World Of Warcraft A Timeline

World Of Warcraft A Timeline

On the 23rd of November 2004, Blizzard Entertainment officially launched World of Warcraft. The amazing MMORPG (massively multi-player online role-playing game) was an instant hit, selling 240,000 copies in the first single day alone. Since then, the subscribers have reached millions, creating a large fan base of a game. It has also been the favorite of game critics. More than a game, World of Warcraft has become a phenomenon, and has established itself as a landmark in online gaming.
 
Of course, it was not always so popular from the very beginning. The series of the game actually started in 1994 with Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, which was a real time strategy game in the backdrop of Azeroth. However, it was only with its second release in 1995 that the game saw some recognition. Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness made the mark. Fans of the game consider it to be a true masterpiece, very advanced than the original one. Warcraft 2 had interesting game play attached to it, with epic storytelling and fascinating graphics. Blizzard managed to continue with the sleekness of the work and in 2002 came up with equally enthralling Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos. This remarkable and classic version of the game set the bar high for gaming.
 
By the time Blizzard announced that they will be coming with the fourth one, the game had attracted a huge fan following, and news attracted the people’s attention the world over from the very beginning. Peoples anticipation realised a new thrill when they learned that the much waited sequel was going to be an online, multi-player game. World of Warcraft was going to make Azeroth and even more interesting experience. The select veteran players who got to beta test the game in March 2004 endorsed it as a great new interactive game, and hence the anticipation grew event stronger as the release date approached.
 
Since after the release of the game in November 2004, its success has snowballed to great extent. Catching gamers’ attention worldwide, it still attracts a large number of gamers regularly. In February next year, it was launched in Europe. In China, it was launched in June the same year, and releases in other countries also followed. By the end of 2005, its global subscription base was more than five million.
 
After the release of World of Warcraft till today, there have been regular updates from time to time, the game has evolved into a more complex one, and the Azeroth universe has grown. The game is more user-friendly now than before. Blizzard has added sections in the game to expand it. Sections like the dungeon lair of Nefarion or the Blackwing Lair were added later on to expand the game. In the process of expansion of the game, the makers of the game added two special battlegrounds – Alterac Valley and Warsong Guch – a major player versus player content of the game. In the Alterac Vally users can engage in 40 people versus 40 people battles.
 
In 2007, Blizzard added The Burning Crusade, which expanded Azeroth world even further. In February this year, World of Warcraft subscription base reached 8 million worldwide.