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 3 of 14)
Grovinofdarkhour Sep 16th 2010 2:32PM
Grovin's Smartass Comment of the Day
"Imagine telling someone to go to wow.com. "Hey Fred, this cool video is up on youtube... just go to wow.com!"
I'd rather imagine telling someone, "Hey Fred, this cool video is up on youtube... just go to... uhhh... Youtube?"
Sorry, Pyro, it simply had to be done. :)
Pyromelter Sep 16th 2010 3:24PM
Grovin, the point is that it is oftentimes a lot easier to see videos on wow.com than it is to send a link or to search youtube. That's kind of the power of such a simple domain name as "wow.com"... it's so damn easy, it's often easier than even sending a link straight to the video. And much easier than going to youtube and searching "wowcrendor" or "latest belf rap." Videos for The Guild and Big Crits (and the like) are much easier to find right here than they are on youtube or the msn video channel.
That ease will be gone if/when wow.com stops redirecting here. Not to mention the fact that wow.com/joystiq/aol get the hits from people surfing to this site instead of to youtube.
Grovinofdarkhour Sep 16th 2010 3:30PM
I know, I know, I was just having a cheap laugh at your expense. Sorry about that. I don't know what's gotten into me today, but it sure as hell ain't lunch. Speaking of which, back in a bit...
Xid Sep 16th 2010 1:11PM
Will the new graphics changes such as liquid detail and sunshafts be included when 4.0.1 goes live, or will we have to wait until Cataclysm launch? For me (some people have claimed otherwise, which I'd like to hear more about also) such graphical improvements are not working correctly in the PTR.
Josin Sep 16th 2010 1:17PM
I believe there was a listing somewhere around here that showed what was in Beta, and what was in PTR. Graphical upgrades were for Beta (and Cata) Talents were PTR.
Drakkenfyre Sep 16th 2010 10:24PM
Yes, the new liquid and sunshafts are on the PTR.
Water is currently bugged, and anything set to higher than low does not render. Some water is not there at all.
For sunshafts, look up at the sun. You will see them. To see them better, find an object to block them, then move back and forth.
Brannoc Sep 16th 2010 1:13PM
I have a question about the class changes going Live. Will these class changes go live before Cataclysm and if so will healers be able to heal current level content without going OOM? I have not been following all the changes that are coming through for my Holy Paly as I do not want to get too excited on stuff that may not be final but from what I can see they have removed/nerfed all of our mana regeneration abilities. Tie that in with none of my current armor having Spirit which I understand I will need and I am wondering if I will be able to heal ICC after the change. New content is supposed to be geared for tactical healing but current content is still set up to require max healing throughput especially in hard modes. If the Armor respec comes through I could respec my armor but I am not sure how expensive that will be. Will I need to save up a few thousand gold to respec everything to be able to continue to heal ICC?
Pyromelter Sep 16th 2010 1:29PM
"I have not been following all the changes that are coming through for my Holy Paly..."
I have, so let me help ya. There are a bunch of new spells for you to use, especially for AoE healing. However, the most efficient healing you can do will be with Holy Light, and the glyph of Holy Light still does the same thing. So your healing rotation will go from spamming Holy Light to... spamming Holy Light.
The big difference is that Flash of Light will be worthwhile at times to save someone from imminent death, and I think Holy Shock also got a buff. You also have Word of Glory which is also a nice instant spell.
http://cata.wowhead.com/spells=7.2.594 There is a list of all the holy spells for cataclysm/ 4.0
Note that Holy light is "6% of base mana." You won't even need to be in t10/icc25 gear to be able to spam holy light ad infinitum once the patch hits. The current Holy Light is 29% of base mana.
Hih Sep 16th 2010 1:31PM
The class changes and major stat changes *are* coming in the 4.0.1 patch. That patch will be coming about 1 month before the Cataclysm release.
At level 80 in ICC level gear, you wont be going oom. I have about 20k more mana (Resto Druid) give or take which combats the increase in cost of rejuv and regrowth fairly well. In fact, I'm fairly confidant that I could spam regrowth non-stop for the entirety of some of the shorter icc fights and not be oom by the end of it, and regrowth is probably our most expensive mana per cast time spell.
It's only after leveling up passed 80 where the increases in spell cost outpace the increases in mana from gear and mana becomes an issue. It really wont be for the month of 4.0 before Cata.
dixy Sep 16th 2010 1:12PM
I think a major reason for 'panic' was how little information was given to us about the reason for the switch! Did you guys seriously expect that doing that wouldn't lead to speculation?
relmatos Sep 16th 2010 2:09PM
I'm a bit more worried about the people who have stopped playing and later go back to wow.com
No one knows what's happening to the domain. Wish someone guaranteed the players that the domain wont be sold to gold sellers or something like that :P
Also, if 1 company about a game has 1million visitors and another company about a game has 1 million visitors end up merging, the end result isnt 2 million. it can be anything between 1 million and 2 million. Just needed to get that off my chest :P
AltairAntares Sep 16th 2010 4:23PM
Or it could just be 1 million people visiting both websites.
Awwjwah Sep 16th 2010 1:12PM
With all the achievements and titles out there has there ever been or do you think there ever will be the possibility to add last names to our toons even if it involves a quest that ends in us selecting an in game name from a pre-made list of names?
bui Sep 16th 2010 1:16PM
^ This so this.
thegatherer Sep 16th 2010 1:17PM
I know EQ had that system, what, 10 years ago. And you could choose any name you wanted, not just from a list.
Blizz should be able to put that into effect, if they so wanted, and there is no legal reason against it.
jfofla Sep 16th 2010 2:02PM
I think Jenkins is available
Josin Sep 16th 2010 2:06PM
Just get FlagRSP or one of the myriad RP addons. Custom titles, last names, whatever you want.
i.read.your Sep 16th 2010 4:26PM
I think this is something Warhammer: Online had right. You pay for the "Last name" with gold, akin to registering a guild. This also meant you dictated who had your last name so you didn't have one million "Smiths".
bui Sep 16th 2010 1:14PM
Thanks for the info my good sir, and to everyone else suggestions. Heres another question. With the fall of ZG coming sometime soon and perhaps other factions fading away, will the feat of strength you get to replace that faction still count towards the exalted achievement ? Also Queue since I am such a mount fanatic I'm curious what are the favorite mounts of the WoW Insider (look I used the old/new name) staff ?
feniks9174 Sep 16th 2010 1:14PM
PANIC!! PAAAAANNNNIIIIICCC!!!!!