Yep you can pre-order and download it ahead of time.

If I wasn't getting the CE, I would do this.

Then my fears are unfounded.

I'm looking forward to the release party at my local GameStop, sitting around with fellow players and making them see reason on why gnomes are the best race in WoW.

Don't forget that for the same price as retail you miss out on all the fixings like a game manual and world map and all the other goodies that come in a retail box. Since Blizz is cutting down on costs by not having to make those for your copy of the game, guess how much of that savings gets passed on to you? NONE!

Seriously, please give us at least a $5 discount or something. That's the reason I went back to buying WotLK retail after doing Digital Download for BC.

I'll probably get both. I'll buy the digital version so I can play as soon as it launches, and then when my CE gets here I'll just upgrade.

But yeah... I waste money like that >>;

Yah, call me a super nerd but I've pre-ordered the collector's edition from amazon but I'm not confident about when I'll receive it. I want to play that night. I'm going to download it to play and then upgrade when the box comes in the mail.

You're welcome Biizz. ;)

This is pretty much the only option for me - I live in the US but used to live in the UK. Therefore, the only other way of getting a copy of Cataclysm is ordering it on Amazon.co.uk, getting it shipped to someone back there, and then getting them to ship it to me over here. Digital download for the win!

Awesome news for the people who are going to partake in the DL.

@Roguejedi86

Man I wished people read the game manuals. I did when I got my battlechest and was waiting to play. Lots of good info in there. It would cut down on 80 of the stupid trade chat questions...:) or not. Who am I kidding :p But still, packed with info people. This looks like it's going to be an awesome weekend for wow insider. Now If my Chicago Bears can only beat the Redskins...../dream

I'd like a disc also. This is the plan. If they offer the download a few weeks ahead. I will go ahead and do that. Then in about a year or so when someone is selling one on Amazon.com for a few dollars I'll buy that copy and have the disc for whatever reason I'd need. (Of course not a used one, for disc codes and all that nonsense.)