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Warcraft III Expansion Goes Gold, Due July 1st

Thanks to several readers for pointing out that the Warcraft III expansion, The Frozen Throne, has gone gold - it's due in stores worldwide on July 1st. The add-on has an extensive official site describing new features, including extra campaigns, units, maps, an enhanced world editor, and new multiplayer clans and tournaments. The press release describes "initial orders of over 2.5 million copies", which is even more impressive considering Warcraft III has 'only' sold "well over 3 million copies".

56 comments

  1. My orders already in! by jetsfandb · · Score: 2, Funny

    Woohoo no more looking for beta patched for warforge!

    fp?

    --
    It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion, It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, The hands acqui
    1. Re:My orders already in! by PhiberOptix · · Score: 1

      yeah! now looking for official patches from blizzard!

      woohoo!

    2. Re:My orders already in! by 222 · · Score: 1

      lol no kidding
      i just gave up after awhile....

  2. warez? by illuvata · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The press release describes "initial orders of over 2.5 million copies", which is even more impressive considering Warcraft III has 'only' sold "well over 3 million copies". are there really that many people buying the extension, or are there some people that have a pirated version that decided they like the game and now want to support blizzard?

    1. Re:warez? by eht · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I suspect some of the orders may be for unoffical "bundling" to get people to buy both at the same time, buy 2 for 1 kind of thing maybe even throw in a strategy guide or two.

      I used to like Blizzard but the quality of their games has just gone too far down lately, Starcraft was the last good game they made (Broodwar was a waste) oooh 3d in War3, uh ok Total Annihilation had that when Starcraft came out and look at where Cavedog is today, they would have been better off with the spitey goodness that Starcraft was, shrug.

    2. Re:warez? by LineNoiz · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I have played a pirated version of the original game (got it before the game even hit the shelves!). I decided that I didn't like the game enough to fork over $50 for it. I'm planning on trying out the expansion, and actually paying for it to boot. Blizzard games are generally much better after the expansion. If I decide the expansion is worth it, I'll pick me up a copy of the original, just to be legit. Of course, I'll most likely just buy the "Battlechest" or whatever and get both at the same time...

      --
      "Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit." --Oscar Wilde
    3. Re:warez? by jeffehobbs · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If I decide the expansion is worth it, I'll pick me up a copy of the original, just to be legit

      S-u-u-u-u-re you will.

      ~jeff

    4. Re:warez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I used to like Blizzard but the quality of their games has just gone too far down lately, Starcraft was the last good game they made (Broodwar was a waste) oooh 3d in War3, uh ok Total Annihilation had that when Starcraft came out and look at where Cavedog is today, they would have been better off with the spitey goodness that Starcraft was, shrug.

      With the VE3d comments down, I didn't know where to get my fix of inane and illiterate rants. But on a hunch I came over to games.slashdot, and boy am I ever in luck!

      (Translation for the comment's author: uhhhh ok Broodwar sucked? whatevr. u just suck and cna't play and got ur ass kicked. this is dummer than ve and gay)

    5. Re:warez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just don't understand comments like these... "I used to like Blizzard but the quality of their games has just gone too far down lately"

      Um, what?! Brood Wars was one of the best expansion packs ever for one of the best games ever. ... and Warcraft 3 is brilliant. It's not just "oooh 3d in War3". The unit-balancing, the varied strategies, the hero development... quite enticing.

      I suspect you are becoming one of those "old foagies" that don't appreciate new stuff. I feel sorry for you. You are missing out on sweet gaming bliss.

    6. Re:warez? by Omestes · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You comment of Blizzards quality is COMPLETELY unfounded. Warcraft IIIs quality is supurb, very pretty, very runable, kinda playable. Let me explain the last line there, I am used to playing TA, where I never need worry about resources, and I can make 100 units in five minutes, with two factories, so all blizzard RTS's are kinda slow paced to me.

      IMHO Starcraft kicked TA's ass only because the Blizzard name. While starcraft had a very nice story, and good concept art, TA was technically superior, and was much funner to play/mod. TA has had the best engine in RTSs up until C&C Generals.

