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WoW Wake-Up: Russian WoW, Wrath before Christmas, and the BlizzCon bear Mount

Aug. 1 8:23 AM by Mandifesto

this travesty courtesy of MMO-Champion

It's been a busy week at Activizzard, and we here at omgRPG have been watching the news trickle in, waiting for the tide to recede so we could wade in a bit and splash around. But alas it just doesn't let up, and at this rate, we will continue to see a steady flow of Blizzard-centric information right on through to the end of the year.

* The first thing we heard this week was the news that BlizzCon tickets will be going on sale August 11th for the price of $100.00 US. The last two sessions of the convention had either an optional concert or one included in the ticket price, so expect more bang for your buck this year as well.

Read the rest of this week's WoW news after the jump.

* Speaking of BlizzCon, the above image has surfaced to make the WoW community speculate and Mandifesto weep. Supposedly this image is ripped straight from the innards of the Wrath of the Lich King beta, and is labeled as a BlizzCon skin to the new bear mounts. Knowing how much design time and innovation went into the WWI mini-Tyreal pet, I am almost insulted at the idea that this massh-up of previously created elements could even pass as a possible BlizzCon vanity item. Say it ain't so, Pardo, say itain't so.

* In an interview this week Mike Morhaime let loose the news that the next WoW expansion will indeed be shipped before Christmas 2008. He specifically mentioned that we will see the box between October and December. I am betting on a release coinciding with BlizzCon, but it is also possible Blizzard will try a Thanksgiving ship date to allow for maximum holiday cheer. While talking about the success of WoW, Morhaime also mentioned that another game has made a dent in WoW sales: Age of Conan. "Age of Conan released with some initial success a couple of months ago," Morhaime conceded, "and we did see some of our players leave to try the game." While admitting the impressive numbers AoC garnered in its launch month, Morhaime was quick to point out that AoC was far from a WoW killer, and that about 40% of those who left have returned to WoW. I wish I could say I know loyal AoC players who stepped off the WoW bandwagon and never returned, but I don't. Now that I think on it, of all the dozens of people around the office who started playing as a group, only 2 still have accounts that are active, and I suspect that is more out of stubborn will than anything else.

* So you want to play WoW, but you live in Russia? You're in luck my vodka-drinking friends. Wednesday, August 6th, a Russian-language version of World of Warcraft will be released.

* What's that you say? You love WoW so much that you want to play it even when you're offline, play with your friend and family that are Internet-phobic and fond of board games? Rejoice WoW-lovers, because Fantasy Flight Games announced this week that they are bringing us World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game. Up to four players can battle for honor and glory, and really, what's more fun that questing in Azeroth during family game night.

* Yesterday Blizzard posted videos of the developer panels from the Worldwide Invitational, the event many are calling the European BlizzCon. So much information came out of those panels that the videos are definitely worth the time it takes to view them. Even if you don't play WoW, the Diablo 3 panels on World Lore and Design Fundamentals were chalk-full of yummy nuggets of information.

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