Posted by Heartbourne on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 - 20 Comments
Tags: background downloader, end of the world, icecrown citadel, patch 3.3
There is a strange blue post that our commenter Vexklythor tipped us off to that implies that patch 3.3 will not be live until late December at the earliest. The post was in response to a forum post about the recent background downloader performing very poorly. Quote:
We only provide mirror links for full client patches. Background downloads do not count. You have around 1+ month to download this file so we’re not really worried about your speed.
This revelation comes as I was working on a post predicting the release of patch 3.3 in the coming weeks because of the background downloader and the annoucement of how heavily gated Icecrown Citadel content will be.
I can’t fathom any way that the background downloader is not downloading patch 3.3, so it looks like the earliest we will see the patch is December 29th, as the 22nd is during Winter Veil and I doubt they will patch during a major event.
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By Furyhunter on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
First?
Seems silly that they’d say something like that outside of a sticky. Possibly a little off?
By Mark on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Mid December, barring an arise of horrible bugs would be my guess. It would make marketing sense for them to try to push out 3.3 before Christmas, maybe Dec 12-15?
By cocopuff on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
as great as the patch is i wish this is true i would love to step into ICC in TOC and maybe some TOGC gear
By Kazzoo on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
uhmm mayb they should release it after winter veil cause it will b january and no event (not next week cause thats pilgrims bounty, more of a cooks holiday
By Alayea on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 12:14 am
When Vexklythor posted that blue tidbit, you can bet I became concerned. I really do not desire to only begin doing ICC in January of next year. =/
By Tharon on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 12:41 am
@Kazzoo
Pilgrim’s Bounty is over bro, at least according to the dates posted by Blizz… Nov 8 - Nov 14
@Mark
That is actually what I had predicted on the previous post, Dec 15.
By Korenwolf on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 2:07 am
I’m reckoning before xmas, just so it’s available while a large part of their player base is off work / school / college / wherever. Though not too close as they don’t want problems just before their internal network lockdown.
By Moghedean on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 2:35 am
Tharon, Pilgrim’s Bounty starts on the 22nd and lasts through Thanksgiving. I am a slow raider so it won’t really hurt me to not see the new content until a bit later on. I would rather it be awesome than rushed.
By Phanttas on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 2:38 am
@ Tharon, Kazzoo is right, Pilgrims bounty is (at least on the European realms) starting this coming Sunday (22nd Nov).
I heard somewhere that it was going to be released on the 5th Dec, can’t remember where now, but I do realize things change. I think it is highly likely the poster could’ve been misunderstood or had a typo.
I’m happy to just wait and see.
By Amatera on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Most of you know that I’ve been puzzling over the release date ever since 3.3 first went up on the PTR, but this has the possibility of throwing everything out the window.
So, I’ve been thinking about it for a good part of the day and I’ve come to two conclusions if it’s true:
1) They’re waiting until *all* of the US/North American holiday season is over.
2) Arena. Arena. Arena. Arena. Now, start and end dates for any given season have been different and a patch doesn’t necessarily have to fall on the beginning of a new one, but it’s affected things in the past.
I hope to god that’s not what is holding 3.3 back.
By Amatera on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 4:51 am
@Phanttas
I did also consider that he meant 1+ weeks instead of months (and the plus is what really scares me there!). But either way, Blizzard’s not a big fan of putting release dates like that on their products (regardless, there hasn’t been an official one for 3.3).
Either the tech let something slip that he wasn’t supposed to or Blizzard’s trying to keep it on the down-low right now.
By Heartbourne on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 7:36 am
@ama Honestly, the only reason arena would be a factor is if players are getting iLvl 251+ weapons in ICC and brining them into arena to screw up season 7 at its conclusion. That simply isn’t happening with the gating; only the top guilds are going to get anywhere for awhile and its not going to be far at all. Otherwise, they won’t spawn Toravon or release new rewards, as they did with season 6 and 3.2.
By Heartbourne on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 7:40 am
And you know, Ensidia has been saying how unfinished 3.3 content seems. There are still some heavy bugs and things that just feel unfinished, but hey, that didn’t stop them from releasing 3.2 when they did.
Honestly, with holidays, January 5 is the earliest we’d see it if we don’t see it December 8. I can imagine they don’t want the Wrath boxes under the tree requiring days of patching ending in customer service and returns, so maybe Jan 5 isn’t a far-fetched prediction.
By Bronte on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Ho ho! Looks like I may have nailed the dates back in October!
http://arewenewatthis.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/cataclysmic-or-when-its-done-stupid/
By Bronte on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Should have included in the comment above: “Following the law of averages, we should see Icecrown sometime around December 20, 2009. The date doesn’t make sense, as a December release will see limited playtimes due to the holiday season. A more realistic release date would be January 5, 2009.”
By Kerth on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 8:24 am
well I’m calling it did a little background check it seems like there will be no more project lore videos. according to certain sourses. dorkings has left The Totally Rad Guild same as Lylelovett also from armory the last time anyone was updated lyle was sept. 11 dorkins was june 18 wintersrtike was june 17 juggy continues to play as we all know and seeing as he as so many bowbins droobins shnoobin bowbins was aug 28 droobins was sept 14 shnoobin cantsee because it has been inactive so long it seems and drdark if i remember right was july 15 it was nice while it lasted project lore will be missed
LONG LIVE PROJECT LORE. i mean i could be wrong the one who left coul dhave new toons maybe they went horde who know but all this tells me project lore is done.
By Vexklythor on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 10:07 am
YES!!!!!
I’m FAMOUS!!!!!
My name was featured on Project Lore!!!!
I fully expect a job offer from Blizzard in the near future, as well as many presents, congratulating me on my new found fame!
By Dan on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Blizzard is really milking us for all the money they can get. Another month is a little to long for me. If the raid isn’t ready yet at least release some of the other stuff already like the xrealm lfg.
By cocopuff on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 11:51 am
i feel those of you who have become bored of this last patch i really do but theirs is so much more of this game we have had allot of great games coming out these couple of motnhs if your bored of wow kick b ack and in joy one of am how about working on an alt i really need that extra month or 2 to finish gearing my guy
By Amatera on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
@Heartbourne
Well, Arena may not be the only factor, but I still think it could be a contributing one.
As for Ensidia, they’re just butt-hurt that they’re being gated. There ARE bugs. Video games HAVE bugs. But I wouldn’t call the content “unfinished.” In terms of structure, almost everything is in place. And only a couple encounters in ICC have had serious, game-breaking bugs — the type that call themselves out so obviously that they’re fixed first.