Rumor: Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition box

by Adam Holisky Jul 1st 2008 at 11:55PM

Here's some good Wrath of the Lich King rumor-juice for you tonight. Pictured to the right is what has shown up on the internet as a Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition box. I for one think it looks real. It was posted on the Paladin Schmaladin blog two months ago, although reader Allen just tipped us to it this evening.

The poster over there notes that the box comes from her friend Gene, who supposedly works at a printing facility. Gene couldn't get one out of the printing factory, so instead he snapped an image of the box with his cellphone.

Through Paladin Schmaladin, we're also told that the printing press had the WotLK box orders pushed back four months. This could be an indication that Lich King will be coming out later than expected, although since Blizzard hasn't really announced a release date, we'd probably never know the difference.

Nonetheless, enjoy your nightly WotLK rumor. It looks to be a good one.

Click the image for a larger high-res version.

Tags: alpha, art, beta, box, box-art, cell, cell-phone, collectors-edition, leak, phone, photo, pic, picture, tweet-this, wrath-of-the-lich-king

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Wrath of the Lich King, Rumors

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

phenger Jul 2nd 2008 12:00AM

Poor Gene. Wonder if he'll have a job tomorrow.

PimpyMicPimp Jul 2nd 2008 12:12AM

I hope the names were changed to protect the innocent.

phenger Jul 2nd 2008 12:19AM

Hell, I don't. If you're stupid enough to post something like this you get what's coming to you. WowInsider was well within their rights here because they were quoting another site entirely.

Verit Jul 2nd 2008 5:40PM

Even if they did change the names - the print shop who is doing this work is going to crack down on security (no more camera cell phones on the shop floor etc). Its a serious blemish on their name.

Matt Graham Jul 2nd 2008 12:26AM

Holy crap! I posted this on World of Blogcraft about TWO months ago! http://blogcraftworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/third-wotlk-leak-532008.html

Jagoex Jul 2nd 2008 12:56AM

The image for the collector's edition is easy to fake in that, like the box for TBC CE, it is free of graphics and contains only text that is easily found on the web (at least in this example, anyway).

If indeed the real image is out there and has been for a while, I am sure you would have heard about it long ago.

jay Jul 2nd 2008 1:10AM

Yeah sorry Adam, but I think you've been had, besides, if you have the Burning Crusade special ed. box handy you might find that the background that "Wrath of the Lich King" appears on looks exactly the same as the the one "The Burning Crusade" is on, I'm betting when we actually see the real WotLK spec ed. box art, it will look totally different.

Verit Jul 2nd 2008 5:39PM

For some reason I have a BC collectors edition box in my office and its green.

Anyhow I really feel sorry for Gene - who is probably in his managers office explaining why customer jobs are leaving the print shop via his cell phone.

jay Jul 2nd 2008 1:17AM

Here's an idea, maybe Wowinsider could have a running competition where people could send in their ideas (visual) of what the WotLK spec ed. box art will look like.

Obviously the one that represents the box art the closest will win.

p.s God I hope as I'm writing this I don't find out you guy's have already started something similar lol.

Bromnir Jul 2nd 2008 3:50PM

That is an awesome idea! And as far as I know, no such contest is going on... but I wish it were, as I'd love to see everyone's examples of what they wish/think/hope the WotLK box would look like.

Adam Holisky Jul 2nd 2008 3:52PM

Hmm... that's a good idea. =)

Let me ponder this and run it by the powers that be. Might be something we can do, might not be. No harm in talking about it though.

Best,

Adam.

Raven Jul 2nd 2008 1:37AM

I work for a print shop that does work on all the domestic vivendi jobs and I vouch for this pic. pretty much the same layout as the BC collectors edition except it's blue. the embossed border went through a couple of changes before they decided on a final one, but it still looks cool. we still haven't recieved files for the standard box though >.

Fizzler Jul 2nd 2008 2:42AM

I am not sure what was more interesting, the cover art or the picture of the blogger ;)

edward Jul 2nd 2008 4:48AM

don't we already kinda expect a special edition by now? whats the surprise. I'd like to know whats inside tho.

Jones Jul 2nd 2008 5:31AM

It will probally look almost exactly like that, go compare the original WoW collectors edition and the BC collectors edition, almost the exact same, just one is brown and one is green

Suzaku Jul 2nd 2008 7:39AM

Word on the interstreet is that this image is old, at least a couple months old. And fake. Everything in the image is available for free online and could easily be photoshopped together.

Brandon Jul 2nd 2008 8:58AM

I've worked in printing a long time, if this is real, this means Wrath earlier than we've expected, they do not want to print all of these pretty boxes up and then pay to keep them sitting in a warehouse, they print these just before shippings them. (the glossed paper has to be kept in expensive climate controlled warehouses, no way they would do that for more than a month).

glaci3r Jul 2nd 2008 9:02AM

if its real or if its fake it does not matter because that is what it will look like. the wow special edition boxes all looked the same, just a different color and the specific logo for that product. they aren't going to change it in the 3rd incantation unless this was a whole new rebranding. i'm actually curious to know what the sc2 and d3 se boxes will look like. will they model it from the wc3 box or create a new design.