Will We See BC Before 2007?
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 21st 2006 at 8:34PM
It's been a whole 20 days since we last speculated on the release date of Burning Crusade, but since then we've gotten lots of new looks at exactly what Blizzard is planning to put in the first expansion: a new PVP system, a 25-player limit on new instances, lots of flying mounts, new pets for hunters, ten new levels of talent skills for all, a whole new profession (with lots of buffs and customization), and a new continent that's a quarter the size of the game right now. That's a lot of stuff.In fact, is it too much stuff for Blizzard to fit in before their expected fourth quarter release date? Most retail outlets still have the date at or around November 28th, but Blue hasn't gotten any more specific than Q4 2006, and heck, the beta test hasn't even been announced yet. With only 19 weeks left in the year, Kadulous on Feathermoon doesn't think Blizzard is going to make it, and the timid answers by Neth in the thread don't raise our hopes too much. Even considering just a month of beta (and that's cutting it extremely short as it is), that doesn't seem to leave Blizzard time to print the CDs, much less polish up the game to their standards.
What do you think? Will Blizzard get Burning Crusade wrapped up and under pine trees by the holidays? Or will it be Christmas in July 2007 before anyone has the chance to pay to step into Outland?
Filed under: Hunter, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dustin Aug 21st 2006 9:11PM
I am going to go with no. We know for a fact that they plan on doing a beta test. And as you said in the post one month for a test is cutting it close. I think the beta will debut sometime in late October or November, possibly as far away as January. It will last 3 to 4 months. So I see the game launching in late March of '07. Hopefully we will hear something more at the upcoming game convention in Leipzig.
Mike Aug 21st 2006 9:57PM
I want to think that they want to have it out for christmas but wont. Even 2 months to beta test something that big is a joke, they talk about it being a third of the size of what we have now. I beta tested The Matrix Online for 6 months before it hit stores and it was no where near as big as this game (maybe a third at best) and it still wasnt ready when they released it, this resulted in one of the worst MMOs of all time. I'm not saying blizzard needs 6 months or more, but I am saying its going to take alot of time to smooth stuff over before and after release to make it work well.
Also knowing the companies track record Blizzard seriously wont release it till its absolutly ready to be out. Couple that with the fact that I'm sure Blizzard isnt going to want to have the shortage of disks they had when the game was first released will most likely lead to a longer then usual pressing.
Best thing to do is preorder and wait.
Zweibel Aug 21st 2006 9:57PM
I have a feeling it won't be out before the year's end. This makes me sad. I want to roll a warrior quite badly but have told myself not to do so until the expansion. I'm really wanting to play a dranei warrior but don't want to spend my time leveling up a character I'm not dedicated on playing. I've already done that once before with my hunter. Decked him out with "phat lewts" in my old guild but decided to leave him after C'Thun troubles and guild drama killed my will to play him. =[
That being said, it looks like I'll finish leveling my priest. She's been 47 for the past five months.
???? Aug 22nd 2006 1:14AM
It is very popular, I'm looking forward to 2007.
boneyard Aug 22nd 2006 3:25AM
i believe they have much more done then some people think, im going with 2006.
Kinless Aug 22nd 2006 4:55AM
The closer they release it to Warhammer Online, the better for them it will be. They can feed us snacks till then. And then, before Warhammer makes it's debut, then they bring out the steaks. Who is going to leave a steak dinner with their friends for a blind date at a new restaurant?
Elüna Aug 22nd 2006 5:14AM
Vivendi Universal dosn't care if the game is finished or not, they want to make the christmas sale. So, come this christmas, with the help of investors and share holders, we are going to see some form the game in retail stores.
Just look at what they did with WoW when it first was released. Everything you have seen in patches up til BC was going to be in the game from the start, but they couldn't finish it because VU Games wanted the game out, and out fast.
Elüna Aug 22nd 2006 5:25AM
Oh, forgot:
https://beta.worldofwarcraft.com/expansion/
Seeing as Alpha has started, we might be lucky and see the release soon anyway. I would guess november in the States, Europe and Asia right after.
Eaomonn Aug 22nd 2006 8:49AM
I am hoping it will be out for Christmas. Blizz would be crazy to miss the holiday sales opportunity. Also they have been working on this for almost 2 years. it has got to be done by now.
Joe Aug 22nd 2006 11:27AM
Personally, I don't expect BC before Q2 2007. There is not nearly enough time to prepare the beta, release it, run it long enough for it to make a difference and then finish development and ship in time for the holiday season.
On top of that, while the holiday sales push can be great, it's not going to be a make-or-break deadline because the WoW expansion is not a great gift idea in the first place. Sure, there are kids playing who will have to wait for their parents to buy the expansion for them, but most of the player base is capable of purchasing it for themselves and will do so. Personally, I don't care if BC is released on December 23, I am not going to wait two more days while it sits under the tree. It's not something I'm going to wait for someone else to buy for me.
The bottom line is that BC is not meant to be a luxury, but a necessity. No matter when it is released, 90% of players will still purchase it. It won't take the holiday buying season for that to happen.
Box for BC Aug 22nd 2006 12:29PM
We all download huge patches every patch tuesday. Is Blizzard going to make us purchase the physical media for the expansion or merely allow us to check a little box in the existing WoW signon screen that says 'Download Burning Crusade and Charge Account' ?
Here is hoping for a downloadable expansion.
Ray Sep 3rd 2006 12:09PM
Guys, it's an expansion not an initial release for crying out loud. Most of the major problems that could happen (graphic engine, memory leaks) have already been addressed in the release build. This is mainly re-skinning and some new AI scripts here and there. Think new quake map as opposed to coding the first release of Quake. Huge difference. Grow some brains, DAOC expansions pushed out at a rate of 1 xpac/year and most of them were as large as what BC intends to offer. If Mythic could do it, Blizzard most certainly can (and they've already had 2 years).