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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPatch 3.3 PTR: Jaina gets a makeover [Updated]
by Zach Yonzon 
Oct 7th 2009 at 9:10PM
The new face looks to have higher resolution than that of normal human female player characters and could be indicative of the new graphics to come with the Cataclysm (e.g., this matches the higher resolution Worgen and Goblin masks that were unveiled some time ago). This leaves a few more bosses, most notably Thrall -- who's still wearing Level 30 greens -- to get the makeover treatment. We know that Baine Bloodhoof is replacing Cairne, so the latter probably won't be getting a new model. It's interesting to see who else gets a nice makeover. The higher resolution, multi-angled sweet stuff after the jump.
UPDATE: Zarhym says that the update to Jaina comes at a perfect time as she and Sylvanas Windrunner (updated for Wrath of the Lich King) would play key roles in Icecrown. He also reveals that "other heroes" or key figures in Warcraft lore will probably get the same upgraded graphics to give them a more distinctive look.
Patch 3.3 is the last major patch of Wrath of the Lich King. With the new Icecrown Citadel 5-man dungeons and 10/25-man raid arriving soon, patch 3.3 will deal the final blow to the Arthas. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.3 will keep you updated with all the latest patch news.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 7)
outlier Oct 8th 2009 10:10AM
They had to make her belly button more apparent so that her new mage ability, [Arcane Umbilical Cord] would make sense.
Skyhoof Oct 7th 2009 9:23PM
Is it me or does she kind of look like Emily Proctor now?
http://home.earthlink.net/~sedinger/emily.jpg
Franksnbeans Oct 8th 2009 10:06AM
No she's modeled after Kirstie Alley.
http://imgs.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/dailydish/2009/10/02/alley220x298.jpg
jfofla Oct 7th 2009 9:24PM
Not as sweet as she was. Now she looks like MILF.
A Nonny Mouse Oct 7th 2009 9:41PM
Well, she is supposed to be in her early thirties right now. >_>
vinniedcleaner Oct 7th 2009 9:51PM
ohhhhh... Stifler's Mom.....
NeoPhobos Oct 7th 2009 9:25PM
So, does anyone still believe Jaina's going to die in the 5-man Icecrown?
Yea... didn't think so.
ScorchHellfire Oct 7th 2009 9:27PM
lawl she painted her nails purple... xD
Draykin Oct 7th 2009 9:30PM
I'm not, let me repeat, not bashing big girls, I like big girls.
I like the armor, but the face and hair look off. I'd go so far as to say her face makes her seem fat, which doesn't go with her body at all. Maybe this is one of those things we have to see from every angle, but so far I do not like it.
Edit before posting: I just looked at the picture on MMO champion, and though it looks better, I still don't like it much, it doesn't seem like her armor is detailed like Alexstrasza and Sylvanas, which is kinda disappointing. Thought this could all be because of the angle, if we saw a different picture or maybe a video showing the 360 view of her it'd be better.
NeoPhobos Oct 7th 2009 9:32PM
That was my first thought as well, though I attributed her "husky face" due to the sides of her head being hidden behind her hair.
Joey_the_mad26 Oct 7th 2009 9:30PM
It does not surprise me that they are going this direction with Jaina's model update. For anyone paying even the slightest attention, this was essentialy the model shown in the Ulduar movie posted on the WoW site. I like it, to say the least. A vast improvement over the simply 'tall' version of the common Blonde human female model. Cudos Blizzard.
However...this does raise some concern. We've known for some time now that WoW was going for a fairly big update to it's graphic's engine so as to run in a more Hi-Res format. My concern is that LotRO did the same thing to it's game with the release of the Moria expansion and this caused problems for alot of players of that game who were now unable to run the game without turning off all the bells and whistles, wereas before-hand it had never been a problem for them. Now, my rig is one of the World of Warcraft rigs companies like Alienware have released over the last year or so; that being said I myself am not 'too' concerned. However, I wonder how Blizzard is going to approach this.
A Nonny Mouse Oct 7th 2009 9:43PM
Actually, this is a far more significant makeover than the minor modification they did for the Ulduar video.
lilrabbit129 Oct 8th 2009 10:54AM
A similar change happened between BC->Wrath. My computer used to be able to run fine in Outland but once I got into Northrend I had to turn a lot of settings down. The people that care about the bells and whistles will upgrade while the people that don't will simply turn the settings down.
For the people that are already at their lowest, they'll either upgrade, stop playing or just live with it.
Jon Jagger Oct 7th 2009 9:34PM
What happened to the way she looked in the Ulduar video? I love the new armor, the new face leaves a bit to be desired. All that said I'm really glad the models are getting much needed updates, but when will the players get the same treatment? It's one thing to have amazing looking NPC's, but why does the one model that I see the entire time I'm playing not get the same attention?
On an almost related note am I the only one who would love to see cloaks and capes get a little more variety? (ie; check out the one on the new Sylvanas model and you'll see what I mean)
Raithvin Oct 7th 2009 9:38PM
I like the higher resolution, but I'm not a fan of her new face
she looks a tad "beachy" if you know what I mean
Personally I'm hopeing Lor'themar or Halduron Brightwing will get a unique look to follow up the new Quel'delar quests and becuase lets face it, blood elf lore hasnt received much love since fury of the sunwell
Rainee Sue Oct 7th 2009 11:01PM
Shit, I'm hoping Lor'themar at least gets a freaking unique voiceover. Poor kid's been running Silvermoon ever since the FIRST time Kael went bugshit, and he still has the click-dialogue of Generic Male Elf #4.
Luisette Oct 7th 2009 11:16PM
THIS. I mean, hell, even ROMMATH got a new hairstyle!
Rainee Sue Oct 7th 2009 11:21PM
Hell, can we at LEAST be lore-accurate enough to slap an eyepatch on the guy?
Killchrono Oct 8th 2009 12:55AM
@ Raniee Sue
Giving him a unique voice implies would be difficult.
He needs a personality first.
Valent1ne Oct 8th 2009 1:26AM
In the Sunwell trilogy, his personality is actually developed decently well. He's actually one of the more levelheaded leaders right now, if I remember right.
But yes. He DESPERATELY needs a custom voice. And an eyepatch. Even if he had that eye, he'd need an eyepatch, because eyepatches are awesome.