The Brewfest Kodo and what it may mean for WotLK's release date
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Jun 4th 2008 at 1:00PM
Tipster Graffias pointed out an exciting find in the latest leaked Alpha files for WoTLK: An Icon for a Brewfest Kodo. You may recall that last year's Brewfest included a Ram mount that was purchasable with tickets by both sides, allowing the Horde very easy access to an Alliance mount with a few days of grinding for Brewfest Prize Tickets. Many Alliance weren't happy with this, annoyed that the Horde got such easy access to an Alliance mount without having to kill Baron Rivendare or a Troll a couple hundred times. Bornakk decided that the best way to answer this criticism would be by promising the Alliance that the Horde would be getting access to yet another previously alliance-only mount skin in the Cenarion War Hippogryph. Of course, Kisirani, being as awesome as she is, later said that we should have patience and things would work out in the end.
Listening to the words of the world designer seem to have paid off, as it looks like the Dwarves are going to turn the tables on the Goblins this year and steal some Kodos from them. I can finally fulfill my dream of owning my very own Kodo. My Night Elf Druid is from Kalimdor after all, and you would think there would be some Night Elves who decided to domesticate Kodos as beasts of burden too.
But really, as much as I am looking forward to grabbing myself a Kodo (and seeing a tiny Gnome riding around on a huge beast of burden), what's really exciting is this thought: If the Brewfest is in late September to early October, does that mean Blizzard is planning to give us WoTLK by September, Brewfest Kodo and all?
If they aren't planning to give us one more year with nothing but a Ram, that could be the plan. Release WoTLK and the patch with the Kodo some time in mid-September, and we'll suddenly be stuck with the horrible choice of leveling to 80 as soon as possible, working on a Death Knight, or grabbing enough tickets to buy a Kodo.
Still, while it's nice to think about WoTLK going live by the start of Brewfest, it's not a given either. It's possible that we could still get the Brewfest Kodo, only in a seperate patch. After all, Patch 2.0.1 gave us access to 41 point talents, the LFG system, and a few other new features from Burning Crusade in a patch that predated the expansion itself. It's certainly possible that Blizzard will once again do the same, handing us a 3.0 patch that'll bring in the 51 point talents, a few other new features, and the new Brewfest Kodo as well.
Either way though, I figure we win. If this leak really does point to a purchasable Kodo at the next Brewfest, we might get WoTLK over a month earlier than is widely expected, but even if we don't, we still get an awesome new prize to shoot for when the Brewfest returns to Azeroth. If we're even more lucky here on the Alliance side, maybe we'll even get new goggles that'll turn everyone into female Draenei instead of male Gnomes.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Events, Blizzard, News items, Expansions, Mounts, Wrath of the Lich King, Rumors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Zeqmont Jun 4th 2008 1:12PM
This makes me wonder if the Rams will be obtainable alongside the Kodos. Maybe Blizz will alternate prize mounts for each celebration?
Jason Jun 4th 2008 2:59PM
I'm so bloody tired of Blizzard fading away the difference between Alliance and Horde factions. First the paladin and shaman are tossed to the opposing faction. Next the PvP gear is similar to both factions. Followed by the neutral cities and joint enemy that broke down the purpose of factions. Not to mention adding Alliance/Horde flight paths in opposing faction lands. AND finally, sharing faction mounts with the opposing.
There is not a single thing left that makes the faction differentiate! There is less and less reason for one to oppose the other. No RIVALRY!
Now an ex. Alliance city (one of the founding members) is made neutral as well. You know what, as I am writing this I feel less and less attachment to this game. Maybe I should stop.
JayCanuck Jun 4th 2008 4:15PM
Jason, there is one thing that separates Horde/Alliance. The Sprite Darter non-combat pet. Currently ALL of the drop/quest non-combat pets are available to the Alliance. Horde can get all except the Sprite Darter. I wish the Horde had a faction-specific non-combat pet...
Jason Jun 4th 2008 4:22PM
Although I realize you're joking, I wonder why you mention you 'wish the Horde had a faction-specific non-combat pet'. Why does everything has to be completely balanced? Completely the same. Isn't the lack of one thing and the plus on another that what makes/made the factions interesting and fun in the first place?
Aichon Jun 4th 2008 9:01PM
@ Jason
Blizzard has already said that with Wrath they'll be doing something big to reinvigorate the hate between the factions. I doubt it will be a gameplay change (Alliance get nerf bats, Horde get rofflecopters), which is more what it seems like you're concerned with, but it IS something nonetheless (my money would be on the Horde getting framed for killing that missing Alliance king).
Suzaku Jun 5th 2008 4:19AM
Aichon: That "missing Alliance king", Varian Wrynn, is the main character of the WoW comic book and is very much alive, and was confirmed to be a major character in Wrath (and the movie) quite some time ago.
From what we've seen, Varian and Garrosh will likely be butting heads in Borean Tundra, while the humans and dwarves in Valgarde will be at war with the Forsaken in New Agamand, where they're working on spreading a new plague.
