• We are definitely going to see huge improvements in online gaming. This will mean the end of the game console; there will just be no need for such a device. The speed of the web will advance to such an extent that game developers will be able to create amazing games to take advantage of this. This change is going to happen fast so do not waste your money on more console games.

• I think that the future will see us becoming the characters of these games rather than actually playing a character. The games are going to be fully immersive and we will therefore be stepping into the game. You should expect the level of entertainment to be something totally new because everything will look so real. I reckon that some people will spend too much time in these virtual worlds and there will be an outcry about it.

• I believe that over the next few decades, we will no longer have any line between movies, social media and gaming. It will be possible for us to take part in the movies we are watching instead of enjoying them passively. We will be able to affect the storyline by interacting with the characters. We can have more fun by being joined in the movie by the people we know. Every movie will provide hundreds of hours of entertainment because of the gaming and social potential.

Online gaming is an extremely popular pursuit today. When a bit of r’n'r is required to help unwind from the stresses of daily life, these online pastimes really help. One of the most popular online games around at the moment is Play Angry Birds.

Patch note for Patch 3.1.2 is readily available here. Get yourself some heads up if you are seriously care about the changes.

The changes you need to know:

• All Lake Wintergrasp daily quests have been changed to a weekly format. The honor and Stone Keeper’s Shards rewarded for completing these quests have been increased to compensate.
• Juggernaut: Critical strike chance bonus reduced to 25%, down from 100%.
• Jewel of the Sewers: You can now fish in all parts of the Dalaran sewers for this quest.
• 10-player bosses that drop Runed Orbs will also sometimes drop the recipes that use those orbs.

Meanwhile here is the list of the in game fixes:

• If a pet dies from Overwhelming Power on Steelbreaker in Ulduar, Steelbreaker will gain an Electrical Charge.
• The Doomguard’s ability Cripple now reduces ranged and melee attack speed by 20% instead of 45%. Cripple’s slowing effect does not stack with other slowing effects such as Thunderclap and Infected Wounds.
• Thorim’s Unbalancing Strike ability will now be used at more consistent intervals.
• The chance for the Lightning Overload talent to be triggered is being increased from 7/13/20% to 11/22/33%.
• We have decreased or removed the stealth detection from numerous items. Please visit this link for more information: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=17163476972&sid=1
• Wild Growth can no longer proc Revitalize if you don’t have talent points spent in Revitalize.
• In the Yogg Saron encounter, Paladin Judgement spells will no longer cause diminish power from Crusher Tentacles to cease channeling.
• The vehicles in the Flame Leviathon encounter will now respawn faster.
• Hodir will no longer shatter his Rare Cache of Winter if defeated while casting a spell, like Flash Freeze.

While it is never too late to beef up on your WOW knowledge, there is something you definitely need to know.

Questhelper Add on is available for download from Curse.

Why you need this add on?

QuestHelper tells you how to finish your quests in the easiest, fastest manner. It includes a database of quests, monsters, and items, telling you the exact location of that dang Perfect Satyr Horn you can’t find. It also computes the fastest path to complete all your quests – and gain experience – as quickly as possible.

Questhelper is always a useful tool whether you are new or advanced players.

Sometimes, it is not that easy to master the skill to understand the Questhelper and here is what you need to get started. A guide on questhelper is indeed helpful and all you need to learn.

Most questhelper is compatible with Patch 3.1 and the Questhelper add on is definitely compatible with all patches. So take this chance and get the Zygor Guide that offers top quality questhelper quide for all WOW players.

ZYGOR GUIDE for the best Questhelper.

Would not give a chance to let it slip away from your fingers. Get it while it is available.

First of all, let us refer to the TOS by Blizzard regarding naming characters.

You are not supposed to give names that:

• belong to or impersonate another person
• incorporate vulgar language or are offensive, defamatory, obscene, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable
• belong to a popular culture figure, celebrity, or media personality
• contain or are substantially similar to a trademark or service mark
• belonging to any religious figure or deity
• are taken from Blizzard’s Warcraft products
• are related to drugs, sex, alcohol, or criminal activity
• are comprised of partial or complete sentence (e.g., "Inyourface", "Welovebeef", etc)
• refer to pop culture icons or personas (e.g. " "Britneyspears", "Austinpowers", "Batman")

Is this clear enough?

