Breakfast Topic: The Cataclysm site update pool
by Gregg Reece 
Feb 12th 2010 at 8:00AM
It's not at the top of our priority list, but we do check by there from time to time. According to the site itself, its last update was September 14th, 2009. That means we're getting close to five months since the last update. We've occasionally gleamed tidbits of information from the forums and developer chats about upcoming plans for WoW's next expansion, but virtually nothing from the website itself. We've even been able to glean some knowledge off of fuzzy pictures of the developers showing off the Cataclysm map. It has gotten to the point that we're starting to make a pool about when new information might crop up on there. I've got February 24th of this year jotted down as my pick.
However, Blizzard does have legitimate claims they could make as to the slow news cycle for Cataclysm. They released a packed content patch in 3.3.0 and had a lot of watching and tweaking afterward for 3.3.2. That should slow down their patch cycle for a while though with the only real content before players being hard modes in Icecrown Citadel. But, as far as patches go, we're pretty much just waiting for tweaks and Cataclysm lead-ups involving earthquakes, hints at the upcoming race/class combos, and additional lore to fill things out.
Until then, we're waiting and watching a website that's four and a half months old with a very pretty trailer on it. I'd just be happy with some more concept art to give us a taste of things to come.
When do you think Blizzard is going to start giving us more information on the Cataclysm site?
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Gamer am I Feb 12th 2010 8:02AM
They'll probably update the site the minute everyone gets fed up and stops checking it. I've found that things tend to work that way.
Abekasaka Feb 12th 2010 8:09AM
"Soon", obviously!
I jest, I jest. I'd gamble on the first week of March.
Shay Feb 12th 2010 8:10AM
When it's ready.
Camaris Feb 12th 2010 8:12AM
I don't know.. did they ever even finish the TBC and WotLK sites? Last I checked, the Darkfallen article was still Coming Soon on the latter one.
What I would ike to see though:
- ANYthing about the new zones. We have seen nothing but concept art, all the in-game footage was from new starting areas or the Cataclysmified old world.
- Some idea of factions or important characters in more specific terms. Who is going to 'lead' the fight against Deathwing like Tirion did (and Khadgar/A'dal/Maiev sort of did).
- A bestiary of course.
- New dances! And ponies.
Bryroo Feb 12th 2010 8:20AM
The next time another MMO releases that has a chance of stealing more than a dozen subscribers away they'll release more Cataclysm information. Just enough to get WoW players back in a frenzy.
Star Wars is coming out sometime next year. Maybe we'll get a solid chunk of information then.
Kanap Feb 12th 2010 8:36AM
I know a lot of my friends say they are dropping wow for the Old republic
ciggychan Feb 12th 2010 9:05AM
FOR PONY!!!!!!!
peagle Feb 12th 2010 10:40AM
@Kanap
Old republic in that statement is pretty interchangeable with:
Guild Wars
Age of Conan
Lord of the Rings Online
Warhammer
Aion
etc...
People who say they are dropping WoW for a game they haven't played are at best deluding themselves.
deluded spider Feb 12th 2010 1:27PM
Yeah but the difference, for me, is that all those other MMOs are fantasy-themed. I play WoW for the type of gameplay and would love a sci-fi setting over a fantasy one, but don't really have an interest in Star Trek online.
I'll probably play both WoW and Star Wars until it's not possible to do so, but for me, sci-fi > fantasy.
That said, I wouldn't ragequit WoW over lack of updates or something. I'd just leave to try something else.
censorman Feb 12th 2010 5:11PM
@peagle - I know a lot of people who are mad about LOTRO and it isn't doing too bad actually. I don't know WHY, but it has a fan base. You're dead on with the other MMOs, but I think LOTRO escapes the pile-o-let downs.
Alanid Feb 12th 2010 5:19PM
At the moment I am bored with WoW, at least at max level. I enjoy leveling characters but it gets to a point were I've done that so many times that it gets boring as well. I'm definitely going to try out the old republic, being a huge KOTOR and Bioware fan. I wouldn't say I'm dropping WoW though, I quit WoW for a year a little after TBC released due to boredom, and when I came back I was interested in it again. And with Cataclysm coming I cannot say that I am leaving WoW for good.
