Saturday, October 25, 2008

Molten Core now available for download



 
 

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via WoW Insider by Michael Gray on 10/25/08

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You may remember Blizzard's April Fool's joke this year, a trailer promising the release of a console version of the Molten Core. It was a concept that did so well in the polls, we expected to see it turned into some kind of official mini-game.

An enterprising fan, however, beat them to the punch. The Molten Core ATARI-style game is now available, as posted in the forums. You can download it from Box.net or from Filefront. Design inspiration is credited to Blizzard, of course, but its graphics, programming, and game play are courtesy of Derek Gallant.

With this morning's server restarts, I took the opportunity to fire up this 1 or 2 player raid instance. And, while it probably won't be peeling me away from the zombie invasion, I didn't stop laughing the entire time. Derek's creation allows you to play each of WoW's staple classes, and everything is, indeed, fairly reminiscent of Molten Core. (If you know what you're looking at.)

Good luck!

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Guild calendars implemented in the WoW Armory



 
 

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via WOW Insider by Alex Ziebart on 10/20/08

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You all know about the new in-game calendar feature that came with patch 3.0.2, right? Right! The calendar has just been integrated into the Armory as well, and it's really quite cool. By logging into the Armory and clicking on the Guild tab, you can check out all of the events your guild has listed on the calendar via the interwebs. You can Accept and Decline event invitations right from the Armory, but I haven't seen an option to create new ones from there. That's something you'll still need to do in-game.

When I saw this on the official WoW website, I sort of rolled my eyes because the Armory hasn't updated my Shadow Priest's gear or spec in months. How can it possibly keep up with the calendar? I did a little poking around with it, and I was pleasantly surprised. I created a new event in-game on our guild calendar, and it showed up on the Armory about ten minutes later. I accepted the event on my alt on the Armory, and that showed up in-game almost instantly. If the features keeps that kind of stability long term, I will definitely appreciate having it. Little conveniences like this really help the community feel of guilds.

Now to bug people about integrating this into Facebook and the like.

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Blizzard Answers Your Questions, From Blizzcon from slashdot



 
 

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via Slashdot by ScuttleMonkey on 10/15/08

Last week we asked you to submit questions for several Blizzard employees on a wide range of issues. Since we undertook the pilgrimage to Blizzcon in person this year, we decided to use the question ideas as a guide rather than an absolute, so that it could be a little more conversational in tone. Below we have included the responses from Chris Sigaty, lead producer on StarCraft II; Jeffrey Kaplan (aka Tigole), game director for World of Warcraft; Leonard Boyarsky, lead world designer on Diablo III; and Paul Sams, Blizzard's COO. One interesting point: Paul Sams indicated in his interview that, with enough interest, Blizzard would be willing to entertain the idea of open sourcing some of their older games. He suggested that if you are interested in this to contact them directly (please be at least semi-coherent and polite). Update 19:00 by SM: Bob Colayco from Blizzard just contacted us to mention that if users wish to leave feedback about open sourcing games, support for Linux, or anything else you would like to express to them, you should do so in the comments section of this story. They plan on perusing the comments below for user feedback and interest, so don't be shy.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.


 
 

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Patch 3.0.2 mirrored at Big Download



 
 

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via WOW Insider by Eliah Hecht on 10/15/08

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Many readers are still reporting problems downloading patch 3.0.2, possibly the largest patch WoW has ever received (in terms of both file size and number of changes). The Blizzard Downloader is a clever adaptation of BitTorrent, and while it does a good job of lightening the load on Blizz's servers and distributing the patch files to those of us who are able to forward ports and open firewalls, not everyone is in that position. Some people really just want a straight HTTP download of the patch files.

Fortunately, our sister site Big Download is here to help. They're hosting all the patch files, for both Mac and Windows, BC players and classic. Part of the confusion here is that there were actually two patches yesterday, 3.0.1 and 3.0.2. They must be applied in that order, and then you'll be ready to play. All the instructions are over at Big Download; they'll have you up and running in short order.

