Blizzard opens Cataclysm beta key contest for Oceanic guilds
by Anne Stickney 
Aug 25th 2010 at 9:00PM
Did you miss out on the Cataclysm beta guild contest, simply because you lived in an Oceanic area? Still want in on the Cataclysm beta? Fear not -- there is now a contest open just for you. Unlike your US counterparts, this time there are no essays involved -- screenshots are the name of the game. Today Community Manager Zarhym announced the Oceanic Guild Screenshot Beta contest which, much like the version for US servers, will award each winner with 10 beta keys for their guild members to use.
ZarhymWe're proud to announce a brand new contest open exclusively to residents of Australia and New Zealand. We're looking for some tightly knit guilds who are ready to rumble their way into our World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta test.
We want you to share screenshots of your guild's greatest triumphs and proudest achievements with us. Whether you and your mates just took down the Twilight Destroyer or you've crushed Kel'thuzad for the first time, we want to witness the milestones of your success. Each guild master who submits a winning screenshot will win 10 invitations to the World of Warcraft Cataclysm beta test for their guild. The contest will be on for five weeks and each guild is limited to just one submission. We'll pick five winners each week for a total of 25 winning submissions from eligible participants, starting August 27, 2010.
Before entering the contest, be sure to read the full contest rules for details and eligibility: http://w
We want you to share screenshots of your guild's greatest triumphs and proudest achievements with us. Whether you and your mates just took down the Twilight Destroyer or you've crushed Kel'thuzad for the first time, we want to witness the milestones of your success. Each guild master who submits a winning screenshot will win 10 invitations to the World of Warcraft Cataclysm beta test for their guild. The contest will be on for five weeks and each guild is limited to just one submission. We'll pick five winners each week for a total of 25 winning submissions from eligible participants, starting August 27, 2010.
Before entering the contest, be sure to read the full contest rules for details and eligibility: http://w
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 brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
worstcase86 Aug 25th 2010 9:26PM
Maybe, just maybe, this is an indication that in a few weeks the level cap in the beta will be raised to 85 and a few raids will become available for those groups of ten guildies to work through...
Savant Aug 26th 2010 1:44PM
While it may or may not mean the level cap will be raised, what it does mean is that there is still a good two months on the beta. You don't run a contest for five weeks, only to invite people in for two or three weeks. This is the clearest signal I have seen that Cataclysm will be a Christmas release at earliest.
Ankun Aug 25th 2010 9:35PM
I might be downrated for this, but I really wish they'd send the beta keys that our guild supposedly won two weeks ago before they start on another continent.
Tori Aug 25th 2010 10:26PM
You're not alone there. Also waiting for my guildies and I to get flagged for beta. Hopefully it's soon. *crosses fingers*
Gryph Aug 26th 2010 6:27AM
I hope they open a competition for European players. But we aren't that important appearently to Blizzard.
Al Aug 26th 2010 6:46AM
Nope, you got upvoted for your whiny derailment.
Kate Aug 26th 2010 7:17AM
@Gryph
There was a European competition. Unfortunately you missed it... Closing date was the 2nd August.
http://www.wow-europe.com/en/contests/guildcontest/index.html
Steve Aug 25th 2010 10:53PM
Excellent idea, Blizz. Of course we will need our own servers (geographically-speaking. Hell, one will do.....) so we can give the most accurate beta-testing feedback. You could even leave the servers behind once the testing has finished.....*cough......hint hint
sherekhan88 Aug 26th 2010 12:37AM
Man, Alexstrasza really put on the pounds in that pic!
kharrah02 Aug 26th 2010 2:04AM
Alexstrasza: Deathwing do i look fat in this necklace
Deathwing: uhhh....ye...eess?
Then the cataclysm began.
Karl Aug 26th 2010 1:40AM
Now just need to do some awesome thing to take a screen shot of so that we can help test packet routing and lag as a guild
Jay Aug 26th 2010 2:29AM
I think a screenshot of companion pets running 50 meters in front of an American player would be perfect to illustrate that.
GmanZA Aug 26th 2010 8:57AM
Up till this point blizzard has always neglected a lot of their Southern hemisphere players. The land down under Region of the world is not the only place where there are WoW players, there has been a huge player base here in South Africa which continues to grow to this day.
Like the Aussie players, we lack local servers so we have to play on Eu realms and deal with the 450 - 1000ms latency ( on a average capped/shaped adsl connection ) on a daily basis and at times is becomes extremely infuriating. In the past we have had lower but since the invention of the hated mod gearscore, it has added lat time due to all the spam gs does, even with the new 2 sec mouse over server side rule.
There is one of the larger South African guilds on lightbringer-Eu realm among lots of others spread out over different realms. I don't know if they have been included in the beta or not but speaking in general terms, Blizzard obviously had their reasons for doing this but I find this move to include only one Southern hemisphere continent a total BS move and a complete disrespect to their other players.
I for one have no interest in a beta key but a chance to at least participate in one of their comps would have been good for a change instead of having to sit out on the sidelines like always.
On a side note.
I understand their are costs and logistics involved in setting up servers in new locations but it is not like that is something blizzard is new too. With having servers in 3 main locations across Europe ( France, Germany and Switzerland ).
The costs of getting all of that in place for a few extra countries is miniscule compared to the Activision/Blizzard profit they just made on their Q2 financial report.
Drakkenfyre Aug 26th 2010 10:58AM
While we don't have the problems associated with the distance, GearScore has created more latency for my server, too.
Average several months ago was 100-120. Now it's 250. I wish they would just outright restrict that Addon to one request per minute. No Addon should be allowed to affect the server.
JohnQ737 Nov 22nd 2010 6:20AM
You can win a Cataclysm beta key here:
http://www.softsailor.com/news/51732-wow-cataclysm-beta-key-free-giveaway.html