« Episode 11.1: Karazhan | Main | This Week: Karazhan and Death Knight Special »

Quick BlizzCon 2008 Recap

BlizzCon 2008BlizzCon has come and gone, but that doesn't mean I have been able to absorb the insane amount of information to come from the event. Tons of information and yet Blizzard Entertainment had a bit of a lackluster announcement to make this year – as it wasn't a new game. Instead we got news such as the unveiling of the third class for Diablo III, the Wizard, and the splitting of StarCraft II into three games.


I know this isn't ProjectStarCraft but I need a soapbox for a minute. What the crap is this? Blizzard claims that the main reasoning behind the trilogy is cost, stating that StarCraft II has become a far larger project compared to the first game. Thus, they have split the title into three editions, the “full” game will focus on the Terran campaign and be titled Wings of Liberty. Then we will have the Zerg title, Heart of the Swarm, followed by the Protoss' Legacy of the Void.


In fairness, Rob Pardo stated that the second and third games will feature fleshed out campaigns, featuring 26-30 missions each. He comments that the second two titles should be viewed as expansion packs, rather than the rest of StarCraft II. Pardo states “we really want them to feel like stand-alone products.” Personally, Blizzard didn't divulge enough information about the second and third releases to keep me happy. If the additions are full-fledged expansions like Relic Entertainment's Dawn of War expansions, which went so far as to add a new campaigns, new races and units, then I will gladly pay full expansion price. If Blizzard only delivers campaigns for the focused race, then I feel like we may end up paying ~$100 for a single game.  Time will tell as more information comes out.


Diablo and StarCraft aside, Blizzard hit us with plenty of World of Warcraft information. As I mentioned, I am still digesting it all, but have been excited by numerous headlines:




  • Patch 3.1 is already completed and will be the first content patch for Wrath. It will feature Ulduar raid instance.

  • Patch 3.2 is in the works and will feature an unknown instance.

  • Patch 3.3, the last patch for Wrath, will feature the Icecrown Citadel, Arthas and resolve the Ashbringer story.

  • Dual-Talent spec will allow players to switch between specs without going back to a trainer. Specs can be switched between raid pulls, but not during Arena matches.

  • Blizzard will be trying to create raids that are more accessible than Sunwell Plateau. Meaning, they believe it is too difficult.

  • Toying with the idea of awarding XP for PvP.

  • Battlegrounds are supposed to be brought back to the forefront of PvP.

  • Queuing to Battlegrounds and Arenas from anywhere in the world coming.

  • Strand of the Ancients, the upcoming Wrath Battleground, bumped to 15v15 with double the siege weapons.

  • Unrelated to WoW – Blizzard confirmed their upcoming MMO is a brand-new universe.


Echoes of Doom (Patch 3.0.2) is coming soon, are you ready for the changes?! Hit the recommended sites to the right for further details and coverage of BlizzCon 2008.


Reader Comments (9)

first

i missed blizzcon its like well upsetting

October 13, 2008 | Unregistered Commenteraquanight

Wow dual-talent spec? Thats SO amazing for me a warrior so i finally dont have to spend my life earnings if I want to do pvp and pve I can just switch from prot to arms then voila. O this really has me excited.

October 13, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJosh

A new MMO from Blizzard?

October 13, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterShaun

making a new mmo wont be too smart, wont that make the world of warcraft smaller?

October 13, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJeriko13

I'm guessing they'd go with a completely opposite universe. I could be pulling this out of nowhere, but something in my head remembers hearing rumor of a World of Starcraft :P

And frankly, I'd rather jump on that train from the get-go.

Blizzard knows how to make good games and how to make money. I trust them.

October 13, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterShaun

sounds like they took alot of things from warhammer that they thought was interesting. but that is rly dumb about the starcraft plus arent thay making battlenet $15 a month now? which is retarded

October 13, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterbraindead

blizz also announced a warcraft move to hit sometime during 2009

October 13, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAaron

No at the panel for Starcraft they said Battlenet is going to remain free.

October 14, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJackJeckel

yay dual specs for me a mage that means dps or dps im sooo excited

November 22, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterryan

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>