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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsCataclysm digital upgrade now available for pre-order
by Robin Torres 
Oct 28th 2010 at 2:30PM
So it looks like I'll be installing my collector's edition while digital download people are dealing with rolling restarts and emergency maintenance. Oh yes, I went there.
The full Cataclysm digital pre-sale FAQ is after the break.
SlorkuzQ. When will my credit card (or other payment method) be charged?
A. You will be charged on the day that you place your pre-order for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
Q. Why do I need to log in to the game once after I've upgraded?
A. The first time you log in after pre-ordering, your account will become eligible to begin receiving the Cataclysm data when it's available. The data will automatically download in the background while you play World of Warcraft or while you have the Launcher window open.
Q. Can I pre-order a physical copy of Cataclysm and have it shipped?
A. Not from Blizzard Entertainment, but many retailers offer pre-orders of physical boxes and Collector's Editions.
Q. In what regions is the Cataclysm pre-sale available? What day/time is Cataclysm launching in my region?
A. The pre-sale is available in the following regions, with realms scheduled to launch at the following times:
Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia - December 7 at 12:01 a.m. PST
Europe and Russia - December 7 at 12:01 a.m. CET
Q. Will a digital version of the Collector's Edition, with the exclusive pet, be available?
A. No. The World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition is exclusive to physical retail copies. The digital version consists of the standard edition.
A. You will be charged on the day that you place your pre-order for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
Q. Why do I need to log in to the game once after I've upgraded?
A. The first time you log in after pre-ordering, your account will become eligible to begin receiving the Cataclysm data when it's available. The data will automatically download in the background while you play World of Warcraft or while you have the Launcher window open.
Q. Can I pre-order a physical copy of Cataclysm and have it shipped?
A. Not from Blizzard Entertainment, but many retailers offer pre-orders of physical boxes and Collector's Editions.
Q. In what regions is the Cataclysm pre-sale available? What day/time is Cataclysm launching in my region?
A. The pre-sale is available in the following regions, with realms scheduled to launch at the following times:
Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia - December 7 at 12:01 a.m. PST
Europe and Russia - December 7 at 12:01 a.m. CET
Q. Will a digital version of the Collector's Edition, with the exclusive pet, be available?
A. No. The World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition is exclusive to physical retail copies. The digital version consists of the standard edition.
Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 7)
Kay Oct 28th 2010 6:17PM
The 29.99 GBP price Is what's showing up for me in the eurozone, does anyone know is it the same for all euro countries or just Ireland?
Vallissa Oct 28th 2010 2:46PM
So I guess I need to take off work for the 7th...
Darkdust Oct 28th 2010 3:50PM
So you can be frustrated all day when the servers keep coming down for additional maintenance and such? :)
Noyou Oct 28th 2010 3:59PM
Pull a double on the 7th if you can and take off the 8th or even better see if you can pull a 3 day weekend following. Even if we do get to play on 12/7 it's going to be frustrating at best with legions of people and tech probs.
Aaron Oct 28th 2010 2:45PM
The question I have, that I haven't seen answered anywhere, is if I buy my copy in Chicago as midnight (10p Pacific), If I will be able to play immediately after installing, as it has been for other expansions, or if I will have to wait until 2am central. I know for DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, I would have to wait, but for boxed copy, this isn't clear to me.
Note that in wotlk, servers haven't come down on release night... it was just, either you had cata installed and patched or you didn't.
jfofla Oct 28th 2010 2:52PM
They made it clear at Blizzcon that everybody will have to wait for midnight PACIFIC TIME.
So 3am on the East Coast.
kalyr Oct 28th 2010 3:38PM
@ jfofla
Any link to the 3am announcement? I didn't attend or order the stream so I'm sure I missed some announcements, but I also didn't see anything about when East Coasters will be able to play if we get an [b]in-store[/b] copy.
Aris Oct 28th 2010 4:22PM
@ kalyr
It's in the blue post in the article above. Specifically:
Q. In what regions is the Cataclysm pre-sale available? What day/time is Cataclysm launching in my region?
A. The pre-sale is available in the following regions, with realms scheduled to launch at the following times:
Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia - December 7 at 12:01 a.m. PST
Europe and Russia - December 7 at 12:01 a.m. CET
Larry Holding Oct 28th 2010 2:48PM
And for those in New Zealand will have to wait until 21:01 that evening.
jfofla Oct 28th 2010 2:49PM
I love this, but I want the Collector's Edition, and you can't have both. Well you can, if you are willing to buy this for a few hours playtime and flush the money.
Nina Katarina Oct 28th 2010 2:49PM
I've ordered a box from the local GameStop for my daughter's account, because I want to meet my neighbors who play WoW. I plan to order the digital download for my account, so that I don't have to wait for it to install when I finally get back from GameStop with the box in my hand.
I assume that I can order the digital download, activate it on my account, then sign into my account from my computer and from my daughter's computer to begin the download process. Then, on the morning of the day when Cataclysm hits, would I put in the CD key from the box on my daughter's account, the CD key from the download on my digital account, and be good to go immediately?
jfofla Oct 28th 2010 2:56PM
Yes Nina, you are correct.
Faith Trust Oct 28th 2010 3:23PM
Unless you have an awesome conection and dont mind the download redundancy, otherwise just synch the folders on your local networkonce you downloaded it.
Burntpepperoni Oct 28th 2010 2:50PM
So does this mean that midnight release parties at stores anywhere other than in the PST time zone are effectively killed?
If I buy on the East Coast at a ... Gamestop for instance, I will take it home, install it and still not be able to play for at least an hour or two. OR ... I could digital download, stay at home where it's warm, go to bed at a normal time and be rested for the initial leveling push, set my alarm for 3am EST, get up and play (or wait for restarts etc).
Kunikenwad! Oct 28th 2010 3:00PM
I think that if you get your box that night, take it home, and install, that you'll be able to play as soon as it's done. You only have to wait for your digital download to turn on if you've done it through the download service. As I am East Coast, this makes me happy!
Kunikenwad! Oct 28th 2010 3:02PM
Whoops, upon further investigation ... ignore my comment. I 'twas wrong. I blame Sacco!
artifex Oct 28th 2010 3:20PM
Why would they be killed? They still have giveaways and stuff at them, don't they?
But no giveaways with digital downloads.
If they really wanted to get people to switch to digital downloads from boxes that cost money to make/ship (and that also include a cut to retailers in the price) they should offer free authenticators shipped after purchase.
Kurtis Oct 28th 2010 2:51PM
"Can I 'gift' the digital pre-order?"
I want to buy two copies, one for myself and one for my brother-in-law. Is that possible, or do I need to just send him the money for it and let him buy it himself?
kala Oct 28th 2010 2:55PM
So in the EU Cata is released in night between 6th (monday )and 7th (tuesday) right after midnight, in blue post it is written as 12 (AM), tho in europe midnight is written as 00.
Not thinking about possible problematic emergency pauses in server acess, is there a regular EU maintenance also coming in the night between tuesday (7th) and wednesday (8th) at aproximately 4:00 - 11:00 ?
Couse that would be awkward
JT Oct 28th 2010 2:56PM
That graphic makes my eyes bleed.
You couldn't just put another pic of Deathy up with a speech bubble?
/sarcasm