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Episode 221:

Where'd My Time Go?

Runtime: 60 Minutes

History Topics (At-A Glance):

World of Warcraft (2004)

Episode Summary:

Today, we’re journeying to Azeroth to explore *World of Warcraft*, Blizzard’s groundbreaking MMORPG that launched on November 23, 2004. We start by delving into Blizzard’s history, from their early success with the *Warcraft* franchise to the development challenges that led to the creation of WoW. Then, we’ll discuss how WoW revolutionized the genre with its approachable gameplay, expansive world, and player-friendly systems, setting new standards for MMOs. Finally, we’ll reflect on WoW’s enduring legacy, from its record-breaking subscriber base to its ongoing expansions, which continue to shape the world of online gaming. So, grab your mounts and join us as we venture into the epic realm of Azeroth on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.


Video Games and Consoles Discussed in this Episode:
World of Warcraft (2004)

Wikipedia

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans (1994)

Wikipedia

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1995)

Wikipedia

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002)

Wikipedia

The Lost Vikings (1993)

Wikipedia

EverQuest (1999)

Wikipedia

Ultima Online (1997)

Wikipedia

Star Wars: Galaxies (2003)

Wikipedia

Additional Sources:

Nomad (canceled game). (n.d.). Warcraft Wiki..

https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Nomad_(canceled_game)

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, November 17). Blizzard Entertainment. Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment

Ellis, A. (2024, February 15). How Warcraft got its name. Kotaku.

https://kotaku.com/how-warcraft-got-its-name-1838669881

Wowpedia, C. T. (n.d.). Timeline (World of Warcraft). Wowpedia.

https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline_(World_of_Warcraft)

Campbell, C. (2020, January 20). How World of Warcraft was born from chaos. Polygon.

https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/20/21070494/world-of-warcraft-history-development-chaos-wow

Andreadis, K. (2020, January 20). 25 years of Warcraft (and 15 years of WOW): An IGN Retrospective - IGN. IGN.

https://www.ign.com/articles/25-years-of-warcraft-and-15-years-of-world-of-warcraft-an-ign-retrospective

Bailey, D. (2018, June 30). Blizzard’s Project Nomad was partially eaten by StarCraft. PCGamesN.

https://www.pcgamesn.com/starcraft/starcraft-project-nomad

Perculia. (2019, December 18). Wowhead. Wowhead.

https://www.wowhead.com/diablo-4/pt/news/making-wow-learning-from-the-mistakes-of-nomad-ama-with-author-john-staats-301530

Valentine, R. (2024, October 4). Every canceled Blizzard game that we know of thanks to a new comprehensive history of the studio - IGN. IGN.

https://www.ign.com/articles/every-canceled-blizzard-game-that-we-know-of-thanks-to-a-new-comprehensive-history-of-the-studio

Team 2. (n.d.). Warcraft Wiki..

https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Team_2

World of Warcraft. (n.d.). Warcraft Wiki.

https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/World_of_Warcraft#Development

Audio Sources:
Cold Open Music

Bleeping Demo by Kevin MacLeod

Link: Free Download

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Podcast Intro Music

Open Those Bright Eyes by Kevin MacLeod

Link: Free Download

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license