Wrath expected in China in mid-November
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 27th 2009 at 9:00AM
This doesn't mean much for us in the rest of the world -- and before you commenters mention goldsellers, know that most "Chinese goldfarmers" actually play on NA/EU servers anyway, and have been doing so even with the outage overseas. It does, however, mean that China's guilds and playerbase at large will finally have access to all of the content we've enjoyed for almost a year (the expansion was released in North America and Europe last November 13th -- remember that?), including death knights, the new Naxxramas, and all of the other Northrend content. The release should be a nice bonus for Netease as well -- they've been working hard to try and get the game up to date, and releasing the current expansion should help bring in a nice group of new customers.
Filed under: Patches, Blizzard, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Matt Oct 27th 2009 9:08AM
I wonder though, How will they handle patches? The content is obviously there, are they going to make them wait just for the sake of waiting?
But if they do release everything, then the early content could be skipped, not that that doesn't happen now.
WHAT A QUANDRY!
snowleopard233 Oct 27th 2009 9:15AM
They’ll probably release the content at a steady pace so as to make sure everyone has time to enjoy each batch of content, just like over here. Nevertheless, there’s always testing you need to do for each set of servers and clients, especially if they’re being managed by a completely different company and set of hardware than the one you have state-side.
Kyle Oct 27th 2009 9:16AM
they'll probably stage the content patches similar to how they were released over here on the EU/NA realms. remember that the original 3.0 patch was a whole ton of content to begin with, and in china they need to pick pretty much everything apart to be approved and marked as ready. so they get to go about naxx progression just like we did so very long ago.
Kyle Oct 27th 2009 9:17AM
snow beat me. i lose.
snowleopard233 Oct 27th 2009 9:27AM
(blows off the gunsmoke from the end of his pistol)
That’s why they call me Quicks McGee!
….
Well they don’t, but if they did call me something like that it would totally be “Quicks McGee”.
TheZantoo Oct 27th 2009 9:29AM
They'll probably just release it all in one big bundle, I'm just curious about all these policies that China has against showing bone and flesh? Is it a deep seeded respect for the dead or something? What about the mass amount of indie zombie movies that come out of their? Or all the anime, and action flicks? Are these acceptable?
snowleopard233 Oct 27th 2009 9:49AM
Anime flicks are from Japan and the majority of the classic zombie movies you refer to were developed in Hong Kong, which only a little more than ten years ago, was still under British control. There’s been a lot of censoring in Hong Kong film ever since China reassumed control over the city, but it still has a lot more autonomy than the mainland (for example, you still need a separate visa to get there and it counts and costs the same as an “international” flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Shakes fist).
WoW is a foreign video game in mainland China. We already know how contentious some conservative groups can feel about the medium over here and there’s an equal level of apprehension amongst older Chinese and the government in the People’s Republic. An American video game with 11 million subscribers poses a possible cultural threat and the CCP has the power and will to heavily censor it in the mainland, so they’re going right ahead and doing that.
Tirrimas Oct 27th 2009 10:08AM
@snowleopard: Very nice response. Puts a human face on what, till now, has been characterized as a cold, impersonal, knee-jerk reaction on the part of China's government.
Foxfyr Oct 27th 2009 9:18AM
I found this link in the comments on wowhead for the Warglaive. This is what happens when expansions don't come out fast enough.
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTE5NTQ5Njky.html
Sir7 Oct 31st 2009 12:25AM
That was epic.
Foxfyr Oct 27th 2009 11:20AM
It's a video of about 40 people who all have both warglaives.
Shaunarcher Oct 27th 2009 7:31PM
May i say Finally!!!! I can get to 71 soon yay.
That vid just shows how much time we have had in pre-wolk raiding raiding raiding...pvp...raiding...
Now all i can do is hope that it will come out in mid november =)
snowleopard233 Oct 27th 2009 9:17AM
President Hu Jintao! Tear down this wall!
Hrothgar Oct 27th 2009 9:52AM
Just a note to the OP... They are still releasing this in China ASAP. Just sayin'.
Tirrimas Oct 27th 2009 10:01AM
It took me a few minutes to figure out what was "wrong" with the Forsaken in the image - HE'S GOT ELBOWS!
My mage wants hers back. :(
Hairfish Oct 27th 2009 4:59PM
I very much prefer the "Chinese" Undead to the western version. I could play a character who looked like that, but those boiled-chicken guys? Uh-uh.
Ricohardt Oct 28th 2009 11:18AM
No fair, their undeads get unbroken armor :(
mel Oct 27th 2009 10:16AM
What does a photo of Nicole Ritchie have to do with this article?
snowleopard233 Oct 27th 2009 10:28AM
Ba zing!
swampsquatch Oct 27th 2009 11:52AM
That was so win...
Is it just me or do the Undead still look awesome with no bones showing?