Perhaps you need more explanation. Ok moving on, let us look at the different degree of appropriate or inappropriate.

Most inappropriate:

• names related to racial/racism
• sexual names
• vulgar names

Make sure you do not name your character as ‘boobies’ or ‘damnit’ or risk losing everything you have.

Medium inappropriate:

• names related to Blizzard employees, Blizzard
• names purely for the use of advertising

Doing any one of these will cause a warning letter. Remember, it is never a good thing to get a warning.

Restricted:

• trademark names
• names referring to the real world
• gibberish names

Do one of these and you will be prompted to change your name every time you log in to your account. What a hassle!

So, avoid at all cost getting into troubles with Blizzard and play your game safely.

I know some of you take this as a challenge to break the rules but then again think whether it is worth it to lose your account over something out of mischief!

The only problem is how do you recognise a unique pet in WOW? There are four ways to describe exotic and unique pets.

1. Ferocious
2. Tenacious
3. Cunning
4. Exotic

Look out for these signs and you will find your unique pets.

Cats are ferocious. Therefore, you should get yourself a cat as a pet if this is the quality that you like. Lion is also under the Cat category so get a lion for a change.

Boars are known to be tenacious. Like tenacity? Get a boar and have a ride.

Ravagers would be perfect if you are looking for a cunning pet. Ravagers are known to be cunning apart from being labeled as the ‘Jack of All Trade’.

Want something truly exotic, different from others, go for Spirit Beasts. The name should describe well enough.

So, now that you know the choices available, what would be your perfect pet in WOW? Share with us!

Imagine, if you are playing WOW and Starcraft and maybe Diablo as well, but having to remember all your username and passwords can be a hassle and a problem. With battle.net, you can manage everything with just a username and password (to be exact, the username is the form of email address).

Here is a short explanation of what Battle.net is all about:

…log in to World of Warcraft, manage purchases at the online Blizzard Store, keep track of CD keys for your Blizzard Entertainment games, access our websites (such as the World of Warcraft Armory), opt in to upcoming beta tests, and more using a single login…

~ battle.net

Wouldn’t this be the best helper for gamers? If you have been a fan of all sorts of Blizzard games, try this and you will never regret.

Besides, it is a free service so if you are an existing WOW player, you can use it immediately.

There is also a Battle.net Authenticator app for your mobile phone such as iPhone and even iPod.

Blizzard Authenticator app for your mobile phone which will generate a code just like the physical authenticator does. I am sure this is something that you need as well so try it when you are using Battle.net as your assistant.

Here is a list of the FAQs to help you understand Battle.net:

Q: What is a Battle.net Account?

A: As part of our ongoing improvements to Battle.net, we are introducing a centralized account system that will let players manage all of their Blizzard Entertainment games, including World of Warcraft and future games, in one place without having to remember multiple sets of login information.

Q: What are the benefits of creating and using a Battle.net Account?

A: The new Battle.net Account allows you to log in to World of Warcraft, manage purchases at the online Blizzard Store, keep track of CD keys for your Blizzard Entertainment games, access our websites (such as the World of Warcraft Armory), opt in to upcoming beta tests, and more using a single login — just your email address and a password. In the future, we plan to add more features, including tools to make it easier for friends to communicate between games and to help bring our community of players closer together.

Q: Are these Battle.net Accounts related to Blizzard Accounts?

A: Battle.net Accounts are an evolution of the existing Blizzard Accounts. If you already use a Blizzard Account, you do not need to create a new Battle.net Account — the Blizzard Account has been automatically converted, and people with existing Blizzard Accounts have received an email containing more information.

Q: How are World of Warcraft accounts related to Battle.net Accounts?

A: Think of a Battle.net Account as a keyring that can hold up to 8 World of Warcraft accounts. To merge a World of Warcraft account with a Battle.net Account, visit the Battle.net / World of Warcraft Account Merge page and follow the instructions there. Repeat the process for each World of Warcraft account you wish to merge.

Q: I play World of Warcraft using multiple accounts — why should I merge all of them into the same Battle.net account?

A: One of our long-term goals for Battle.net is to introduce community and communication features that will make it beneficial for players to have all of the accounts and games they play associated with their own, single online identity. Merging all of your World of Warcraft accounts into one Battle.net account will enable you to take full advantage of these features in the future. We’ll have more information to share about our plans in the coming months.

