Login Server and BlizzCon Shipping Issues

There were login server issues last night, with many people unable to log in.  Battle.net was taken down for maintenance to fix the problem.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/login-server-issues-this-evening/

In an unrelated issue, there's been a blue posting on the forums that pre-sale items from BlizzCon have run into a two week shipping delay.   Everything that was ordered before the Oct. 22-23 convention should ship by November 3.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/bashiok-announces-blizzcon-pre-sale-shipping-delays/

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Details On the Cataclysm Digital Pre-sale

How it works, where it is available and what you can buy early.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=172570

The link to the sale.
http://us.battle.net/en/int?r=bnet

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An Open Letter to Developers

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/writersroom/8252-Open-Letter-to-People-Who-Make-Games

Amen.  Thanks, Karthias.

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List of Pet and Raid Buffs

Now that pet buffs will help the entire raiding party, it is important to know what all the pet buffs are.  Frostheim has come up with a list.  Make sure you check the Comments for more information.  I've put this link in the Hunter tab but the information is important enough I wanted to post it here, too.
http://www.warcrafthuntersunion.com/2010/10/cataclysm-hunter-pet-and-raid-buffs/

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Tips for the Bored Hunter in Patch 4.0.1

Eidotrope has suggestions for things hunters might want to do now that the Lich King expansion is almost over.
http://outdps.com/2010/10/27/things-to-do-at-the-end-of-wrath/

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Pet News from Cataclysm UPDATED

In the latest Cataclysm build, pets can become crit immune by using the Grace of Mantis talent.  The article also has info on the new worm Burrow and pet bugs.
http://www.warcrafthuntersunion.com/2010/10/pets-can-become-crit-immune-in-lastest-beta-build/

Mania's Arcania has a way of taming the Oily Coat Wolf so that it doesn't lose its color open taming.  Looks like this works for Alliance only, or at least only for Horde with plenty of Alliance friends to help.  It also may be removed by Blizzard at any time and you can't take the wolf to Arena without losing the coloring.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/10/27/taming-the-oily-coat-wolf/

Looks like eight of the nine parrots available in Cataclysm will be tamable.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/05/parrots-ahoy/

Turtles
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/08/ancient-turtle-volcano-turtle/

Tigers that Phase Away During Quest
http://thebrewhall.com/2010/11/08/crouching-tiger-hidden-tiger/

The Razzashi Hatchling will remain in the game despite its current home being destroyed.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/razzashi-hatchling-to-remain-as-an-in-game-drop-in-cataclysm/

Tamed Worms will Change Appearance
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/16/appearance-changes-worms/

Ravagers Change Appearance
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/17/appearance-changes-ravagers/

Many More Appearance Changes
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/20/appearance-changes-the-rest/

Blizzard has nerfed the ways players were able to keep pre-taming effects on pets.

http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/12/14/effect-taming-or-i-should-have-posted-sooner-eh/

Taming Ants
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/12/04/tame-your-own-ant/

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Watch Out for the Dragon Flyover

A blue posting has explained that Deathwing the dragon will be showing up in the pre-Cataclysm events to kill everyone in a random zone.  You get a repair bill, a corpse run, and a Feat of Strength achievement.  More details, including a video, here.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=172434

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New Gaming Peripherals from SteelSeries and Razer

SteelSeries showed off their latest gaming mice and keyboard at Blizzcon.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/blizzcon-2010-steelseries-shows-off-cataclysm-mmo-mouse-pro-ga/

http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/razer-announces-specialized-mmo-gaming-keyboard/

SteelSeries has just announced that they will have a MMO key set for their new SHIFT keyboard.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/steelseries-introduces-new-shift-key-set-for-mmos/

UPDATE:  Kotaku has a review, complete with video, on their website of the SteelSeries Shift.
http://kotaku.com/5709650/review-steelseries-shift-is-a-mighty-morphin-power-keyboard

Razer has a headset, keyboard and mouse set geared for Starcraft 2 fans.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/blizzcon-2010-razer-demos-the-naga-epic-starcraft-2-gear/

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Four Minutes of the New Cataclysm Dungeons

WOW Head has posted videos of some of the new Cataclysm dungeons. "Dungeons featured include Halls of Origination, The Stonecore, Vortex Pinnacle, Throne of the Tides, Grim Batol and Blackrock Caverns! There's even some bonus footage of the new outdoor PVP zone, Tol Barad!"
http://www.youtube.com/ZAMOfficial#p/u/0/GltfMPlEPe0

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Blizzard To Shut Down Current Forums

Blizzard is going to make the current forums read only and then eventually take them down, which makes sense as most of the information is now outdated.  A new forum system will be set up.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=172441

More information.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/new-blizzard-community-website-forums-begin-testing-in-november/

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