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Classic Panel at Blizzcon summary

 
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 teebling
(@teebling)
Noble Member

Nice summary posted over at MMOchamp about the latest findings from the Classic Panel. I will add the non-tech stuff to the FAQ thread.

They're releasing the raid content in small installations which is interesting. Good to get some solid answers about other things too.

  • What's Under the Hood?
  • Database Data

  • Art Assets

  • Source Code

  • They kept track of everything in a repository that kept track of all changes made to the game.

  • This repository has been keeping track of changes since 1997.

  • First bug fix tracked - April 25, 1997.

  • Two versions of the game in database - live and development.* * The development data was created over the live version. Eventually they changed it so that the team could work on multiple patches at a time.

  • Art Assets include 3D models and textures which combine to in-game models.

  • In digging back into the database, they discovered that they only had art assets from recent expansions.

  • They found a backup with another backup folder that housed some old art assets.

  • The old WoW
  • Didn't run in the Blizzard Cloud

  • Had no battle.net desktop app

  • Had no login servers

  • Had no customer support access

  • Every bug, exploit and hack re-activated.

  • The team decided to layer the old version on the modern tech to solve this issue.

  • However, the new source code didn't know how to load the old data.

  • They eventually created a prototype that used the 7.3.5 client with the old data implemented. Combat wasn't quite there but you could still learn abilities from trainers and other long lost parts of vanilla.

  • When you ventured outside of areas unaffected by the Cataclysm and into zones that were affected you saw weird things like missing water, aquatic creatures on land and terrestrial creatures underwater. There was also armor that was untextured and so on.

  • Feeding the modern engine the 1.12 engine doesn't read perfectly. Certain object placements are off which leads to trees flying in the air and stuff like the shattered Loch Modan damn still holding back water.

  • The team had technology that could take the 1.12 engine and allow the modern engine to read it and place things correctly.

  • Classic has the full devotion of the Warcraft team.

  • The team was able to use reference data to find models in Classic that were not correct, such as colors of lanterns. Purple was used as a color to recognize wrong model colors.

  • The team set out to recreate the game as authentic to the original as possible.

  • Things like pet happiness and training was not able to be restored with this method. They had the data to restore them, however, and managed to re-code them back into the game. Rogue combo points being on the target, weapon skills, and critical blows all had to be re-coded back to how they were in vanilla.

  • They were able to find and fix model errors that caused corpses to stand.

  • The team even went back and restored the old character customization screen, including art.

  • They are not promising pixel perfect perfection, but they use their references side by side to get as close to the original as possible.

  • They were also able to fix lighting errors.

  • They are not done with the game yet. Certain things still need work including:
  • Capital cities

  • Dungeons and raids

  • PvP

  • Their design philosophy with Classic is to be as authentic as possible to 2006.

  • High priority is put on the integrity of social dynamics.

  • They want to avoid messing with the 1.12 data.

  • There will be no dungeon finder in Classic. This is to preserve the integrity of the social dynamics.

  • Typing /LFR on the demo opens the window but it is unusable and won't be in the final product.

  • Cross-realm grouping is not in Classic.

  • Flying is definitely not in Classic.

  • Achievements are not in Classic.

  • No unified auction house in Classic between Horde and Alliance.

  • The debuff limit was a technical limitation of the time but has NOT been lifted in Classic because it affects the 1.12 code and would cause changes.

  • Mail functions just like it did in Vanilla. No more instant mail.

  • You can take mail out of your mailbox faster as it doesn't affect anything.

  • The 2 hour period for loot trading between group members is staying in Classic.

  • Rogue energy regeneration is returning back to how it was in Classic.

  • AddOns that pilot your character's rotation are being restricted. They want to find a middle ground between the old and the new for AddOns.

  • The content release plan is to have staged content unlocks.

  • Molten Core and Onyxia will be there at launch along with Dire Maul, and the World bosses Kazzak and Azuregos.

  • The formal PvP rewards system will not be there at launch because they overshadow early raid gear.
  • Stage 2 - Blackwing Lair, Battlegrounds, and Zul'Gurub.

  • Stage 3 - Ahn'Qiraj, Tier 0.5, Silithus and the green dragons.

  • Stage 4 - Naxxramas raid, Scourge Invasions.

  • Silithus will include the opening of Ahn'Qiraj.

    • These stages will launch when it is determined that it is time for them to happen.

    Quote
    Topic starter Posted : 03/11/2018 11:06 pm
     Faendor
    (@faendor)
    Reputable Member

    I'm just a little worried about the difficulty with 16 debuff slots, progressive itemization? and patch release itself. Kazzak and Azu and DM on release, Green dragons at AQ release?

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 04/11/2018 3:35 am
     cable
    (@cable)
    Active Member

    I'm just a little worried about the difficulty with 16 debuff slots, progressive itemization? and patch release itself. Kazzak and Azu and DM on release, Green dragons at AQ release?

    16 debuff slots is a good thing--sure it was a technical limitation back in the day... but it'd be a joke without it to progress through the raid content.

    Regarding the itemization--they didn't really mention it. Only that high-end PvP rewards will come out with BWL as they're just as strong or even better according to them. That means no ranking at launch?

