| Warcraft franchise | |
|---|---|
The official logo of the franchise |
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| Genres | Real-time strategy, MMORPG |
| Developers | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Publishers | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Platforms | MS-DOS, Mac OS, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows |
| First release | Warcraft: Orcs & Humans November 1994 [1] |
| Latest release | World of Warcraft: Cataclysm December 7, 2010 |
Warcraft is a franchise of video games, novels, and other media originally created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series is made up of Four core games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and World of Warcraft. The first three of these core games are in the real-time strategy genre, where opposing players command virtual armies in battle against each other or a computer-controlled enemy. The last and best selling title of the franchise is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Expansion sets were also released for multiple games in the series, each adding more content to each game as an effort to expand the product lifespan of each. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans had no expansions, Warcraft II had Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, and Warcraft III had Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. World of Warcraft has had multiple expansions, namely World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, and World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria.[1][2]
All games in the series have been set in and around the world of Azeroth, a high fantasy setting. Initially, the start of the series focused on the human nations which make up the Eastern Kingdoms, and the Orcish Horde which arrived in Azeroth via a dark portal, beginning the great wars. The Orcs arrived from another world, referred to as Draenor or Outland, a world which has been shattered into pieces by demonic magics. Later on in the series the world of Azeroth was expanded, revealing the new continents of Kalimdor and Northrend, allowing the introduction of the Night Elves, Tauren and other major races into the universe. The world of Azeroth also contains the traditional fantasy setting races of elves, dwarves, gnomes and trolls.[3][4]
The series also resulted in the publishing of several books relevant to the Warcraft universe setting, covering a wide range of the timelines of the universe.[5] A collectable card game was also published, which offered those who bought booster packs a chance to gain access codes to limited in-game content in World of Warcraft.[6][7] An upcoming film adaptation is also being produced.[8] A number of comics have also been released alongside the books, further covering parts of the universe's storyline. An online-subscription only magazine was also available but later ceased publication after just 5 issues.[9]
Contents |
| 1994– | – Warcraft: Orcs & Humans | |
| 1995– | – Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness | |
| 1996– | – Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal | |
| 1997– | ||
| 1998– | ||
| 1999– | – Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition | |
| 2000– | ||
| 2001– | ||
| 2002– | – Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos | |
| 2003– | – Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne | |
| 2004– | – World of Warcraft | |
| 2005– | ||
| 2006– | ||
| 2007– | – World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade | |
| 2008– | – World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King | |
| 2009– | ||
| 2010– | – World of Warcraft: Cataclysm | |
| TBA– | – World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria |
The first three games in the Warcraft series, including their expansion packs, were all released on both the PC and Macintosh. All of these games were of the real-time strategy genre. Each game proceeded to carry on the storyline of the previous games, and each introduced new features and content to improve gameplay. Warcraft III was the first game in the series to feature a Collector's Edition, and all subsequent games to this have also had collectors editions. Warcraft II was the first game in the series to feature play over the internet using Battle.net, although this was not included until a later release of the game. Warcraft II was also the first in the series to be re-released as a "Battle Chest", a bundle copy of the game containing both the original and expansion. Warcraft III and World of Warcraft have also both had "Battle Chests" released for them subsequent to their initial release. The "Battle.net" edition of Warcraft II was also the first to introduce the use of CD keys to the series, requiring each user online to have their own copy of the game in order to be able to connect. However, a CD key is not yet required to play via a Local Area Network, although speculation is that future games in the series will do so, as another product in Blizzard Entertainment's portfolio, StarCraft II, is doing so by removing the option for using LANs completely, requiring the use of Battle.net.[10]
In 1998, an adventure game in the series, Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans, was announced as being cancelled, having been previously delayed from a 1997 release.