Q: My family plays World of Warcraft together. Should we create a single Battle.net account for all of our World of Warcraft accounts?

A: No. Sharing access to a World of Warcraft account, other than by a parent or guardian with a single minor, is a violation of World of Warcraft’s Terms of Use. You should create a separate Battle.net account for each family member’s World of Warcraft account. In addition, future Battle.net features will make it beneficial for players to have the Battle.net account they use associated with their own online identity. Creating separate accounts for you and your family ensures you will be able to take advantage of these features when they are introduced later on.

Q: How do I log in to the game after I’ve merged a World of Warcraft account to a Battle.net Account?

A: After you complete the account merge process, you will use the Battle.net Account information (i.e. the email address and password you designated) to log in to World of Warcraft. The old World of Warcraft account name will no longer be used to log in to the game, the World of Warcraft forums, or the Armory.

Q: Will my Blizzard Authenticator still work?

A: Yes. If you use a Blizzard Authenticator, you will need it when merging the associated World of Warcraft account into the new Battle.net Account. The Authenticator will automatically transfer to the Battle.net Account during the merge process, and you will still need it when managing Battle.net Account information and logging in to the game. For more information on the security benefits of the Blizzard Authenticator, visit http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=26108.

Q: What happens if I play on multiple World of Warcraft accounts and use Authenticators for each one?

A: When merging each World of Warcraft account to a Battle.net Account, you will need to enter information for each account’s Authenticator. However, once all of the accounts are merged, you will only need the Authenticator used for the first World of Warcraft account you merged. You may give away, sell, store, or dispose of your additional Authenticators, as they are no longer needed.

Q: Can I add a Blizzard Authenticator to a Battle.net account before merging a World of Warcraft account?

A: You must first merge a World of Warcraft account into a Battle.net account before options to add a Blizzard Authenticator will appear in Battle.net Account Management.

Q: How do I log in if I’ve merged multiple World of Warcraft accounts?

A: After you log in to World of Warcraft using the Battle.net Account, you will be prompted to select which of the merged World of Warcraft accounts you wish to play. Players with multiple World of Warcraft accounts are still able to log in and play them simultaneously.

Q: I already have a classic Battle.net account that I made for StarCraft, Warcraft III, and/or Diablo II. Can I just use that?

A: No, the new Battle.net Accounts are separate from classic Battle.net accounts for StarCraft, Warcraft III, and Diablo II. To allow for the Battle.net features we have planned, we’ve built the new Battle.net Account system from the ground up for World of Warcraft and upcoming games such as StarCraft II and Diablo III. In order to play Warcraft III, Diablo II, and StarCraft on Battle.net, you will still need to log in using your “classic” Battle.net login information.

Q: Is creating a Battle.net Account required to play World of Warcraft?

A: Currently, creating a Battle.net account and merging World of Warcraft accounts is entirely optional. However, as we continue to build additional functionality into the new Battle.net, we will eventually require all active World of Warcraft accounts to migrate over to Battle.net Accounts in order to continue playing. Additionally, all future Blizzard Entertainment games such as StarCraft II and Diablo III will require Battle.net Accounts.

Q: Why will Battle.net accounts be mandatory to play World of Warcraft in the future?

A: With the upcoming releases of StarCraft II and Diablo III, having one unified account system allows us to ensure the highest-quality user experience and customer support for our players. In addition, the new Battle.net Account system will give World of Warcraft players access to certain future Battle.net service features and updates (as applicable).

Q: What happens if I change my email address?

A: If you change your primary email address in Battle.net Account Management, the Battle.net Account name will change automatically, and you will log in using the updated email address. All of your game associations and online Blizzard Store purchases will stay linked to the account, and you will not have to create a new account, re-merge any World of Warcraft subscriptions, or repurchase any games.

Q: How will I log in to Blizzard Entertainment forums after creating a Battle.net Account?

A: To access the World of Warcraft forums, you will log in using the new Battle.net Account. After doing so, you will be able to select which merged World of Warcraft account and character you wish to use to post. To access the classic Battle.net forums (including the existing StarCraft II and Diablo III forums there), you will continue to log in as you have in the past. As we add community features to the new Battle.net, our forums will continue to evolve; we’ll be able to share more about our plans in the future.

Q: Sign me up! How do I create a new Battle.net Account?

A: Simply start at http://us.battle.net/account and follow the instructions to create a new Battle.net Account.

