WRUP: Playing favorites

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW.com 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!

It's another weekend at the WoW.com office, which just means more time with the Cataclysm beta for most of us. A good blogger never sleeps*, so even in our downtime, we're thinking about what you guys might want to see next. With that in mind, WRUP's bonus question this week: For those of you in the Cataclysm beta, what's your favorite revamped old world zone so far?

Adam Holisky (@adamholisky): This weekend, I'll be cleaning the apartment and throwing out lots of crap as I prepare for an eventual move. My favorite revamped zone is by far Mount Hyjal. I mean, the old one was kind of bland ...
Alex Ziebart (@alexziebart): My office really needs a good cleaning, so I'll be doing that. If there's any time left in my weekend after that, it's going to be more of the Cataclysm beta. My favorite revamped zone is Silverpine Forest by far, even though it upsets me that only the Horde gets to see the story there. The Alliance should get to see that story play out, too.

Allison Robert (@AllisonRobert): I'm going to try to get more experience tanking and healing for 5-man runs on the beta so I can write a post or two on what people can expect there. I'm still at a loss to explain why almost all of my video footage is upside down, though. Any work on cat DPS has been postponed indefinitely until the feral damage and/or scrolling combat text bugs get fixed. Favorite revamped Cataclysm zone so far is a tough call, but I will say the biggest shock was probably Thousand Needles.
Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey): Hopefully raiding on Sunday if the server behaves -- we're working on getting everyone Icebound Frostbrood Vanquishers, aka rideable Chillmaws. Other than that, it's just a mad scramble of writing as usual. As for the new zones ... I really love what they did to Azshara, but Eastern Plaguelands is a close second -- the way that they revamped EP makes it a lot easier to navigate. It's really fun now.
Amy Schley (@wowlawbringer): I'll be playing around on my new 4/12 ICC-10 and -25 resto shaman. I never knew raiding could be so dang fun! As I'm not in the beta, I just note one of my favorite zones in Nagrand, as it reminds me quite strongly of my current home state of Kansas. Except in Kansas, the cows don't talk. Unless you've been out in the sun way too long.
Brian Wood (@frostheimwhu):I'm working on a new hunter song and collecting some of the pretty new Cataclysm pets. The best zone in Cataclysm is unquestionably Ironforge. It's pretty much the same, because it's just hard to improve upon dwarven perfection.
Basil Berntsen (@outdps): I'll be preparing for my trip to Dallas and going to family dinners that will prevent me from podcasting.
Chase Christian (@madsushi): I'll be poking around in EVE some, getting schooled by Robin on Words With Friends, praying for Shadowfrost shards to drop for my guildmates while leading an ICC-25, and testing out subtlety rogues on the beta. My favorite revamped zone would have to be Orgrimmar; they've really breathed some new life into the city.
Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb): I move next weekend, so I will probably be frantically cleaning and packing most of the time, though I do want to slip onto beta to get through the rest of the Vashj'ir zone and maybe do a bit more leveling on my goblin hunter. Speaking of which, my favorite changed zone so far has got to be Silverpine Forest, but it's sort of a love-hate thing. The atmosphere is amazing, the story is shocking, compelling and visceral, and the quests are varied with a lot of fun mechanics ... But I am pissed off that worgen players don't get to see the next part of their own damn racial storyline. Screw riding the night elves' coattails in Kalimdor; we should be in Silverpine fighting the Forsaken alongside Crowley.
Dawn Moore (@dawnwow): Writing, podcast and working on my UI. I'm trying to design a new UI that'll work for me in Cataclysm.
Gregg Reece: I'm going to run the dungeon finder on the beta until I go blind this weekend, if real life permits. As for my revamped old world zone of choice, I think from looks, I like Thousand Needles. Becoming an inland archipelago is interesting, although I haven't played anything with it yet.
Joe Perez (@Lodurzj): Beta, writing, video editing and preparing for the podcast recording Monday. Also getting ready to transform For The Lore into a much bigger project, so the crew there is all hard at work this weekend. It will be a busy weekend for sure. As far as my favorite re-worked old zone, I really like Western Plaguelands, Darkshore and Ashenvale. I like the big changes that are sweeping the world. It feels fresh and new again.
Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra): Working like a mad cow, as usual. Playing the crap out of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, and I doubt there's time for much else. My favorite and ... not-favorite revamped zone for Cataclysm is The Barrens. The first time I flew over it, I nearly cried. It's cool to see it change, and there's so much to do, but ... there's also a lot of sadness.
Matt Low (@matticus): Beta, beta, beta, beta. Or something. I really want to get into some more of these instances, but I'm being thwarted. Otherwise, I'll just continue leveling out the rest of the way. Favorite zone: Probably The Barrens. It's gone from wasteland to oasis in more ways than one. Oh yeah, and nice to see some Alliance presence there as well! That's what I'm talking about! (And who says we're all Horde-biased?)
Mathew McCurley (@gomatgo): Scott Pilgrim this weekend, writing and job hunting. I think I might also work on a theme song for the podcast. My favorite revamped zone in Cataclysm so far is either Silverpine, Western Plaguelands or Southern Barrens. I love the changing world, and these zones show off the change incredibly well.
Michael Sacco (@mikesacco): Playing Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, which you should play too. Redridge.
Rich Maloy (@stoneybaby): I'm off to DC this weekend for a siblings + significant others weekend. Looking forward to spending some quality time with both the girlfriend and the family. I'll be back on Sunday in time for a heroic Halion-25 kill (hopefully).
Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel): Silverpine Forest! It's what I'm doing this weekend as well as my favorite revamped old world zone in Cataclysm. The quests! The lore! The fun! The action! I'm going to start another Forsaken character just to run her through again.
Zach Yonzon (@Battlemasters): If you're in the beta -- why would you be playing anything else? And I'll have to go with Chase on this one ... Orgrimmar is just too badass right now.

*Please send help. We're so tired ...

The weekend is the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy some game time. Are you an achievement junkie? Can't get enough raiding? Rolling a new alt? Considering taking the leap into roleplaying? Whatever your favorite way to play World of Warcraft, let us know in the comments what you're playing this weekend!