While the Cataclysm expansion won't release until December 7th, the Cataclysm did happen in-game this week, shattering Azeroth in preparation for the launch of the new content. The result is a drastically improved 1-60 leveling experience and some amazing changes. What's new?
- New race-class combinations (Tauren Paladins, Night Elf Mages, Human Hunters and more)
- New Gnome/Troll starting areas
- Changes to existing zones (Too staggering to list, but massive changes)
- New music
- City Quartermasters, with rep tabards
- Class balancing and a completely revamped talent point system
- Experience required to gain levels 71 through 80 is being reduced by 20%
- New tamable hunter pets (Monkey, fox, dog, and beetle, as well as new skins for existing pet classes.)
And coming the 7th with the launch of Cataclysm, there will be:
- Worgen/Goblin race unlocked, start zones
- Archeology
- Professions past 450 (Illustrious Grand Master)
- Guild leveling
- Guild achievements
- Eastern Kingdoms/Kalimdor flight
- New Zones (80+)
On top of this, until the 30th, the original game, Burning Crusade expansion, and Wrath of the Lich King can be purchased (or gifted) for only $20. They can even be bought separately, so if you already have the original game you can get caught up cheap and catch up to your guild.
For those not playing or who have taken a hiatus, I also want you to see one thing regardless of whether you intend to play the new content. This content revamp has added what I believe to be the very first gay content to the game.
See the video after the jump the first gay content in World of Warcraft!
Did you play Shadow of the Colossus? Was your favorite boss fight the flying serpent in the desert area? Then you need to play Sky Serpents. A fantastic little flash game from the fine folks over at Nitrome. Face off against 15 increasingly well-protected sky serpents and try to break their weak points.
Sky Serpents [Nitrome]
[via: Jayisgames]
UPDATE: The user in question has received an e-mail response from Xbox support and they have removed his suspension as the term in common in Germany. Good to hear they have fixed this issue so quickly.
I thought this issue was settled once and for all, but apparently not. A German gamer going by the forum name Schmoo found his account suspended under the Xbox Live Terms of Service for having the following line in his bio.
Ich bin ein homosexueller Mann in einer großen schlechten Stadt. Ich mag kleine Kuchen und Cheeseburgers.
Which translates into English as 'I am a gay man in a big bad city. I like cupcakes and cheeseburgers'.
Xbox support, when called, first explained to him incorrectly that he was not allowed to put his sexual preference in his profile, and was eventually told by higher managers his profile was sexually explicit and would stay suspended. Xbox Terms of Service states that words allowed are "Lesbian", "Gay", "Bi", "Transgender" and "Straight". "Other terms regarding relationship orientation are not allowed,"
The catch here, is that as far as I can tell, there isn't an exact translation of the word gay in the German language. The closest I can find is 'schwul' which can also mean 'humid or muggy' when there is an umlaut over the vowel. (any of our readers who know German, please confirm for us)
So, do we need to now ask Xbox for a list of approved foreign language words that can be used to describe sexuality? And more importantly, why are there still Xbox Live customer support reps who are so woefully misinformed about the change in policy? We'll keep you updated on the story as it develops.
Suspended for being openly gay., Once again, Microsoft's unjust hammer strikes. [Gaymer.org Forums]
[via: The Consumerist]
Hey guys and gals. This is a little off-topic, but I wanted to bring this preview trailer to your attention. The Leffew family, who star in this documentary, are gay gamers and personal friends. (I have also never met anyone in my entire life that has more Star Wars toys and collectibles than these guys, and they are super excited for The Old Republic MMO). Their movie is scheduled to come out early next year, and it follows their family over the course of the initial fight over Prop 8 and the subsequent battling over the attempted repeal and the recent court ruling here in California.
They also blog and have a youtube channel dedicated to showing people just what a gay family is like, and why they're just as deserving of rights as any other family.
So if this looks interesting to you, do a favor for some friends of the site and share this with people that might like it. Thanks everyone, I appreciate your checking this one out.
It's rare that you actually come across a new game mechanic these days, but the folks over at Nitrome have delivered this week. Faultline, contrary to the name, is not about earthquakes. It puts you in the shoes of a little robot who can bend the world to his whim in the style of a Mad Magazine folding puzzle.
Hot off the presses folks. As part of the release of Steam on the Mac, Valve and Aperture Science have made Portal 100% free for the next 10 days, on both Mac AND PC.
If you have not played this somehow, go get it!
If you know people who have not played it, it's your job to make them get it! Go! Go now!
If the design of this movie looks familiar, that's because you've played Samorost 1, Samorost 2, or Machinarium. The creator, Jakub Dvorský has applied his talent to film this time, in this puppet-filled movie about a teddy-bear named Kooky. I find the real-world application of his visual style intriguing... and a bit creepy, but in a good way.
Kooky [Official Movie Site]
[Via: Boing Boing]
This week for our Rock Band DLC we get some tracks from X, and a couple free and/or discounted tracks from Little Fish.
• X - "Blue Spark"
• X - "The Hungry Wolf"
• X - "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts"
• X - "Los Angeles"
• Little Fish - "Am I Crazy"
• Little Fish - "Bang Bang"
• Little Fish - "Darling Dear"
• Ace Frehley - "Outer Space"
• Carrie Underwood - "All-American Girl"
• OneRepublic - "Stop & Stare"
These tracks will be available for purchase as "X Pack 01," as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. "Am I Crazy" will be available only on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system and will be a free track.
Prices are $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track, $6.99 (560 Microsoft Points) for "X Pack 01". "Bang Bang" and "Darling Dear" are each $.99 (80 Microsoft Points). All Wii tracks are $2.00 (200 Wii Points™).
This would explain so much about Tetris.
That's right, not only do we finally get some GaGa this week, we even get the South Park version of Pokerface that was shown in the episode "Whale Whores". Sweet!
These tracks will be available for purchase as "Lady Gaga Pack 01" as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track, $6.99 (560 Microsoft Points) for "Lady Gaga Pack 01". $2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track for the Wii version.
Here's some amazing news. Limbo, which has been 'in development' since at least 2006 at was thought to have been abandoned, is apparently coming out for Xbox Live Arcade this year! I hadn't heard anything about this title since 2007, but above is the video that came out then when the creator was looking for a C++ programmer. Apparently he found one. No specific release date beyond 'summer', but apparently it will be playable at GDC.
IGF-Nominated Limbo Headed to XBLA [IGN]
There is something about Them Coconuts that makes it incredibly amusing. Maybe it's the 'carnival shooting game' art style, maybe it's the catchy little tune that plays in the background. Whatever it is, I keep finding myself playing this over and over, humming along to the music. As defense games go, it's fairly straightforward in execution, but surprisingly challenging. Check it out!
just remember I warned you about the song.
Them Coconuts [Armor Games]
[via: JayisGames]
