Breaking News/Security Watch

This weekend was the official start to the Blizzard Conference, or BlizCon 2009 as fans and bloggers have named it.  I suppose Cloth and Fireballs would not be a World of Warcraft blog if I did not take the time to mention the news coming out of the conference.  Like most of you, I tried to avoid reading the advance alerts.  Some may still be avoiding the news so I've decided to add the details that interest me after the fold.  Click the "Read More" link to see what's come up.  Though, if you're a fan of the game, you will have been bombarded in the game chats.   I'm better safe than sorry!

Before I get to that, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent escalation in security breaches.  Perhaps I only see it as an increase because I effected not only me, but an in game friend of mine.  In any case, it does not hurt to tell my story.

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Now, first off, I run a Mac.  I feel its important to mention because many Mac users believe they are safe from virus and attacks.  I still do, but I'm a little more paranoid now, even after I did a complete sweep of my computer.  

Thursday morning I awoke to an email from Blizzard, advising me my account is under 24 hour suspension due to unauthorized users accessing my account.  When I asked for further information, I was told the GM's were notified to a problem on my account because my characters (a high level alt I have) was reported.

Jeepers!  

If you're like me, the first thing you ask is, How.  The answer, Key Loggers or other programs that steal your password or bust into your account.  Blizzard changed my password for me (and I have done it again before logging into the system) which ended the hacker's fun, but not before they emptied my bags and stole all of my gold.  Now, Sneekypeach has more gold than my level 74 hunter.  The "unsavory characters" did not even leave me enough gold to purchase a flight path to my questing zone.

Now I await judgement from Blizzard regarding my stolen items and gold.  They advise it could take up to a week.  Not a big deal, considering I don't play the character often.

The whole experience has put an unappetizing taste in my mouth.   I've run two different security programs, both of which found zero virus' running on my system, making me all the more curious.  Why me and How?  I guess I'll never know.  In the mean time, everyone should check their computers and possibly update their passwords.

Now, unto the news that is rocking fans of the franchise - The official announcement of the next expansion.  No word yet when it will be release, as far as I've read, but fans are already getting themselves worked up - either in angry or joy.

The major change, and one that will effect all players, even those who choose not to buy the next expansion, the redesign of the old continents.  According to Blizzard, Eastern Kingdom and Kalimdor will be changed.  There will be a world event in the future that will change the look, feel and play style.  The original content gone or changed, even for players who are new to the game.

When the Cataclysm occurs, it will occur for all players, whether they have purchased the expansion or not--you will no longer be to play in the original version of Kalimdor or the Eastern Kingdoms. However, certain features such as the new zones, new races, and new level cap will only be accessible to players who purchase the expansion. - Blizzard Cataclysm F.A.Q

I can see both sides to this news.  

On a plus, those players who have moved onto Outlands and Northrend have also moved on from the playable content and usefulness of the original continents.  To them, these are just places one needs to return to for visiting trainers and auction houses.   The cataclysm will bring them back to the old country to complete new quest lines revolving around the event. 

However I feel that I can speak for new players, and from the point of view of one (After all, I only started playing the game in May and have not found original content expired), when I express my disappointment in the permanent and automatic change.   The new expansion may well bring new players to the game, and will surely cause veteran players to re-role new characters.  The unfortunate part - all of the new toons will loose out on the original content.  They will only experience the world after the disaster.

Which is not a major deal, except new players and players on new characters will not feel the same emotions caused by the changes as older players will.  I imagine Blizzard's choice to destroy Orgrimmar, for example, was, in small part, designed to tug at the heart strings, just a little.   If you are a new player, you will not feel that sadness. 

My hope, before the official announcements were made, was to see the changes happen as an instance based event.  These types of story lines already occur in Wrath of the Linch King.  I hoped to see the changes happen for players who complete a set level cap, or story line or event.  Of course, this would mean that some players are working with the new content and others are not.  This fact should have tipped me off to the unlikeliness of the idea - but a girl can dream.