Joe Zaworski, a costume designer, dresses as an undead at the midnight release party at GameStop on Atlanta Highway.
Fans wowed by Warcraft expansion (w/ video)
Game Review
By: WYNN SAMMONS
Posted: 11/20/08
We live in an era of global chaos. Wars are being waged across the world.
However, we have recently been promised change, a change that could renew hope and restore balance in the world - of "Warcraft" that is.
Since its release in 2004, "World of Warcraft" has become one of the most popular online games to hit the market.
According its Web site, "Warcraft" boasts more than 11 million monthly subscribers.
You can expect those numbers to increase with the release of the game's latest expansion pack, "Wrath of the Lich King."
Released Nov. 13th, the expansion has already surpassed long-time players' lofty expectations.
"In comparison to 'The Burning Crusade' [the previous expansion for the game], it totally blows it out of the water," said Alex Gonzalez, a junior from Acworth majoring in computer science. "It's all I've been doing for the past two days."
There are a ton of new additions in this latest release, the biggest of which is a new playable hero class, the death knight. Other features include brand new items, quests, dungeons, creatures, spells and weapons.
"They reworked a lot of the class mechanics and added the new achievement system. They really outdid themselves," said Drew Merritt, a junior from Lithia Springs. "I haven't heard any complaints."
Both Merritt and Gonzalez attended GameStop's "Wrath of the Lich King" release party Nov. 12th in order to get their copies at midnight.
Highlights included a raffle and a costume contest for some of the more enthusiastic fans.
By 12 o'clock, the line extended from GameStop's storefront to the end of the Michaels, the arts and crafts store located off Atlanta Highway.
For a video game to have such a devoted fan base is rare.
The game's secret is the emphasis on communication and teamwork, which in turn creates a bond among players. In some cases, the game creates real life friendships.
"I could be wasting my time watching TV or wasting my time playing 'World of Warcraft,' and honestly I prefer being social," Merritt said.
Compared to other games on the market, "Wrath of the Lich King" is a challenging and
time-consuming affair, but most players feel the experience is rewarding in the end.
"If you have the time to spare, the game is well-worth the effort because you're not just learning how to battle enemies, you're learning how to work in a group and communicate with each other" Gonzalez said.
"Wrath of the Lich King" is a top-notch gaming experience from top to bottom.
If you're a gamer worth your weight in Doritos and Mountain Dew, you owe it to yourself to check out the year's biggest release.
