BlizzCon 2009 - Cataclysm

So it has finally come and gone, the 2009 Blizzard Convention. As expected, World of Warcraft's next expansion Cataclysm obviously got most of the attention, and deservingly so.

The heroes will return to Azeroth and find themselves that Deathwing has not been lying motionless over all these years. While the heroes of the Horde and Alliance went head on with Arthas in response to his past aggressions all over their homeland, Deathwing and his followers The Twilight Order have retaken valuable positions all over Azeroth, and fire is coming out of the mountains and depths, earthquakes and lava storms. Hidden secrets of old will finally be revealed.

The great sea near Tanaris, where many adventurers tried their luck, was nothing but an impressive illusion setup by the Titans themselves. Uldum will reveal itself, greater than any mortal could ever imagine. The rupture caused by the unraveling of all these events have caused The Elemental Planes to emerge. Ragnaros has returned, but this time the heroes will not face him in his weakened state, but fully summoned, and not at all with peaceful intentions. The world tree is in danger, and the heroes will push towards Hyjal, in its present state this time.

Azeroth is boiling, and the islanders between the continents have been forced to abandon their homes in search for safe grounds. Distant goblin factions are seeking to consort with the Horde, and aid each other while defending their homeworld. The Forsaken have finally broken through the defenses of Southshore, but in a twist of fate, their hunger for redemption, they drive another race in the arms of the Alliance. Gilneas, the hidden kingdom behind the Greymane Wall, will finally be rediscovered by the other inhabitants of Azeroth.

With all these intriguing new features, World of Warcraft seek to not only contain their currently broad player base, but also bring back memories to long gone fans. The feelings about The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King have been divided, but Vanilla-WoW remains a pleasant memory. If Cataclysm will soil or redeem these memories, remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, I will be there to find out.