    Dire Maul, Kazzak and Azuregos should be released in another stage and not with Molten Core and Onyxia. It's clear that it seems to be the preferable way of doing it.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 04/11/2018 6:40 am
     Faendor
    (@faendor)
    Reputable Member

    I meant having 16 instead of 8. The difficulty will be easier with 16 at launch making MC and Ony very simple

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 04/11/2018 8:20 am
     Brokenshield
    (@brokenshield)
    Eminent Member

    Didn't see this, but I posted similar stuff under the pinned FAQ.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 04/11/2018 10:15 am
     teebling
    (@teebling)
    Noble Member

    Regarding the itemization--they didn't really mention it. Only that high-end PvP rewards will come out with BWL as they're just as strong or even better according to them. That means no ranking at launch?

    I guess... no battlegrounds either?

    ReplyQuote
    Topic starter Posted : 04/11/2018 5:02 pm
     Faendor
    (@faendor)
    Reputable Member

    Loot trading...........................................................please no

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 07/11/2018 4:05 am
     cable
    (@cable)
    Active Member

    I meant having 16 instead of 8. The difficulty will be easier with 16 at launch making MC and Ony very simple

    Right. You're correct. 8 debuffs is what's up during Mölten Cöre and Onyxia. I genuinely hope they don't screw it up with adding it up to 16 during that time.
    Regarding the itemization--they didn't really mention it. Only that high-end PvP rewards will come out with BWL as they're just as strong or even better according to them. That means no ranking at launch?

    I guess... no battlegrounds either?

    We don't know yet. They haven't mentioned it. Only what you mentioned regarding the PvP rewards.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 13/11/2018 7:47 am
     teebling
    (@teebling)
    Noble Member

    The team was able to use reference data to find models in Classic that were not correct, such as colors of lanterns. Purple was used as a color to recognize wrong model colors

    Love this attention to the small details!

    ReplyQuote
    Topic starter Posted : 15/11/2018 11:25 pm
     Faendor
    (@faendor)
    Reputable Member

    Love this attention to the small details!

    At the same time, they announce the existence of loot trading in Classic...

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 16/11/2018 4:10 am
     teebling
    (@teebling)
    Noble Member

    Love this attention to the small details!

    At the same time, they announce the existence of loot trading in Classic...

    What’s the big deal about this though? Why is loot trading so bad?

    ReplyQuote
    Topic starter Posted : 29/11/2018 4:00 pm
     Syturio
    (@syturio)
    Estimable Member

    Love this attention to the small details!

    At the same time, they announce the existence of loot trading in Classic...

    What’s the big deal about this though? Why is loot trading so bad?

    At first glance people may not see it.
    I suggest you and everyone watch this video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9ETwzv8PgA

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 29/11/2018 4:05 pm
     Sequoioideae
    (@sequoioideae)
    Eminent Member

    The actual solution for this is personal loot, not loot trading.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 29/12/2018 5:31 am
     teebling
    (@teebling)
    Noble Member

    The actual solution for this is personal loot, not loot trading.

    Hey Sequoi welcome to the forums :smile:

    What do you mean by personal loot?

    ReplyQuote
    Topic starter Posted : 29/12/2018 5:34 am
     Nostra
    (@nostra)
    Active Member
  • Achievements are not in Classic.

    • Awww... I would have loved to have achievements in classic.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 29/12/2018 8:21 am
     Faendor
    (@faendor)
    Reputable Member

    But you do have achievements there. Every little gear upgrade, talent point, quest or special class quest or dungeon completed and much more. All of these little milestones along the way feel like you have achieved something worthy. Simply because you have to earn it.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 29/12/2018 9:13 am
     teebling
    (@teebling)
    Noble Member
  • Achievements are not in Classic.

    • Awww... I would have loved to have achievements in classic.

    For me Reputation will be kind of like achievements - after all you get titles and other rewards alongside the sheer satisfaction of reaching 999 exalted :)

    ReplyQuote
    Topic starter Posted : 29/12/2018 9:21 am
     Sequoioideae
    (@sequoioideae)
    Eminent Member

    The actual solution for this is personal loot, not loot trading.

    Hey Sequoi welcome to the forums :smile:

    What do you mean by personal loot?

    thank you
    Under personal loot the game chooses a number of players (based on group size) and awards them a random item for their spec, while everyone else receives an amount of gold specific to them. Mounts can also be won via this method from bosses that drop them. Like solo looting, the drops are retrieved by directly looting the corpse of the boss, with the chat logs showing who's won something. Loot from Personal Loot is tradeable to anyone for whom the item is an ilvl upgrade, as long as it is also not an ilvl upgrade for yourself. https://wow.gamepedia.com/Loot#Personal_Loot

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 29/12/2018 9:32 am
     Nostra
    (@nostra)
    Active Member

    Without a doubt I agree with you, guys, it is a way to see the achievements, nothing more rewarding than having a title, an exalted reputation, or having the thunderfury equipped; but personally I had already adapted and I liked having them all described, organized and segmented in one section.

    In addition, the way in which the system of achievements currently works has become a style of play for those players whose goal in the game is to have all possible points, why lose this type of players being a relatively simple addition to the game? I do not know if it's just me but I know a lot of people who are addicted to achievements. The so-called pokemon masters, catch them all.

    I already see myself next year unconsciously pressing the keyboard shortcut (Y) several times.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 29/12/2018 9:59 am
     Jpy
    (@jpy)
    Reputable Member

    I hadn’t realized that Dire Maul would be available at launch. I think we’ll see a much quicker market rise than if it wasn’t available at launch.

    ReplyQuote
    Posted : 29/12/2018 11:48 am
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