Mists of Pandaria Beta is Live!

[SovietSecrets]

I LIKE THAT PANDA.

Honestly I just came here to only post this and it probably wasn't worth it.

 

[Genixma]

""I don't really get how anthropomorphic pandas are going to fit into the whole World of Warcraft canon,""

two things.

A. they already are canon :/ they were in the wc3 expansion.
b. hey, we have anthropomorphic wolves and cows, I don't see an issue really.

Yes in a world of Undead, Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Goblins, Werewolves, Demons, Space Goats, Orcs, Trolls, Cow People, and now Pandas. One might question how humans are suppose to fit into all this xD

 

[Denamic]

I actually had no idea that the Pandaren appeared in the Warcraft 3 expansion, but the fact that the race originated as an April Fool's joke speaks volumes.

And hey, if the fans like it, that's great, but even so I don't think anyone can argue that it's not cartoonishly goofy. Maybe I'm too hung up on the early lore but I think I prefer my Warcraft set in a "serious" fantasy realm.

It was never meant to be a joke.
One of the artists really liked pandas and snuk in pandas in a number of textures in Warcraft 3.
IIRC, there was a face of a panda in some scorch marks and on Illidan's glaives among other things.
Fans and the people at Blizz liked it so, so they made a Pandaren for Frozen Throne.

So not a joke per se, more a response to feedback.
Either way, Pandaren is and has been in the canon ever since.

Also, Warcaft has never been in a very serious fantasy realm.
Exploding sheep and grunts complaining that you poke them too much was there before Pandaren.

 

[Thalios]

A. they already are canon :/ they were in the wc3 expansion.

They were in WC3 only as a joke, never as an actual part of the warcraft world. The only reason we're seeing them now is because a ridiculous amount of WoW players have been crying to Blizzard about how much they want to play a panda through the years.

Edit:
Let me correct that.

The Pandaren race was created as a joke, and was never intended to be part of the warcraft world. It was then later included in WC3 Frozen Throne, because people apparently thought it would be a good idea to include them in the warcraft lore.

 

[tehroc]

I don't care about the pandas, its the lolpokemons and the continuation of worn out game systems (Dikumud) that bother me.

 

[Loop Stricken]

I don't care about the pandas, its the lolpokemons and the continuation of worn out game systems (Dikumud) that bother me.

More things to do outside of raiding can only be a good thing.

Anyways, where's my beta invite, Blizzard?I made my account pretty much as soon as WoW launched, I took the annual pass during Blizzcon... I want to mess about with pandas, damn it.

 

[LordLundar]

I don't care about the pandas, its the lolpokemons and the continuation of worn out game systems (Dikumud) that bother me.

More things to do outside of raiding can only be a good thing.

Anyways, where's my beta invite, Blizzard?I made my account pretty much as soon as WoW launched, I took the annual pass during Blizzcon... I want to mess about with pandas, damn it.

Patience grasshopper. Pass subscribers are guaranteed access, but it's a HUGE amount of people and letting them all in at once is a BAD idea.

 

[solidstatemind]

And hey, if the fans like it, that's great, but even so I don't think anyone can argue that it's not cartoonishly goofy. Maybe I'm too hung up on the early lore but I think I prefer my Warcraft set in a "serious" fantasy realm.

I have to agree with you here: first off, it's only a small segment of fans who have been clamoring for Pandaren from the beginning; secondly, adding an entirely comical race really does deeply detract from the monumentally epic feel that the game previously had (for me at least).

Mark my words, 'Now With Pandas!' (as I've taken to calling MoP) is when World of Warcraft jumps the shark...

 

[Waaghpowa]

Waiting on my invite, I'm an annual pass holder so it shouldn't be long now. I want to play a Kung Fu panda damn it!

 

[Eri]

I actually had no idea that the Pandaren appeared in the Warcraft 3 expansion, but the fact that the race originated as an April Fool's joke speaks volumes.

And hey, if the fans like it, that's great, but even so I don't think anyone can argue that it's not cartoonishly goofy. Maybe I'm too hung up on the early lore but I think I prefer my Warcraft set in a "serious" fantasy realm.

We have a lot of people wondering about "Pandarens, really? They are so cuddly!", almost innately silly. Pandarens are an idea that we have been thinking about for many, many years, something like twelve years. Initially they were drawn by Sam Didier, who loves these characters. We hooked a few of these characters into the Frozen Throne in Warcraft III and have always been in love with the idea. We got to debut Pandaren as an April Fool's joke many years ago and people feel that it is innately comedic based on that. No, April Fools was just a fun opportunity to show the idea. Many of you may not know that Pandaren were in serious consideration for the Alliance race in Burning Crusade, that is how serious we are about the idea. We have always loved Pandaren, we have always wanted to put them in the game, and for a number of reasons now is the time. It is not a throwaway idea in any way. In many ways they are the perfect race to include right now, as things start to ramp up. As the factional hate and societal rage rises to sweep the world up into war once again, the Pandaren will distinguish themselves on both sides and hedge the bet that against total calamity. They have a very distinct role to play, both culturally and factionally, so it is perfect that they dropped at this time.