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Sunday, October 12, 2008

Q&A: 'World of Warcraft' Lead Producer J. Allen Brack



 
 

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via Wired Top Stories by Earnest Cavalli on 10/12/08

During Blizzcon Wired chats with with J. Allen Brack, Wow's lead producer, to discuss the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion, where the game goes from here, and the title's Deathknight class, an addition many fans see as the latest example in Blizzard's new-found desire to homogenize their once unimpeachable games.

Wired.com


 
 

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Friday, October 10, 2008

Speedy Scribe: Power level your Inscription in patch 3.0



 
 

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via WoW Economist by Kevin on 10/10/08

The inscription powerleveling guide I've been working on is finally complete! Naturally, there may be a few mistakes, so I urge you to try the guide on the PTR or once 3.0 goes live. If you find something wrong or you have a better route for a certain portion of the guide, feel free to leave a comment and let me know!

At the moment, it's pretty pointless to level inscription past 350 as there are no new recipes for 355 and beyond. The only way to learn new recipes after 350 (and the only way to learn minor glyphs) is through Minor Inscription Research, which has a 20 hour cooldown. Below are the materials required to get to 350 inscription. The pigments come from different sets of herbs, which you can see on Wowhead by clicking each pigment's name.

The following uncommon pigments have a chance to be milled from each set of herbs. With the volume of herbs required for the pigments above, you should have no problem getting these uncommon pigments.

And finally, the parchment below can be bought from the inscription supplies vendors near every inscription trainer.

  • 60x Light Parchment
  • 121x Common Parchment
  • 155x Heavy Parchment
  • 30x Resilient Parchment

Now that you've stuffed your inventory full of materials, let's plow through this guide. I started out at the Ironforge trainer until 300 Inscription, then moved to Honor Hold to finish up. You'll need to make a few trips to and from the bank to mill the herbs and use the pigment, but make sure you mill enough Nether Pigment to bring with you to the Outland to get from 300 to 350 inscription.

18x Ivory Ink to 18 Inscription

  • 18x Alabaster Pigment

18x Scroll of Stamina to 36 Inscription

  • 18x Ivory Ink
  • 18x Light Parchment

21x Moonglow Ink to 55 Inscription

  • 42x Alabaster Pigment

20x Armor Vellum to 75 Inscription

  • 20x Moonglow Ink
  • 20x Light Parchment

20x Midnight Ink to 80 Inscription

  • 40x Dusty Pigment

10x Glyph of Hunter's Mark to 90 Inscription

  • 10x Midnight Ink
  • 10x Light Parchment

10x Glyph of Serpent Sting to 100 Inscription

  • 10x Midnight Ink
  • 10x Light Parchment

67x Lion's Ink to 105 Inscription

  • 134x Golden Pigment

1x Minor Inscription Research to 106 Inscription

  • 1x Moonglow Ink
  • 2x Light Parchment

4x Glyph of Fade to 110 Inscription

  • 4x Lion's Ink
  • 4x Common Parchment

5x Glyph of Health Funnel to 115 Inscription

  • 5x Lion's Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

7x Glyph of Aspect of the Monkey to 122 Inscription

  • 7x Lion's Ink
  • 7x Common Parchment

3x Glyph of Expose Armor to 125 Inscription

  • 6x Lion's Ink
  • 3x Common Parchment

10x Dawnstar Ink to 128 Inscription

  • 10x Burnt Pigment

2x Glyph of Hamstring to 130 Inscription

  • 4x Lion's Ink
  • 2x Common Parchment

5x Glyph of Immolation Trap to 135 Inscription

  • 10x Lion's Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

5x Glyph of Inner Fire to 140 Inscription

  • 10x Lion's Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

5x Glyph of Sunder Armor to 145 Inscription

  • 10x Lion's Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

5x Strange Tarot to 150 Inscription

  • 10x Dawnstar Ink
  • 5x Lion's Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

