VIDEOS: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Alpha

By Kevin Parrish
published

Two videos were shot from the current alpha testing phase.

Thursday night Kotaku posted two videos taken from the alpha version of the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm. The clips provide a glimpse into the Alliance stronghold of Stormwind and the Orcish Orgrimmar. While the clips don't offer narration or sport any signs of life, fans definitely get a tasty tour of both upcoming areas.

Recently the expansion pack entered the Family and Friends alpha-testing phase, allowing eligible gamers to copy their characters over to the Alpha servers and check out Azeroth's new look. With that said, the closed beta has not begun, however those who signed up will get a notification via email when the process begins.

As previously reported, the upcoming expansion pack will raise the level cap up from 80 to 85. In addition to new towns and new quests, the expansion will also bring redesigned and updated zones within Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. Goblins and Worgens will now be playable races, and a secondary skill called "archaeology" will also be available.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is expected to go live sometime in 2010.

Kevin Parrish
16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • thepontiff
    Yep. Awesome. It's on PC and that is all.
    Reply
  • nukem950
    I like games for the same reason I like movies and books. For their stories and the interactions between the characters. I really do not understand the never ending games that have never ending fees to play them and also what seems like never ending expansion packs.

    The content in the pack really does look cool, but I really do not understand mmorpgs or the cash black holes they seem to become.
    Reply
  • socalboomer
    nukem950I like games for the same reason I like movies and books. For their stories and the interactions between the characters. I really do not understand the never ending games that have never ending fees to play them and also what seems like never ending expansion packs. The content in the pack really does look cool, but I really do not understand mmorpgs or the cash black holes they seem to become.games are only black holes if you don't get anything out of them.

    WoW is about the cost of a movie-night and you get more hours of entertainment and, often, semi-real interaction (if you want to call it that) than you do when you go to Ironman 2. Story is bigger. World is bigger and you get to run around in it.

    Not for everyone, obviously, but I don't count it as a black hole since I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It's also not the only thing I do . . . so it's not as great a value as it is to someone who lives and breathes WoW (or Eve or whatever. . .)
    Reply
  • otoduran
    think they want you to see you can fly over it now .. i think they had to remodel a lot of things for that.
    Reply
  • otoduran
    :O ... Ogrimar looks nothing like it did before !!
    Reply
  • sliem
    Looks like... a few years old.
    DX9 class, but what can you expect from a MMORPG with cartoon-y painted all over its foundation.
    Reply
  • schmich
    must...stay...away...
    Reply
  • JonathanDeane
    Wow those video's got pulled fast :( I didn't even get to see them....
    Reply
  • touchdowntexas13
    nukem950I like games for the same reason I like movies and books. For their stories and the interactions between the characters. I really do not understand the never ending games that have never ending fees to play them and also what seems like never ending expansion packs. The content in the pack really does look cool, but I really do not understand mmorpgs or the cash black holes they seem to become.
    I pretty much share that same opinion. There is a certain feeling that comes with completing a particularly good game. The story is concluded and you feel like you were the one to bring that story to an end. I don't think you get the same satisfaction from an MMORPG like WoW.

    HOWEVER, I also understand what socalboomer is saying. I bet their is a very similar feeling when you and your clan or whatever take out some ridiculously hard boss/monster/etc (sorry I have only tried the demo of WoW). So I can understand where the enjoyment is, but it's just not my thing.

    Those are just my thoughts on the game. As for the expansion pack, well I guess that's cool. I think the graphics are good in an artistic kind of way, but I would really like to see them develop a true sequel to WoW. It would be interesting to see the kind of visuals and new innovations they could create while still retaining the classic WoW. Maybe then I could find something that I enjoy in WoW. But until then...

    Just my thoughts anyway.
    Reply
  • zachary k
    i enjoy wow, but it gets stale, and and trade/barrens chat is the biggest collection of idiots i have seen in any video game. eve online ftw.
    Reply