In 2004, Blizzard Entertainment moved the series away from the real-time strategy genre, and released World of Warcraft, an MMORPG. Requiring a subscription fee to be paid to play, it also introduced regular additional content to the series in the form of patches. World of Warcraft quickly gained much popularity worldwide, becoming the world's largest subscription based MMORPG. They reached a peak 12 million subscribers worldwide.[11] World of Warcraft has had three expansions as of 2010. During the production of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce stated that "If there’s a team that’s passionate about doing another WarCraft RTS, then that’s definitely something we would consider. It’s nothing that we’re working on right now, we have development teams working on Cataclysm, StarCraft II, Diablo III, and when those teams are all off the projects they’re working on, they’ll be intimately involved in the discussions about what’s next."
In May 2006, production company Legendary Pictures acquired film rights to adapt Warcraft for the big screen with the game's publisher, Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard had originally considered hiring a scribe for the film adaptation before teaming up with Legendary Pictures.[8] The companies plan to create a film that will not follow one specific Warcraft game's storyline, but will still take place in the fantasy universe.[13] According to Blizzard's Chief Operating Officer Paul Sams, the film's budget would be over $100 million.[14] At Blizzcon 2007 Chris Metzen stated the storyline is a familiar one yet changed for film continuity. It takes place during The World of Warcraft game.
In August 2007, at BlizzCon, it was unveiled that the film will aim for a projected 2009 release. It has since been moved to 2013 on IMDB. It was also revealed that the movie will take place from an Alliance perspective, and current World of Warcraft storyline, and that it has a $100 million plus budget. "[15]
As of September, 2008, Chris Metzen has been slated to write the film. At Blizzcon that year Metzen and Producers from Legendary Pictures stated the story would revolve around a "Kick Ass Human Character", which would not be Varian Wrynn, the then-unannounced hero of the comic.[16] It was also said at Blizzcon 2007 in the following interview that "Varian Wrynn might have a twin ..." in reference to the "kick Ass Human Character." In the comics Varian Wrynn had a twin who was a Gladiator named Lo'Gosh, also Varian Wrynn.[17]
On July 22, 2009, it was revealed that Sam Raimi, who is well known for his work on The Evil Dead series and the Spider-Man movies, will be directing the movie. Blizzard Entertainment later confirmed Raimi's attachment to the project.[18]
At one point, director Uwe Boll expressed interest in directing the movie, even going so far as meeting with Paul Sams to pitch ideas, but Blizzard stated in no uncertain terms it wanted nothing to do with Boll, whose movie adaptations of video games routinely landed as among the 100 worst rated and reviewed movies in recent memory. They went on record to say to him, "We will not sell the movie rights, not to you... not ever to you."[19]
In October 2009, production company Legendary Pictures along with Blizzard Entertainment announced that the film's budget would be "Not less than $220 million".
On October 13, 2009, MTV Multiplayer announced that Robert Rodat would be writing the story for the movie. Robert Rodat is best known for his work on Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot.
Early in 2010, Sony confirmed that Raimi would not direct their next Spider-Man release and many expected that "Warcraft" would be the first project that Sam Raimi would take next. Robert Rodat's script for the big-screen adaptation may not be ready for Raimi yet, and even if it were, he may have other priorities in mind. "It’s in development," the film's executive producer Robert Tapert said. "We're in the outline/story/script phase."[20]
During Blizzcon 2010's Lore panel, Chris Metzen stated the creative team had recently met with Sam Raimi and, while the World of Warcraft movie was not next on Raimi's production schedule, it was still very much in development.
A number of comic adaptations have been made including:
In 2009, Blizzard announced that it would be releasing a magazine with Future US Ltd. This magazine would only be purchasable by online subscription, and not for sale in newsagents or stores, thus making them collectors items. The magazine was released quarterly, and each contained 148 pages. No advertisements were included in the magazine.[9] In late 2011 Blizzard announced that the magazine was ceasing publication and refunds, plush toys or in-game pets would be available to subscribers depending on the outstanding length of subscription.[23]
Most of the Warcraft series takes place on the planet of Azeroth. Other planets in the Warcraft universe include: Draenor (and its shattered remnants, known as Outland), Argus, K'aresh, and Xoroth. There are also several metaphysical areas mentioned, including the Emerald Dream, the Elemental Planes, the Twisting Nether, and the Great Dark Beyond. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the first game in the series, takes place in the human kingdom of Azeroth.
