Server prepares for WotLK...in July
by Adam Holisky 
Jun 30th 2008 at 8:30PM
I know that I wasn't the only one that did a double take today when I opened up WoW and saw the "Breaking News" maintenance announcement that included a tidbit about the realm Dreadmaul undergoing hardware upgrades for Wrath of the Lich King.I find this interesting for several reasons. First, the expansion hasn't even had a release date announced yet and they're already making hardware changes. Now this is obviously a good practice – getting ready for things before hand – but then again, if it's not going to be released in October / November of this year all these hardware changes could be done later and for much cheaper. No matter if you agree with my pricing analysis or not, it is definitely a bit odd to hear about hardware upgrades when the release date hasn't even been made public yet.
Secondly, this is all coming right after the World Wide Invitational. In my opinion, the WWI was rather void of major Wrath announcements. Sure, they had more details about the classes, raids, PvP, what not, but all in all the WWI didn't have any breaking news announcements. It wouldn't surprise me if Blizzard comes out with big WotLK news now, after the WWI.
And finally, look at this tid bit of breaking news in the context of some of the rumors going around like a wildfire right now. In the past few days we've heard rumors that Death Knights will be playable before WotLK is released, and that the closed beta might be starting as soon as July 3rd.
While it's just my opinion... something is astir in Azeroth.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Terry Jun 30th 2008 8:37PM
The Truth is when u can drive a Lambo.....u don't give a damn on gas price.
Same apply to Blizzard :p
Max Jun 30th 2008 8:51PM
It is early. But at the same time, realms underwent upgrades far before this time, when they did for TBC. Not saying Wrath is further out than November, but just making the point that it might not mean too much. I doubt it has any real influence on the release date, they're probably just getting a head-start on upgrading a whole bunch of realms.
Sakerin Jul 1st 2008 1:26AM
I agree...
Also, this may be hard for those that have no grasp of how these "computer things" work like IT people do ... but it actually is common for us to test the hardware and software long before release. That said, it is possible that this realm is a guinea-pig of sorts for a new hardware configuration to be used in WotLK.
One thing you learn from working in IT is that just because someone gets a new computer, it doesn't necessarily mean anything other than their old computer was old/defective/inadequate/ugly/not-in-compliance/you-name-it.
Ozzy79 Jul 1st 2008 3:28PM
I don't see this as an early jump on Wrath updates, rather I see it as avoiding the headache of having to do all of the server upgrades in a short amount of time. Furthermore, wouldn't it be prudent to upgrade on server's hardware to get a feel for how long the process of upgrades will take, and iron out any kinks in the system?
One other point.. if they upgraded one server per week, it would be a couple years before all of the servers were ready. So, the fact that they upgraded a single server doesn't mean they are jumping the gun.
Max Jul 1st 2008 3:50PM
Could be one server this week to test out how it functions, moving on to more vast upgrades in the future, approaching Wrath's release.
Heilig Jun 30th 2008 8:53PM
I find it a bit odd the the server getting hardware upgrades is brand new. It just opened in April of this year.
Tiforix Jun 30th 2008 8:58PM
People use the term "server" and "realm" interchangeably, but actually that's misleading. Each realm is actually a cluster of servers - one for Kalimdor, one for the Eastern Kingdoms, one for Outland (plus the Draenei and BE starting areas), and one for BG's and dungeons (instances). Basically every time you see a loading screen your character is being loaded onto a different server.
I would speculate that each realm is getting an additional server for Northrend, and for whatever reason, they haven't added it or the Dreadmaul realm yet.
Of course, I could be completely wrong, but I think it's a reasonable explanation.
Thorn Jun 30th 2008 9:01PM
I agree, but just because the realm is new doesn't mean that the server it runs on is new as well. Could very well be an old internal server re-purposed for use on live, or something similar.
avatar Jul 1st 2008 10:14AM
All those servers, shiny, glistening in the California sun. I am about to have a geekgasm thinking about it. They probably have a login and other servers for each realm too.
Nicholas Abstraction Jun 30th 2008 8:55PM
I don't know but I hope so!
emoser Jun 30th 2008 8:57PM
Didn't this same site just share this:
http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/rumor-wrath-of-the-lich-king-closed-beta-to-start-on-july-3rd/
...if the beta is starting, that suggests that they've gotta prepare the entire machine for WotLK. This seems like it's just on time.
Badger Jun 30th 2008 9:31PM
The writer cited this link in the closing of the article above.
Marcusfarkas Jun 30th 2008 10:05PM
Actually I thought it odd that they felt the need to even say it was for WoTLK. Another server update would have gone totally unnoticed ?
dawnseven Jul 1st 2008 8:14AM
@10
I wondered exactly the same thing. Why say it's an upgrade for Wrath? They could have just said Dunemaul would be extended for hardware upgrades and either a) nobody would have noticed or b) there would have been a bunch of people speculating that it was to accommodate the xpac and Blizzard would have kept mum. I mean, it's not like Blizz enjoys surprising people or making them guess or whipping the masses into a frenzy or anything like that. :D
jay Jun 30th 2008 9:34PM
Last expansion I'm pretty sure they didn't retro fit all their servers until at least 3 months before the release, they could just be getting a very early start by testing the best configuration on a singular, low population realm - If I'm remembering right, they did this to big groups of realms at once last time.
But who knows what Blizzard are planning, my guess is, the earlier they start outfitting their servers for the new xpac, the better prepared they will be on release day. Which could very well be November, but this is Blizzard we are talking about here.
Jason Jul 1st 2008 2:13PM
What does it mean!?!
jay Jun 30th 2008 9:35PM
Still Blizzcon to come for any major announcements so I'm not going to get my hopes up too much lol.
paladin Jun 30th 2008 9:58PM
Why they didn't do it on a tuesday during maintenance day instead?
Some food for thought.
Holly Jun 30th 2008 10:43PM
Tomorrow is Tuesday... servers are going down for maintenance, and Dreadmaul is going offline for hardware upgrades at the same time. At least, that's how I read it.
Calaana Jun 30th 2008 10:04PM
I don't want to rain on the parade, but this isn't the first wrath upgrade blizzard have done.. they just named a server this time.