Wizards, Orcs set to join battle — joined by a cast of millions
DALLAS — Each day, millions of people around the world gaze at their computer screens to explore a dangerous fantasy world of treasure-filled dungeons and flame-breathing dragons, a land where mortal enemies lurk around every corner.
It’s the “World of Warcraft,” the most successful online game ever, and it’s a world about to get a whole lot bigger with Tuesday’s release of a $39.99 enhancement called “The Burning Crusade.”
From China to the United States, from Australia to Europe, more than 8 million registered users now pay up to $15 a month to gather with hundreds of other real people who masquerade as digital avatars in the never-ending fantasy world of Azeroth.
“The Burning Crusade” adds new locales such as Karazhan, Hellfire Citadel and Tempest Keep to Azeroth, and presents a spiraling war against demonic forces where the game’s two opposing factions — the Alliance and the Horde — will face powerful new enemies.
Players will have access to the new realm of Outland that’s nearly as large as the existing game world, and the highest level characters can achieve has been raised from 60 to 70.
There are two new races to choose from as well: the remnants of an ancient space-faring civilization called the Draenei, and the Blood Elves, who are addicted to arcane magic.
But in a market already overpopulated with dwarves, paladins and trolls, is there room for even more of the same? If fans are any indication, the answer is a definite yes.
Trey Hancock, 26, has been shooting fireballs and frost novas to crush his mortal enemies in the video game “World of Warcraft” since it first launched in 2004. In his years of playing, the Houston resident led a guild of more than 200 people and raised four characters to the current top level of 60 — including his main character, a mage named Oraj.
Like many others, Hancock said he took a break in anticipation of the expansion, where his first goal will be to take Oraj to level 70.
“I haven’t played for the last week because I know once it comes out I’m going to be playing it nonstop,” he said.
It’s just the sort of enthusiasm the company behind the game, Blizzard Entertainment Inc., is banking on.
“We were going to be happy if we got a million worldwide subscribers, we didn’t feel like that was shooting the moon,” said Rob Pardo, Blizzard’s vice president of game design and the lead designer for “World of Warcraft.” “The way it blew up is far beyond our wildest expectations. But now that we are at the mark we are, we feel there’s still an ability to grow that customer base even further.”
Released in November 2004, “World of Warcraft” brought several new elements to the genre of massive multiplayer online roleplaying games, or MMORPGs. Most significantly, it was simple to play and a had high level of polish, according to Jon Wood, managing editor of the gaming Web site MMORPG.com.
“I think Blizzard looked at what was out there and found out what worked and what didn’t work,” he said. “The truth of the matter is, the game is very polished.”