Breakfast Topic: Logging into the expansion
by Joshua Bolin 
Jul 14th 2010 at 8:00AM
Imagine this: In the not-so-distant future, you fire up your computer, double-click the icon on your desktop, skim over the news page and then tentatively click that little magic button "Play." What greets your eye? The deeps of Deepholm? A roaring Deathwing in the style of Wrath? Or perhaps you see something more peaceful ... A shot of the leaner, greener Desolace, perhaps?
As for myself, I would prefer a view of the Skywall. From what I've heard, it is supposed to be titan-esque, but more graceful and airy. ... Not to mention that if we see it from above, it will have the backdrop of the shimmering sands of Uldum and the Egyptian-style architecture. What could lie within these structures of air and sand? To me, it inspires a sense of mystery and awe that awaits in the Cataclysm.
No matter what login screen we see come Cataclysm, we'll no doubt love it when it is first released. Sure, that feeling may fade or warp with time -- but for now, we can view our own version of the login screen through a lens of anticipation. Share with us: How do you see WoW's future login screen? What feelings is it supposed to inspire?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
skreeran Jul 14th 2010 8:02AM
In the not too distant future, somewhere in time and space...
But seriously, I'd prefer a portal, like the Vanilla WoW and TBC ones.
If I can't get that, the view ofthe Maelstrom that we're probably getting should be good too.
Josin Jul 14th 2010 8:13AM
Hopefully some fire and brimstone. Something cataclysmic. I'm thinking something vastly more animated, as a static scene just doesn't scream Cataclysm to me.
McRaider Jul 14th 2010 9:58AM
I don't want it to be a portal. It doesn't work in it.
In vanilla it had this "Enter Azeroth" Feeling
In BC you entered outland through the portal.
In WotLK... there isn't any portal to go through, so no portal.
In Cata.... the same. There isn't any portal to go through so I just hope for like Deepholme or some really, really wrecked up place.
Jorges Jul 14th 2010 10:40AM
Hopefully in the not so distant future, I would like to see random login screens. Maybe landscapes of different areas of the game, with random thigs happening like a flock of birds passing by, or volcanoes erupting... all of this happening with an almost imperceptible camera panning. Maybe views of areas pretty difficult to reach, to make you wonder "where is that?" every time you see it.
I think that would be more interesting than watching the same view over and over and over for the next one and a half year.
BigBadGooz Jul 14th 2010 11:00AM
World tree ablazz with ragnarose humping it makes sence
Maymer Jul 14th 2010 11:23AM
I would love to see the statues of the Dark Portal from Vanilla WoW again...but this time, have maybe one of them just cut in half, shattered and broken.
Have the portal not really working, as if to say "We can't go back"
I would love to have the screen lit up with fire and a black and orange sky, with maybe Deathwing kinda flying around in the background...but not being annoying like Sinadragosa....damn dragon, constantly mocking me!!
Tel Jul 14th 2010 11:44AM
@Jorges
PLEASE, post this idea to the Blizzard forums. I think that would be awesome and perfect.
I'm so F*(&ing tired of thinking about how my magic betrays me when I log in that I now race to make sure I've entered all my account details before Sindragosa lands and screeches. I used to enjoy leaving the loading screen up and watching the swirling portal and the blinking eyes, just listening to the music.
NewGuy Jul 14th 2010 8:04AM
Red
Jack Anderson Jul 14th 2010 8:07AM
personally I'd like to see one of the major changes from cataclysm, like the giant split through the barrens.
I think we'll probably get something like the Deathwing image on the official cataclysm page though
Irontoof Jul 14th 2010 8:11AM
Maelstrom for the login screen and, uh, i suppose the loading bar screen will be Deathwing in a volcano. Shame, i liked the eye-soothing blue one with the Lich King :D
Eamara Jul 14th 2010 8:12AM
So long as it isn't Deathwing roaring every 10 seconds, I'm happy.
Jason Jul 14th 2010 8:13AM
Agreed, I've been turning the sound down lately when I log in, its just too much hearing the roar...
Ryan Jul 14th 2010 8:47AM
Agreed, I heard muttering once there was an interface addon to do this. However I doubt this is true as the addons seem to be loaded only upon zoning in.
RRROOOOAARRRRRRRRR!
eMaRDi Jul 14th 2010 8:53AM
My point. Everything, but no Frostwyrm anymore.
Maybe some cycling through different scenarios (mentioned Barrens scar, Desolace).
I almost expect some reddish-black design of the starter itself.
Maybe while overhauling the whole ingame content, they could have a look into the login system as well?
Just thinking about it, there are sure some topics about the login process for itself which might need an overhaul. Just thinking about some sort of quicklaunch where you select the last - say five - alts you recently played. This would skip the character chooser.
Or just imagine some sort of replay of selected fights you bested during login... would be nice, too...
supracom Jul 14th 2010 9:02AM
"Pathetic magic betraaaays youuu..."
Pat Jul 14th 2010 9:23AM
Exactly what I wanted to say, Goddam.. I think the first two times I heard it I was kind of impressed and from then on It drove me insane!!!
I then turned it into a race.. try and log in before it would swoop down and land.
bdew Jul 14th 2010 9:33AM
I would prefer a portal-themed login screen as well, maybe the enterance to uldum or something like that.
@Ryan: It wasn't an addon but a glue xml mod. It's legality according to the TOS was questionable and it was killed with patch 3.2 that disabled overriding of those files.
edgeblade69 Jul 14th 2010 1:58PM
@Ryan: This is the addon to mute the dragon. You have to put the files in the Sound folder though, just follow the instructions. :)
http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info15502-SilentDragon.html
Eudeyrn Jul 14th 2010 3:04PM
I've been using SilentLoginScreen (which is basically the same as SilentDragon) for ages. There's no question about their "legality" as far as Blizzard is concerned - all you're doing is causing the client to play a local .wav file instead of the .wav files packed in the .mpq files.
I also use Gun Silencer/Suppressor, which replaces the gunshot sounds with pffft pffft pffft silenced sounds, QuietThatHorse, which replaces the screeching sound of the Death Knight war horse when it is summoned with a soft rolling thunder sound, and TrainWreck, which silences all train sounds in the game.
All you do is unzip the .wav files into the ..\World of Warcraft\Data directory - the folder structure is in the .zip file. For example, the gun silencer/suppressor addon adds files to ..\World of Warcraft\Data\Sound\Item\Weapons\Gun\ directory.
http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info12060-GunSilencerSuppressor.html
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/qth.aspx
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/trainwreck.aspx
Rigantona Jul 14th 2010 8:15AM
With Wrath, spending the last year or so in the dreary blue zones of Icecrown and Storm Peaks, seeing something different on the log in screen would have been welcome, so I hope with Cata we can maybe get something that contrasts with the overall look of the zones or instances we'll be spending time in when we hit 85.
With vanilla, BC and Wrath, the login screens were appropriate for both factions, so hopefully it will be the same again; either that or it might randomly choose between 3 or 4 or something...