Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsThe Queue: Why did WoW Insider switch domains, again?
by Adam Holisky 
Sep 16th 2010 at 1:00PM
Many people asked:
Why did WoW Insider switch domains?
As we've said a few times, we're now called WoW Insider, living at wow.joystiq.com. A lot of people have questions about this change, and I hope to answer some of them.
First and foremost, WoW.com and Joystiq.com are both very strong websites that have a long history. Neither are going away any time soon, and both have a ton of great people working for them. WoW.com has always been part of the "Joystiq gaming network," which in turn has always been part of the Weblogs subdivision at Aol (until the subdivision was merged with the greater Aol brands -- no idea why, it's a corporate thing).
People are screaming that we've done a corporate merger with Joystiq. We haven't; we've always been a part of them. People think Aol has taken over. They haven't; they've always been the ones with the domain. People think that Blizzard sued us and got the domain. They haven't. Aol will be doing something else with the wow.com domain; I just have no idea what it is.
The simple fact of the matter is that WoW Insider and Joystiq are consolidating under one large brand and site to make an even larger site. If WoW.com got 1 billion hits a day and Joystiq.com got 1 billion hits a day, the two combined would stand to get 2 billion hits a day -- and well, kids, that's some real potential money to be made right there. Money that puts food on my table at night and let's me see a doctor for this rash, so I'm all for it.
No one on staff has gotten laid off over this, no one has seen their milk money taken away, etc. ...
Everything is OK -- don't panic. We're not.
Bui asked:
So with the Cataclysm release really only months away now, what old zone do you think is worth seeing first ? What really sums up the "Deathwing just tore the world a new one" feel that we're supposed to be getting when we come back from Northrend?
Badlands first, then Desolace.
Jprich asked:
Do you think Blizzard will ever lock down event starters (Jaina in Mount Hyjal, for example ) so that only the raid leader or those with assist can start events?
That's too good of an idea for Blizzard to do. Shhhh ... don't tell them.
Arkonn asked:
Is it possible to complete both Zalazane's Fall and Operation: Gnomeregan if one were to partake in a faction transfer?
Yes, but you only get one achievement.
TLDR Guy asked:
Did Blizzard buy out the wow.com name and force you guys to move?
For the last time ... no.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column. Leave your questions in the comments, and we'll do our best to answer 'em!Filed under: The Queue
Reader Comments (Page 14 of 14)
themightysven Sep 16th 2010 11:04PM
will justice points purchase tier 10 or starter tier 11?
either way, do you think Heroics are going to be that much harder, as the first wave of 85s will likely have mammoth-loads of justice points with which to gear up before hitting them?
Xylaria Sep 16th 2010 11:10PM
Question: Is the new AQ 10 (former AQ 20) going to be re-tuned to be a level 85 10-man raid, or is it simply going to remain with the same level 60 tuning, rewards, and the like, just with a 10-person limit?
Drakkenfyre Sep 17th 2010 12:26PM
It's not being retuned.
They already said that. It's basically just to make it easier for guild Achievements. Where 8 out of 10 is easier than 18 out of 20.
lockhart24 Sep 16th 2010 11:25PM
Hey, I've got a question about the new Heirlooms in cata... I saw them up for sale from the guild rep quartermaster, but will they be available by spending Justice Points for people not in a guild?
Pedwalk Sep 16th 2010 11:59PM
Is there a precedent for authenticator accounts being hacked?
I ask this because I received an email earlier this afternoon informing me that my account had been suspended for 72 hours for "Exploitative Activity: Use of Third Party Automation Software".
I respect the dignity of this game too much to ever even consider hacking. I've never shared my account information with anyone, and after the excellent Breakfast topic last week I trekked back to Stratholme and picked up the "Piccolo of the Flaming Fire" to mess with goldspammers in Org.
After receiving the email, I attempted to log into my account and was informed I had the wrong information. It was only after going through the password reclamation process that I was informed by the client that I had been suspended. This leads me to believe that my account was hacked despite my use of an authenticator for the past eight months. I'm a little disturbed because I paid for the effing thing, and if it isn't even keeping my account safe, I'm a little confused about what its purpose is.
Tzivya Sep 17th 2010 3:57AM
I have had my account since release, and over the many years since then I have long since lost my original install discs and such. I am led to believe that if I ever need to prove the account is 'mine' in the case of hacking, I would need them. Yes, I use an authenticator, but one never knows what clever tricks the hackers will find next.
