Play WoW? Check This Out!

So yeah, I recently got sent a scroll of resurrection in Warcraft and decided to give things another go, but a tad more casual than I previously did. I know, I know, weak willed and whatnot but I missed it, even if many of the problems I disliked are still there - but if you don't play as seriously as I used to, the problems aren't as annoying as they once seemed - for my readers who may be interested, here is my WoW char in all his mage-like glory...

Anyway, enough about that! What I really wanted to write about is an awesome competition my guild Immortalis - The Sha'tar EU is running.

Be it mounts or companion pets,
you could be lucky!

For the guilds third birthday, our very generous guild leader has not only organised our usual crazy birthday event, but also implemented an awesome competition for those who wish to take part on the Sha'tar! 

All you have to do is have a level 85 character on our realm and simply leave your character's name in the comments on the front page post and you will be in for a chance to win one of the items from the blizzard pet store! Simple!

We are also welcoming everyone to join us for our birthday event on the 30th which managed to get us featured on wowinsider last year! so if you want some good, clean (albeit silly) fun head on over in your ogre suit and join the party, you are more than welcome and as they say... the more the merrier!

Screenshot of the Week - Shiny Frosty Wyrm

World Of Warcraft Screenie this time, in the Wetlands

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Beta now Live

You heard it folks, the first phase of the Beta for the upcoming expansion for World of Warcraft has been announced as live on WoW's US website. I'm not sure how these things usually work, but i'm guessing this is an indication EU servers will also be getting access to the beta very soon, if not immediately.

MoP has boasted a new continent, a multitude of new features and an overhaul of old talent systems.

According to the official website, this first live beta only focus' on the starting zones of the new race - Pandaren, and you will have the ability to play through the zone and level a Pandaren from 1-10. As with usual betas for WoW, content will be released in a staggered manner as and when Blizzard feel it's ready for public testing and feedback. 

Blizzard have taken a new approach this time on who is invited to the beta. Firstly, the purchase of an annual pass not only secured you a copy of Diablo III (release date May 15th) but also a beta invite, meaning a lot of people who would usually not bother opting in have actually been given the chance to test the up and coming content. For more information and FAQ on the beta opt in, check this link. 

Mists of Pandaria seems like it will be full of great features and content, but will it be enough to bring millions of ex-subscribers (myself included) back to the game, well, only time will tell.

Scroll of Resurrection Changes by Blizz

Well well, as a friend of mine pointed out to me yesterday, Blizzard have crazy buffed their scroll of resurrection feature for World of Warcraft.

This service is provided by Blizzard for people who convince their friends who quit to subscribe to World of Warcraft once more. Previously this feature just offered 7 days of free game time but now there are massive benefits to re-join World of Warcraft for ex-players - see below:

Now that's incentive to get your friend back and for your friend to come back. 

As a ex-hardcore player who officially quit in January after a month of dwindling play, this seems really tempting on the surface for me, but in the end I realise that while I'd get a free character boosted to level 80, and some free game-time, this doesn't really resolve any of the reasons why I quit WoW in the first place.

So why have Blizzard given this the crazy buffs it's received? simple. Cataclysm haemorrhaged subscribers, somewhere around the 2 million mark I believe, and I think rather than trying to promote the game to a new audience and attract newer players Blizzard want the people back who used to put a nice steady stream of income into their pockets.

Maybe one day I'll go back to playing but until some of the stuff I quit for gets sorted I'll probably stay away.