Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsWoW Magazine ending with issue 5
by Mathew McCurley 
Sep 16th 2011 at 5:30PM
The World of Warcraft Official Magazine was a pretty cool resource when it came out, but with print media for a game that changes so often and critically as World of Warcraft, the magazine just could not keep up. It is a shame, however, to see anything of this caliber end. I think I speak for a lot of readers and WoW fans when I say that the magazine had a lot of potential.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Look at what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back! Filed under: News items
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
tgrhwke Sep 16th 2011 8:56PM
You get either six Blizzard store companion pets or $60 refund by mailed check.
G0rehowl Sep 16th 2011 7:46PM
I love how blizzard, who couldn't put some thing out on time to save their life, decided it would be a good idea to release a subscription based magazine. Guess no one told them print media was dead...
Suzaku Sep 16th 2011 10:48PM
In case you're not sure why you're getting downvoted, it's because this magazine was made by a company called Future Publishing.
Risahawk Sep 16th 2011 7:54PM
This does sadden me. I subbed for two years and was prepared to do so again at this years Blizzcon. I loved having the magazine to read while out doing errands or on break at work. I shall miss it.
Nathanyel Sep 16th 2011 8:04PM
Apparently they have no mailing address in Europe. Not cool.
Meh, I'll probably get the pets anyway, though I already have 3 of them. I assume I will get 6 individual codes, right?
Morimoto Sep 16th 2011 8:41PM
Yes - you get six individual codes.
Aislinge Sep 16th 2011 9:44PM
I just received my email and being in Australia, I cannot get the mail to the US in time or wait the 8-10 weeks for a refund or cop what will be a $25 international cheque processing fee then exchange costs.
So, I took the pet option - which I already have all of them - and will see if I can give them to a mate (this'll be interesting). I can confirm the email looks like this:
Your in-game pet codes are:
Lil' K.T. - xxxxx
Cenarion Hatchling - xxxxx
Lil' XT - xxxxx
Moonkin Hatchling - xxxxx
Pandaren Monk - xxxxx
Lil' Ragnaros - xxxxx
Visit battle.net and click 'Redeem Promo Code' in the footer of the page.
Follow instructions on the page to redeem.
*sigh* - a tcg pet would have been nice. It really is no option at all for avid pet collectors or overseas subscribers :\
Sorcha Sep 17th 2011 4:16AM
Looks like you're out of luck.
From the email: Please be aware this code is non-transferable and can only be used once.
Nathanyel Sep 17th 2011 4:48AM
Sorcha: that line only refers to the code in the mail itself, not to the pet codes you may unlock with it.
aislinge Sep 17th 2011 5:38AM
Yeah I kinda feel like I had no option - the chances of me getting my full left over subscription back were slim (about $50 worth - but as it's coming to Australia, I'd lose half in just cashing it and another $10 or so in exchange fees), so I took this option.
I'll update if it's able to be placed on another account. I can't see why not as subscribing to the magazine wasn't linked to your actual WoW account and many people have more than one account.
I just find it so frustrating, very poorly handled and a little contemptuous. I paid via Credit Card, I'm not sure why they couldn't just refund the money to the method of payment. I'm not sure why they couldn't give something like a Blizz Store credit (seeing as BlizzCon is coming up) or something a little more 'exotic' such as some TCG pets (which people are less likely to have).
For me, it's another reason why I've all but stopped spending with Blizzard. BlizzCon and the last of the cheap TCG pets (because I'm a pet collecting nut :\), will be my last I dare say. It's a shame, but it only re-enforces for me that WoW is coming to the end of it's lifecycle and it's time for me to ween myself off, thank them for all the fish, and find something else to occupy myself :)
Sorcha Sep 17th 2011 6:14PM
Oh excellent!
kmfolino Sep 18th 2011 5:09PM
"I think I speak for a lot of readers and WoW fans when I say that the magazine had a lot of potential."
So did Cataclysm!
Blayze Sep 16th 2011 10:04PM
Saw this coming a mile away after both their website and its whatever security verification thingy were outdated and broken.
