Behind the Blue Curtain: Inside Blizzard Headquarters with Wrath of the Lich King
Still, it wasn’t like this was an assignment I could refuse, even if I wanted to. In the world of gaming journalism an invitation to Blizzard is among the holiest of holies. Ten years from now there would be Koreans bringing their children here on vacation, the way Christians make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to travel the Stations of the Cross.
Better to get in now, beat the rush.
The Demo
The first thing you’re likely to notice when entering the lobby of the main building is two thick binders sitting on a table to the left of the doors, labeled Blizzard Fan Mail, and Blizzard Fan Art.
I was early, so I had the chance to flip through both of these in full.
If you’ve ever sent Blizzard a poorly-written letter outlining your ideas for a new StarCraft unit, or a crayon drawing of a Night Elf in a bikini on the back of a cocktail napkin, chances are they’ve kept it, and it’s now available for the amusement of people waiting around for an appointment.
I have to say, I was much more fond of their system than the usual three month old copies of Time magazine and Field and Stream.
The day began in earnest with an extensive hour-long demo in Blizzard’s new theater… which was the sort of room your rich uncle might build in his basement; plush leather stadium seating, cup holders, surround sound and all.
Taking turns, Tom Chilton, Jeffrey Kaplan, and J. Allen Brack ran the gathered media in attendance through nearly every zone the expansion had to offer, save two, which they indicated were not yet ready for primetime. Many of them can be seen in the video below, and in the screenshots throughout this piece:
The expansion’s backdrop is simple: Arthas is up to no good, and both the Horde and Alliance have set forth to Northrend to put an end to his shenanigans once and for all. This is of course where you, hero of Outland, happen to come in.
After playing Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, you might be forgiven for thinking that Northrend was nothing but an icy wasteland populated by the Scourge, pretty boys who enjoy engaging in patricide, and not a whole lot else.
But, evidently the art team decided that forcing players to stare at mobs on a white background for ten levels wasn’t going to win them any favors, and, as a result Northrend may quite possibly be the most artistically and biologically diverse continent in the game to date.
Immediately upon your arrival you can experience lush forests, sparse tundra, towering cliffs, wildfires, spiders who manage somehow to turn the sky purple, and arid hot springs… all in the very first zone.
Along with this diversity comes a new cast of characters and factions for you to work for (or against) and no doubt farm plenty of reputation with…
Some of them are amusing and clever, such as DHETA, Druids for the Humane and Ethical Treatment of Animals, who set you against the forces of Hemit Nessingwary’s trappers, recently relocated to Northrend from Nagrand.
Then, there’s the evil band of mechanized gnomes, hellbent on stealing your brain and implanting it into a robot body.
As ever, a great article Steven, thanks.
And out of interest Onyxia was soloed for the first time last week by a Druid (and then a couple of days later by a Pally).
GRR!!!! i cant wait!!!!awsome article!!