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Adam Holisky

Fargo, ND - http://www.doyouhave.info/

Adam enjoys all the different aspects of the World of Warcraft, although he mainly plays his Shaman, Priest, and Warrior. You can find more information about Adam at his personal blog: www.doyouhave.info

Patch 3.3 PTR: Patch notes updated

by Adam Holisky on Nov 5th 2009 (3 days ago)

New patch notes have been release for the patch 3.3 PTR. The changes present in this iteration of the notes will be active when the PTR comes up this evening after the latest patch is applied to your client. While there are a handful of changes to a few classes, there are two major areas which everyone will be talking about for a few days.

First, you no longer have to clear Naxxramas to get to Sapphiron's lair. Tha means that raids will now be able to go directly to Sapphiron, and (presumably) subsequently Kel'Thuzad.

Secondly, quest objective tracking is now present in this PTR build. This was originally present in the initial patch 3.2 builds, but was taken out by Blizzard after issues crept up with it. We'll have more on this new feature later this evening or tomorrow.

The entire list of patch notes changes after the break.

Filed under: Patches, News items

The Daily Quest: Keepin' the Clouds Away

by Adam Holisky on Nov 5th 2009 (3 days ago)

We here at WoW.com are on a Daily Quest to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere.

Restokin answers a popular set of healing questions floating around the intertubes.
WoW Relief has a good point about the new microtransaction pets and Blizzard's history with Make-a-Wish.
Altadin: 25 divided by 10.
Stormstrike sits down with an interview of the developer behind Gear Score.

Click here to submit a link to TDQ

Filed under: Druid, The Daily Quest

Breakfast Topic: Will you buy the new in-game pets?

by Adam Holisky on Nov 5th 2009 (3 days ago)

In-case you missed it, which really is only possible if you were living under a rock or had something else going on, yesterday's news was some of the largest out of WoW this year. Blizzard is now allowing you to purchase in-game pets for real life money through the Blizzard store. There are two pets, pictured about, available for sale now. The Pandaren Monk and Lil K'T'. Both pets cost $10, and the Pandaren Monk will see 50% of its sale price go towards the Make-a-Wish foundation (for the remainder of the year).

This firmly brings WoW into the arena of microtransactions -- purchasing in-game items for real life money. Some games, not WoW, allow you purchase items which make you stronger in the game. Other games, like WoW, allow the purchase of vanity items, such as these pets, which do nothing other than look cool or count towards vanity achievements. Some people really don't like this model of gaming, others are indifferent, and others are in love with it.

I'm personally in love with it. I think the items are cheap enough to be affordable to a large portion of the player base, and are cool enough to warrant the purchase. Further, since the items don't provide in-game power ups for people, they are essentially meaningless toys. This makes it an ideal luxury item for the virtual-nerd to spend $10 on. So will I buy the new in-game pets? Absolutely, I already have.

But what will you do? Are you going to go out and buy them? Vote in the poll and leave a comment, we want to know.

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast topics

Blizzard launches real money in-game pet store

by Adam Holisky on Nov 4th 2009 (4 days ago)

In a surprising and stunning move, Blizzard has just launched a real money online in-game pet store. You spend real money, you get an in-game pet. This fully brings Blizzard into the world of microtransactions -- even if the cost of $10 for one of these pets isn't exactly micro.

While these are just vanity items, one has to wonder how far Blizzard can take this microtransaction model with the largest MMORPG game being played today. They already offer (and offer quite successfully) realm transfer, name change, character re-customization, and race and faction change services. This appears to be the next logical step for them to take. Could the next offering being in-game vanity outfits? A valid question that only time will answer.

The first offerings of microtransactionable in-game items include a Pandaren Monk pet and a Lil K'T pet. Half the proceeds from every Pandaren Monk pet (and only the Pandaren Monk) will go towards the Make-a-Wish foundation -- which is a nice gesture to a company Blizzard has previously supported.

The full details of the announcement, along with the images of the pets and an FAQ, after the break.

Filed under: News items

Icecrown raid difficulty to be set on a per-boss basis

by Adam Holisky on Nov 4th 2009 (4 days ago)

Blizzard is once again changing the way in which we trigger heroic modes of encounters. First there was Sarth, where you left up mini-bosses. Then there was Ulduar, where you (sometimes) triggered a particular event by defeating or leaving up particular bosses or objects. Then in the Trial of the Crusader you had four different raids to do depending on your difficulty setting.

