Blizzard
Entertainment® today announced the release of the first two player-vs.-player
(PvP) Battlegrounds for World of Warcraft®, its record-setting
subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game.
Featuring distinctly different map designs and game objectives, these
highly anticipated PvP battlefields provide an entirely new dimension of
competitive gameplay for both expert and new World of Warcraft
players.
“While
World of Warcraft has been expanding with new content regularly
since launch, the PvP Battlegrounds represent the single biggest update
to the game yet,” stated Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of
Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re excited that players can now
experience Horde-vs.-Alliance combat as it was meant to be, and we’re
looking forward to adding even more Battlegrounds to the game with
future updates.”
World
of Warcraft’s Battlegrounds are PvP-enabled zones where players
compete against each other to achieve victory, Honor points, and
valuable in-game rewards. Each Battleground has different goals and
gameplay styles, providing an addictively engaging
experience
for participants. The two initial Battlegrounds now available to the
public are Alterac Valley, a high-end zone designed for large groups of
experienced players, and Warsong Gulch, a more casual zone designed for
all players level 21 and up.
In
Alterac Valley, two teams of 40 battle each other for all-out
domination. The snowy zone, nestled high within the Alterac Mountains of
Lordaeron, features a fully functioning base for each faction, NPC
defenders, PvP quests, and unique allied monsters to create a
challenging and epic conflict. Players can spend hours executing
carefully
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planned
strategies in Alterac Valley, earning bonus Honor points by achieving
key objectives along the way and ultimately by winning the Battleground.
Victory
in Warsong Gulch, situated on the border between Ashenvale Forest and
the Barrens, likewise requires strategy and teamwork, but the pace of
play is faster, with games lasting 45 minutes on average. In Warsong
Gulch, two teams of 10 vie to capture each other’s flag and return it
to base while defending their own flag from capture. Three successful
captures result in a win, with each capture conferring bonus Honor
points.
The
Honor points gained in both Warsong Gulch and Alterac Valley accumulate
to help players advance in rank in World of Warcraft’s Honor
System. Designed as an alternate means of character advancement, the
Honor System allows players to access increasingly powerful items as
they move up through the ranks.
Blizzard
is currently in the process of designing additional Battlegrounds,
complete with exciting new settings and new styles of gameplay, which
will be available for testing in the months ahead. For more information
about World of Warcraft’s Battlegrounds and the PvP Honor
System, visit the official World of Warcraft website at www.worldofwarcraft.com.
About
World of Warcraft
In
World of Warcraft, players assume the roles of legendary heroes
and interact with thousands of other players online as they explore and
adventure across a vast world. Whether journeying together or questing
on their own, players will engage in heroic battles, develop
friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and
glory. The game features customizable character classes with thousands
of weapons, spells, and abilities. With an innovative, easy-to-use
interface, an action-packed combat system, and thousands of quests that
build an immersive storyline, World of Warcraft offers a MMORPG
experience that will appeal to both veteran and casual players alike.
For more information on the game, visit www.worldofwarcraft.com.
About
Blizzard Entertainment Best known for blockbuster hits including the Warcraft®
series,StarCraft®,and the Diablo® series, Blizzard
Entertainment® (www.blizzard.com),
a division of Vivendi Universal Games, is a premier developer and
publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the
industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard’s track record
includes nine #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The
company’s free Internet gaming service, Battle.net®, reigns as the
largest in the world, with millions of active users.