Cataclysm U.S. Launch Party

One-hundred thirty-three days. That’s how long I’ve spent actually logged in to my main character in the World of Warcraft. Four hours. That’s how long I had to wait for the release of the newest expansion, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm after getting off work last night. I was definitely excited. Many of the game changes had already occurred in the last patch. I knew I probably wouldn’t see any new content that night because I’d likely go to sleep after purchasing it. But I couldn’t help it. As a World of Warcraft player, the excitement was there in me. It should have been a holiday.

I live less than five minutes from Blizzard’s headquarters, and the U.S. launch event was about a half hour away at Fry’s Electronics in Fountain Valley. At eight o’clock I rushed to Fry’s with a numbered wristband that my friend picked up for me. He didn’t need one because he pre-ordered his Cataclysm and was having it delivered. I wanted the Collector’s Edition, and I wanted to get it signed and attend the event. It was already crowded, but I was assured it wouldn’t matter because I had a wristband.

At the back of the line was a big Horde banner, lit from nearby lights. I have to admit, I felt pride. Why should I feel pride toward a fictional political organization when I know that I would most likely feel the same pride toward the Alliance if I had happened to play on that side? I can’t answer that. But the Horde symbol sure does get me pumped. In the back of the Fry’s parking lot were multiple food trucks and portable toilets. Hopefully I’ll never be so desperate as to have to use one of those toilets.

I got in line with my friend and we prepared to wait the remaining three hours until midnight. There was no need to crowd since we had the wristbands, so we found a comfortable spot where we’d have a good view of the stage. Periodically an old cinematic from World of Warcraft’s history would play - an opening cinematic, patch or expansion announcement, or in-game cutscene. I’d seen them all before, both during gameplay and many times on Youtube. I paid partial attention while also talking with my friend and playing Plants vs. Zombies on my phone.

A man walked by outside the queue passing out copies of issue one of the World of Warcraft: Curse of the Worgen comic. While very entertaining, I didn’t read it until after the event. Another man passed out cards indicating a chance to win a Spectral Tiger mount if a particular message was posted on Twitter. We continued to wait. Like the contest at Blizz-Con, a dance competition started. It was entertaining as always, although I didn’t particularly care who won. I just enjoyed watching.

Machinima videos were also shown. Unfortunately, these were the same videos shown at Blizz-Con to, I can only guess, predominately the same people who attended the convention. The Tavern Band, a string band, played music that unsurprisingly felt like it would be perfect for a tavern in a fantasy world. Of course, besides Cataclysm itself, we were really waiting for the performance by The Artist Formerly Known as Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain.

TAFKAL80ETC is the Blizzard house band who play mostly songs about World of Warcraft (with a pinch of StarCraft in there). While not music I’d keep on my iPhone, it was fun and kept the excitement going. The band noted their excitement at all World of Warcraft races being able to create warriors by addressing the Blood Elf warriors in attendance with “welcome to the Horde, ladies.”

Just before midnight they had all in attendance begin to sort themselves in line by the numbers on their wristbands. It was a stupid way to do it, I think. Many people were in front that shouldn’t have been. It would have been easier if they at least directed people into smaller groups before asking them to self sort. Regardless, I made my way inside Fry’s where employees were handing copies of the game to eager citizens of Azeroth.

While a few people requested copies of the normal edition of Cataclysm, the vast majority of players I witnessed wanted the Collector’s Edition just as I did. How could I say no to a bonus DVD, mousepad, and gorgeous art book? Let’s pretend it had nothing to do with the in-game pet. At this point I was excited, but I knew that I’d hardly look at the autographs I was getting on the box. Why did I feel compelled to purchase the more expensive edition and get autographs? I’m weak. What can I say? In fact, I was tired as well. I knew I was going to sleep when I got home, not playing World of Warcraft. But we were almost done!

Fry’s broke us into at least three lines to get autographs. At most, I could get one-third of the autographs available to me. I picked a line arbitrarily and waited. While some people chose to get their art books signed, I had the developers sign the box itself. They were all very friendly and seemed to enjoy being there. Part of their job was to act like that, I’m sure, but I think most Blizzard employees honestly enjoy their jobs and meeting fans.

One developer asked each person who came by him what race and class they played. I don’t know how the results for actual race and class were going, but he did tell me at that time that the Alliance was far out-numbering the Horde. Strange, I thought, because whenever someone on staged called for the Alliance or Horde to cheer, it always seemed the Horde were the majority of people present. I know now that it might simply be that the Horde are louder and more obnoxious.

A person on the World Events team asked each customer what their favorite event was. Hallow’s End, I told him. Halloween is the most fun holiday in my opinion, and I look forward to its in-game counterpart each year. Primarily it’s that Headless Horseman. The fight is fun, the lore is cool, and his mount (which I’ll get someday!) is awesome. But most of all, it’s the poems.

Horseman rise...
Your time is nigh...
You felt death once...
Now, know demise!

It is over, your search is done. Let face choose now, the righteous one.

Apparently most of the fanbase there agreed with me, because Hallow’s End was in the lead. After I reached the end of the autograph table it was time for the anti-climatic purchase of the game. I walked outside the store and talked with an ESL teacher and Cataclysm fan while we waited for our companions. When my friend emerged we briefly considered getting back in line to get more autographs from one of the other lines before deciding to go home. We work normal jobs, and being up and out this late isn’t something with which we were comfortable.

When I got home, there was one thing to do before I slept. Train flying in Azeroth and take a look at my beloved Orgrimmar from the sky. At least, that was the plan. Instead I saw the server queue, knew there was no way I was going to wait for 800 people, and went to bed.

But I enjoyed it this morning.

Enjoy Cataclysm brothers and sisters of the Horde. Lok’tar ogar!

• Peter Anargirou's blog