David Jun 4th 2008 1:14PM
Or it just means that WOTLK comes after brewfest and that the item exists. they could just do some alliance model scaling testing in wrath.
Freelier Jun 4th 2008 1:41PM
It could just mean that the artist in charge of Brewfest Kodos finished their job and put it in the build. The alpha WotLK got everything new, including things that are supposed to arrive in an earlier patch.
While interesting, I don't think that anything's been proven.
Dan Jun 5th 2008 2:00AM
Indeed, when coding something you tend to have several versions (branches) of code open at the same time, in this case they probably have at least three. 3.0 patch, for WotLK, 2.4.2 for any necessary hotfixes, and 2.4.3 which holds the smaller stuff they might want to push live before WotLK.
All new stuff added to 2.4.3 must also be pushed into 3.0 patch to make sure everything will work properly once released, and while it's possible that they don't plan any 2.4.3 patch before WotLK it is impossible to tell just from what the 3.0 version has in it.
Replex Jun 4th 2008 1:18PM
Interesting idea to give us Kodos this year, however if you think that Blizzard will take their precious expansion from Alpha to Gold in a mere 4 months, you are quite crazy :p
I am sure Blizzard is working with more progressed versions of the Alpha internally, however max level in Alpha is level 74, and talent trees and skills for multiple classes havent even been implemented yet. Just recently, they announced a change to the talent trees of the Death Knight. Blizzard has a thing for perfection in their releases, and just the public alphas files alone show that they are far from release.
Anomis Jun 4th 2008 2:06PM
Burning crusade F&F alpha was 23rd of august 2008 start BC got released January 16th January 2007... 4 1/2 months
Wrath F&F alpha April 10th you do the math
Anomis Jun 4th 2008 2:10PM
Just a link for none believers http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/08/23/burning-crusade-alpha-test/
http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/04/10/breaking-wrath-of-the-lich-king-is-in-alpha/
Anomis Jun 4th 2008 2:16PM
Also to add BC went beta 11th october http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/10/11/burning-crusade-closed-beta-has-begun/
1month and half wouldnt be supprised if we dont see wrath going beta in next couple of weeks
PS sorry for 3 comments just additonal thoughts and wtb edit button
Antiquity Jun 4th 2008 2:53PM
Like the other poster said and I have before. BC alpha to release was 4.5 months.
Don't forget Thanksgiving and Xmas were in there also, meaning 2 HUGE holidays where most people are out of the office.
3 months is a LONG time of development and you seem to forget that they've been developing WotLK for over a year at least (since BC launch). It's not like they just got started on WotLK.
Do you really think seriously Blizzard can afford the $$$ loss to wait past say Sept or Oct for WotLK to come out?
They aren't going to release lost subscriptions but it's pretty obvious that many people are cancelled till release.
Anomis Jun 4th 2008 4:36PM
TBH I think when warhammer release date is annouced you can guess wrath will be on same day/day before
I think they will wait to steal the market from warhammer
Dan Jun 5th 2008 1:51AM
Im guessing that it will go into beta directly after Worldwide Invitational, and they are probably trying to get the expansion ready for release for early autumn, that way if anything causes delays they can still get it out for the christmas season. All speculation of course.
Suzaku Jun 5th 2008 4:19AM
Antiquity said... "3 months is a LONG time of development and you seem to forget that they've been developing WotLK for over a year at least (since BC launch). It's not like they just got started on WotLK."
Some of the concept art (including interior designs for Utgarde) are dated all the way back to '06, so they were working on Wrath well before BC was released, at least in a design phase.
Fozz Jun 4th 2008 1:21PM
I had to read what you said 3 times before I believed it.
Are you seriously speculating that WLK is going to be released in 13 weeks?
Really? Do you also think the tooth fairy and santa claus are real? Does the Easter Bunny talk to you in your sleep?
I hope you are right about this, but come on.
Gessilea Jun 4th 2008 1:23PM
While I'd put it a little less bluntly, I agree. Wrath isn't even in beta yet. Even if they've sped up development significantly, I can't imagine it coming out before December.
Antiquity Jun 4th 2008 3:00PM
BC Alpha started around August 23rd, 2006. Original release date was November 28th 2006 and Final release was January 16th 2007. Now remember they had Thanksgiving and Christmas in there...2 big holidays and lots of people out and most believe the push back was just due to too many resources being out for the holidays.
So...Since Alpha started for WotLK in early May, you are looking at a 3-4 month window here...putting WotLK most likely at August or September/October at the latest of the 4/5th month window.
Also Blizzcon is in Mid October and a big announcement is coming. We all know that WotLK was at the last one and SC2 has been announced so that means a new game is on the way and we all know what it is. You also have most of the Blizzard staff at Blizzcon and there is no way they are going there with WotLK still expecting to be launched. It will be finished by then so they can move forward with the con.
Now....there are hundreds of speculation threads on the WoW forums.
Guess who's was removed immediately after posting this??
When you use fact and common sense, you can sorta figure out when the XPac is coming. Kinda the reason it got deleted yet tons are still up.
Sept/Oct it is. Mark it down.