World of Warcraft™

So, I've never made a QQ thread in my life, and I don't plan to start now. Suffice it to say that I'm looking for an explanation more so than consolation..

Why is it that Blizzard has chosen not to "flip the switch" on Cataclysm until midnight Pacific time? While I can't recall 100% whether this was the case for WotLK (fairly sure that it wasn't,) it certainly was not the case when BC was released. I attended the midnight sale along with a few friends, and we were home and up and running by around 1:30 AM or so. This year, considering the fact that I have to be at work at 8 AM the next morning, I will most likely not experience Cataclysm content prior to returning home from work on Wednesday evening, since I won't be able to play until 3 AM. For this reason, I went ahead and just purchased the digital version and I can't imagine that there will be nearly as many people attending midnight events on the east coast as have in the past, considering they won't be able to play for a full 3 hours after they receive their copies of the game.

Anyway, rant aside, I am just wondering what the reasoning was behind this decision. I suppose if I can understand the reasons behind it I might not find it so annoying... might... ;)

Pretty sure the game is still going to be there when you get a chance to sign on dude.

It all depends on your point of view. Some of us are using vacation time so we can bypass that issue entirely. Also, keep in mind the people who are going to buy their copy at a store (Collector's edition for example) and are on the west coast, where the stores open at the same time that the content opens up.

This thread again...

1. Their HQ is located in Irvine, CA
2. Release date is December 7
3. December 7 happens at 12 am (that would be midnight) PST for Blizzard HQ.

I am buying it at midnight release (woohoo I am PST) but since I have a test the next morning, then work I won't be playing it until I get home. Its not the end of the world, you aren't missing out on anything you haven't already seen/experienced before aside from teh furry/green men.

I live on the west coast but I too am working Wednesday morning. There are going to be a lot of people that won't be able to play until Wednesday evening and not just because of time differences...

That's the price you pay to live on the better coast. ;)

It will, take you 3 hours to have a playable game, don't worry.

So, I've never made a QQ thread in my life, and I don't plan to start now. Suffice it to say that I'm looking for an explanation more so than consolation..

Why is it that Blizzard has chosen not to "flip the switch" on Cataclysm until midnight Pacific time? While I can't recall 100% whether this was the case for WotLK (fairly sure that it wasn't,) it certainly was not the case when BC was released. I attended the midnight sale along with a few friends, and we were home and up and running by around 1:30 AM or so. This year, considering the fact that I have to be at work at 8 AM the next morning, I will most likely not experience Cataclysm content prior to returning home from work on Wednesday evening, since I won't be able to play until 3 AM. For this reason, I went ahead and just purchased the digital version and I can't imagine that there will be nearly as many people attending midnight events on the east coast as have in the past, considering they won't be able to play for a full 3 hours after they receive their copies of the game.

Anyway, rant aside, I am just wondering what the reasoning was behind this decision. I suppose if I can understand the reasons behind it I might not find it so annoying... might... ;)

Because 00:00 PST and 3:00EST is the exact same time.

Being that the expansion releases at 00:00PST, you will need to account for timezones.

East Coast isn't getting shafted at all, it's released at the same time as PST.

Besides, midnight vs. 3AM, you would be late for work the next day either way.

Phily here.

OHH NO WHAT AM I EVER GOING TO DO

I guess I didn't make it clear enough the first time, but I am not trying to complain. I am simply asking why Blizzard decided to change the way they have released expansions in the past. Burning Crusade was fully playable at midnight Eastern.. I just don't understand why those of us on the east coast have to wait until 3 AM now..

P.S. I don't have any vacation time left. :(

Buy the digital copy, download it, go to sleep, wake up and go to work, come home and play. You don't have to play it the moment it comes out.

It sucks for anyone on the east coast trying for realm firsts.

People going for realm firsts would be pulling all-nighters and playing until they reached their goal anyway. For that crowd, I don't really think it matters if you start at midnight or 3 am.

Some of the posts in this thread have me confused: is it 3 am Tuesday morning or 3 am Wednesday morning that it unlocks? The 7th is a Tuesday, so I thought the unlock happened on Monday night/Tuesday morning, whatever you consider midnight to be.

Am I the only one that likes that they've changed it to midnight west coast time? Before anybody says anything, no I don't live on the west coast. I happen to live in the midwest :)

How is it unfair at all that everyone gets to play at the same time? You think it is more fair for you to play 3 hours before the pacific coast? Really?

Even though they're flipping the switch on at 3am (EST) you should already have Cata downloaded and can simply log in. People on the west coast will still be buying / driving home to install it.

Buy the digital copy, download it, go to sleep, wake up and go to work, come home and play. You don't have to play it the moment it comes out.

West coast and doing exactly this. I have to work in the morning. I work at a school though and have the week of Christmas off ^.^ I expect to do most of my playing that week. I'm not concerned about realm firsts...

It sucks for anyone on the east coast trying for realm firsts.

People going for realm firsts would be pulling all-nighters and playing until they reached their goal anyway. For that crowd, I don't really think it matters if you start at midnight or 3 am.

Some of the posts in this thread have me confused: is it 3 am Tuesday morning or 3 am Wednesday morning that it unlocks? The 7th is a Tuesday, so I thought the unlock happened on Monday night/Tuesday morning, whatever you consider midnight to be.

It's 3 AM Tuesday morning (December 7th) that the servers go up for East Coasters. Make sure you get the right days off!