Blizzard has shared a few images from the early days of World Of WarCraft.
With help from Blizzard's in-house museum team, Blizzard staffer Dave Wilson posted 20 annotated images showcasing World Of WarCraft evolution since it was first demoed internally as a WarCraft 3 mod until it was released in 2004 and changed the face of MMORPG games forever.
"This is the earliest existing screenshot of World of Warcraft using the Warcraft III engine." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/wVRBBeP8aP
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
Placeholder town of Valguard circa 1999. Coming soon™ no doubt. Let's see a Malbourn cosplay at BlizzCon! #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/hKnPmWU6M0
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"One of the earliest World of Warcraft screenshots taken during development." Westfall feels appropriate. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/zs7aAuqZTG
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"This shot shows some undead designs whose identity fluctuated throughout early development." Circa 2000. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/9d33E3lA0G
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"The first character select screen built by Aaron Keller. Originally World of Warcraft had only 6 races." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/Dc3swmI47p
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"Early versions of the female troll model." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/8kh4QEA11A
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
The first flight point test. Alliance character rides on the Wyvern as Gryphons weren't yet animated. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/0TVO5COImu
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
'Hail to the King Baby' - Bullshizzle bears witness to Cairne Bloodhoof's birthday. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/FIGAWh99iQ
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"Originally the Juggernaut in the Deadmines was built outside." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/7oW15p7XYM
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"The Atari Map" - Jeff Kaplan once skipped E3 to design Arathi Basin. These days Jeff directs Overwatch. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/LY8DHymNmf
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"[Once] "Atari Map" was completed for Arathi Basin, Jim Chadwick began laying out the level in WoW edit." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/WE3icmiosF
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
Onyxia's birthday - 08/12/04
Final build: Roman Kenney
Placement: Jeff Kaplan
Fight design: Geoff Goodman
#WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/k2J7IHWK27
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"That's a big arrow." The first test fight against Onyxia. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/tobfNvwqwJ
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"An early design map of Kalimdor. Zones are shown in red and dungeons in yellow." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/nGMvMNQyZK
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
The very first Molten Core raid. "Scott Mercer and Jeff Kaplan saved the zone by making it in a week." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/nveAynAWFk
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"why are the mobs attacking the boss?"
The first test (and wipe) of Blackwing Lair. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/tbKtSlz9vD
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"The Ruins of Lordaeron." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/daueoCcVF4
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"An early development model of C'Thun, the final boss in the Temple of Ahn'Qiraj." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/QZeyOUY2wq
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
Proto-Outland. "Originally Outland was to be a zone that shipped with the original World of Warcraft." #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/9scKeMEKAX
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015
"World of Warcraft shipped with a team of 60 people." Hall of Fame indeed, and champagne well deserved. #WoWHistory pic.twitter.com/TkJKewo69p
— Dave Wilson (@gopherstick) June 7, 2015