WoW Classic is only a few days old and it’s already clear: the expectations of the community have been met. But will they stand the test of time?
A few days ago, fans of the Warcraft universe enjoyed the re-release of WoW (buy now) Classic – a relic of days gone by. Or as our buffed editor Matthias put it so wonderfully : ” Classic is like a … reenactment, a museum, a living documentation. ” Since then we’ve lived in such a museum bubble, we enjoy the advantages of a decelerated world. But how does this actually affect the players?
What image is emerging of the WoW Classic community?
A few weeks before the WoW Classic release, we asked you about your expectations of the WoW Classic community. At that time, around 75 percent of you stated that the “we” was placed above the “I” and that this would create a strong bond. Around 79 percent stated that the server structures will have a positive impact on society. In addition, only around 35 percent were convinced that WoW Classic players would fall victim to a nostalgic transfiguration and would soon return to the retail version.
Now that the first few days of queues, pushed servers , and at least one level 60 player are behind us, it’s time to review our recent experiences. What is it really like, this legendary WoW classic community?
Reddit as a mirror of society?
A look at the WoW sub-Reddit already paints a very clear picture. The community is helpful , they say. The community is generous , they say. Plain and simple: WoW players matured more or less “overnight” into attentive , selfless and understanding individuals.
According to Spazznax , you can get into the dungeon group of your choice without a specific Raider.io score , you will be provided with buffs as you walk past , and it is quite natural that you would get together for joint quest activities .
Former Blizzard Entertainment Senior Vice President Chris Metzen shares this experience . He also seems to be caught in the WoW Classic aura and recently announced on Twitter what excites him so much about Classic:
My favorite thing is the random pick up groups to get quests done. The drive by buffs and heals. Asking advice/directions… I love that sense of community we had… have. 🙂 That’s the gift of Classic.
You guys are the gift of Classic.
— Chris Metzen (@ChrisMetzen)
But how will the Classic community develop?
Admittedly, I actually share all of these experiences. Yes, the players seem to have “grown up”. You will be treated with more respect than you are used to in today’s fast-paced online gaming and social media world . But I always have this nagging feeling that the ” good mood aura ” brought on by Classic will only be short-lived. That all these positive aspects will collapse like a house of cards as soon as “something is at stake” again – once the big carrot of the MMORPG, the equipment , is the center of attention.
But maybe the WoW expansions of the last ten years have also taught me to fear. Perhaps the remaining core of Classic players are actually fueled by positive energy . They would prove at least one thing: We are all connected by one great fascination and do not necessarily have to be consumed by negativity. Or to put it in Blizzard’s words: Make Love, Not Warcraft .
What is WoW Classic?
World of Warcraft Classic is a true recreation of the original WoW as you know it from 2006. All parts of the game – from combat mechanics and talent trees to character models and zones – have been recreated, contributing to the authentic experience.
Getting Started
All players with an active World of Warcraft subscription or game time on their accounts have access toWoW Classic at no additional cost.
- Open the Blizzard Battle.net Desktop App and select World of Warcraft from the menu.
- Select World of Warcraft Classic from the Version menu. If you have more than one World of Warcraft account, you’ll see a second Account drop-down list. In this column, select the active account you want to play with.
- Click the Install button. The progress bar will tell you when your game is ready to play.
- Click the Play button when the installation is complete.
You will need to select the realm you want to play on from several different realm types. Make sure you choose the same realm as your friends – in World of Warcraft Classic, you can only group with characters that are on the same realm as you!
Heroes&WIKI, WoW Classic, World of Warcraft Classic, WoW ClassicSpecial, WoW ClassicSpecials
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