Now in Icecrown Citadel, Blizzard has appeared to reach a final solution of sorts -- potentially even going back and changing the way hard modes in Trial of the Crusader are triggered. Difficulty (hard mode on/hard mode off) of the upcoming Icecrown Citadel raid in patch 3.3 will be set on a per-boss basis.

The full statement after the break.

Filed under: Patches, News items

PUG with the blues today at 7:00 p.m. EST

by Adam Holisky on Nov 4th 2009 (4 days ago)

Want to be cool, yo?

Want to bask in some blue goo?

Want to put yourself in a sticky situation having to heal Ghostcrawler (perhaps, if he shows up)?

Then come and pug with the blues today at 7:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. CST / 4:00 p.m. PST on the PTR. Blizzard folk will be logging onto the PTR to test out the new dungeon system matching tool that's coming up in patch 3.3. Blizzard has done this kind of event before on beta realms and tournament test realms, and they're always a good time.

WoW.com writers will be there taking some pictures of any antics that develop (we know the blues have a thing for turning people into toads and what not).

Nothing says loving like 10,000 people standing around /yelling "Don't nerf me, bro!"

That's hot.

Patch 3.3 is the last major patch of Wrath of the Lich King. With the new Icecrown Citadel 5-man dungeons and 10/25-man raid arriving soon, patch 3.3 will deal the final blow to the Arthas. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.3 will keep you updated with all the latest patch news.

Filed under: Patches, Events, News items

The Queue: Spider Pig

by Adam Holisky on Nov 4th 2009 (4 days ago)

Welcome back to The Queue, WoW.com's daily Q&A column where the WoW.com team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky be your host today.

Today's listening music for the Queue is Spider Pig. Don't ask why. It just is.

We answer a few good question today, so read on for the discussion. Also, don't forget to leave your questions in the comments or tweet them to @wowinsider. If we don't answer your question keep asking, we'll eventually get to it. Good times! On with the show...

Psiwave asks...

"Do you think Cataclysm is really just a sneaky way to release WoW2 without us noticing? A full talent rework for classes, a rebuild of the world for all levels of play and a reworking of stat allocation to name but a few changes. I get the feeling that Cataclysm will play more like a sequel than an expansion."

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, The Queue

The Daily Quest: It's 8:30 a.m., on a Tuesday, in Stormwind.

by Adam Holisky on Nov 3rd 2009 (5 days ago)

We here at WoW.com are on a Daily Quest to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere.

All Things Azeroth is doing a podcast a day during the month of November.
Myth Busted: Fast Weapon Upgrades at Big Hit Box.
World of Matticus talks about his guild's recruiting strategy and how he's using the World of Raids recruiting tool.
Moonglade talks about the Aim for Hybrid DPS.
Pikestaff of Aspect of the Hare looks at the Long and Winding Road in WoW and the WoW-blogosphere.

Go Phillies!

Click here to submit a link to TDQ

Filed under: How-tos, Podcasting, Guides, The Daily Quest

Maintenance for Tuesday November 3rd

by Adam Holisky on Nov 2nd 2009 (6 days ago)

All realms will be undergoing maintenance Tuesday November 3rd from 3:00 a.m. PDT until at least 11:00 a.m. PDT. This is more or less the standard maintenance that we've all come to know and love so much. So hopefully this won't come as a surprise for folks.

We need to be diligent here and note that there is absolutely no indication patch 3.3 will drop tomorrow. That event is still at least a few weeks off from all indications coming into WoW.com HQ.

Enjoy the downtime if you're not working -- go get some sun, eat a cheeseburger, do something off the game. It'll be leveling up in real life! Fun!

Filed under: Realm Status, News items

The Queue: Icecrown Radiance

by Adam Holisky on Nov 2nd 2009 (6 days ago)

Welcome back to The Queue, WoW.com's daily Q&A column where the WoW.com team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky be your host today.

One question that has been coming up a lot lately: What are we going to do when Cataclysm's open beta starts? The answer is The Queue is going to turn back into its original inception of Ask a Beta Tester, except we're still going to leave the name as The Queue.

Today's Queue will focus on the multitude of questions we've received about Chill of the Throne, or more snarkingly called, Icecrown Radiance. Read on for questions and answers, and a tale of Little Jimmy using his obesity to mitigate the damage caused by his brother.

Good times!

A couple million people complained...

"Won't the 20% dodge nerf from Icecrown Radiance make tanking impossible in patch 3.3?"

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, The Queue

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