I actually would really like it if they used those models for real weapons.

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Khadgar: Prepare to heroically CTRL-E through the portal with me!

Pretty awesome.

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You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake.

Looks like the top one actually did get used as a real weapon. Well, a real low-level one, but still. Looks nice.

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Khadgar: Prepare to heroically CTRL-E through the portal with me!

Bumpa Bumpa, bumpda di boo, it's another release speculation time for me and you.

Yeah, seriously a german Fansite is already speculating that the MoP Beta will begin in December to compete with ToR. Which is bullcrap.

So here are the numbers of the past again this time also with the Cata numbers.

The Burning Crusade:

Beta Start: 12. Oktober 2006
Release Date: 16. January 2007

Total Time: 96 days

Wrath of the Lich King:

Beta Start: 17. July 2008
Release Date: 13. November 2008

Total Time: 119 days

Cataclysm:

Beta Start: 30. June 2010
Release Date: 7 December 2010

Total Time: 160 days

So the next Beta will last at least 3 months and not more then 5 months.
August/September is currently a quite realistic release date, since Blizzard said they didn't want to have another one year gap between the last Big Content patch (Rubin Sanctum doesn't really count) and the new addon.

Yeah, the annual pass and 4.3 I think are Blizzard's "anti-ToR protection policy".

I don't think that Pandaland is as much work as Wrath or Cataclysm so I would also say around 3.5 months.

I'd say it's probably somewhere between TBC and Wrath. But it is further along than Wrath was when it was announced.

As for TOR protection, it kind of makes sense. Personally I'll just play both since they offer different experiences. IMO.

Actually, I could see that happening. Maybe it's too early to release it... I mean, it would conflict with D3 and 4.3... but it's still a good date, and a great move to make players stay for a secure beta, had they bough the pass.

Of course, the beta would start with 1-2 zones only.

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Metzen: They are one of the ancient races of Northrend that we haven't spoken of before... because we hadn't made them up before. (laughter)

~Main: Expansion theorycrafting, Expansions list, The Age of Nightmare, Empire of the Tides (coming soon)~
~Fan ficton: Anachronos Journey: The Timeless Heir~ ~Geography of continents series: Old Kalimdor (original), Pandaria~
~Locations as zones series: Azjol-Nerub, Barrow Deeps, Zul'Aman, Demon Hunter zone, Caverns of Time~

Bumba Bumby, bumba ti boo, it seems the beta is right in front of me and you.

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/4639551

If Boub is right it, the Beta could start this week or next.

So, according to this we can calculate that MoP will be released most likely between 27. June - 7. September. (Yeah, a bit of crack dating, but expansions releases were tradionally on Tuesdays or Thursdays.)

Bumba Bumby, bumba ti boo, it's wibley wobley timey wimey for me and you.

The Burning Crusade:

Beta Start: 12. Oktober 2006
Release Date: 16. January 2007

Total Time: 96 days

Wrath of the Lich King:

Beta Start: 17. July 2008
Release Date: 13. November 2008

Total Time: 119 days

Cataclysm:

Beta Start: 30. June 2010
Release Date: 7 December 2010

Total Time: 160 days

Mists of Pandaria:

Beta Start: 21. March 2012
Release Date: 25. September 2012

Total Time: 188 Days

No Fucking clue when the beta will start, but it could last 200 Days+ this time.

So weird reading that info, because I feel like beta has gotten shorter each time

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I hope Blizz gets this out by Summer.

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"Noble countrymen, evil is upon us. Darkness has befallen our shores. Rise and slay thy enemies� strike, strike so others shall live. The meek shall not fade into the night� live my brethren, live." - King Terenas Menethil II

Probably earlier.

That would be brilliant.

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"Noble countrymen, evil is upon us. Darkness has befallen our shores. Rise and slay thy enemies� strike, strike so others shall live. The meek shall not fade into the night� live my brethren, live." - King Terenas Menethil II

I think the betas have been starting sooner after expansion announcements.

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It seems like they have quite a bit done this time around, so it's possible they'll get it out by summertime.

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I really hope so too.

But I expected August for MoP and that never happened.

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April/May, calling it now.

It'll be interesting. I wonder what Blizzard plans to do with WildStar, ESO, and EQN.

WoD is already in a late alpha build, considering two zones and a dungeon are playable at blizzcon. And they have assets for all but two of the zones already.

I'm guessing a beta release come January, with a live release around March or April.

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Head Canon: The Deathwing Gambit

God I hope not. Too many games I need to beat in March before WoW steals my soul again.

If it's not March, it'll be June. (and if it's not June, it'll be September.)

Blizzard will push this at the end of a quarter. It allows them to report to the shareholders about first-week sales, and in the next quarter lets them report about subscriber level increases. Having guaranteed positive outcomes to report at two successive shareholder meetings is better than pushing it at the start of the quarter and maybe only getting one positive meeting.

All that said, I'm really betting on June. A summer release is awkward sales-wise, but no one wants to stay in Siege for a year.

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Expect nothing and anything will surprise you.

One of the devs was being interviewed by Mrs. Metzen and the Dorito Pope and he said it was on target for next year but... I dunno. I don't think it will be. I'm thinking an early 2015 release. A lot of the zones this year weren't finished and they didn't show them off: they've got the frostwolf zone and the shadowmoon zone roughly playable but that's about it. Everything else is rather piecemeal.

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A year without a patch would not be appreciated by the players I think.

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Yeah... expect some poppin' explosions.

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Expect nothing and anything will surprise you.