Suzaku Sep 16th 2011 10:42PM
Can't say I'm surprised that an extremely expensive magazine with an irregular publishing schedule and a narrow focus got canceled.
I'm a bit surprised that it got canceled after Volume 2 Issue 1, which debuted the first part in what was going to be an ongoing comic written by Metzen.
shirtntie Sep 17th 2011 12:12AM
I signed up for the magazine without even knowing what to expect. I was at blizzcon and i saw the stand and thought "I love WoW, how can this go wrong?" and thankfully it didnt go wrong. I really enjoyed the magazine!
What was wonderful was not the news or announcements about upcoming content but the articles about guilds (progressions, RL reunions, etc), the interviews they had with metzen and other developers, and there was even one article about cooking food found in the game. Such a fun and interesting read.
Seeing it being canceled is really demoralizing because its just one more thing to add to the list of ideas and projects that are being scrapped this period in the game's history.
Jamus Sep 17th 2011 2:53AM
With something that's coming out on print, with this price range, and on such a slow schedule, I wish they would have focused more on covering things with more permanence... Retrospective stuff like what The Archivist is doing on WoW Insider, as well as behind the scene interviews like the special edition DVD stuff, stuff like the dev watercooler talks, and even original content like the leader short stories or a serial comic like Safe Passage. Any sort of coverage on upcoming content is going to be dated before the print hits the paper, and as far as the reader is concerned it's mostly wasted space (I know it's pretty to look at, but...).
Oh well, I'm still glad the experiment started to begin with - anyone who's trying to do a game community based print magazine will now have a precedence to look over, and that's always good for the next group to try and pull this off...
slurpeepoop Sep 17th 2011 2:58AM
This is blatantly selfish and irredeemably offensive to paying customers.
They send you an email telling you that they are not continuing to make the magazine. That's fine.
They then tell you that you have a refund coming, and to go to their website to get your refund code. That's great too.
They even give you options. You can choose to get a refund in the form of a check, or you can get 6 pets ($60 value). Fantastic!
Then you find out that even though they went through the trouble to change their webpage, inform you that they owe you money, and they have your personal information (otherwise, how would they know to email you telling you they owe you money), if you opt to get a cash refund, you have to send them a written letter via snail mail containing all of your information telling them that you, in fact, want your money back because they are in breach of contract.
And you have 2 weeks to write, send, and somehow verify that they successfully recieved your letter so you can wait another 8-10 weeks to get your check.
The virtual pets cost nothing to give you (or you already have them all), and the fact that you have to jump through an unreliable and slooooow hoop to give them information they already have (and just proved by sending you an email to the account related to the name and address that they've been sending magazines to saying they owe you money) is just absurd.
This is a completely shitty and offensive way to interact with your customers. Customers who had advanced you money in good faith for a product that you promised to supply.
Don't get me wrong, the magazine has been fantastic, and I was excited every time I got one in the mail, but seriously, they dropped the ball on meeting deadlines, managing money, and creating a sustainable business plan after they blew through the intial flood of cash given to them by the loyal and interested WoW fanbase.
Stay classy, obsolete, outdated media. Giving a harsh 2 week deadline to your customers to send a snail mail letter giving you their information that you already have and stating that they want their money back because you can't meet a 3 month window to release a magazine that you charge $9 for is top class business savvy.
aislinge Sep 17th 2011 6:21AM
Totally agree. As my partner said when they saw thie email this morning, it's just another low-blow, poor form from Blizzard (or company representing Blizzard) and a bloody waste of $50 >.
DBriggs304 Sep 17th 2011 6:07AM
Wish they would have offered game time instead. That is a nice option for people who want the pets who don't have any of them at all, but I already have three of them and why I wouldn't mind the other three, it wouldn't be worth it. Not to mention, I received my sub as a gift and I would rather have the money refunded as the person who got it for me doesn't play WoW.
aislinge Sep 17th 2011 7:01AM
Ok, update:
I have successfully sent the codes to a mate and they have happily redeemed them. Currently, they are upsetting train enthusiasts in the AH lol
Hope this helps!