Anyway, is there anything I can do preemptively to establish with Blizzard that my account is my account? It's been in my name since creation, but billing changes regularly, so I can't say 'It's always been billed to one card'. How do those of us who've been here since day 1 establish ownership?
Nebules Sep 17th 2010 10:05AM
@Tzivya when you get hacked or need to do anything serious to you account when you call bliizzard they will usually ask for the current billing info (at least for credit cards) if that fails they then usually go to ask you your "secret" question past that I am not sure what they would do to restore your account, possibly send a email to your designated email adress on your account.
Corv Sep 17th 2010 4:01AM
the 1 + 1 billion clicks argument is definitely not very logical, in fact it's extremely naive, but I guess it was just one more thing to write about this. ;)
hart Sep 17th 2010 4:09AM
Questions 1 do we know what bag will replace the ammo pouch yet for hunters?
Question 2 the guild achievement for Raising 25 reputations to Exalted how many guilds must do that or do we not know yet?
samuraibluesx Sep 17th 2010 4:13AM
Question: With flying now cheap and easy to obtain for the "old" world, Can Non-Death Knights gain access to the Acherus? Are they attacked by guards or just warded away?
Elementally Sep 17th 2010 5:26PM
For Elemental Shaman, seeing as our gear is going to have Spirit that will be converted to Hit, will we have the resultant mana regeneration gain as well? Or would it be that the Spirit "disappears", so to speak?
Josh Sep 17th 2010 7:20AM
How much of an issue would it be for the editors to say they were pissed about the change, if indeed they really were?
Would heads roll or are they fairly protected. Yes they do seem to all have their happy faces on which is entirely unbelievable. Even if the majority of them thought the domain change was a good idea (or neutral at worst) which i doubt, at least some would agree w/ the many posters on this board that they are getting screwed big time.
So my tinfoil remains out for their unrealistic solidarity.
Docseuzz Sep 17th 2010 8:03AM
@all: well at least I fired up a good debate
I don't think joystiq would sell to the farmers directly, but I had presumed they sold the list to a marketing company, who then sold it.
As far as the random email concept - if that were the case, my wife's email would be getting hit as well - and she has none.
@tokkar - While I have no doubt to Activision's desire for money - I almost doubt it because of the massive subscriber revenue that comes in, why do something that might risk getting new players?
Nebules Sep 17th 2010 9:57AM
Has blizzard mentioned anything about DKs getting a AoE taunt as they are the only tank class without one?
Hyacin Sep 17th 2010 12:41PM
Dear The Queue,
Remember way back when, those fake 3.1 patch notes were released when it was still quite a ways a way? If I'm not mistaken, Ruby Sanctum was on that list. So my question is, what was the deal? Did the person have real information but the wrong patch? Was it accurate information but then Blizz changed things to make it look like it was fake and "no leaks could ever happen here!", or perhaps also possible - Was it completely fake but then Blizz read it themselves and went "Ruby Sanctum! That's a GREAT idea!! Let's do it after ICC if there's enough room before Cataclysm!"
Dendallin Sep 17th 2010 12:59PM
I was just wondering, where did Ask A Faction Leader go again? We got one a couple weeks ago and it seemed like it was going to become a regular weekly article again, but then it disappeared. I always like the witty comments and lore/lolore responses we get to our serious and not-so-serious questions.
Michael Sacco Sep 17th 2010 1:48PM
AAFL is intended to be a regular feature, but it doesn't always work out that way. Working on it!
Vazpucci Sep 17th 2010 11:46PM
It was mentioned by Arthas in the Culling of Stratholme, it was mentioned in the book Rise of the Lich King. AND was mentioned in this article. All in which didn't refer to the ground, water, tree's, etc.
ackthbbft Sep 18th 2010 2:18AM
I still think wow.massively.com would have made more sense than going with joystiq.
Hagu Sep 19th 2010 3:26PM
Back before AOL bought you out and the Blizzard lawsuit forced you to change :-) , the articles appeared once in my Google RSS reader. Alas, that is no longer the case. Is there any way to get back to an article showing up in Google Reader only once?
If you decide to continue the WoW Insider Podcast, will I have to change my subscription in iTunes? If so, please post a click-able link not just some text announcement.
Thanks