Had this thought for a while and wanted to share it.
What “Classic” actually means ?
What are we talking about when we say an expansion (Vanilla included, obviously) is "Classic" ?
When Wow Classic has been release it was pretty clear, at least for me, that “Classic” actually meant a trip back to the old Azeroth as it was, before it changed during the Cataclysm expansion.
It worked for TBC: Classic and WoTLK: Classic since they provided new zones without dramatically changing the vanilla world.
Turns out Cataclysm: Classic will happen and now it seems “Classic” turned into some handy label Blizzard will now add to every post-WoTLK expansion revival, to the point our children might play The War Within: Classic, probably around 2035.
The meaning of words often boils down to convention, i.e. we agree that a certain word means a certain thing. You can obviously delve deeper into it, and it’s a rather interesting topic, but by and large we just agree that a horse is a horse and a tree is a tree, or that classic currently encompasses Cataclysm.
It’s pretty clear that Classic refers to the product line of releasing discontinued expansions, not a difficult concept to wrap your head around. Sorry that it did not fit your headcanon I guess.
Classic is just word. In a way it designate expansion of the past.
Colloquially, when we refer to classic (like this movie is a classic, or this rock song is a classic), we refer to a specific title that did influence the art in a way.
With that definition, Cataclysm is a classic, since its influence is still felt today.
I can understand the fascination with the old world to a degree, but not the arguments for it. What’s the point with the old world if you’re never there, let alone have no reason to visit it?
Wrath was the first expansion whose new content did not include any new zones in the Eastern Kingdoms or Kalimdor. Cataclysm, in contrast, is set almost entirely in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. The same can be said for certain TBC raids.
We also got transmog, which meant a bigger reason to engage with the old world.
Well, the term “classic” is interchangeable for each re-release. And regardless of what iteration of the game we get, it’s nothing but a cash cow for Blizzard anyways.
I don’t understand the fact that you people complain about this as if you don’t have the option to stop playing the game. TBC came and went and so did Wrath. Just move on and enjoy other games, or better yet, enjoy Cataclysm like everyone else.
The word “classic” means something from before that is looked upon fondly and so for many of us it is quite apt.
Those of you that don’t have fond memories of cata CANNOT change the meaning of a word just because it doesn’t suit your personal point of view.
If you don’t like cata that’s fine, don’t play it, I wish you lots of fun in whatever you decide to play.
If we are talking about Classic like it’s a way to play, only Vanilla is Classic
If we are talking about Classic like it’s the way to revisit the game as a prefixed (lol) faster pace game with the same people you’ve been playing for 5 years, then classic has no real end, at least for now
Wait until you find out that the xbox 360 is considered a retro console now…
But to be less snide. You could say the same for TBC and Wrath. Both of those expansions are closer to cata than vanilla. Either way, Cata is a quick side thing for Blizzard, their real goal is MoP Classic. Which might be the end, or they might rush WoD to get to legion.
This isn’t a complain, just a shared thought and a discussion, no big deal and nothing at stake here.
Off topic, nothing in my OP is about judging Cataclysm by itself, it’s only about what the “Classic” label means for me and would means for others, nothing less, nothing more.
Well given how quickly they bleed out players already just in the prepatch I doubt there will be many “”““classic””“” retail expansions they can miss label…
Classic, can refer to somethings original state when first released
It can also be dependent on a persons time frame, whats classic to them might not be classic to someone 20 years older or younger
Your question -In what “cata” is actually “classic” ?
IMO nothing, cata may be far from current retail but in terms of looks and feel it’s lost all its charm for me and might as well have flying pirate ship mounts and those fox things running about
CATA is the end of proper classic
pro tip don’t post and you wont have to waste your time, Jog on
World of warcraft Classic - Play the first version of wow as it was
TBC Classic - Experience TBC as it was originally
WOTLK Classic - Experience WOTLK as it was originally
Cataclsym Classic - Experience Cataclysm as it was originally
I don’t understand whats so difficult to understand? Just because the world changed in Cataclysm doesn’t mean that Cata or every expansion that gets released after can’t be considered “classic” in its own regard. Each expansion has its own tuning, class balance, and features.
We all know after an expansion releases or even a simple patch, old content becomes imbalanced. Try playing classic content at 60 in WOTLK, it wouldn’t play the same. Just doing ICC in Cata is vastly different from doing it in WOTLK.
Try play MoP on modern client, its NOT the same… Therefor a classic codebase of MoP will be much more preferable than playing it on a level capped retail client.
Classic may have different meaning in the english language, but the contexte of Blizzard and World of Warcraft, Classic is a line of discontinued product that are being re-release in a state identical or near identical as the original release.
So classic, in the contexte of WoW, is simply the re-release of past expansions. There is nothing in the definition of classic that relates to gameplay, cosmetic, game engine, etc…
