WRUP: Relatively fond farewell edition
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!
This weekend may be our final weekend with the Azeroth we have known and loved since 2004. Once patch 4.0.3a hits, everything is changing. This week, in addition to asking our staff what they're playing and/or doing this weekend, we've asked them how they feel about never seeing Old Azeroth again. Are they happy to see it go? Sad? What about you, readers?
Alex Ziebart (@alexziebart): The recent hints from BioWare about the new title it's announcing in early December have me playing Mass Effect 2 again. Every time I think I've played that game enough, it pulls me back in. I must have played through that game beginning to end plus DLC a good 10 times. No exaggeration whatsoever. The possibility that they might announce a new Mass Effect title next month has me geeking out like nobody's business. Besides that, I got my hands on my grandparents' old handwritten recipe books. I'm trying to figure out if there's anything cool I can do with them online. Posting a bunch of recipes from the '50s on my own blog, maybe? Do people really want to see that? As for the bonus question, I'm not sad to see Old Azeroth go right now, but I'm sure I will be in a few months. I have a lot of fond memories in those dumpy old zones.
Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey): I am...actually not sure what the heck I'm doing this weekend. Writing, for sure. As far as the bonus question: I'm excited about the changes, I really am, but there's a part of me that is nostalgia-ridden and a bit sad that all these places I've been and things I've done in game are being wiped out. It's a really weird feeling.
Chase Christian (@madsushi): Finally installed StarCraft 2, so I'll have to relearn everything that's changed since I played in the beta. I'll also be leveling my Alliance alt in the Insiders guild, the wife and I hoping to get through all of the Alliance-centric zones before Cataclysm is released.
Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb): I'll be doing some last-minute Cataclysm prep. Maybe get ready to roll that gnome priest. I've also gotten back into StarCraft 2, so I'll probably be playing a bit of that. I need to work on my early game, mostly. Surviving the rush and all that. I'm pretty eager for the new world. I'm bummed that the Horde gets to take over so much, and that I didn't quite manage to finish a couple achievements I wanted, but it's all good. Let's do this, Deathwing.
Dawn Moore (@dawnwow): I don't expect to get much done this weekend since on Sunday I'm going out for the day, but I have some writing I want to get done and that means testing a few things on beta, playing more SC2, and catching up on GSL season 2 and Day9 dailies. If I'm lucky, I can squeeze in some We Love Katamari to unwind. As for 4.0.3a, I'm curious how certain zones will look after The Shattering but pre-Cataclysm content. Azshara comes to mind. I don't think I'll miss too much ... but I took plenty of pictures.
Elizabeth Wachowski (@leeatwaterlives): I'll probably be playing some more Fable III. As for 4.0.3a, I've spent more than enough time in the old world. Bring on the new!
Fox Van Allen (@foxvanallen): Heading down to New Jersey for the week of Thanksgiving, so that's the start to the weekend. Once there, I will immediately leave the state to visit my friend (and former guildie) Chester in Philadelphia for a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving. Any gaming that gets done will be on my mother's 28.8k dial-up service ... so ... I might play a little Legend of the Red Dragon, or whatever kind of 15-year-old BBS games such a connection can handle.
Gregg Reece (@undeadfish): I'll be playing Goldeneye on Wii. I played a lot of original Goldeneye way back when. My major complaint about this new version is the lack of the Temple level for multiplayer. I loved that place. As for the bonus question, I'm predicting a Nov. 30 patch day. I'm looking forward to the new race/class combinations. I've got names reserved for my troll druid and dwarf shaman.
Joe Perez (@Lodurzj): Leveling alts that are past the "new leveling experience" that 4.0.3a will bring and saving the lowbies until after The Shattering. Resurrecting my personal blog with a massive, several-thousand-word story post bringing Lodur up to current events. Bonus question: While I'm ready for the change to the old world, there are certainly things that I will miss, ZG not being the only member of that list. I guess it's like gamer nostalgia, since World of Warcraft is the game I've invested the most amount of time in, and most of that was in the old world. The one thing that I'm super-excited for, though, is the race changes that will be (supposedly) opening up when The Shattering happens. Lodur needs to be a dwarf already; I'm sort of tired of the waggle.
Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra): I'm actually catching up on some reading, namely Arthas (yes, I know), and my copy of The Shattering is en route as we speak. I also arbitrarily decided that I want the Ambassador title for Cadistra, so I'm working on that too. As for the bonus question: I'm on the fence. Yes, I'm excited for the change. But WoW was my first MMO, and there's plenty I'm still attached too. It's not quite the "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot," but I'll still miss the old world.
Lisa Poisso (@emused): Gonna be offline this weekend with friends and family. I may find some time to play on the new realm/guild I'll be on for Cata, but I find reconciling all the different versions of WoW (what's on the live servers, what's in beta, changes that are imminent, changes coming with the expansion) to be very jarring for my character. Sign o' the times and hazard of the trade and all that, I suppose.
Mathew McCurley (@gomatgo): More pre-Shattering running around, trying to get everything done before the world explodes. Lots of writing and planning and probably beta-dungeoning-for-screenshots with my WoW Insider elite 5-man dungeon crew. WoW is the first MMO to me that really feels like it is changing dramatically from the beginning. UO opened up a whole new world that was just a mirror image of the old world with a new rule set, but the old world was still intact. Cataclysm is making me sad and happy at the same time.
Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel): If I am able to get any gaming at all done this weekend, it will be Civ 5 -- something tons of fun, but turn-based so I can multitask. I have thoroughly enjoyed the old world, but I won't miss it much. I love the changes to the landscape, the stories, and the gameplay and cannot wait for The Shattering so that I can start my new Azerothian adventures.
Sarah Nichol (@mentalshaman): I'll be playing "pack up the house" this weekend, as we prepare to move over the Christmas period. As for 4.0.3a, I'll be sad to see the old world go, but I ready for this next chapter of the story!
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!