Straight from the press event.

 

[remmus]

meh the little spark of interest I had for getting back into WoW was kinda snuffed out with the monk changes, first I heard of the Monk I applauded Blizzards attempt of making a class with a more active combat style, forcing a player to actually be in the fight, rather then lean back, sip coffee and hit a few number keys like WoW combat is otherwise (at least in PvE)


And now there like "nope, just as basic as the rest", yeah i know I´m getting haters on my rear saying this, but GW2 is looking mighty fine still.

 

[Andy Chalk]

Okay, so the anthropomorphic Chinese pandas introduced as a non-playable race on April Fool's Day is actually a totally serious and pre-existing. Right. This is not an argument I'm going to have.

Work on Gaming website
Doesn't understand how a pre-existing in-game race will fit into game's canon just because NOW they are playable.

Actually, champ, the issue is that I lost interest in the Warcraft mythos somewhere around the end of Warcraft 2.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

IIRC, there was a face of a panda in some scorch marks and on Illidan's glaives among other things.

That is true, but it's because the original design on those blades looked a bit like swastikas, so they changed it.

Maybe I'm too hung up on the early lore but I think I prefer my Warcraft set in a "serious" fantasy realm.

So you want humans/dwarves/elves vs orcs/goblins/ogres. I'm quivering with excitement over this unique and exciting concept. I understand if you dislike change, I really do, but you gotta give it credit for being unique. That's pretty much all Warcraft has left since it's been sifted through an MMO for the last decade

 

[Andy Chalk]

anc[is]I'm quivering with excitement over this unique and exciting concept.

I have no problem with change, I just don't see Kung Fu Panda as a direction I'd be interested in going. No skin off my ass either way, I don't play WoW, it just seems a little out of place.

 

[Taunta]

Okay, so the anthropomorphic Chinese pandas introduced as a non-playable race on April Fool's Day is actually a totally serious and pre-existing. Right. This is not an argument I'm going to have.

Work on Gaming website
Doesn't understand how a pre-existing in-game race will fit into game's canon just because NOW they are playable.

Actually, champ, the issue is that I lost interest in the Warcraft mythos somewhere around the end of Warcraft 2.

Except Chen Stormstout is a very serious character, who helps Rexxar do serious shit in WC3, which by the way, pre-dates Kung Fu Panda.

Having "lost interest in warcraft lore" is no excuse for not doing research before you publish statements like that in an article.

Anyways, I don't understand why people can accept anthropomorphic cows, wolves, and walruses but draw the line at pandas.


OT: Also, Annual Pass holders don't need to do the opt-in stuff. And they're gonna be invited in waves. Can't wait for my invite in the mail.

 

[Loop Stricken]

meh the little spark of interest I had for getting back into WoW was kinda snuffed out with the monk changes, first I heard of the Monk I applauded Blizzards attempt of making a class with a more active combat style, forcing a player to actually be in the fight, rather then lean back, sip coffee and hit a few number keys like WoW combat is otherwise (at least in PvE)


And now there like "nope, just as basic as the rest", yeah i know I´m getting haters on my rear saying this, but GW2 is looking mighty fine still.

Monks would be too bursty in PvP if they didn't have auto attack, is the reason/excuse for this.
Blame PvP for ruining everything in the name of 'balance', yet again.

Actually, champ, the issue is that I lost interest in the Warcraft mythos somewhere around the end of Warcraft 2.

Is it then not possible to have some a little less jaded posting the updates? It'd stop people moaning about the tone at least.

===

I've seen some of the beta footage, and even though they're unfinished, the pandaren animations are superb and blow all the other races out of the water, even the goblins and worgen who are relatively new.

I don't understand why people have a problem with pandas being the new playable race, and this is coming from me, a man who utterly hates the real animal for being lazy undersexed useless animals being kept from the natural precipice of extinction by humans with more money than sense that want to save them because they're cute.

 

[tzimize]

I actually had no idea that the Pandaren appeared in the Warcraft 3 expansion, but the fact that the race originated as an April Fool's joke speaks volumes.

And hey, if the fans like it, that's great, but even so I don't think anyone can argue that it's not cartoonishly goofy. Maybe I'm too hung up on the early lore but I think I prefer my Warcraft set in a "serious" fantasy realm.

I think you might be blindsided with their cuddlyness. While I dont know the Pandaren lore in extreme detail, I'm pretty sure it doesnt involve watching my little pony and eating strawberries

Just because a race is cute, doesnt mean their story cant be relatively dark.

Take the gnomes for example (I find them cute...). The story of how they decide to destroy their home when being invaded instead of asking the busy alliance for help is quite serious and heartbreaking in its own way. You just have to dig it up from behind their cute, big eyes