Cataclysm brings new launcher and patch process
by Gregg Reece 
Aug 3rd 2010 at 9:00AM
ZarhymThere are three stages of download progress:
- SETUP (RED): Core game content is being prepared. You cannot enter the game at this time.
- AVAILABLE (YELLOW): Major game content is not completely applied. You can play, but your game experience will not be ideal.
- PLAYABLE (GREEN): Final game content is almost complete. You may experience a few game issues with playing at this stage.
What does this mean for players? Once you're into the yellow part of the download, you can actually log into the game and play. Things that are missing will likely be along the lines of art, model and sound files. While this might cause lag or strange graphic issues, it will allow for players to get back onto their servers faster during patch days.
Those of you in the beta will see this relatively soon. However, it will require that you re-install the beta client from scratch.
The full blue post and instructions after the break.
ZarhymThe new Cataclysm Launcher allows you to stream game data while you play. This will reduce the time you spend downloading, installing, and patching World of Warcraft. We will be releasing this new Launcher into the Cataclysm beta soon, and we'd like to get your feedback on the toolset and gameplay experience.
To continue playing in the Cataclysm beta after the next patch, you will need to do the following:
What's changed:
Launcher
We've redesigned the Launcher to explain your installation progress. You will see a new progress bar with sections (Red, Yellow, Green) that represent the amount of data you currently have installed.
There are three stages of download progress:
- SETUP (RED): Core game content is being prepared. You cannot enter the game at this time.
- AVAILABLE (YELLOW): Major game content is not completely applied. You can play, but your game experience will not be ideal.
- PLAYABLE (GREEN): Final game content is almost complete. You may experience a few game issues with playing at this stage.
Updater and Downloader
The Updater and Downloader have been integrated closely into the Launcher, resulting in less application switching when patching and installing.
Notes:
All World of Warcraft data will continue to download and apply whether you wait in the Launcher or are playing in-game. If you find the play experience undesirable, you may exit the game and allow the Launcher to continue the download. This may improve the play experience for users with low bandwidth.
Let us know about your experience with the new Launcher. When sending feedback, let us know what your connection speed is and what stage (Red/Yellow/Green) your progress bar is showing. This will help us optimize the Launcher and get you in the game faster.
To continue playing in the Cataclysm beta after the next patch, you will need to do the following:
- Uninstall your current Cataclysm beta client
- Windows
- From your Start Menu, click Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs
- Mac
- Select your "World of Warcraft Beta" folder and drag it to the Trash icon on the dock
- Right-click on the Trash icon and select "Empty Trash"
- Windows
- Download the latest version of the Cataclysm beta client
- Visit http://battle.net/
- Login to your Battle.net account
- Select "Account" at the top of the page, and then select "World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Beta" from the Game Accounts list.
- From the Download Game Client box, select Windows or Mac to begin downloading the installer.
What's changed:
Launcher
We've redesigned the Launcher to explain your installation progress. You will see a new progress bar with sections (Red, Yellow, Green) that represent the amount of data you currently have installed.
There are three stages of download progress:
- SETUP (RED): Core game content is being prepared. You cannot enter the game at this time.
- AVAILABLE (YELLOW): Major game content is not completely applied. You can play, but your game experience will not be ideal.
- PLAYABLE (GREEN): Final game content is almost complete. You may experience a few game issues with playing at this stage.
Updater and Downloader
The Updater and Downloader have been integrated closely into the Launcher, resulting in less application switching when patching and installing.
Notes:
All World of Warcraft data will continue to download and apply whether you wait in the Launcher or are playing in-game. If you find the play experience undesirable, you may exit the game and allow the Launcher to continue the download. This may improve the play experience for users with low bandwidth.
Let us know about your experience with the new Launcher. When sending feedback, let us know what your connection speed is and what stage (Red/Yellow/Green) your progress bar is showing. This will help us optimize the Launcher and get you in the game faster.
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.Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bitter Aug 3rd 2010 8:29PM
Sounds much like the current streaming WoW Trial.
Should be inturesting to try out.
Once i get my gorram beta key that is...
Muse Aug 3rd 2010 9:07AM
Am assuming this is so that when the big pre-cataclysm patch happens, we wont need to have the entire 4 gigs or so downloaded and applied all at once?
Darky Aug 3rd 2010 9:56AM
try 10 gigs or so
Bluspacecow Aug 3rd 2010 12:37PM
Yeah that's how I'm reading it - that you don't have to have the full patch downloaded to play. As long as you have the bare minimum you should be able to get on when it's Yellow
Marzz Aug 3rd 2010 9:08AM
Yeah, this sounds awful.
Warhammer Online has a streaming client like this, and the game takes a HUGE performance hit while streaming- Like my computer running it at 60+fps suddenly starts running at 5-6fps.
I think I'll stick with downloading the full client before logging in.
