Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsWorld of Warcraft community site preview now live
by Robin Torres 
Nov 5th 2010 at 2:00PM
A preview of the new World of Warcraft community site is now live. It has several tabs that lead you to a blog, the forums (complete with the latest blue posts), services, and a preview of what the armory will look like when fully implemented, among other things. This is the testing phase and also the prelude to a shutdown of the current forums in favor of the ones on the new community site. The full transfer of forum functionality is scheduled to occur sometime this month.
This seems to be a step in the right direction for Blizzard. I really like what I've seen so far. Try putting your character's name in the search field to bring up the armory preview. The search results are in a new format that is easier to search through, in my opinion, as well as a better way to critique yourself at a glance. And the community managers seem to be having a good time with it as well.
Note: The Off Topic forums have not been transferred to the community site and there are no plans to do so.
Update: Forum bans are also not being transferred to the updated forums.
The full text of Blizzard's announcement is after the break.
This seems to be a step in the right direction for Blizzard. I really like what I've seen so far. Try putting your character's name in the search field to bring up the armory preview. The search results are in a new format that is easier to search through, in my opinion, as well as a better way to critique yourself at a glance. And the community managers seem to be having a good time with it as well.
Note: The Off Topic forums have not been transferred to the community site and there are no plans to do so.
Update: Forum bans are also not being transferred to the updated forums.
The full text of Blizzard's announcement is after the break.
ZarhymMany exciting changes are coming to World of Warcraft with the upcoming Cataclysm expansion, both in-game and out. We're excited to offer you an early look at the new World of Warcraft community site, which will soon become the prime gathering spot and source of information for players on the web. You can read more about the transition from our existing website to the new one in our original announcement: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=27387366608&sid=1
As you're exploring your future home, keep in mind that this is a live preview, and not all of the new features are ready quite yet. We want your feedback about the look and feel of the new site, so while you're browsing, we encourage you to submit bug reports and make feature requests -- let your voice be heard. Go ahead. Check it out!
New World of Warcraft Community Site: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/
Website Bug Reports: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/1025938/
Website Feature Requests: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/1025939/
As you're exploring your future home, keep in mind that this is a live preview, and not all of the new features are ready quite yet. We want your feedback about the look and feel of the new site, so while you're browsing, we encourage you to submit bug reports and make feature requests -- let your voice be heard. Go ahead. Check it out!
New World of Warcraft Community Site: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/
Website Bug Reports: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/1025938/
Website Feature Requests: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/1025939/
Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Chronos88 Nov 5th 2010 2:59PM
Removing the OT is going to be a problem for the moderators. People are going to post off topic things whether there's a designated area or not. However with a designated area, at least most of those who wish to post off topic threads will go there first.
However all moderation issues aside, the OT has built friendships and has had amazing discussion on things like politics, medicine, science, and religion. The OT was always interesting in the sense that it was one of the few forums out there where you can actually see knowledgeable people talking about subjects they know about not only in a serious way but sometimes in a friendly manner. Sure sometimes there was a lot of flaming but most of the time what you saw were people who expressed opinions and gave lots of facts. I've personally learned a lot from the OT.
Needless to say, I'm sad to see it go. I'm sure they'll go back on this decision.
loop_not_defined Nov 5th 2010 2:33PM
Gonna start bringing my Authenticator to work, now. :X
Josin Nov 5th 2010 2:34PM
I AM RETURNED!!! :D
I love that I'm getting a second chance at the forums, after taking a banhammer to the face over RealID.
jfofla Nov 5th 2010 2:38PM
Maybe the Forums will be a better place...maybe.
Josin Nov 5th 2010 2:47PM
They'll be prettier, at any rate.
Whooptydo Nov 5th 2010 2:48PM
I'm going to enjoy using the troll and downvoting options. Sick and tired of level 1 trolls doing nothing but playing ubad umad in the forums.
It might actually make the wow forums worth reading for pertinent information rather than relying primarily on external sites.
Cowy Nov 5th 2010 6:56PM
I think the troll and downvotes could go either way.
I'm often not with the popular opinion on a lot of topics. Its both a strength and weakness at times, but now that I can be downvoted for not being in the hive mind, its going to be more of a weakness I think.
"You think raids, carry people more than they breed good players? WHUT?" Downvote!!
"You think Tauren are cute? WHUT?" TROLL!!!
I wonder how long it will be, before people just start downvoting due to a faction.
"That dude is HORDE, gawd!" DOWNVOTE!
Zan Nov 5th 2010 2:48PM
Very well done Blizzard.
Daniel Nov 5th 2010 3:10PM
The lore tab description made me laugh. "And where the hell is Falstad Wildhammer?"
trefpoid Nov 5th 2010 3:14PM
This is just amazing.. so well done and everything right there at your reach D: I loved how your characters appear at the top with their gear and all. Feels so cool! I'm gonna be hanging out a lot there when it's finished. Great job, Blizz :D
Drakkenfyre Nov 5th 2010 3:17PM
I love the new avatars.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4629/avatarsnl.jpg
LordoftheNoobs Nov 5th 2010 3:51PM
It looks so similiar to the League of Legends site. That is what I first thought when I saw it.
Mindaika Nov 5th 2010 3:55PM
Forum bans not being transferred? Man is GC's arm gonna be tired from swinging that hammer.
Eirik Nov 5th 2010 4:10PM
My objections to the new site can be summed up with this quote from the site:
"JavaScript must be enabled to use this site."
Though that is a vast improvement over the untrammeled Logorrhoea of http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/index.xml when viewed with javascript disallowed.
Next, please make the site work when images are disabled.
Why? It doesn't matter what type of connection I'm on. Downloading a 30k web page is vastly faster than downloading a 30k web page followed by 2mb of images. Optionally followed by 5mb of flash animation, AJAX, animated jpgs, keyloggers (depending on the sites you visit), ads, etc.
I accept that multiple snazzy menus, buttons that move aside as you mouse over them, animated clips, etc won't be displayed. I don't need fancy. I need functional.
Naraht Nov 5th 2010 4:51PM
You can post your feedback on the new site at http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=27607270963&sid=1 on the old site.
It's entirely possible that they'll make a mobile friendly version, that might suit you better.
Eirik Nov 5th 2010 5:36PM
Already been there and left my comments, thanks. Maybe they will make a "mobile friendly" version. But really, they're pretty spanking close to making me happy with what they've got now.
It does say that you have to have JavaScript enabled, but I was able to leave a comment without having done so, with only comparably minor graphic layout issues.
The Armory leaves something to be desired on the "no JavaScript" front, but so does the current Armory, so any progress there is an improvement from existing features.
tgov78218 Nov 5th 2010 5:06PM
The new website looks like a rip-off clone of Runescape's new one.
Is this a joke?
Rolly Nov 5th 2010 5:05PM
Hmmmm no more ban. Now to restrain myself from using in game emotes on a CM again. Even though said CM used the same emote before me.
Might be kind of difficult to not point out the hypocrisy to them when I do go there.
Eirik Nov 5th 2010 5:38PM
Sounds like there's a tale involved in that. In-game emotes sound like they'd be useful in the Role Playing forums. Are they categorically forbidden?
Kia Nov 5th 2010 5:54PM
I am not pleased with the character search. I search for Asphodele and -everything- remotely related comes up. -Del, -dell, -delle, etc. "Relevance" means nothing, as Asphodele itself is not even at the top, and my own character is nowhere to be seen despite being one of the only two 80s last I checked.
Otherwise, it's pretty damn awesome. Fix the search though, please.