I'm clamming it up
by Adam Holisky 
Jan 8th 2009 at 12:01AM
This topic deserves an article for a few reasons. First, let's take a look at all the changes to clams since 3.0.2:
- Clams are now stackable in stacks of 20. (Patch 3.0.2)
- Players can now open clams while riding a vehicle, sitting, mounted, stealthed, and invisible. (Patch 3.0.8)
And further, someone said "Clams take up too much bag space, let's let them be stacked together."
Okay, so the latter isn't too silly. But this change that's coming in 3.0.8 allowing them to be opened while in non-default states is just weird.
I'm not saying that Blizzard should be doing anything other than fixing our massive clam dilemma. In some ways I'm glad that the game has come down to fixing clams.
But if you're at all like me, it does raise an eyebrow, doesn't it?
Author's Note: Yes, I know the Simpson's quote is "say it... say chowder..." But it sounds much better with the word clam in there.
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
canaw Jan 8th 2009 12:09AM
i've never really cared much about clams, normally i open them when i get them and vendor what i get.
also, its spelled clamming, not claming
Adam Holisky Jan 8th 2009 12:11AM
You are correct. =) Thanks!
Jeff Jan 8th 2009 7:34AM
Patch 3.0.8 officially changes the spelling of "clamming" to "claming", in preparation for the new "Claming" profession to be announced in patch 3.1.
Adam simply betrayed his foreknowledge of this insider information.
Will Jan 8th 2009 9:04AM
No, it just wouldn't have been a Holisky post without at least one glaring spelling error...
vazhkatsi Jan 8th 2009 12:38PM
yay clams stack, but now when you open them, the meat fails to stack. i have to manually stack my meat(hurr hurr hurr) so if you open 40 clams, your bags will quickly fill up.
Also, everything should have spelling errors, it gives nerds things to nitpick about, and distracts them from the total lack of interesting content.
Harmun Jan 8th 2009 12:54PM
There's an area in borean tundra where you can collect clams and use them to buy mostly worthless stuff from a murloc. He has a limited supply gem for 100 clams though that I sold for over 400G once.
welcome to the gun show Jan 8th 2009 1:27PM
This clam NERF is just more pandering to the CASUALS!
I remember when clams used to take up every stinkin' bag slot, and now these new entitled casuals get to stack clams to 20 in 1 slot! This is REDICULUS!! A SLAP IN THE FACE!
I'm writing a furious letter to Mike Morhaime right now!
Erodor Jan 8th 2009 2:47PM
i dont see this as a clam NERF, it is really more of a BUFF
kworry Jan 8th 2009 3:57PM
I'm a little uncertain how I can get a 32 slot inscription bag, or a 28 slot leatherworking bag, but I can only get a 20 slot everything bag.
Is there a reason for this?
kworry Jan 8th 2009 4:03PM
oops...my above post isn't supposed to be a reply to this comment. Please ignore.
jnl Jan 8th 2009 12:13AM
Wow, this really is amazing. No more bag issues over those pesty clams. I'm so glad Blizz took the time to fix this problem instead of balancing PvP...
Balius Jan 8th 2009 12:25AM
Clearly, Blizzard should never fix any bugs unless you give them permission first, jnl. It's not like balancing PVP perfectly across the board is an IMPOSSIBLE task, or that players would still cry about how their own pet spec is still broken even if things are perfectly balanced. It's not like this bug fix probably took five minutes, compared to weeks or months of planning and a comprehensive overhaul of the entire game in order to attempt to balance one aspect of PVP.
Surely, Blizzard should drop everything and update nothing until you, jnl, are satisfied with your own pet niche of a very large game.
Person Jan 8th 2009 2:02AM
As blues have specifically said, they try to wipe out as many of the small, easy things to fix as possible because they are just that; small and easy to fix. They don't require massive amounts of testing/QA/approvals/etc, they can just be fixed. That does not mean they put off working on serious things that take longer to fix in order to fix clam stacking.
Zelius Jan 8th 2009 7:24AM
Why do people always talk about "Blizz" as if it's one person? There are hundreds of people working on this game. Fixing this won't have any effect on people working on your precious PVP.
dotorion Jan 8th 2009 10:04AM
@Zelius
because "the developers and other people working for the company called Blizzard Entertainment" is too long.
Mark Jan 13th 2009 2:15PM
Some call these easy fix items 'low-hanging fruit'. Easy to access and pick with very limited Impact or risk at a low Effort.
Think of a grid (4 squares) with Impact (Low/High) across the top and Effort (Low and High) down the side. When you classify changes or fixes into one of the boxes it makes sense to do the Low Effort/High Impact ones first (or with a high priority), then look at the rest. Consider them 'freebies' like that apple hanging low on the tree. Grab it, take a bite and move on.
:-)
Zuldim Jan 8th 2009 12:11AM
Go go clams?
Chris Jan 8th 2009 4:31PM
@ neadamthal:
Every developer I've ever worked with would hate you. I'd bet $10 you are either in marketing or sales.
Codexx Jan 8th 2009 12:12AM
Oddly enough, while leveling cooking for my Winter Veil achievements, I ran into a small issue. While my clams would stack, the actual clam meat inside them would not auto-stack. Every time I opened a clam and got the meat, I'd need to manually drag that meat onto the meat pile.
I know there will be some people who'll just say "don't be lazy, just click and drag", but if they're going to give you the convenience of stacking clams, the least they could do is let the meat auto-stack itself.
Balius Jan 8th 2009 12:18AM
That's what the 3.08 change is about. The meat will automatically stack, and opening the clam won't break stealth or dismount you.