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by Fox Van Allen 
Jul 20th 2011 at 9:00AM
World Joyland hungers.
If you love Chinese knock-offs -- and I know you do -- you'll love this bit of news: World Joyland, the famed and unlicensed World of Warcraft theme park in Changzhou, China, is now open for business. The people at Shanghaiist took a tour of the place, taking myriad pictures of their experience.
In actuality, the park is less of a WoW rip-off and more of a Blizzard rip-off. It includes a Starcraft-themed area named "Universe of Starship" in addition to its World of Warcraft area, which is named "Terrain of Magic."
What kind of rides does the place have? Well, Shanghaiist detailed one of them:
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!
If you love Chinese knock-offs -- and I know you do -- you'll love this bit of news: World Joyland, the famed and unlicensed World of Warcraft theme park in Changzhou, China, is now open for business. The people at Shanghaiist took a tour of the place, taking myriad pictures of their experience.
In actuality, the park is less of a WoW rip-off and more of a Blizzard rip-off. It includes a Starcraft-themed area named "Universe of Starship" in addition to its World of Warcraft area, which is named "Terrain of Magic."
What kind of rides does the place have? Well, Shanghaiist detailed one of them:
While World Joyland may have skimped on the official licensing -- China is much cooler with copyright infringement than we Americans are -- we're pretty sure they didn't skimp on anything else while building the place. The place is probably totally safe and not covered in lead-based paints. Right? Right?Our first ride was an exciting little number called Splash of Monster Blood, and they're not kidding about the splash. We'll just say this much: trying to act cool by refusing the buy a sky blue poncho on your way in is a giant n00b stamp.
The ride was, as its sign board attests, a "beast-bloody journey" (a.k.a. your standard amusement park log ride affair.) After clicking and chugging up a tunnel full of orcs and monsters, you are then plunged down into water that manages somehow to smash you from both the front and the back simultaneously.
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: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)
PKthe13thvah Jul 20th 2011 3:34PM
"Lifebinder"? You presume I am at your beck and call?
Teresa Jul 20th 2011 9:12AM
It may be a knock off, but it looks pretty cool. I love the statues and the Kung Fu Panda restaurant.
Just gotta work on the engrish. World Joyland doesn't quite roll off the tongue.
Noyou Jul 20th 2011 12:47PM
Not like Pacific Playland. Woooo!
Noyou Jul 20th 2011 12:59PM
After looking at a few of the pics I only saw a couple WoW-like "knockoffs". The elf statue looked very blood elfy and the Gnome carve out. Other than that it looked more like their interpretation of modern RPG/Sci-Fi. I mean Blizzard isn't the only ones to ever use Gnomes or Elves right?
One thing I will say is someone is going to be freaking pissed when they find out "Jouney" doesn't mean what they THINK it means. (on the Gargoyle statue) Good thing it was carved. :p
Arrohon Jul 20th 2011 1:08PM
Oh, and the giant Lich King statues used in the header. Other RPGs have Lich King's that look identical right?(Hint: they don't)
Noyou Jul 20th 2011 2:40PM
@Arrohon
That's a stretch to say that was a LK statue. It looks more like Thor to me. Except for the skull on his belt. WTF? I thought they got offended by skulls?? Another myth debunked.
Tribunal Jul 21st 2011 3:35AM
And the (repainted) Illidan statue, and the Protoss ride sign, and the protoss buildings, oh yeah and the big sign that says "StarCraft II" and is an exact copy of the logo.
I was thinking much the same "It's questionable, but still arguably fantasy" as I started the gallery (especially since the blood elf spire that was the big focus of all the old previews was no where to be seen) but as I clicked further in there's actually quite a bit.
Some of it is really small "WOW under the troll sign" but it's still there.
rukamich Jul 20th 2011 9:16AM
I wonder if it, too, goes down on Tuesdays for maintenance...
Proffesor Orc Jul 20th 2011 9:36AM
World Joyland Tuesday Hotfixes:
-Daze effect reduced by 17% on tilt-o-whirl
-Fear now affects up to 5 targets in Haunted House
-ilevel requirements greatly reduced to ride the roller coaster
-All employees are working as intended
-In an attempt to reduce the long queue times experienced by DPS for our rides we will implement the 'Call to Arms' feature in which roles needed to reduce queue times will receive a random piece of candy at the conclusion of the ride. No reward will be given for leaving the ride before it is completed.
Metric Jul 20th 2011 9:40AM
Apparently yesterday's long maintenance was not enough......another one today!?!?!?
(cutaia) Jul 20th 2011 11:19AM
"Apparently yesterday's long maintenance was not enough......another one today!?!?!?"
They're fixing the honor point compensation that didn't go through correctly yesterday?!?!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!
vendeurfrancais Jul 20th 2011 11:42AM
omg cutaia is being sarcastic?!!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!?!!!?!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!??!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!1?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?//1/!?!!!1!!?11/1?!!!?1/1!?1!?1!!?/1!/111?1?!!?1/!/1!!?1?1!?1
Whitecatsjogging Jul 20th 2011 9:17AM
When looking at the water in that pic I can only wonder if the water is safe. It is uch an interesting shade of, umm, greens?
Whitecatsjogging Jul 20th 2011 9:19AM
Such*
kukichimonji Jul 20th 2011 9:20AM
I guess they take their "Splash of Monster Blood" ride seriously, then.
Yrmes Jul 20th 2011 10:28AM
Most water in public places like these that isn't being maintained naturally with plant/animals will be blue or green because of chemicals.
You wouldn't want to drink it, but it's probably not any worse than the American theme park water which tons of people get doused in daily during the summer.
SR Jul 20th 2011 10:48AM
Well, at least they re-created Swamp of Sorrows or the Pools of Aggonar pretty well.
(cutaia) Jul 20th 2011 11:24AM
Usually theme park water is fairly shallow with a painted ground to hide all the little fountains/lights/etc./ that might be in there. Ever look down during any Disney boat rides?
Whitecatsjogging Jul 20th 2011 12:52PM
Doesn't China have the most polluted waters in the world for an industrialized nation? They can't drink their own water.
Mortenebra Jul 20th 2011 9:19AM
Now I have a geektastic reason to visit China aside from the "It's your duty to honor your ancestral homeland!!" mantra my mother keeps impressing upon me. Glorious.