59x Jadefire Ink to 155 Inscription

  • 118x Emerald Pigment

5x Scroll of Stamina III to 160 Inscription

  • 5x Jadefire Ink
  • 10x Common Parchment

5x Scroll of Spirit III to 165 Inscription

  • 5x Jadefire Ink
  • 10x Common Parchment

5x Scroll of Intellect III to 170 Inscription

  • 5x Jadefire Ink
  • 10x Common Parchment

5x Scroll of Strength III to 175 Inscription

  • 5x Jadefire Ink
  • 10x Common Parchment

10x Royal Ink to 176 Inscription

  • 10x Indigo Pigment

4x Scroll of Agility III to 180 Inscription

  • 4x Jadefire Ink
  • 8x Common Parchment

5x Glyph of Cleansing to 185 Inscription

  • 10x Jadefire Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

5x Glyph of Sap to 190 Inscription

  • 10x Jadefire Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

5x Glyph of Revenge to 195 Inscription

  • 10x Jadefire Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

5x Arcane Tarot to 200 Inscription

  • 10x Royal Ink
  • 5x Jadefire Ink
  • 5x Common Parchment

57x Celestial Ink to 202 Inscription

  • 114x Violet Pigment

12x Scroll of Recall II to 215 Inscription

  • 12x Celestial Ink
  • 12x Common Parchment

5x Scroll of Intellect IV to 220 Inscription

  • 5x Celestial Ink
  • 10x Heavy Parchment

5x Scroll of Strength IV to 225 Inscription

  • 5x Celestial Ink
  • 10x Heavy Parchment

5x Scroll of Agility IV to 230 Inscription

  • 5x Celestial Ink
  • 10x Heavy Parchment

5x Glyph of Dispel Magic to 235 Inscription

  • 5x Celestial Ink
  • 5x Heavy Parchment

5x Glyph of Slice and Dice to 240 Inscription

  • 10x Celestial Ink
  • 5x Heavy Parchment

5x Glyph of Soulstone to 245 Inscription

  • 10x Celestial Ink
  • 5x Heavy Parchment

5x Fiery Ink

  • 5x Ruby Pigment

5x Weapon Vellum II to 250 Inscription

  • 5x Celestial Ink
  • 5x Fiery Ink
  • 5x Heavy Parchment

55x Shimmering Ink to 255 Inscription

  • 110x Silvery Pigment

5x Scroll of Spirit V to 260 Inscription

  • 5x Shimmering Ink
  • 10x Heavy Parchment

5x Scroll of Intellect V to 265 Inscription

  • 5x Shimmering Ink
  • 10x Heavy Parchment

5x Scroll of Strength V to 270 Inscription

  • 5x Shimmering Ink
  • 10x Heavy Parchment

5x Scroll of Agility V to 275 Inscription

  • 5x Shimmering Ink
  • 10x Heavy Parchment

5x Glyph of Shadowburn to 280 Inscription

  • 5x Shimmering Ink
  • 5x Heavy Parchment

5x Glyph of Icy Touch to 285 Inscription

  • 5x Shimmering Ink
  • 5x Heavy Parchment

25x Glyph of Sprint to 300 Inscription

  • 25x Shimmering Ink
  • 25x Heavy Parchment

65x Ethereal Ink to 305 Inscription

  • 130x Nether Pigment

15x Scroll of Agility VI to 320 Inscription

  • 15x Ethereal Ink
  • 30x Heavy Parchment

5x Glyph of Sweeping Strikes to 325 Inscription

  • 5x Ethereal Ink
  • 5x Resilient Parchment

5x Glyph of Succubus to 330 Inscription

  • 10x Ethereal Ink
  • 5x Resilient Parchment

5x Glyph of Windfury Weapon to 335

  • 10x Ethereal Ink
  • 5x Resilient Parchment

5x Glyph of Arcane Power to 340 Inscription

  • 10x Ethereal Ink
  • 5x Resilient Parchment

5x Glyph of Ambush to 345 Inscription

  • 10x Ethereal Ink
  • 5x Resilient Parchment

5x Glyph of Whirlwind to 350 Inscription

  • 5x Ethereal Ink
  • 5x Resilient Parchment

 
 

