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Big things from BlizzCon

World of Warcraft is to get a new expansion, it was announced at this years BlizzCon. Video and details after the Jump.

Watch the trailer:
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Now for some dissection:

New level cap – Might as well get this out of the way, the level cap is being raised again to keep the higher level players grinding. This was a foregone conclusion and is nothing really surprising.
Raised skill cap – Not being a player of WoW, I’ve resisted the temptation so far, I’m not quite sure what this means. I presume that it means you can either learn more skills or improve the ones you have to a higher level, maybe someone could clarify this for me.
A new continent – Another non-surprise. This adds the icy wastes of Northrend to the game, along with new background music which was leaked earlier this week and started speculation about this continent being included in the expansion. A whole slew of new mountain based and polar creatures will be available for slaughtering.
10 new zones – for level 68 and above.
A new profession: Inscription – Allows the customization of spells and abilities in their spell book altering casting times, recharge times, critical hit rates and other technical gubbins, the basic spell will remain the same however as will its animation and effects.
New Class – With this expansion comes the very first (implying that there will be more) Hero Class, The Death Knight. Only available to level 80 players after they undertake a special quest, the Death Knight will start out with a pretty high level so that the need to grind up is negated. Many of the details of the class are yet to be finalized but be prepared for something beefy.
Other Features – Outdoor PvP, seige weapons and destructible buildings all make an entrance in a new “non-instanced battleground” where the completion of objectives gains your side world-wide bonuses. I find myself wondering if this battleground will give players a unique perspective on what a Warcraft III battle looks like from the ground…
Release date – Ha Ha Ha!

Having just topped 9 million subscribers WoW doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of dying off any time soon, My resistance is being worn away and I’m sorely tempted to get a trial account.
No… must… resist… can’t… give… in…

(From 1UP via Slashdot.)