Q: Is there a subscription fee or a creation fee?

A: No, there is no subscription or creation fee for creating a Battle.net Account.

Q: Will Battle.net Accounts include parental controls?

A: In the future, we plan to add parental controls similar to the ones now available in World of Warcraft Account Management.

Q: Isn’t it a bit risky to link all my games to one password? What if someone steals my Battle.net account?

A: Security has always been one of our top priorities, and that’s true of Battle.net Accounts, too. For related information and security advice, please visit http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=26328.

Perhaps this is a good news for you.

In case you have no idea, there are bonuses for the Tier 8 gear for Priests that will be available in Ulduar. So, now here they are, the bonuses for Tier 8 Priests’ gear.

• Healing:
  • Two-piece: Increases the crit chance of your Prayer of Healing by 10%
  • Four-piece: Casting Power Word: Shield also grants you 250 spell power until cancelled.
• Shadow:
  • Two-piece: Increases the damage done by your Devouring Plague by 15%.
  • Four-piece: Your Mind Blast also grants you 240 haste rating until cancelled.

These are the latest additions although there might be more, which we will find out later when it is announced.

Until then, enjoy your game.

There are players who noticed the background downloader start up to deliver parts of Patch 3.1. This is indeed an exciting news since we have been waiting for the full Patch 3.1 to come out.

However, the only thing is that these new files won’t work unless if the Patch 3.1 has gone live.

Apart from the downloading of patch files, there will be maintenance on Tuesday March 17th, from 3:00 a.m. PDT / 6:00 a.m. EDT until 11:00 a.m. PDT / 2:00 p.m.

This maintenance seems to be slightly longer than the others but don’t take this as a sign that Patch 3.1 is going live. After all you wouldn’t want the disappointment finding out that it is not.

So, when will Patch 3.1 goes live? We can only hope that it will be soon.

Even though in virtual chat rooms, no one is seeing you on the other side, but manner is a main element in chat rooms especially when WoW is an international online game, not only in US or EU.

The problem that occurs when you are not polite and the typing is all wrong:

1. You offend other people. Seriously it is easy to offend and annoy people in chat room (example: plz…, plzzz, thx, ur).
2. Miscommunications in chat rooms.
3. If you ask a question, no one bothers to answer because you type in a ‘language’ that no one understands (example: any1 4 utgrd kp).

How to avoid these problems:

1. Please type properly.
   It is easy, you just need to keep in mind that people love to read ‘please’ rather than ‘plz’.
2. Say thank you.
   Is it so difficult to thank people after someone helps you out?
3. Only one ? is needed.
   This is common sense, do you like to see me asking you like this????????? When you ask a question, make sure you only use one question mark at the end.

I know you care more about playing rather than these small details but take note the next time you enter the chat room. You might just leave the moment you enter the room seeing all these impolite people chatting away in the most unproper ways.

According to Wikipedia, macro is a rule or pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence (often a sequence of characters) should be mapped to an output sequence (also often a sequence of characters) according to a defined procedure.

Now, some WOW players use macros in the game to help them achieve something.

It is actually very easy, if you are a tech savvy user (which is no doubt you are because you are playing WOW).

Opocaj at WoW-Pro.com has written a guide on how you can produce macros – the simple way.

Excerpts from the guide:

I’m writing this guide to help you in creating those useful things that macros are.
Some of you could even have no idea of what macros are, so we’ll start from the beginning.

Enjoy learning about macros and hopefully you will gain all the benefits of using macros.

Don’t forget to check out the Warcraft Formula guide. It is never too late to learn something new.

Believe it or not, You Play or We Pay is a free third party site that offers compensation for World of Warcraft’s downtime. I am sure you are familiar with the occasional downtimes for updates and all. Now, you can get compensation for the downtime since you can’t play the game.

Being a non-profit organisation, YPWP is indeed offering a one-of-a-kind service to WOW players around the world.

To register, you need to have a character of level 40 and above or level 65 and above for Death Knights with a valid email address. Make sure you are above 18 otherwise you will need parent’s consent before you register.

The compensation is given through YPWP credit which you can use to exchange for items such as game cards. Since they get all the data directly from Blizzard, you can assure that all the information they collect from your account is accurate.

At this moment, it is available only to WOW but might be available for more games in the future depending on the feedback for this project.

If you are interested, head down to You Play or We Pay website for more information.