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Posts with tag WorldOfWarcraft

Rob Pardo speaks about Blizzard game design

The tenth annual Game Developers Conference is in full swing in San Francisco, CA -- and yesterday included a panel by Rob Pardo, Executive Vice President of Game Design at Blizzard Entertainment. Pardo spoke about design philosophy and how Blizzard approaches it, sharing not only Blizzard's success stories, but where they failed along the way, and what they did to fix it. Blizzard's design philosophy follows some key elements:

Gameplay First: Before anything else, you want to concentrate the game on the fun. All aspects of the game -- the design, the mechanics of encounters, the quests and story are focused on making the game fun to play. Not only fun to play -- but fun to play for players, not developers. The challenge is to keep players jumping through the correct hoops, while making those hoops fun. Sometimes this involves making some changes -- for example, only night elf males could be druids in Warcraft III, but for the sake of making the druid class, something that sounded like all kinds of fun, they had to be made accessible to both genders, and both sides. So the lore was adjusted so that females and tauren could both be druids -- otherwise they couldn't have introduced the class at all. And that wouldn't be any fun.

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Filed under: News items

Around Azeroth: Fly by night

Of the two new races, Worgen may be causing more excitement among furries Alliance players, but goblins also bring something to the table for the Horde. For instance, they've donated some lovely stealth bomber technology to Garrosh as a gesture of friendship. Yves of Dunemaul-EU sent in this screenshot of a well-camouflaged shadow priest on a ... shadow wind rider? Okay, I guess that works.

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Why must we always fight during the holidays?


Oh, man, yesterday's Around Azeroth title would work so well with this picture. Curse you and your clever wordplay, Tim Burton! Anyway, this screenshot comes from the righteous dudes behind Horde Review, and features a pumpkinhead, a skeleton, and a floating skull arguing over who has the best Halloween costume. Little do they realize that they've already been beaten by the dude I met in Chapel Hill one Halloween night dressed as Hard Gay. Hooooooo!

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Everyone hail to the pumpkin song


Hallow's End started off with a bang and a flood of Halloween-related pics. Dylan sent in this screenshot of festive but snowy Venomspite, located in Dragonblight. The undead really have the best architecture for this time of year. Those shiny new blood elf and draenei buildings can't compare to rotting, gothic cities full of zombie poisoners and green goo.

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: The nightman cometh


Not-quite-level-80 crimefighter Tyis of <Tempest> on Argent Dawn-EU writes, "Ever since the introduction of Pengu and recently Oswald Chilly, crime had seen a rise. The people of Azeroth were no longer safe in their towns from the countless lackeys of these villains. That is, until one day. Preying on gold sellers, ninja looters and scammers, the streets are no longer safe for those with a guilty mind. The Bat Elf is here."

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Hello, sailor


You sure have a pretty mouth, Mister North Sea Kraken. Mind if I put a hook in it? Cabrillo of <Epoch Veil> on Moon Guard writes, "I was goofing off while doing my Argent Tourament dailies, and decided to hop off the boat after completing <Rescue at Sea>. Always wondered what a Kraken looked like from underneath, so swam down to the bottom and pointed my camera up. Got a fright when he submerged and came straight at me!"

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Dream in blue


Tom sent in this lovely screenshot of the orange clouds in Dragonblight, as seen through the ceiling holes of the Azjol-Nerub entrance caves. The sky in that zone always reminds me of snowy nights back in Wisconsin, when the lights of downtown would reflect off the clouds and make the whole city glow. When I lived near the State Capitol in Madison, the aura was so bright that it made it hard to sleep sometimes. Now I'm in North Carolina, where it never snows. But on the plus side, we have hurricanes and a surprising number of lightning strikes, so ... yay?

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Delicious and nutritious


Waiter? I changed my mind. I'll have the Mediterranean salad instead. Just ... just get it out of here. Take it out back and shoot it, or let it go off into the woods, or do anything to get it out of my sight. Those eyes ... those eyes will haunt my dreams tonight. (Thanks to Zhiva of Anachronos-EU for the pic.)

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Sons of banarchy


Drayy of <Symbiosis> on Bladefist writes, "While waiting for a PUG raid to finish the preparations for a Flame Leviathan run, I angled my camera to look up at the floating Pyrite and noticed the license plate. I have always played with the camera zoomed out during the vehicle portion of Ulduar, so I had never noticed the amusing license plate digits before. This glowing picture was the only good thing to come out of this PUG run."

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Don't you ever change


Onxyia's been wiping raids since November 2004, but judging by the look of surprise on her face, this is the first time she's been confronted by an angel as a tank. She learned too late that ectoplasm wreaks havoc on a dragon's digestive system. Congratulations to Jashj and <Defiance> of Tanaris, who recently took down the great brood mother on 25-man!

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Why your healer is laughing at you


Jim, formerly of <Game Over> on Perenolde, sends in this years-old shot straight from the WABAC Machine. Just after the opening of Ahn'Qiraj, <Game Over> ventured into the temple in search of glory and epic loots. Jim snapped this picture of warrior Ata battling an oversized Anubisath warrior. Remember, tanks, turning off your "show helmet" graphic leaves your head vulnerable to attacks from giant hammers.

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: A cause to remember

Grizzleton writes that his guild, Ex Cinis Cineris of Farstriders, has changed its tabard to pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "One of the guild's officers is a breast cancer survivor still in treatment, and many other guild members and their loved ones have had experiences with this disease. In the public forum on the Ex Cinis Cineris website is a very helpful thread dealing with this issue. As the aforementioned officer put it when the guild rallied behind supporting this cause, "We may be gamers and geeks, but we have hearts!" For their first event, the guild formed a pink ribbon with their avatars on the Stormwind Harbor steps. ECC has also planned a Farstriders serverwide Pink event for Friday October 16th in Stormwind Harbor. Check the Blizzard Farstriders forum for details."

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Spawn of a mad god


I am quite a fan of all things slimy and gelatinous in the deep sea, as evidenced by my current and former desktop wallpapers. I could happily fill this column with nothing but screenshots of the various uses of the Vanquished Tentacle of C'thun and go to bed satisfied that I had made the world a better place. But the stained glass window on the left side of this room before General Vezax in Ulduar disturbs even me. Are those half babies, half tadpoles? Do the raid leaders need to keep an eye on our human ladies to make sure they don't sneak off and procreate with the Old Ones? Ick. (Thanks to Haides of <INSIDIOUS> on Cairne for the screenshot.)

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Ooh, shiny


Enterprising draenei mage Mynnx of Alonsus-EU has crafted the world's largest Lustrous Star of Elune. Unfortunately, just like in the auction house, no one is willing to pay more than two gold to buy it. Mynnx might want to consider moving her operation to Wintergrasp and building something with plus stamina. That'll attract the PvPers.

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

Around Azeroth: Some wonderful mechanical man


Brewfest may be over, but as long as Thongar of The Underbog is dual-wielding his icy enchanted beer steins, his personal party will never end. Not even when his feet turn into bird claws and he starts trying to mate with a mechanical squirrel. And then the guards have to step in to protect him from himself. What's the Dalaran version of a drunk tank, anyway?

Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!

Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word "Azeroth" in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, gold seller ads with dead gnomes any race at all, or pictures of the Ninja Turtles in Dalaran.

Filed under: Screenshots, Around Azeroth, Galleries

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