      Blizzard is good for story. Cavedog was good for inovation (notice my ignoring TA:K).

      Also look at the Blizzard titles coming out AFTER Starcraft, Diablo II, LoD, WarIII. How are these bad quality? Please explain this?

      --
      A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
    7. Re:warez? by LineNoiz · · Score: 1

      Hehe.. Well, you've got a point there. All I can say in my defense is that I have done it before in the past. I played a pirated copy of Black and White for a while. I really enjoyed the game. Recently, I saw it at the store and decided to buy it. Too bad it won't run on XP... SO, I payed for a game that I can't even play anymore, just because I enjoyed playing it the first time around. I also bought Half-Life, StarCraft, Diablo II, Freelancer, and a bunch of other games I can't think of right now that I had originally pirated. Pirated copies have also saved me from making the mistake of buying some games... Unreal 2, for example...

      How am I supposed to know before hand if I'm going to like a game enough to slap down $50 for it? I like the sharware concept. Even if a game company won't give me that option, I can still make my own options... Granted, they're not legal, but...

      --
      "Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit." --Oscar Wilde
  3. Well nuts by spumoni_fettuccini · · Score: 2, Funny

    Between thia and [for me] the long expected Never Winter Nights expansion I just lost several days of my life to the misty vortex of gaming.

    --
    -- Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.
    1. Re:Well nuts by cicatrix1 · · Score: 1

      Wait, you actually ENJOYED NwN? Hmmm. I'm a huge bioware fanboy but I was TERRIBLY let down... Maybe I just need to play more custom mods.

      --

      I know more than you drink.
    2. Re:Well nuts by spumoni_fettuccini · · Score: 1

      Granted the game [gee] didn't live up to the hype but I really enjoyed it and IMHO it was mostly about the world builder...thus leading to all those custom modules. I've found some fairly fun ones [sorry they are at home or I'd list 'em]. So I would have to say the game was really all about the world buidler. I highly reccommend giving NWN another shot, but hey I've been an RPG geek for the last 20 years or so, I even enjoy going back to Curse of the Azure Bonds, the old Pool of Radiance and the like.

      --
      -- Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.
  4. Re: Nope, it's misleading text by Reedo · · Score: 3, Informative

    When they say initial orders of 2.5 million copies, they are talking about orders from STORES. Not consumers. Blizzard always does that with their press releases and most take it to mean that millions of copies have been preordered by consumers when that's just not the case.

  5. Download the Expansion? by Ese+L0C0 · · Score: 1
    If the new expansion doesn't have its own cd key to be able to play on the internet...
    Then I don't see how retailers are going to sell 2.5million copies of the game......There is a whole lot of piracy going on here.

    Why can't Blizzard be cool and release the expansion for free like ID and the new RTCW?

    --
    jC - sweet sweet squirrel on sheet metal
    1. Re:Download the Expansion? by Dreadlord · · Score: 2, Informative

      The expansion DOES require its own CD key to work. On the other hand, I think that Blizzard's expansions are big enough to deserve paying for, Broodwar was as long as the otiginal Starcraft.

      --
      The IT section color scheme sucks.
    2. Re:Download the Expansion? by FroMan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Couple things here.

      Blizzard is in the business to make money. They make a product and ask a fee for the product. Their business plan is to get paid for their work. This plan may or may not work here, but it is their plan.

      RTCW is an example of another business plan. The company feels that a good will gesture will yeild more money in the long run than to toss a whole project out the window. They had already put in the bulk of the R&D, yet they did not feel it was marketable so they are releasing it for free.

      Piracy. What a scummy thing. I hate shoplifters. The people who have enough money to pay for something then they just lift it cause they can. That is so slimey. Piracy is the same thing. Take it cause you can.

      Folks here love to rationalize their actions, saying they are getting ripped off, or that they deserve it cause they are a big bad corporation. Well, if you really want to protest Blizzard, don't buy AND don't play the game. If you feel the game is not worth what they are asking for it, don't play it. Nothing gives you the right to play it. The best part, is you really get to stick it to Blizzard that way. You are voting with your dollar and not adding to the player base. Once you add to the player base more people will play.

