The History of World of Warcraft
"World of Warcraft" is part of a video game series developed by Blizzard Entertainment. This game, also called "WoW," is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most popular massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), with 10 million subscribers worldwide.
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Origins
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In 1994, Blizzard Entertainment released the first game in the "Warcraft" series titled "Warcraft: Orcs & Humans." Known as "Warcraft I," it was a real-time strategy game that introduced players to the struggle between opposing factions the Human Alliance and the Orc Horde. "Warcraft II," released in April of 1996, showed both factions gaining strength and added elves, dwarves and gnomes to the Alliance, while the Horde gained trolls, ogres and goblins. "Warcraft III," released in July 2002, ushered in the characters who would form the basis for "WoW."
Release
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"World of Warcraft" was released on November 22nd, 2004. Blizzard's news updates cite that on the first day, more than 200,000 accounts were created. "WoW" had departed from the real-time strategy arena and moved into the innovative world of MMORPGs.
"WoW" is set on the planet of Azeroth across the continents Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. Players can play for the Alliance as humans, dwarves, night elves or gnomes. Horde players can be the races of the orcs, taurens, trolls or the undead.
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"The Burning Crusade"
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The first official expansion for "World of Warcraft" was "The Burning Crusade," which was released in January of 2007. "The Burning Crusade" took players to the new continent of Outland, where they could explore new regions and dungeons. Two new races were added, the blood elves for the Horde and the Draenei for the Alliance. "The Burning Crusade" added player-controlled flying mounts. Upon reaching the maximum level 70, players could purchase flying mounts and soar to the farthest reaches of Outland.
"The Wrath of the Lich King"
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The "Wrath of the Lich King" expansion, released in November 2008, takes players to the frozen continent Northrend. High-level dungeons were created to reward players upon reaching the new maximum level 80. A new hero character class was created called the death knight. Any player who has a character at level 55 on any server can create a death knight. Death knights were designed to play a variety of roles and offer new sets of abilities.
Future Expansions
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In August 2009, new plans were announced for a third "WOW" expansion titled "Cataclysm." The expansion promises radical changes to the original continents of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. Two new races will be added, the werewolf-like worgen for the Alliance and goblins for the Horde. Flying mounts will be available for use on the original continents for the first time, a feature that players have been begging for since the release of "The Burning Crusade."
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