The best of WoW.com: November 3-10, 2009

It's been a big week in the World of Warcraft -- aside from both the impending patch 3.3 release and the onset of the game's fifth anniversary (yes, it's been almost five years since Blizzard brought their MMO online), Blizzard has finally done something that many thought they would never directly do: start selling in-game items for real money. There was lots of argument about that one this last week, and you'll find that, along with the usual news and insights, over on Joystiq's sister site WoW.com. Check out our most popular posts of the last week in the second half of this post.

News

• Blizzard launches real-money in-game pet store
  The 800 lb. gorilla of MMOs takes a step into selling fake items for real money.
• Roadmap to Cataclysm zone overhauls
  A picture from BlizzCon earlier this year shows the way towards what's happening in the next expansion.
• Patch 3.3 PTR patch notes updated
  New updates for the patch currently being tested by players.
• IgroMir 2009: More Cataclysm guild leveling details
  A Russian gaming convention offers up more details about guild features in next year's release.
• Icecrown raid difficulty to be set on a per-boss basis
  Blizzard is trying something a little different with the challenge of the newest raid instance.

Features

• A WoW player's guide to microtransactions
  Confused about what the in-game pet store means? We've got the context for you.
• Tier 10 armor set gallery
  Check out the gear we'll all be drooling over in the next patch.
• Incoming newbies, but why?
  Blizzard is updating the newbie experience... on a game that's five years old?
• The Light and How to Swing It: A little less hybrid
  How paladins are trying to deal with their hybrid nature.
• WoW Rookie: Addons for rookies
  A quick explanation of addons for those of who you haven't dealt with them before.