      Look at MS. Why are they king of the desktop? Because people keep USING it. Not because they are buying it. Look at how their market share grew so large when they didn't really attack piracy. Consider IE v. other browsers. Mozilla and IE and Opera (non registered) and most others are free. There is no excuse to use IE if you don't want the web to only be an IE haven. You just have to stand up for what you believe. Stand up and be counted. Be a leader and not a follower. However, understand that being a leader you pay a different price, that price is ostracization. You may not be in the in crowd, you might not be able to use your bank's website, you may not be able to see certain applets or plugins. However, future generations will if you make a mark.

      So, in short, you may not be able to play WCIII expansions if you do not buy them, but don't pirate them if you dop not feel stongly enough to pay for them. Let your real dollars vote, and stand by your vote.

      --
      Norris/Palin 2012
      Fact: We deserve leaders who can kick your ass and field dress your carcass.
    3. Re:Download the Expansion? by BexGu · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Uhhh Does the new RTCW offer a 24/7 server that is scanned and taken care by the company itself? Is ID releasing new patches with content/skill changes for a game that is over three years old (Diablo 2)? At this point Blizzard is the only company I buy games from because I know that the cd-key and content of the game are worth something. And to that effect, they keep up and take care of the games once it is release. And trust me, the expansion will require it own cd key. They had that model working since the expansion for Diablo 2 came out, or hell, maybe even with broodwar.

    4. Re:Download the Expansion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My rationalization: ITS FREE! More money for beer and hardware! w00t!

      Now I know if I inspected the macroeconomic situation I'd really realize that I'm ripping my self off in the end... oh... wait, on further examination, no, I'm not. 200 for XP pro... er... $50 for a game... $45 for a keg... Hm... Pirate game, buy keg. Can't pirate a keg you know.

      My scientific conclusion... I don't have one. All I know is that I'm poor, Software companies charge way too much, therefore I won't pay them. But also I contribute to the word of mouth process, so I do increase their profits anyways.

    5. Re:Download the Expansion? by FroMan · · Score: 1

      I'm poor so gimme gimme gimme.

      You don't know poor. Poor is when you don't have a root over your head. Living pay check to pay check. Poor is when you truly need help.

      You have a computer, which implies a roof over your head. You insult and mock poor people.

      You may have said this in humor, but I do not find this humorous. I find it pathetic. You rationalize your lack of ethics by mocking poor people and lie to yourself that you help companies by not paying for their product. All for a beer.

      Reminds me of a fortune:

      Everyone has a price Bob, and yours was pretty low.

      --
      Norris/Palin 2012
      Fact: We deserve leaders who can kick your ass and field dress your carcass.
    6. Re:Download the Expansion? by elid · · Score: 1
      Is ID releasing new patches with content/skill changes for a game that is over three years old (Diablo 2)?

      By the time 1.10 comes out, it should be about eight or nine years....

    7. Re:Download the Expansion? by The_dev0 · · Score: 1
      Poor is when you don't have a root over your head

      What, are you a struggling hobbit? ;o)

      But seriously, I agree. There are no excuses for outright piracy, and no justification for it no matter what you try to convince yourself.

      --
      Never fight naked, unless you're in prison...
    8. Re:Download the Expansion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So I can't download that 15 year old game I played as a kid that no one sells anymore?

    9. Re:Download the Expansion? by The_dev0 · · Score: 1

      Do whatever the fuck you like, AC. Nobody here is gonna stop you. Just don't try and convince yourself (or us) you can do it legally.

      --
      Never fight naked, unless you're in prison...
  6. Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I had been so looking forward to that game after being addicted to WCII and SC. However, WCIII just didn't work for me, I think it's partly the 3D UI which made battles a bit cumbersome.

    1. Re:Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by Bonewalker · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Well, yes and no. I love some of the really cool new spells and items, and mercenaries, and creeps, and the team options.

