Blizzard clarifies cinematic download for digital customers
by Mathew McCurley 
Nov 2nd 2010 at 12:30AM
Cataclysm Direct Download and Game CinematicsWe'd like to take a moment to clarify how we'll be delivering World of Warcraft: Cataclysm cinematics to players who purchase the expansion digitally through Battle.net or download the installer from the web in the future.
Prior to the December 7 launch of Cataclysm, all current World of Warcraft players will receive the Cataclysm intro cinematic as part of an upcoming patch. In addition, all other in-game cinematics (including previous ones such as the Wrathgate movie) will be available for download to players who have not previously installed them. These cinematics will be automatically downloaded in the background while you play the game, after other critical game data has been received.
Prior to the December 7 launch of Cataclysm, all current World of Warcraft players will receive the Cataclysm intro cinematic as part of an upcoming patch. In addition, all other in-game cinematics (including previous ones such as the Wrathgate movie) will be available for download to players who have not previously installed them. These cinematics will be automatically downloaded in the background while you play the game, after other critical game data has been received.
Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
D Nov 2nd 2010 12:34AM
Excellent. This was the only thing keeping me from preloading Cataclysm.
Qot Nov 2nd 2010 12:38AM
That's actually a pretty substantial (and very welcome) change from the ambiguous answers that had been given. The previous "oh, they're all on YouTube anyways" answer was so unsatisfying and mitigated the importance of some of the most important scenes of the game.
Digital downloads save time, reduce waste and reduce the amount of energy it takes to make the game (both directly, in the creation of the physical media and packaging, and indirectly, in the cost of transporting it to stores). I realize some game stores may be hurting in this economy and this will hurt their chances for a quick profit off of a reliable product, but I think digital delivery is a beneficial system and I'm glad we'll be getting the full WoW experience.
Ricohardt Nov 2nd 2010 6:48AM
I'm pretty much doing both. I set the files to download (as per the post on this site, without ordering), and I'll still be buying an actual copy. Gotta do the midnight line, it's tradition :D
Drakkenfyre Nov 2nd 2010 10:16AM
I would just like to point out, that downloading something does not change the impact the product has. The boxes are still printed, the CD's are still printed, and they are still shipped to stores. If they make 50,000 copies, your download, or anyone's download isn't going to affect them because they are already made.
Now if a company takes into account preorders, and makes less copies, then it would matter. But seeing as companies still make copies later for future purchases, it isn't a permanent reduction unless the company either goes out of business, or goes completely download-only.
Tim Nov 2nd 2010 1:31PM
That seems a little flawed to me...
If you go download instead of in-store, that won't change how many the stores initially order.
However, it changes their reorder point by one, which changes the shipping time of the resupply by one package, and which also summarily changes the *anticipated purchase amounts* calculation to pre-make packages for future shipments by one.
Stores and manufacturers adapt to actual quantities sold in-store as soon as they can get the information.
Daze Nov 2nd 2010 12:51AM
What I don't like about the digital download is that they have stated it goes live with the server at 12:00 PST. What about us eastcoasters? Will the digital download be live at 12:00 EST or am I going to have to go to the store to buy a hard copy so I don't have to wait 3 hours?
Yrmes Nov 2nd 2010 1:02AM
It goes live Dec. 7 SERVER TIME for all US server players.
That means even if you did have a hard copy, you'd still have to wait until it was live on the servers for everyone nationwide.
Xerous Nov 2nd 2010 1:04AM
Still gonna be waiting if you buy a "hard copy" until 2400 PST the severs wont be "turned on" for cata so to speak.
me Nov 2nd 2010 1:04AM
Wither you buy it via digital download or get a box you have to wait till midnight PST.
Source:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=27497533857&sid=1
Uriah Nov 2nd 2010 1:36AM
Yup. PST no matter what.
"On all North American realms, World of Warcraft players who upgrade to Cataclysm will be able to begin experiencing the new content at 12 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (3 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) on December 7, whether they purchase the digital download through Battle.net or buy a physical retail boxed version in stores. Players will not be able to access Cataclysm expansion content prior to 12 a.m. PST, regardless of how they upgrade or what time zone they’re located in."
Shinji Nov 2nd 2010 12:54AM
Honestly, I find it kind of strange that not including the cinematics in digital downloads was even discussed. When you are talking about a game that can take up 20-30 gigs on a harddrive how much of a savings are you talking about by leaving out a 3 minute cutscene?
Yrmes Nov 2nd 2010 1:02AM
It was more than Kotick had been making comments about selling game cinematics as stand alone movies, leading people to believe they'd be taking them out of the game or something. Honestly it's pretty silly, and the fact that Cata will apparently be coming with a cinematic dvd makes people confused when they had issues with digital downloads for Wrath not having all the stuff they should have.
Muse Nov 2nd 2010 1:39AM
Quite a bit if you're downloading it with less than a fibre internet. Between the Vanilla, BC, Wrath and Cata cinematics plus a few in-game ones (Goblin, Worgen, Sunwell, Wrathgate, something-that-escapes-me) that's a lot of size you might not access for quite a while. If leaving it out shaves an hour off the front-load of the download, it easily becomes worth it.
ZeroDesu Nov 2nd 2010 4:35AM
@Muse: Most likely, that will be part of the "Green Download", I.E., non-critical content. Meaning, the game will be fully playable thanks to the new download system, even while it's downloading the cinematics. So, really, you have nothing to worry about anymore.
Chokaa Nov 2nd 2010 5:33AM
@muse
So let's say you're playing through Wrath for the first time. You're doing the questchain leading up to the wrathgate, and all of a sudden, you turn a quest in an receive an error message 'this cinematic is not available' and now you're standing in front of Alexstraza. I would much rather had waited that one hour at the very beginning of installing just for that cutscene, let alone all the others. And there are a bunch of those types in cata, they really help move the story. It is worth a one-time dl of an hour ofyour time to see them as they happen. Having to go to YouTube and try to find the cinematic you just missed is just going to be weather ridiculous.
My .02
Vazpucci Nov 2nd 2010 9:40PM
I think it's a neat idea, but what ruined it for me is you can't get collectors edition only regular. Im the guy who likes hard copies as well. I'll be sure enjoying the midnight launch party!
koki Nov 2nd 2010 1:53AM
@Yrmes there was no digital download made available for wrath...
@Muse the cinematics from Vanilla, BC, and Wrath are irrelevant in the discussion of whether or not the digital download of Cata would include the Cata cinematics.
jamesbragg07 Nov 2nd 2010 2:11AM
There was a digital download for Wrath, It just wasn't at release.
Muse Nov 2nd 2010 2:33AM
Except that the game comes as one single bundle. If you have 4.0.1, you have all the game files for Vanilla, BC, Wrath, and un-upgraded Cataclysm - and that's what you'll be downloading from the Blizzard site if you're installing without your own discs. (this is also why you shouldn't, under any circumstances, run a BC or Wrath installer if you're looking to upgrade your Vanilla account with the 4.0.1 patch applied: it'd be going backwards and breaks the game. Simply upgrade the game and log in, job done.)
Bob Nov 2nd 2010 7:00AM
Actually there was a digital download for Wrath. My brother installed his that way. I waited in line for his CD key, and read it to him over the phone. He had his DK out of the starting area by the time I had mine installed...
Which means, if you'll note, that the 'PST no matter what' thing wasn't present back then either. Though I do believe they said that it would be then, as well.