Joystiq

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It's an exciting time over at WoW.com, Joystiq's site for everything World of Warcraft. The Public Test Realm (a.k.a PTR) is in full swing, which means we're swimming with all of the new features and items and dungeons that will come out soon in a brand new content patch to the game. While you're waiting, whether you're a WoW veteran or newbie, head on past the break and check out what's new in Azeroth.

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News

• World of Warcraft Patch 3.3 PTR patch notes
  Here's what Blizzard has put in the new patch so far.
• Blizzard releases details on Icecrown Citadel
  Official details on what the new raids and instances will be like.
• Cataclysm starting zone lore and other new details revealed
  Hints on what we'll find in the starting zones of the new races. And boy do they sound fun.
• Patch 3.3 PTR: New Tauren skins found
  A new look for the cow people in patch 3.3.
• Patch 3.3 PTR: New weekly quests to do while raiding
  The new patch will bring with it more rewards for raiders who go after certain bosses.

Features

• Patch 3.3 PTR: Pit of Saron first impressions
  Our bloggers headed into the new instance, and survived long enough to come back with these impressions.
• Patch 3.3 PTR: Undocumented paladin changes
  Pally changes on the PTR so far.
• Scattered Shots: Patch 3.3, what's on the horizon for hunters
  Looking ahead to what's in store for ranged DPS.
• Arcane Brilliance: Patch 3.3 PTR changes for mages
  Blink is fixed? Go figure!
• Patch 3.3 PTR: Undocumented druid changes
  Updates for shapeshifters from the latest public test realm.

The Saboteur has been catching eyes since its announcement way back in 2007 and now, with the game only a few months from release on December 8th, we got the chance to sit down with lead designer Tom French and art director Chris Hunt to discuss Nazis, their black-and-white recreation of the city of Paris, and killing the one while running around the other.

French did a quick presentation before our interview, where he told the story of William Grover-Williams – the racecar driver-turned-saboteur that the game's protagonist, Sean Devlin, is based on – as well as the cinematic influences on The Saboteur, from Raiders of the Lost Ark to The Third Man. Afterwards, we sat down with both designers to talk about why you'll find plenty of color, but no ghost guns (you'll see) or multiplayer in their upcoming game.

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The World of Warcraft is a strange and savage place: not only is there continually some Orc or Murloc or crazed cult attacking whatever various settlement you choose to spend your time in, but you've also got to deal with patch releases, forum trolls and the occasional crazed developer too! That's why you should be reading WoW.com -- we're your own personal sherpa for the biggest MMO around.

Peep our roundup of ten popular posts from the past week after the break.

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It's a special time of year in the World of Warcraft -- the leaves are a'changing and the brews are a'flowing. Brewfest is upon us! Time to go imbibing the finest in Dwarven ales (and deliver some, too, on those crazy rams). If you need a guide to all of the festivities, you know Joystiq's WoW-obssessed sister site WoW.com has you covered -- here's our top ten posts from the past week.

• Brewfest 2009: Coren Direbrew's new level 80 loot revealed
  Same boss for the Brewfest ingame holiday, but there is some new loot.
• Blizzard is tracking 180,000 bugs in WoW
  That includes fixed bugs, but still -- that's a lot of edited code.
• WoW.com's guide to Patch 3.2.2
  A brand new patch in the game, with some special anniversary fun included.
• High-rated PvPers do the robot
  A little bit of sneakiness on the part of PvPers.
• Tips for taking down Coren Direbrew
  Want to bring down the Brewfest boss? We've got you covered.

• The Overachiever: Guide to Brewfest 2009 achievements
  Get all the points you can during the holiday celebration.
• Insider Trader: Patch 3.2.2 madness
  How to make some money in the newest patch.
• Raid Rx: 14 Patch 3.2 trinkets to check out
  Get some of the best raid healing trinkets around.
• Ask a Faction Leader: Garrosh Hellscream
  Everyone's least favorite Horde fanatic answers our readers' questions.
• AGDC09: Blizzard talks about the world behind Warcraft
  Interesting info from Blizzard's presentation at this years Austin Game Developers' Conference.

