This week Joce and Manny chat about an interview with John Hight conducted by Eurogamer, the AXS app controversy, and some PTR Raid testing, before getting into keybinding tips and some of your emails.
Eurogamer Interview with John Hight
Yesterday Eurogamer interviewed the Executive Producer and VP of WoW, John Hight. The interview was focused on WoW production in relation to the development cycle; and, how Blizzard handles the needs of “Games as a Service.”
- Confirmed the 11 week patch cycle of Legion was not a coincidence but a soft goal
- Talked about the development tools originally being created (more than) 15 years ago
- Mentioned the loss of productivity when work days stretch beyond 8 – 10 hrs
- Talked about management forecasting proper staffing levels avoids most crunch and how he still actively has to encourage developers to not overwork themselves.
- Discussed Time-gating (a.k.a “right-sizing”) content as healthier for player
- Talked about the modernization of WoW, being hesitant to change some things but wishing to change others
- Eurogamer Interview
AXS Ticket App
This year Blizzard is using a 3rd party ticket app to process Blizzcon tickets, AXS. This caused a stir of memes until a few articles on r/wow rose to the front page talking about the invasive permissions of the app. This caused some influencers to speak out about the controversy. A day later, the user “__versus” posted a second and far less popular post clarified details regarding the app and it’s permission.
- The app can be denied almost all the permissions and will still work for the purposes of presenting your ticket.
- The app must be given high level permissions by the user of the phone.
- You can opt out of using the app entirely and report to the Solutions desk at Blizzcon.
- Reddit Misconceptions Thread
- Blizzcon Tickets FAQ
Eternal Palace of Aszhara Testing
On Thursday May 9th and Friday May 10th, Blizzard will be testing 4 bosses from the upcoming 8.2 Raid, the Eternal Palace of Aszhara.
Thursday, May 9th
- Abyssal Commander Sivara – Heroic Eternal Palace
- 13:00 PDT (16:00 EDT, 22:00 CEST)
- Lady Ashvane – Heroic Eternal Palace
- 14:00 PDT (17:00 EDT, 23:00 CEST)
Friday, May 10th
- Orgozoa – Heroic Eternal Palace
- 13:00 PDT (16:00 EDT, 22:00 CEST)
- Radiance of Azshara – Heroic Eternal Palace
- 14:00 PDT (17:00 EDT, 23:00 CEST)
Community Resources/Add-ons
Keybinding Discussion
Whether you heal, tank or stand in fire to annoy your raid leader all players interact with the World of Warcraft through our abilities. One of the first ways to improve how you play the game is to look at how you keybind your abilities. Because of the different classes specializations and talents; and, because of each individual player; keybinds are often unique to all of us.
- What is the general layout of your keybinds?
- When switching away from the default are there buttons that you do not use or prefer to use?
- Do you keybind abilities to your mouse?
- Do you use modifier keys?
- Are there still abilities that you have unbound and have to click?
- Are there keybinds that are universal or nearly universal between your characters?
- When was the last time you revised your keybinds?
Podcast (faz-pod): Download (Duration: 1:59:12 — 109.2MB)
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