iGame Radio

Blizzard has opened the doors for pre-ordering WoW: Cataclysm. However, unlike for previous versions of WoW, you can purchase the game as a digital download, available to play when servers go live.

Traditionally, to play most AAA titles, players had to stand in long lines to get their game. Often these sales started at midnight, and caused fanatical fans to camp out the day before. With the existence of digital downloads, this has begun to change. When Blizzard launched StarCraft II, fans could purchase both the digital and physical version of the game. However, those who purchased the digital version could not access the servers until 10 am the that morning, while those who purchased the physical disk could start playing at midnight as soon as they installed.

No more. Blizzard has announced that, regardless of what format you have purchased the game, you can start playing it as soon as the servers go live. Which will lead to the inevitable question of why anyone would stand in lines anymore. And whereas this would cause a great number of people relief at not having to stand in long lines, it also is one step closer to an isolated community that never actually physically spends time with each other.

And I think that’s a shame.