Vahan Feb 12th 2010 8:21AM
What I really hope for is that during the week leading up to the release the caraclysm unfolds before us. It would be really dissapointing if you just log in the next day and all the changes have happened.
Neirin Feb 12th 2010 11:42AM
I don't think we need to worry about that too much, blues have been saying for a while that the Cataclysm release event will be bigger and better than the zombie invasion before wrath.
FifthDream Feb 12th 2010 8:22AM
May 11, 2010.
You heard it here first.
zweitblom Feb 12th 2010 1:05PM
The Blizzard hit team has already been dispatched. Farewell.
Vahan Feb 12th 2010 3:56PM
I have my money on pre-orders starting in Sept with a release between Christmas and New Years
Delin Feb 12th 2010 8:22AM
Gregg, I'm afraid that you're probably going to lose that pool. Something tells me that it'll be no sooner than middle to late March.
Wulfkin Feb 12th 2010 8:25AM
I mostly want some more information on what zones are going to affected. Nothing too specific but enough to get the salive flowing. Some screenshots, or at least some artwork of the new zones would also be very welcome. Dribbled out content is better than none at all!
thebarrenschat.wordpress.com
Uriahworld Feb 12th 2010 8:31AM
I'll take anything they'll give me (info wise).
Hope for release date so I can nab a collector's Ed.
tulipblossom Feb 12th 2010 8:38AM
I don't know, honestly. But, I would love to hear anything at all, so much. Even if some of the information they put out there proves false, in the end, it doesn't matter to me. I just enjoy hearing about the new expansion.
I loved TBC and WotLK is excellent, too. But, Cataclysm is the expansion that has me the most excited. There's just something so appealing to me, about them going back and changing things that I've come to know really well. It's a bit sad, but extremely exciting, too. It leaves me to imagine all the ways that the old world, as I know it, might change. Some of the most exciting images I saw from Blizzcon and during the Cataclysm trailer are the ones where you saw how the Barrens had been transformed. I LOVED that. I mean, I'm so used to the Barrens being as they are and I love them as they are. But, times change and I love that it really feels like the story is going to affect players in a different way, than in previous expansions.
New continents are amazing and I'm extremely grateful for all the hard work that goes into them. I love Outland. I know lots of folks dislike it and that it's pretty desolate now that Northrend is around. But, I adore Nagrand, especially. I remember the first time I got flying. The first thing I did was fly around Nagrand and sit atop the floating islands. It was such a cool feeling and I entertained myself with just that for an embarrassingly long time, lol. I still sometimes go back and just perch, in between doing random things in Outland or helping lowbies.
That being said, this expansion is entirely different. We're not really dealing with a whole new continent. We're dealing with our oldest (and for many of us, fondest) ones being revamped. Everyone, whether they have the expansion or not will experience the change in terrain and lore and that's just awesome. With Northrend and Outland, you have to visit those places to really feel like there's something new going on in WoW. But, with Catacylsm it's just right there, in your face, whether you like it or not. It's such a neat and exciting thing to look forward to.
Not to mention, two new races. I'm a sucker for new races. I love new classes, too, but I prefer new races, any day. New races mean new mounts, new hairstyles, and just all that fun stuff that isn't "important," but makes the game that much more enjoyable.
I wanna hear tidbits about professions, especially. About if there will be new ore and what it might be called. About some new engineering schematics, the new racials for every race, about Archaeology, and just so much more. I don't mind not hearing anything about the dungeons and raids. I'm content to wait and learn about that when the time comes. But, I wanna hear about the details, the little things that make the game so much fun for me. Professions, flying in the old world, etc. Anything to keep my interest peaked and the excitement going. The worst feeling is when your excitement about something drops off, because you haven't heard about it or learned anything new in such a long time. It takes away from the desired effect of getting people pumped.