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News

• Faction change service now available
  For the first time in the game's history, players can switch from Horde to Alliance or vice versa.
• Patch 3.2.2: 5-man Coliseum jousting woes addressed
  The next patch will smooth out some issues folks have been having with the new 5-man instance.
• Play safe, because a trojan can get you banned
  Blizzard's Warden isn't just working for you: if it finds some malware, you might be asked to leave the game for good.
• Garrosh is not well-liked
  There are rumors going around (spoiler) about Garrosh Hellscream, and players aren't real happy about it.
• Yogg-Saron in blues
  Think you need epic gear to be great? Think again.

Features

• Spiritual Guidance: 12 reasons you don't want to play a Priest
  Our Priest columnist looks at the bad side of the clothy healing class.
• Officers' Quarters: Loot rage
  And how to deal with it.
• WoW Rookie: How not to be a noob
  Just imagine if this was required reading when you first started playing games. No more noobs!
• Ask a Faction Leader: Genn Greymane
  It's an advice column and a lore story all in one!
• Survey: Figuring out the faction transfer numbers
  Breaking down who's transferring where.

We're still reeling from everything we saw at BlizzCon a few weeks ago over at WoW.com, from all the news we heard about the next expansion, Cataclysm, to everything else about Icecrown and the anniversary celebration in the upcoming patch 3.2.2. There's a ton of big news lately over on the site, but here's our most popular posts for you to browse through. Don't forget to hit the costume galleries -- we've got tons more pictures like the gem above.

News

• Patch 3.2.2 Onyxia achievements
  Achievements from the second go-round of the big bad dragon fight for the game's 5th anniversary.
• BlizzCon 2009: First impressions of Cataclysm races
  Our staff breaks down their first impressions of the new races announced in the next expansion.
• BlizzCon 2009: The Guild's Michele Boyd and Jeff Lewis hands-on with the Worgen
  Two stars of The Guild webseries take on the playable Worgen demo available at BlizzCon.
• BlizzCon 2009: The Cataclysm trailer
  This is where it all began -- the expansion trailer revealed at BlizzCon's opening ceremony.
• Battle.net conversion to become mandatory soon
  With the onset of the new Battle.net, everyone's going to have to move over eventually.

Features

• BlizzCon 2009 Insider Trader: Cataclysmic professions
  This big feature (here's part two and part three) takes a look at what's new with professions in Cataclysm.
• BlizzCon 2009: Bingo fail
  Our bingo card for BlizzCon fails again. We need to stop making these so hard.
• BlizzCon 2009: Costumes, part two
  Here's a roundup of all the costumes we saw on the show floor.
• What does Blizzard have planned for an ingame launch event?
  We know there's going to be a launch event for the new expansion, but what will it look like?
• Guildwatch: "ur name is remembered"
  Here's our weekly look at guild drama, downed, and recruiting news from around the realms.

News

• World of Warcraft: Cataclysm leaked
  Spoilers aplenty in this roundup of leaks about the expected new expansion.
• Onyxia returns in patch 3.2.2
  The big black dragon is back for another go-round.
• Possible new race/class combinations datamined
  A new PTR hints that certain races might be able to take on new classes soon.
• Patch 3.2.2 PTR: New Onyxia loot revealed
  What'll she drop? Find out here.
• Felicia Day unleashes geeky pop single
  The Guild folks release a pop song that's as geeky as it gets.

Features

• Raid Rx: Raid bosses that brought healers to their knees
  Our raid healing series looks at bosses that give healers an extra challenge.
• Breakfast Topic: What if you knew the day WoW would go offline?
  Would you play differently? Or not at all?
• PTR Patch 3.2.2: First impressions of Onyxia
  First look at the big 5th anniversary boss fight.
• All the World's a Stage: Reflections on the passing of a roleplayer's mom
  Very sad but poignant column -- a must read this week, whether you're an RPer or not.
• Totem Talk: Starting a Shaman
  How to begin being a totem-dropper.