Around Azeroth: Five years later...
by Adam Holisky 
Nov 23rd 2009 at 10:00AM
So for today's Around Azeroth we wanted to do something a little unique. Instead of your typical awesome screenshot, we went with your untypically awesome alpha shot. Back from when WoW was version 0.01 and stuff like that. In the above screenshot you can see some of the early looking models. I don't think they look particularly bad.
Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!
Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, Val'kyr on mounts, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran. Older screenshots can be found here.
Filed under: Around Azeroth, Galleries
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Zyrinx Nov 23rd 2009 10:12AM
These models are miles ahead of anything in EverQuest, when EQ was 5 years old (or so). I quit playing EQ during the expansion when the added the dragon race (cannot remember what it's called), and that was way far along in that game's lifecycle. They really never did get the modeling down.
Qot Nov 23rd 2009 11:03AM
Themightysven is correct that it is definitely in Elwynn (see http://www.wow.com/gallery/adams-wow-gallery/2130074/full/ from the front page, top right corner lists Elwynn), though I'm not sure about Jerod's Landing. It appears that both of the pictures were taken right after character creation, which makes me think it's either an old version of Northshire Abbey or, more likely, at the lake just to the west of Goldshire. I would assume the arrows on the map point to major places of interest, setting the character position just west of Goldshire would mean that they'd point to Stormwind, Northshire Abbey and Goldshire.
Qot Nov 23rd 2009 11:04AM
Dang it, I know I clicked reply to Doberbane. So sorry, Zyrinx.
Doberbane Nov 23rd 2009 10:12AM
Where's the shot taken? I don't recognize the location
Cris Nov 23rd 2009 10:16AM
Seems like Hinterlands but I'm not sure... I see tree models didn't improve at all in 5 years xD
Phaelan Nov 23rd 2009 10:19AM
looks like Redridge Mountains near the town there....it's not the Hinterlands though
themightysven Nov 23rd 2009 10:25AM
Jerod's landing in Elwynn
(if you scroll down on the main page the picture for breakfast topic is in almost the same place, but an earlier patch by the look of the graphics)
I guess duskwood used to be mountain locked
Spiritofire Nov 23rd 2009 12:14PM
No no it's that lake/river to the west of SW gates, nothing really important there, no quests or anything. Remember seeing it while killing turkeys yesterday.
Knob Nov 23rd 2009 10:40AM
Isn't it Nesingwary's place in STV?
Qot Nov 23rd 2009 11:18AM
To expand upon my comment that was misplaced above, I think that the pic was taken in Elwynn, just west of Goldshire. Compare arrows to major points, mountains are right there. I took the little minimap compass pic from the front page (original alpha login) and put it over a current pic of Northshire I grabbed online.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4127715389_f672fc2eb7_o.jpg
Also, I hit the back button and it said "replying to Doberbane", just like it currently says "replying to Doberbane". This comment system needs an upgrade.
Bylak Nov 23rd 2009 10:23AM
Wow, the human male model looks pretty much the same now as it did in the alpha!
. . .
WTB new player models!
Qot Nov 23rd 2009 10:51AM
It's human. While the appearance of more fantasy-based characters (orcs, night elves, etc.) probably needed extensive tweaking as designers figure out what works and doesn't (tusks, big ears, etc.), pretty much everyone knows what to expect when they see a human and, as such, it doesn't really need to be changed much.
Xino Nov 23rd 2009 11:03AM
Except that human males in wow look nothing like a human male, more like a neanderthal.
Bylak Nov 23rd 2009 11:11AM
Way to miss the point entirely Qot. =)
Mike the DK Nov 23rd 2009 11:56AM
I've seen a lot of posts of people saying that the female models in the alpha version were way better (and i agree), but something struck me right now:
This might be wrong, but doesn't the female in this picture look like the n elf female posture? i mean, look at her hips, her arms, her neck and head positions (think of the n elf idle animation); but what really tuned me in is her haircut, which is exactly as my n elf DK's haircut, with the pony tail and the hair strings in the front. Could it be that Blizz took the human model, gave it blue skin, pointy ears and weird hair colors and made them n elfs?
*Goes to ponder while cooking dinner...
Drakkenfyre Nov 23rd 2009 12:39PM
If you dig around, you can see a trailer where Human females had the Goblin dance.
Faulken S Wulf Nov 23rd 2009 4:00PM
I don't know if this happened with Wrath or before, but my Human Female Paladin has had that same pony-tail ever since my first (and last) visit to the barber shop with her. But then again I know they started sharing the hair styles around with the barber shop too, so that just might be the case too.
themightysven Nov 23rd 2009 10:25AM
wtb shoulders that are only on one side
Faulken S Wulf Nov 23rd 2009 4:01PM
Ditto. If we can have Black Mageweave Leggings, we can have asymmetrical and slightly impractical shoulder armor.
Todd Nov 23rd 2009 10:35AM
Whoo, those are some hefty boots that Orc (background) is wearing.