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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPenguin noncombat pets appear in the beta
by Allison Robert 
Sep 6th 2008 at 3:00PM
A much earlier data-mined image gave us a glimpse of what we could only assume were penguin noncombat pets, but reader Alassiel has written in to confirm that two of her characters in the beta have now received them in the mail. You can see Alassiel's screenshots of her Death Knight getting hers here and here.
Elizabeth Wachowski and Zach Yonzon braved a constantly-crashing beta server to get more information and pictures for us. It looks like the pet, named "Chilly," is currently being mailed to players in the beta as a gift for switching to a Blizzard account. And yes, it is pretty much the cutest thing ever, which I suspect is an effort to compensate for Northrend being a continent full of animated corpses. As Alassiel's gotten them on at least two characters so far, I assume it's being sent to all active toons on a Blizzard account. We're not sure if that's going to remain the only way to get Chilly, but if you're in the beta and have a Blizzard account (or want to switch to one -- it's free), don't forget to check your mailbox!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Expansions, Wrath of the Lich King, Rumors
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Dulock Sep 6th 2008 4:57PM
It says in the description "teaches you how to summon". I wonder if they will change all the pets (pre WOTLK) to this since they are making it so that you don't have to carry the item.
Xerous Sep 6th 2008 5:20PM
All pets and mounts are becoming spells in a new section of the UI in Wrath. No more bag space worries.
Hould Sep 6th 2008 5:39PM
So this pet only appears for those of us in the beta and on the beta server? Pretty pointless if our real toons on our main server don't get it.
Nizari Sep 6th 2008 6:12PM
I´m Chilly Willy the penguin,
I shake until I´m blue.
My head is hot and my feet are cold,
Ha! Hee! Hachoo!
Apoc Sep 6th 2008 6:22PM
Definitely confirmed on this one.
Just started playing the beta myself last night, when I first logged in, I noticed I had mail. While I was doing the initial DK quests out of Ebon Hold (I won't post spoilers) the town you're sent to for your first series of tasks has a mailbox that offers a quest, and, incidentally, contained the penguin non-combat pet.
Burnt Toast Sep 6th 2008 11:35PM
I'm still confused... how do you get this pet again in the beta? Convert to a Blizzard account? You have to have a Blizzard account to be in the beta... I r confusid.
Paul Benson Sep 7th 2008 1:01AM
I just logged into my beta account, and the penguin was waiting in my mailbox. No special Blizzard account activation needed.
uncaringbear Sep 6th 2008 7:50PM
/curmudgeon
yuck! It's too cute looking! I would rather have a penguin pet that doesn't look like a Pixar/Disney reject.
Velline Sep 6th 2008 7:55PM
Is this pet only obtainable if you are in the beta; or is there going to be available to those of us unlucky enough to have to wait till actual release?
Guin Sep 8th 2008 10:30AM
MUST...HAVE...PENGUIN!!! No, seriously, I need this penguin pet. I'm having withdrawl symptoms.
Barnister Sep 7th 2008 4:00AM
More cuteness for girls...yay!
Lemons Sep 7th 2008 4:01AM
So...the only way to get this awesome penguin is to be in the beta? wow, blizz I hate you.
Brian Sep 7th 2008 7:41AM
The pet is in the beta which means it will be in the live game. It is not in the live game because some people are in the beta. I expect there will be some announcement later that you can join your WoW account to your Blizzard account but currently there is no way to do this.
The only way Blizzard can tag you for having a Blizzard account and being in the beta is if you were one of the people who got into the beta because they chose you randomly from the Blizzard accounts.
Currently there are 3 ways to get into the beta:
1: Blizzcon or WWI code
2: Opt in with your WoW account
3: Random drawing of your Blizzard account
I suspect there is no way to tell which method got you into the beta other than via a Blizzcon/WWI code. My guess is that only those from the 3rd method will receive penguins but unless there is a blue post on the forums this will continue to cause confusion.
Zelinda Sep 8th 2008 1:24PM
Er, no? The three ways to get into beta (in order of least to most fail):
1. Have been on the Friends and Family Alpha
2. Blizzcon/WWI code
3. Be over 18 (or lie to that affect) and opt-in
SkwidSpawn Sep 7th 2008 9:36AM
I don't see what the point of saying that it's tied to a Blizzard account is. ALL Beta accounts have a Blizzard account, it's part of the required upgrade process in order to even play. So basically the criteria for obtaining this pet is play on a beta server.
Risukage Sep 7th 2008 6:21PM
*Happy, girly, squeal of glee.*
WANT. I'm one of those idiot pet-collectors, and this is just all kinds of cute. I'm still pissed that I'll never be able to get the mini-Tyrael, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can snag this one. If the requirement is to play on the beta servers, though, then no penguin for me. :( Oh well, at least Blizzard is being awesome and turning mini-pets into a spell tab instead of taking up item slots. I *heart* Warcraft...
Juliah Sep 8th 2008 12:08PM
Okay, I'm finding this Blizzard account thing rather confusing. From what I've read in the comments, it sounds like being a WoW subscriber alone isn't enough. It appears you have to have purchased one of their other games, and that you must link that game through this Blizzard account thing, but that WoW isn't one of the game options you can choose to enter.
I hope that's just how they're testing it in beta, and that it doesn't work that way for live Wrath. Too confusing.
CyCo23 Sep 18th 2008 2:07AM
In order to access the Beta, you had to create a Blizzard account, a WoW account wasn't enough.
You can create a Blizzard account via the Blizzard Store. Purchase of an other Blizzard game is not required.