      However, I have to agree that this game would have been perfect utilizing a 2d setting. The 3D just doesn't quite cut the mustard, and I agree with you that it makes battles cumbersome.

    2. Re:Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by RexRuther · · Score: 1

      I was dissapointed by the fact that I suck so bad at it when I go online. :(

      --
      -"The early bird catches the worm, but the late bird sleeps the most"
    3. Re:Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by irix · · Score: 1

      I was disappointed with WCIII too. Two big reasons really:

      1. You have do do things in an exact order at the beginning of the game or you will lose
      2. Too much micromanagement

      #1 is an artifact of all RTS to a certain extent. However, I found that in WCIII it is true to an extreme - you win or lose based on how well you know your hotkeys and what order you build things in.

      For #2 - I hate micromangaing battles in RTS. WCIII is all about hotkey swtiching between the heroes, using their abilities and getting them out before they die. Bleh.

      I am a big RTS fan (playing lots of C&C - Generals right now) but WCIII simply didn't cut it for me. I bought the game based on my love of WCII and SC, but I don't see myself shelling out for the expansion.

      --

      Do you even know anything about perl? -- AC Replying to Tom Christiansen post.
    4. Re:Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by ArmorFiend · · Score: 1

      The game is friggin about micromanagement, because if they tried to do macro management on current hardware with their current visual quality, joe-sixpack's GPU would melt. That's plain enough.

      As to "doing things in the exact order", that's totally untrue. You could make the same argument about chess, and you'd be wrong there too. It sounds like you're playing someone much better than you. Against equal skill levels you should have several options.

      Heh, by the way, I'm a minorly famous War3 player. Or was so "back in the day". Check out my screenshot-cartoon of a game on US East

    5. Re:Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by cicatrix1 · · Score: 1

      Uh, since you can only slightly rotate the view (along any axis -- and it snaps back), it's basically still very 2D. What difference does it make if the game uses sprites or models? Except that models look better?

      --

      I know more than you drink.
    6. Re:Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by d3kk · · Score: 1

      I agree that the game is friggen about micromanagement. There's no question there, and I think Blizzard did a great job with the gameplay.

      I played for a long time before quitting a few months back, and from my experience there were only a few ways to effectively compete in every game you play. Sure, you could do an off the wall strategy and sometimes you might catch the guy off-guard, but I'd say the majority of the time if you just used a popular build and pumped out a single unit as fast as possible, you'd have a pretty good chance of beating somebody who tried something different. The balance simply wasn't great. I quit right around when massing sorceresses became popular after the AMS nerf, and it was incredibly difficult to beat them. Same with quite a few other units.

    7. Re:Anyone else disappointed with WCIII? by ArmorFiend · · Score: 1

      Hm, well I think I had a different perspective on the whole thing, having participated in the original War3 Beta, seeing, e.g. the Keeper going from great to crappy to great about 4 times.

      Balancing a game such that so-so players percieve "balance" and first tier players percieve balance is some tricky shit. :) Not that I was ever a first tier player, mind you.

  7. Because they stand to make at least $125 million.. by Bonewalker · · Score: 1

    Hard to turn a blind eye, or a even a fat wallet, to that.

  8. biggest letdown ever by Flunitrazepam · · Score: 0, Troll

    War 3. Unless one of the new 'features' is: * Now with actual FUN! You can count me out.

    --
    1) Your analysis is based on bad assumptions so your result is way off. 2) You're a sick bastard for fucking a horse.
  9. starcraft has no balance without broodwar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you clearly don't play on a competitive level

    1. Re:starcraft has no balance without broodwar by The+Analog+Kid · · Score: 1

      What, where the strategy is build 100s of units and rush before the first 5 mins of the game, it doesn't even have a strategy anymore.

  10. -1, Marked by DMCA wielding jackbooted thugs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    n-o t-e-x-t

  11. What OS? by MrBoring · · Score: 1

    Anyone know what OS they want, or does it have it's own built in?

