Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsPatch 4.2 PTR: New login screen temporary?
by Mathew McCurley 
May 16th 2011 at 2:00PM
Why the change? We have no idea. It could be a temporary change while Blizzard works on an issue with the old login screen -- or perhaps it is the end of roaring, animated dragons when you log in to the game. The particular art used is gorgeous, obviously, and it's one of my favorite shots of Deathwing.
The reasoning behind the change will most likely come out soon. Tin foil hat speculation puts it anywhere from people's having issues with the login screen and just not loving roaring dragons (even after the toning down of said roaring) to using a new login screen that reflects the next tier of raiding. We don't know! My guess is that we will know soon, however.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Paul May 16th 2011 5:21PM
He hardly ever does the roaring animation for me, and the occasions when he has, I've heard nothing. Defaintely nothing like what was shown at Blizzcon.
I'm disappointed by the LACK of a roar.
Kaphik May 16th 2011 6:12PM
Yeah, I have never once heard Deathwing roar on the log in screen. Music on, music off, nothing. I am very disappointed.
Elmo May 16th 2011 2:08PM
Maybe those humans finally fixed their towers. (also isn't it strange they still glow orange after 6 months?) and placed that statue back of course.
Matthew May 16th 2011 2:27PM
Maybe Deathwing is radioactive! I mean, he is underground and what not. Uranium probably seeped into his pores.
Neodarkmatter May 16th 2011 2:57PM
@Matthew: Uranium does wonders for the skin. Seals up those nasty cracks between the scales and so much more :)
Fletcher May 16th 2011 6:28PM
I have to admit, I really hope that the gates of Stormwind stop being on fire sometime soon. Orgrimmar got burned up by Deathwing and they rebuilt it. Stormwind got burned up by Deathwing and is still on fire. Admittedly Org was rebuilt using substandard Goblin labour and materials and will probably fall over in a stiff wind, but still. I want my worgen district in Stormwind, damnit.
Samutz May 16th 2011 2:09PM
Might be something to do with the missing authenticator field.
I hope it's temporary. Stormwind on fire and being flattened by a giant dragon puts a smile on my face.
Rylka May 16th 2011 2:17PM
Yes I have been missing my authenticator field since Cataclysm dropped.
I didn't think it would have been such a big deal, but find I keep missing it and the convenience it provided.
I am still having to restrain my fingers from Tabbing to the not there third field even after all this time.
eclipse May 16th 2011 2:17PM
The authenticator box was removed because they supposedly have a new better way of doing it which they will launch soon™
Personally I don't get why they felt the need to remove it until said feature is implemented, but we all know what Blizzard is like.
John May 16th 2011 2:30PM
I, too, pine for the days of yore when the 6 digits magically pulled from the ether by my authenticator had a ready-made home on the log-in screen.
Or maybe I was pinin' for the fjords.
Whatever.
Inexorability May 16th 2011 2:09PM
The background isn't new. I had a friend who played the trial and her client uses this background. I'm not sure if it was because she downloaded a light version of the client or because her graphics setting were set low. In any case, I have to admit that I kind of like this background better.
Nipah May 16th 2011 2:34PM
I'm currently tooling around on a trial account (to feed my UI fiddling needs), and I thought that it was just something that I had screwed up on. I was starting to get a little worried that I'd have to once again redownload it and reinstall.
Glad to see its a bit bigger than just me.
... though I am quite happy with the smaller footprint that it has on my harddrive. Sadly, I'm sure it'll bloat back up when I get around to reactivating my account again.
Belfonisis May 16th 2011 3:47PM
Just supplementing, but my girlfriend also was on a trial account (about a month and a half ago) and this was her login screen. As soon as she input the code to upgrade from Trial to Vanilla this screen was changed to the animated one.
Julianne May 16th 2011 4:53PM
I believe it is also the login screen you get if the game is still downloading game data.
Hal May 16th 2011 2:14PM
Is that Ironforge, or some other locale, that Deathwing is perched on? I'd say it could be Stormwind, but there's only a few buildings of that size in Stormwind I can think of.
I still maintain that an instanced/phased defense of Ironforge would be awesome. And not just like the elemental invasion with portals and mobs, but I mean defense gates, security countermeasures, artillery, aerial assaults, the whole nine yards.
Lohkie May 16th 2011 2:27PM
Def stormwind. Its the towers at the entrance
Lohkie May 16th 2011 2:29PM
Ok. Guess I need to look at the pic a little better, totally looks more like Iron Forge. Ignore earlier comment. /facepalm
Shade May 16th 2011 2:39PM
Neither - it's Grim Batol. If you look closely at what he's standing on, it's buildings built into a mountain.
Unless you mean the live loading screen, which is Stormwind.
Sun May 16th 2011 2:11PM
This isn't new,
If you play the game in the (very) early stages of being downloaded by the launcher, this is what you see.
People just aren't used to it because, hey, we haven't really seen a PTR since the launcher's release.
MisterRik May 16th 2011 2:13PM
I just hope they get the authenticator field put back where it was. The current situation has completely messed up my login rotation.
What?