Now, with Say2Play you can keep your fingers on the most important controls, like the fire and movement keys, and use voice commands, like "flak cannon" or "show map" to change weapons or instantly access any other keystroke using only your voice.

Offering support for titles such as Age of Conan, Crysis, Unreal Tournament III, World of WarCraft, BioShock, Doom 3, Battle for Middle-Earth II and more, Say2Play claims to offer "tremendous competitive advantage with the ability to instantly execute any one of thousands of preloaded commands by voice."

Users interested in trying Say2Play for themselves are encouraged to download the program's beta.

Paris is a long trip, so long that most of us won't be able to make the journey overseas to the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational, which kicks off tomorrow and ends on Sunday. Fear not -- WoW Insider's got you covered. The WoW-centric site will be providing live updates from the show, including coverage of the anticipated Blizzard announcement that has caused speculation throughout the week.

Whether the announcement ends up being Diablo III, solid info on Wrath of the Lich King, or something else entirely, tune in to WoW Insider for updates as they occur.

Hey, don't feel bad that you won't be there live to witness the excitement, the games, the cosplay -- we can't go, either.

In an odd but fitting metaphorical comparison that resulted in a craving for cheeseburgers, Age of Conan developer Gaute Godager feels that World of WarCraft and other similar MMOs are nice, but Age of Conan is meatier.

"I enjoy playing WOW, I enjoy playing Lord of the Rings Online," Godager admitted in a recent interview with Eurogamer. "But you know... I'm going to be a bit cheeky now, but if you've been to McDonalds for four or five years, and had your burger and your coke, sometimes it's great to just have a great steak and a glass of good wine."

Godager expounded, explaining that Age of Conan is "more expensive, it's not for everyone and perhaps it's not as easily accessible as WOW is. But it could be more meaty."

Further speculation by Godager suggests that AoC might appeal more to Europeans than other MMOs due to different gaming tastes. "In Europe, a lot of people don't have consoles, and they use their PC for gaming to a bigger degree," said Godager. "Many European countries also have better internet connectivity than many parts of the US, and PC gaming has for many years promoted the consumption of high bandwidth, not only through legal means but also through piracy."

Seeking to provide an extra layer of protection for its millions of World of WarCraft gamers, Blizzard has announced the Blizzard Authenticator, "an electronic device that generates a six-digit security code at the press of a button," according to GamesIndustry.biz. Lightweight and waterproof, the device generates a code that is valid only once and active for a limited time. If used, the code must be included with a user's name and password upon log in.

A completely optional device, the Blizzard Authenticator will be available for a price of €6.00 at this weekend's Blizzard Worldwide Invitational event. The purpose of the Authenticator is to provide "a safe and enjoyable game environment" for World of WarCraft, according to Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. One crucial aspect of providing such an environment is "helping players avoid account compromise, so we're pleased to make this additional layer of security available to them," continued Morhaime.

Shacknews reports that "I am Murloc," a trash-metal track played by Blizzard's own band, Level 70 Tauren Chieftain, will be available as a free download to PS3 and Xbox 360 Guitar Hero 3 owners starting tomorrow. "I am Murloc," a tribute to the articulate fish people from the popular World of WarCraft MMO, made its debut at the 2005 BlizzCon event.

The track's free release is considered a pre-festivity festivity which leads up to the Worldwide Invitational beginning this weekend.

During a keynote address held at the Paris Game Developers Conference, Blizzard Entertainment's Rob Pardo revealed that the dominant World of WarCraft was originally developed to be a free-to-play MMO.

"When were first going to make World of Warcraft, we wanted to make it free and advertising supported," Pardo explained. "We didn't want to charge a subscription, but as we researched market conditions, we realized that wouldn't support us."

In a detailed keynote analysis provided by Gamasutra staff writer Brandon Sheffield, Pardo discusses the company's inspiration for World of WarCraft, the possibility of deriving a triple-A experience from a web interface, and the forthcoming Activision Blizzard merger.

World of Warcraft's Arena Tournament launched on March 31, 2008, letting players immediately create level 70 characters and equip them with high level skills and epic armor. Competitors from around the world battle for up to $200,000 in cash prizes. At the same time, the Arena Tournament underscores Blizzard's intentions of using WoW's PvP gameplay as a type of eSport. WoW rose to become the most popular MMO in the world primarily because of its PvE content, and using its PvP for eSports marked a sharp turn in the game's focus. We catch up with WoW's Lead Designer, Tom Chilton, Paul Della Bitta (Senior Manager, Global Community and eSports) and Joong Kim (eSports Manager) to get the inside story about balancing PvP and PvE gameplay and what players can expect to from the future of Azeroth.