  12. The thing I don't get... by Clomer · · Score: 1

    The thing I don't get is that the beta is still in progress. Or perhaps I should rephrase that... I get the reasoning, I just don't like it. I feel that it is irresponsible to release a game with the plan of having a patch right on release day. That's what they are going to do, though. :-(

    --
    Intelligent responses welcome, flames will be met with marshmallows.
    1. Re:The thing I don't get... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most likely the release day patch will be something on the order of a few unit stat changes (looking back on prior Blizz release-day patches). Worse patches have been longer awaited. Or do you think there's going to be some can't-get-beyond-point-x-in-the-campaign bug... or some combination that will instantly crash the game that they're holding off on patching until release day?

  13. Don't Support Blizzard by cc_pirate · · Score: 0, Insightful

    These are the same scumbags who went after Open Source guys for reverse engineering their server TCP/IP calls and making an Open Source server, which should NOT be illegal. They didn't steal any code, they reverse engineered fair and square.

    But that wasn't good enough for Blizzard.

    They invoked the evil DMCA and went after the poor OS guys.

    The penalty to Blizzard should be severe. So boycott them! They obviously think all their customers are criminals who can't be trusted, so don't give them more money to sue more of us.

    I know I won't buy ANY game from those scumbags, nor will I play any game from them.

    There are plenty of other games from decent, hardworking people who don't go after innocent folks with evil corporate bought laws.

    Blizzard = evil incarnate in my book.

    --

    "There are laws that enslave men, and laws that set them free. " - Sean Connery as King Arthur

    1. Re:Don't Support Blizzard by elid · · Score: 1, Informative
      Um...reverse engineering sounds pretty illegal to me.

      If Blizzard wanted the whole world to be playing their betas, they would make it an open beta.

      Sounds to me like you're just ranting cause you didn't get picked.

    2. Re:Don't Support Blizzard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also, Blizzard clearly states in their warranties/EULAs/whatever that reverse engineering their products is prohibited.

    3. Re:Don't Support Blizzard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      pretty stupid how anyone who is against violating a company's rights automatically gets modded down and called flamebait

    4. Re:Don't Support Blizzard by cc_pirate · · Score: 1

      Reverse engineering is and always has been legal.
      The IBM compatible PC you are using would not exist without reverse engineering (assuming you aren't using an IBM).

      Reverse engineering is a key part of the world economy. Anyone who doesn't know that is woefully ignorant.

      In every other industry reverse engineering is legal, it is only the DMCA that makes it illegal in this case, which is probably unconstitutional.

      And Blizzard used this heinous, evil law against their customers, hence they are evil and YOU are an idiot for supporting them.

      --

      "There are laws that enslave men, and laws that set them free. " - Sean Connery as King Arthur

    5. Re:Don't Support Blizzard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The idiots behind the BnetD project were screwing Blizzard. Blizzard released a FREE (as in beer) beta, allowing people to TEST their code, their software, and their servers. And BnetD circumvented that effort, taking control of the beta away from Blizzard, and scoring themselves a free game.

      If people keep that kind of crap up, it will send developers a clear message: allowing free betas does NOT help improve product quality, and cuts into sales because they already HAVE the game and can play it any time they want.

    6. Re:Don't Support Blizzard by cc_pirate · · Score: 1

      I shouldn't even reply to anonymous cowards, but your premise is idiotic.

      So what if a beta improves product quality. That should not give the software industry the right to kill reverse engineering, nor should it excuse Blizzard's attempts to SLAPP BnetD with the DMCA.

      Following your logic, it is ok if IBM sues American Megatrends since IBM will give us better quality. Who cares that IBM was closed and opposed to change and clone PCs because that was against their product plans.

      This is the whole damn point of reverse engineering! If someone can keep their invention closed for FOREVER, society does NOT benefit. That is why patents expire! It's why copyright SHOULD expire.

      And Blizzard was bad, and everyone on here KNOWS they were bad, but because you like their product, you will bend over and take it. Fool. In the end, you can blame yourself for the corporate chains that bind you.

