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WRUP: That totally safe theme park we're working on
Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too! Earlier this week, we reported on World Joyland, the counterfeit Blizzard theme park that recently opened in China. It's got not just one cheap knock-off Arthas, but two cheap knock-off Arthases. You can visit Silvermoon City or even get your picture taken in front of a half-draenei, half-dwarf who is allied with the Horde. It looks super confusing. That got us here at WoW Insider thinking about a real, non-counterfeit World of Warcraft theme park with actual safety standards. A delicious lunch at The Mage Table. People dressed in boomkin costumes earning minimum wage. A fun swim in Thousand Needles! (Too soon?) So this week, in addition to the usual "what are you playing" question, I had our intrepid columnists help design our own WoW theme park. Petting zoos! Fire! It's all there! Care to sign a waiver before following me after the break? Totally routine, I assure you.
Unlicensed World of Warcraft theme park opens in China
World Joyland hungers. If you love Chinese knock-offs -- and I know you do -- you'll love this bit of news: World Joyland, the famed and unlicensed World of Warcraft theme park in Changzhou, China, is now open for business. The people at Shanghaiist took a tour of the place, taking myriad pictures of their experience. In actuality, the park is less of a WoW rip-off and more of a Blizzard rip-off. It includes a Starcraft-themed area named "Universe of Starship" in addition to its World of Warcraft area, which is named "Terrain of Magic." What kind of rides does the place have? Well, Shanghaiist detailed one of them: Our first ride was an exciting little number called Splash of Monster Blood, and they're not kidding about the splash. We'll just say this much: trying to act cool by refusing the buy a sky blue poncho on your way in is a giant n00b stamp. The ride was, as its sign board attests, a "beast-bloody journey" (a.k.a. your standard amusement park log ride affair.) After clicking and chugging up a tunnel full of orcs and monsters, you are then plunged down into water that manages somehow to smash you from both the front and the back simultaneously. While World Joyland may have skimped on the official licensing -- China is much cooler with copyright infringement than we Americans are -- we're pretty sure they didn't skimp on anything else while building the place. The place is probably totally safe and not covered in lead-based paints. Right? Right? The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new tier 12 armor!
