The World of Warcraft – launched in 2004, captivated countless players. Some left, others came; the magic seems unbroken even to this day. I myself am a sheep from the first hour. For years I played through Azeroth. But as is often the case in life, the charm eventually faded but never completely disappeared. WoW became my on-off relationship. As an introduction as a writing force at Mein MMO, I want to share my personal story with WoW here.
I made my first steps in 2004 as a male Orc. I almost felt the dust under my bare, callused feet as I guided the pixelated avatar through the wasteland. It was a game like none before it, and I marveled at every newly appearing bush on the virtual horizon. No matter how bleak the starting area of the Orcs may be, it seemed to me like a dream gaming paradise!
The world seemed so limitless, so endless! I jumped off the cliff into the sea, wanting to challenge the vastness of the world. But even the sea was no boundary. I could swim, almost as far as I wanted. Well. At least as far as the crab let me, which killed me with just one swipe after no more than ten swimming strokes.
Dammit, that was awesome! I had never experienced anything like that before! Of course, I knew games like Gothic and even old classics like Might&Magic VI from 1998 already showed a never-ending world. But WoW was different. No loading screens between the individual zones, just a vast, open land full of unlimited possibilities.
Maybe this is how Europeans felt upon discovering America. In a pink, plush version of reality, without the slaughtering of Indians and without various diseases at least.
For months I enjoyed the game alone. I discovered worlds, fought my way through seemingly impenetrable jungles and through incredibly dangerous dungeons and temples. I finally found my first guild rather fittingly on Valentine’s Day 2006, and even then it was love at first sight. The name “The Dark Alliance” already suggests it: I had long switched to the Alliance. By now, I was running around as a spitting Human Warrior.
Farewell, Vanilla…
I will probably cry for a long time over WoW Vanilla. Back then, the dungeons were still difficult, you had to work as a team, come up with your own tactics. Everything seemed more complicated to me even after some playtime than it is today. I took my first WoW break after a few years, after Wrath of the Lich King. WoW had long become too simple for me. You just ran through the instances. Damage, damage, damage! Button smashing deluxe, without sense or reason.
But I played the Terminator and came back. “The guild is just so great!” I thought, or: “Well, I can take a look again, who knows? Maybe it has changed?” The game repeated itself often. My hopes were disappointed time and again. “It’s not you, it’s me!“
By now we are like an old married couple. Minus the conversations, of course. No, I’m not that crazy yet. But again and again, I log into my account hoping. Mostly after a new addon or when someone raves about the game to me. Then I bounce around Kalimdor as a panda for a few days, swing myself as a demon hunter through the lands, or, as recently, delightedly watch the cutscenes about the Legion. Then for a few days, I am 19 again and stare with heart sparkling eyes at the screen and at the little avatar. Azeroth is limitless for this moment again.
Until I again rub against the familiar game mechanics and disappointingly throw in the towel. But maybe the next addon will be better? Maybe the next BlizzCon will reel me in again with some fantastic announcements? And then, hopefully, also get me excited again for the long term …
BlizzCon, excite me!
In the last few days there have already been some very exciting finds hinting at news regarding WoW. Not only are there four new entries in the list of races, but also Patch 8.0.0, so a new game version, was briefly released. Will a new addon along with new races be presented at Blizzcon?
My personal dreams for BlizzCon:
- The announcement of a new addon in general. Along with a cinematic trailer and phenomenally performed announcement
- Completely new races. Get away with cuddle animals – excuse me: Pandaren – and subcategories of already playable races! I would be so incredibly thrilled if you could play Naga or Murlocs! In general: Naga! I want Naga!
- A new world. In connection with the Naga, it could also be arranged that the entire sea magically disappears and thus the Naga must come ashore. Then there would be a multitude of unknown places, formerly sunken temples and cities andandand …
- Again an updated graphics. Yes, I admit I am a visual person.
But I also like to be surprised.
What do you wish for from BlizzCon regarding World of Warcraft? And how is your relationship with WoW? I am looking forward to your opinions, experiences, and wishes!
