Cataclysm 10-day trial edition announced
by Matthew Rossi 
Dec 17th 2010 at 8:00PM
This trial edition requires Wrath of the Lich King be installed to play, and you have a current subscription or ever have had one to Wrath of the Lich King. This 10-day trial has access to all the content but can't level past 80 (the FAQ specifically states "any characters you play during the trial can only advance up to one experience point below level 81," so if you want to go to Deepholm, Uldum or Twilight Highlands, you'll either need to buy the retail release or, in the case of zones that can be flown to, accept dying a lot.
Seems like an interesting way for the six people in the whole known universe who are on the fence to make up their minds, right? Go read the FAQ and decide if it's for you.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from leveling up a new goblin or worgen to breaking news and strategies on endgame play.Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jejin Dec 17th 2010 8:05PM
Decided to enable the trial just so I could play around a bit in the new starting zones. Nothing big, just for fun. Not like I'm going to actually buy it, no! I'm far too poor and busy to be doing such a...
Wait, this is the first break I've taken from playing the game since I started this morning.
...
I'm going to EB games tomorrow.
midnight08 Dec 18th 2010 10:24PM
Why wait? Digital Download =)
bep4815 Dec 17th 2010 8:06PM
well this is interesting. i made the mistake of trying to save money for christmas presents by asking for cata for christmas. i felt like a fool the day it was released tho, and now have to wait till xmas cause my mother would murder me if i just bought it.
anywho, this will enable me to level all my 80's to 80 and 99% in the days leading up to christmas.
yay!!!!
Sergel Dec 17th 2010 8:12PM
AS someone who doesn't have cata, this makes me excited. I can finally start my worgen druid =)
(gee, i wonder how many of those are running around)
WaterRouge Dec 17th 2010 8:16PM
I've seen waaaaaaay more Troll Druids than Worgen Druids. In fact whenever I see a Worgen they're usually a Hunter or Rogue. Mine just so happens to be a Warrior.
WaterRouge Dec 17th 2010 8:15PM
It's also a great way to not spend $40 if you're hard on cash (thanks Christmas) yet still play a Goblin/Worgen for a week and a half! *cough* Totally telling my one friend who has yet to buy it (due to above reason) though. He owes me some Worgen time! >:(
Matt Dec 17th 2010 8:44PM
Yeah releasing it right at the part of the year where most people are practically broke was not the best idea.
Lauyia Dec 18th 2010 1:37AM
Would you rather them wait? It's not going to get better over night.
Plus I wanted my 85 NE priest the day it came out...
And a worgen druid...
and a goblin...
and archeology, which turned out to be really boring... But I wanted it none the less... But then again it did give my mage is alchemy mount...
ANYWAY! Cata now>Cata later
Leon Dec 18th 2010 1:59PM
Seriously if you can't afford $40 you shouldn't be playing a game with a monthly fee in the first place.
Sicadastra Dec 17th 2010 8:49PM
Not that anyone asked, but it seems to me Blizzard could really blow it out of the water by just removing the up front cost altogether, or at minimum reducing it to a single charge. In other words when an exp comes out, that just becomes "the" game. Buy Cata for $39.99 and it includes everything that came before. Obviously I don't have all their sales and research data to back it up, but I just really believe the loss of revenue on the front end would be made up for double by the new subscription fees. I imagine at this point all the hardcore gamers who don't see an issue with paying for vanilla+BC+Wrath+Cata are already playing, but the folks who aren't and are drawn in by Cata's new features will be put off by the high up front cost. "Ooo, I like werewolves, and I hear there's no better time to start! Wait, what do you mean I have to buy 4 games to start my RoflJacob?!? Well nevermind, I'll just go play Maple Story!"
Saeadame Dec 18th 2010 4:30AM
I don't know if I want someone who's playing because they can name a werewolf-esque character "Jacob" in my WoW anyway.
So really, they can keep it at 4 games if it's keeping those guys out.
Crowqueen Dec 18th 2010 6:34AM
I'm sure that they will release a battlechest bundle with WotLK included, so that might partly solve that problem.
jdogg795 Dec 17th 2010 9:07PM
Hey, at least I was able to buy flying!
wutsconflag Dec 19th 2010 2:15PM
Will you still be able to fly after the trial ends?
bub Dec 17th 2010 9:14PM
I took a break from playing a little over a month ago. Activated the trial to look around only to find out my account had been hacked 2 weeks after my sub expired and is now banned.
Been a rough day.
Yangli Dec 18th 2010 12:39AM
How can you be hacked while your account is inactive? Did they reactivate it? If so, didn't you get an eMail? o.o
Anyway, sorry for you and hope you're still able to get everything back!
Kalashaska Dec 17th 2010 9:21PM
I don't have an active game time subscription at the moment..So if i actually activate this 10-day trial now, would i be able to play the game now or not ?
Noyou Dec 18th 2010 6:14AM
You should be able to. I have a guildy who hasn't bought it yet. She managed to play about a week or so before cata and just got a trial for cata. We got all excited coz I thought she bought it since she was in the new zones but no- like it says you can go and level and get to 1 xp short of 81. Which is kind of cool for the folks who can't put the $40 + 15/30 for playtime. So enjoy it for a week :)
Rai Dec 17th 2010 9:27PM
My friend who swore off WoW picked this up today.
He's picking up Cata tomorrow.
Oteo Dec 17th 2010 11:10PM
There is No Escape!
Mwahahahahahahahaha!