Derrek Aug 3rd 2010 9:48AM
The awfulosity of it depends heavily on the speed of your internet connection ( and to a lesser extent, the speed of your hard drive ). People with faster internet will get more benefit from streaming.
For those with lower bandwidth, it's just business as usual.
Also, I'd like to point out that comparing the performance of Warhammer to World of Warcraft is rather pointless. I know from experience that the streaming trial version of WoW runs very smoothly on medium-slow internet when downloading data in real-time. Blizzard's programmers are better at their job than Mythic's.
sprout_daddy Aug 3rd 2010 10:40AM
Note to self - use the word "awfulosity" from now on
Jorges Aug 3rd 2010 11:00AM
And what about us with ISP's that cap your downloads per month? I hope Blizzard include an option to not download anything and just wait for patch day. I normally download patches and stuff at work, where I have a high speed, uncapped connection. But at home, I can't afford to do this.
I really have no problem on waiting a few hours, is not like i'm going to die for not playing wow.
Sinfulle Aug 3rd 2010 11:02AM
Everquest 2 allows streaming of game data in game as well, you can download an expansion you purchased while playing, but you can't really travel to those destinations until they completely downloaded, and the delays caused in loading older zones make the game mostly unplayable.
Actually accessing areas with incomplete data, during the download, sounds like asking for a potentially corrupted download. Perhaps Blizzard has an internal data verification process to prevent such an occurrence? I'd rather not risk having to re-download gigabytes of info for the ability to see untextured trees/buildings/NPCs.
Zaros Aug 3rd 2010 3:36PM
LOL. Blizz probably laughs at these.
This isnt a bad idea. You still have have the choice if you want to wait for it to load.
To quote: "They ruin it for themselves and say its too easy. Then they complain even though it was their fault."
You have the choice. The download is not going to get slower so if your computer is slow just wait.
Vince Thompson Aug 4th 2010 10:06PM
I am currently in the Cataclysm Beta so I will report back once I get a chance to see this. Sounds ok to me what they are doing, but I have seen better ways of patching games.
Is it me or has anyone else noticed that altho Blizzard said this year for cataclysm I am in two minds if this will appear this year at all. Playing in the beta I still see a lot of things that need doing, I don't mind if it's not this year but I would be suprised.
Beta btw is shaping up to be by far the best expansion on WoW to date.
Darias.Perenolde Aug 3rd 2010 7:33PM
I was just thinking the same. There are a number of PCs that you can't interact with, and some that are *stuck*. One of them I noticed on my tour of Azeroth ("ZOMG! LOOK AT THIS AREA NOW!") was the Ancient of War at the new Feathermoon Stronghold. Arms raised, all menacing...and he stands there like a statue. Likewise, the Naga and Sentinels back on the island just stare at each other like they're about to square dance.
nerfduken Aug 4th 2010 12:53PM
I wouldn't be surprised to see them push it as far back as spring of 2011 to counter the SWTOR launch.
The way I see it, and I'm sure Blizzard has thought about this also, is that if Cataclysm launches say November of this year, You'll have most people getting to endgame at about 2-3 months out which puts it right around Feb 2011. People will be actively raiding for the next few months and waiting for more content, which will put it right around May. May 4th is "Star Wars Day" which most are speculating that Bioware/EA is waiting for to officially launch the game. SWTOR is gaining a lot of hype and they keep announcing very enticing features at least once a month. If Blizzards trend follows, people will be bored and looking for something to keep them occupied while they wait for new WoW content, I imagine that's what Bioware is banking on.
thegatherer Aug 3rd 2010 9:09AM
This is like a dream come true. As someone who remembers EQ's random downtime for maintenance, being able to get into the game while it patches is close to miraculous.
Although I do see the potential for some epic win and fail to be brought about by bugs from this.
Drakkenfyre Aug 3rd 2010 9:13AM
You are misinterpreting this. If the servers are down for maintanence, you still won't be able to log on.
Drakkenfyre Aug 3rd 2010 9:10AM
This is going to cause problems. I remember when Blizzard said not to cancel the patch install, and people would post "I cancelled it, now it won't work. What do I do?"
Now people are going to start complaining about missing models.
Gregg Reece Aug 3rd 2010 9:56AM
One would presume that they've gotten a bit better about things with this new version of the downloader. However, we really don't have any information on how it will perform yet.
Drakkenfyre Aug 3rd 2010 10:05AM
What I mean is people will be idiots, hit play while it's yellow, and then complain about missing models. Without even reading what it says.
SamLowry Aug 3rd 2010 10:39AM
And people being idiots will be new to WoW how? Sure, you'll always have your Leeroy Jenkinses and the folks to attempt to trade in swear chat, but I suppose the folks who just don't understand how things work can be educated somewhat, like the guy in my pug yesterday who had no idea how to install addons and had to be walked through it step by step.
Drakkenfyre Aug 3rd 2010 11:09AM
I am not criticizing Blizzard. I am criticizing the idiots who won't read.