      And yeah, Moderator, go ahead and mod this as a troll like you did the other one, even though I have said nothing but the TRUTH!

      --

      "There are laws that enslave men, and laws that set them free. " - Sean Connery as King Arthur

  14. The biggest dissapointment for me... by utawoutau · · Score: 1
    was that the basic gameplay for this hasn't changed much over the years. I still feel as if this game is all about churn out units and launch as many as you can against the enemy to win.

    I believe that Blizzard did manage to add a bit more strategy into the mix, but like a lot of other posters have pointed out, battles don't end up boiling down to strategy they boil don't to how well you can use hotkeys - which you need to be able to do to implement your strategies.

    This game sucks.

    1. Re:The biggest dissapointment for me... by edwdig · · Score: 1

      I've found it depends on who you're matched up against. If you're matched against an opponent of equal skill, I've seen games go on for over an hour with several changes in strategy from each side.

      If you're mismatched, which happens often as the random match making allows too big of a level difference, then the game is usually over in 20 minutes and is a slaughter.

  15. Beta Tester by KevinIsOwn · · Score: 2, Informative

    I was a war3x beta tester.
    If you like war3, you will *LOVE* war3x. War3 is an incredible game and war3x expands upon it adding numerous new features that truely enhance game play. It really isn't just some expansion slapped together with a few new units and a new type of map to sell copies. It was well thought out and has quite a few gameplay improvements. Blizzard really deserves a hand for war3x, it was above and beyond what I was expecting in an expansion (after seeing Broodwar that is!)

  16. Taken to its highly illogical conclusion.... by Hilleh · · Score: 1

    The government SAYS I'm not allowed to murder people, but I have my own theories on that matter! Seriously, I really like the eye-for-an-eye concept. Even if common morality won't give me that option, I can still make my own options... Granted, they're not legal, but....hey, the world revolves around me and my actions have no consequences!

    Time to get the ol' BAC up to .5 and drive real fast around the orphanage! YEEEEEHAWWWW!!

    1. Re:Taken to its highly illogical conclusion.... by LineNoiz · · Score: 1

      Let me simplify this for you, as you seem to have missed the point: I know that it is illegal. I just don't care. Same reason I drive 50 in a 45 zone. Not that I think the must do what i think is right, just that I don't care. I belive the benefits outweigh any possible consequences. Now, if the punishment for pirating video games was death or life in prison, I might reevaluate my position.

      --
      "Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit." --Oscar Wilde
    2. Re:Taken to its highly illogical conclusion.... by Hilleh · · Score: 1

      Let me simplify this for you, as you seem to have missed the point: I know that it is illegal. I just don't care. Same reason I rape little girls and kill them. Not that I think the must do what i think is right, just that I don't care. I belive the benefits outweigh any possible consequences. Now, if the punishment for sodomizing children was death or life in prison, I might reevaluate my position.

  17. Value by 222 · · Score: 1

    I rarely buy a PC game. I typically download it, play it for a day or 2, and dismiss it....
    Warcraft 3 is a different story. I found myself playing the downloaded copy for weeks. So many nights where the hours grew long and my eyelids grew heavy....
    So i bought it. It stunned me that a game could hold such quality and replay value.
    What i didnt expect, however, was to find that playing on bnet would introduce a whole new world of competition, and a unique modding community (The custom games are outstanding).
    If you saw me right now, you would see that i didnt have time to take a shower this morning. Thats because until 3 am, i was playing on bnet, and sleep seemed suddenly less important than owning in footman tourny. And i cant stop. Blizzard has created one of the best games of all time, and ill be waiting in line for FT ;)
    By the way, if you havent bought it already, id really recommend the Deluxe Set, i got mine for 60 bucks (10 more than the standard), and i got the soundtrack on CD, a DVD disk with all the cinematics, a book filled with story and concept art, and some beatifull prints.

    angry_cow (US East)

  18. They're called DEMOs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Many big games have them these days. It's REAL easy to tell if you like the game well before you buy it. Even if it's somewhat crippled.