Demon Dogs, Spirit Wolf and Crabby Ghostcrawlers (Cataclysm)

The Cataclysm beta is introducing more tamable pets.  You'll be able to tame more colors of demon dogs if you want a fanged Chinese Crested following you.  The first link is about the demon dogs; the second shows the Chinese Cresteds they seem to be modeled on.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/10/30/demon-dog-heaven/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/image_galleries/chinese_dogs_gallery.shtml

A new spirit beast has been spotted in Cataclysm.  It's a semi-transparent blue crab called Ghostcrawler.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/01/ghostcrawler-the-spirit-beast/

A second new spirit beast is a wolf.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/04/karoma-the-wolf-spirit-beast/

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Pre-Loading Cataclysm (and Cinematics) Without Purchase

You still have to buy the Cataclysm expansion to play but you can download 700 mg early by following this procedure. http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/want-to-preload-cataclysm-without-pre-ordering-heres-how/

UPDATE:  Blizzard says the Cataclysm and other expansion pack cinematics will be downloaded to current customers with patches.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/blizzard-clarifies-cinematic-download-for-digital-customers/

UPDATE # 2:  When Cataclysm comes out, it will launch at midnight Pacific time for everyone.
http://kotaku.com/5679434/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-goes-live-the-same-time-for-everybody

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Blizzard About to Sue Korean TV Companies

Blizzard and Korean cable companies are fighting over control of Starcraft match broadcasts and how much is to be paid to show them.
http://kotaku.com/5676092/starcraft-legal-tussle-over-tv-rights-brewing

UPDATE: The PR war starts as Blizzard prepares to sue the Korean e-sports league as well as its former television partners. (Dec. 2010)  Thanks for the tip, Kotaku.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2010/12/133_77381.html

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Rumors of a Bungie MMO

With Activision now publishing future Bungie titles, it should be no surprise that rumors of a Bungie Halo MMO should start circulating.  I did find Kotick's quote surprising, however, since I was unaware that Blizzard had any customer service.
http://www.massively.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/

Bungie has announced that Halo Reach is their last Halo game and they want to go in other directions.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/100/1007095p1.html

I doubt that a Halo MMO is in the cards, although I imagine Activision would love to have one. I believe that Battle.net has been set up as the first step in a plan to capture the console game crowd.
http://kotaku.com/5676270/consider-the-possibility-of-activision-games-running-on-battlenet

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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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