The California-based video game development company Blizzard Entertainment Inc. has yet to embrace allowing its monumentally popular title, World of Warcraft to be enjoyed online without monthly payments. But with hit games such as Warner Bros.' Lord of the Rings Online and Valve's Team Fortress 2 subscribing to the free online play configuration, the software leviathan has in some way taken note, apparently. While the massively multiplayer online role-playing game is still not going the complimentary route in every last sense of the word, Blizzard has decided to give players more access to the aptly nicknamed WoW without charge.
In lieu of its prior utilization of time-oriented trials - which would usually span 14 days - the MMORPG will now be free for players to take pleasure in until their characters have reached level 20; going as quickly or as slowly as they desire. As such the new introductory package dubbed the World of Warcraft Starter Edition will permit those giving the game a test drive a much better - albeit still limited - feel for it than before. Unfortunately the level 20 cutoff is not the only cap put into place in terms of character enhancement.
The Starter Edition restrictions also curb trade skills to a maximum of 100, and players won't have the luxury of using features such as Auction House or be able to exchange with others involved in the game. What's more is that public chats, guilds and parties with characters at a higher level than 20 will be closed to those using this package. Voice communication, characters and Real ID will also be unavailable.
Luckily, Blizzard is offering players inexpensive solutions upon getting to the preset game caps.
"...players will be able to get both the original World of Warcraft and the game's first expansion set, The Burning Crusade, for only $19.99 as part of the new digital Battle Chest now available in the online Blizzard Store. In addition, anyone who owns the original World of Warcraft, regardless of when they purchased the game, will automatically be able to access all of the content and features from The Burning Crusade expansion at no additional cost." the company said in a statement.
The new trial format and low-priced package deal weren't the only things Blizzard wanted to inform the world of. Live patch 4.2 entitled Rage of the Firelands - released on Tuesday 28 June - will bring various new updates to the magical realm of WoW including – but not limited to – new raids and quests. Hopefully this new business tactic on behalf of Blizzard gets more people to experience the immense World of Warcraft.
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