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Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Two Tools For Raid Stacking



 
 

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via A Dwarf Priest by MK on 10/7/08


The criteria we use to balance classes and specs for raids will be changing in patch 3.0.2 (I wrote a prior post about it here). The number of things to take into consideration makes putting together a raid feel like one of those wacky logic puzzle things.

Here are two tools to aid raid leaders in the complex process of stacking their raid for optimal raid buffs/debuffs.

1. RaidComp

MMO Champion is hosting a browser-based tool where you can drag raid around various classes/specs into raid groups. It looks great for raid planning.

It will let you save compositions to go back to later, too. It's like a talent calculator, but for making raid groups.  It's a lot of fun to play around with.

You can check it out here. Instructions about how to use it and a discussion thread about it can be found here.

2. In the Buff

This is an add-on that will actually scan the talents of your raid members and tell you what buff/debuff areas are covered.  Just because that disc priest could be specced for Improved Divine Spirit doesn't mean he actually is.

Screenshot courtesy of WowInterface

InTheBuff uses colors to denote if you have the best buffs for a given category.  Green is the best.  Yellow means that you have a buff affecting that category, but not the best one.  Red means that you do not have anything for that category.

This isn't as useful for pre-raid planning, but helpful when actually putting it together as a check that you have the buff/debuff categories covered that you wanted. It will be great for pugs!

You can read more about it or download it here.

      

 
 

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Saturday, October 4, 2008

Tigole confirms dual specs are still in the works



 
 

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via WOW Insider by Adam Holisky on 10/4/08

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Many people have been wondering about when the promised dual specs will appear in the beta. For those that don't remember, back at the World Wide Invitational the developers said that they would be rolling out the ability for players to switch easily and quickly between multiple specs. At the time one of the main points was that these quick changes between specs would not require gold.

Tigole confirmed last night that dual specs are currently being worked on. They are figuring out all the details internally still (which is a good thing). When a poster asked "I imagine by this stage we wouldn't see it until a patch after release?" Tigole replied "Most likely in a patch but it's not too far off."

Now you can interpret that different ways. Perhaps he means in a beta patch or a patch immediately following Wrath's release. Either way the fact that these dual specs will eventually be here will make many people quite happy.

Last night I was talking to some guild mates about it and the word that was thrown around was "game changing" for Protection Warriors and other low DPS specs. Since the Protection Warrior would just be able to flip into a DPS spec for farming, he would no longer need a farming alt - significantly changing the way the game is played.

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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Patch 3.0.2 release date revealed



 
 

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via WOW Insider by Alex Ziebart on 10/1/08

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If you remember from yesterday, various developers and CMs posted across the official WoW forums that Season 4 will be mostly ending on the day patch 3.0.2 is released. Today, Nethaera posted some additional information: Season 4 will end on October 14th. It was not explicitly stated by Nethaera that patch 3.0.2 will be that day, but two plus two equals four, you know?

This is pretty much exactly in line with the date most of us have been guessing here at WoW Insider, but let's be honest. It wasn't hard to figure out, and I'm sure all of you guys were thinking much the same thing. It'll be almost exactly one month between patch 3.0.2 and the release of Wrath of the Lich King on November 13th. It will also be after BlizzCon and not before it, so if anything goes wrong their lead devs can jump right back into work instead of needing to worry about the convention.

So start marking your calendars, ladies and gents. October 9th, WoW Insider meet at the Lost Bar. October 10th and 11th, BlizzCon. October 14th, Patch 3.0.2. November 13th, Wrath of the Lich King.

[ Thanks, Shawn! ]

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