From a realistic standpoint. When do you expect Cataclysm?

[Boylston]

Blizzard traditionally aims for a November launch with the WoW games since it coincides with the anniversary of Warcraft franchise.

WoW classic was launched November 2004 (on the 10th anniversary of Warcraft)

Burning Crusade was supposed to launch in November 2006 but was pushed back to Jan 2007 (ref here).

Wrath of the Lich King was launched in November 2008

Note the 2 year gap in between each release.

Cheers,
S.

Correlation here only... The causal relationship is that the late November - Early December timeframe is a huge holiday spend time for most people. Launching a game for the Christmas shopping season is a very smart sales strategy, it's not sentimental.

[Kalros]

One major factor that nobody has mentioned so far is that Blizzard now falls under the umbrella of Activi$ion. And I'm sure if it were up to Bobby Kotick, we'd be seeing a new WoW expansion on a yearly basis. Though I'm sure that Blizzard holds a good portion of their independence still, they definitely have these Activi$ion execs whispering in their ears, telling them to work faster and get it out sooner rather than later.

My vote: September 7th.

[Gormand]

Im going to say
3-4 months after Starcraft 2 hits
or
Late November

Whichever comes second.
So if starcraft gets further delayed and doesnt hit until Sep/Oct I think they will hold off until Jan for Cat.

[alcattle]

comment, I do think they will do something to get new people started playing Cata. No way people would buy 3 games to "Start" Cata, so their will have to be a one box way to get cata ready, like the battle chest does for WotLK. Might be a month~ or so later but it has to happen.

[jinkobi]

It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$.

Games are released in quarters meaning they divide the year up into 4 parts. They do this for several reasons but one big reason is quarterly stock reports. The only quarter they could make this year is Q4 which is Oct, Nov, Dec.

Soooo like most everyone here I'd expect it around Nov/Dec. Or as another wise soul pointed out 6 months from the release of the BETA.

[jrkilroy]

comment, I do think they will do something to get new people started playing Cata. No way people would buy 3 games to "Start" Cata, so their will have to be a one box way to get cata ready, like the battle chest does for WotLK. Might be a month~ or so later but it has to happen.

Interesting point.

I haven't been following the Cataclysm press info all that closely, but I wonder, since they are revamping the old world anyway if they are going to allow people to just buy Cataclysm as a starter? Maybe bundle BC and WotLK into a warchest...

Probably not, but your comment got me thinking...

[alcattle]

Interesting point.

I haven't been following the Cataclysm press info all that closely, but I wonder, since they are revamping the old world anyway if they are going to allow people to just buy Cataclysm as a starter? Maybe bundle BC and WotLK into a warchest...

Probably not, but your comment got me thinking...

I will almost guarentee you need WotLK to play Cata. That was my thinking on the 3-pack starter box, with it going at $39 and Cata will be $49/$69

[Shodokan]

I will almost guarentee you need WotLK to play Cata. That was my thinking on the 3-pack starter box, with it going at $39 and Cata will be $49/$69

blizzard already stated at blizzcon iirc that it will be 39.99 (cata)

[Kicksome]

I got my Wrath beta keys at the end of Aug. and the game was out Nov 13th.

So that's about 75 days after the beta invites were sent out in any sorta of mass quantity.

So I'm thinking they'll release Cat sometime in the 3rd quarter of the year. That means beta key would have to start going out around Mid-year (3 more months).

If it's Nov/Dec timeframe, that means that there are 8 more months without any real content (maybe a crappy raid boss). I think that's way too long.

[suprafro]

Hoping that the next gear reset doesn't happen any sooner then November, Q1 2011 would be nice but I don't think they will wait that long unfortunatly