Azeroth has three known continents, named the Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor and Northrend, separated by the Great Sea. Two major islands also reside in the Great Sea: Kezan, land of the Goblins, and Zandalar, birthplace of the Troll civilization. In the center of the Great Sea is an enormous, everlasting vortex called the "Maelstrom" beneath which lies the aquatic city of Nazjatar, home of the amphibious Naga.
The Eastern Kingdoms are the primary setting of the first two games (and their expansions) and the first half of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and is currently made up of 22 areas or zones. The kingdom of Stormwind lies at the south of the Eastern Kingdoms, south of the dwarven kingdom of Khaz Modan and north of the jungle known as Stranglethorn Vale. The capital city of Stormwind, Stormwind City, is nestled into the northwest of Elwynn Forest, a large forest at the center of the kingdom. The Dwarven capital in Khaz Modan, called Ironforge, is located in Dun Morogh.
The former human kingdom of Lordaeron, which successfully headed the Human Alliance in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness but later fell to the Scourge in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, is located north from the southern kingdoms. Underneath the ruined city of Lordaeron now lies the Undercity, capital of the Forsaken, a rebel band of the undead Scourge. The area is now known as Tirisfal Glades and is threatened by the Western Plaguelands held back at The Bulwark. Northeast of Lordaeron is the elven nation of Quel'Thalas and its capital city, Silvermoon, both of which were conquered by the Scourge in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.
The continent of Kalimdor was introduced in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and is made up of 18 zones. Whereas the Eastern Kingdoms can be described as the equivalent of medieval Europe, with traditional kingdoms with advanced cities, Kalimdor can be compared to the Americas and at the time of their discovery by the Europeans, full of wild and unexplored lands. The geography and topography of Kalimdor are similar to North America and Africa, with massive, ancient forests and mountains covering the North and vast deserts and savannahs in the South. The Night Elven kingdom is located in the northwest region of Kalimdor, also including the island Teldrassil (actually a giant tree, similar in lore and spelling to Yggdrasil) off the northwest coast, which contains the city of Darnassus.
To the south, past the Ashenvale Forest, is a stretch of land known as The Barrens, situated between the grasslands of Mulgore to the west, and Durotar, the land settled by the Orcs, to the east. Mulgore is home to the Tauren capital of Thunder Bluff, a large city of tepees and lodges built on top of a conglomerate of high plateaus which are only accessible by air travel and a great series of lifts built down to the ground. In the north of Durotar is the fortress-city of Orgrimmar, capital of the Orcs.
The third continent, Northrend, is the northern polar cap of Azeroth and is the primary stronghold of the malevolent Undead Scourge. Northrend is featured in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion set Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, and is the main location featured in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion pack to World of Warcraft.[4]
In the expansion World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Azeroth has been changed permanently ingame, even for players without the expansion set installed. The corrupted Black Dragon Aspect, Deathwing the Destroyer (formerly Neltharion, the Earth-Warder) has broken free from imprisonment in Deepholm, part of the Elemental Plane, and caused major changes and destruction in the land. In addition, many new parts of the continents of Azeroth that have previously been inaccessible have become key parts in the new world.
Lorewise, this is the second major change to the face of Azeroth, the first being the Sundering. The Sundering was caused by the elves' overuse of arcane energies. It caused a massive explosion that split the one continent into the three seen in game today and created the Maelstrom.
Draenor, which featured in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, is the original homeland of the Orcs and a past home of the Draenei.
Draenor was torn apart when the Orcish leader, Ner'Zhul (later the first Lich King) opened dozens of portals to other worlds in an attempt to escape the invading Alliance Armies from Azeroth. The sheer number and combined power of the portals ripped Draenor into fragments and cast the remainder into the mysterious parallel dimension called the Twisting Nether, Home of the Demons. The remnants of the world are now known as Outland, and feature in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne and more prominently in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.[4]
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