Warcraft struck by lethal plague
But will Blizzard halt the epidemic?
The World of Warcraft, Blizzard's leading MMORPG, has been struck down by a lethal plague, which is sweeping through the avatars of the game's millions of avid players. In-game events are a frequent way in which Blizzard helps keep the gaming experience fresh and surprising, but this latest instance has surprised even the developers with its impact upon the world. The Zul'Gurub instance witnessed the god of blood, Hakkar, unleashing a plague upon those fighting him. The plague however is proving highly contagious and returning players are spreading the disease amid the towns and villages of Blizzard's persistent world.
Indeed, even quarantine methods being implemented by GM's are failing as players moves between areas, spreading the disease at an alarming rate. Clearly this instance has gone beyond Blizzard's control in a fascinating manner, impacting the world with simulation-like results. Whilst gamers with ratings below fifty drop like flies, commentators are congratulating Blizzard on creating such a free-form, unpredictable game environment. Many are also hoping that Blizzard doesn't 'chicken out' and release a patch to halt the outbreak.
"It appears that the hotfix remedy concocted to combat the recent Azerothian outbreak has not yielded desired results," commented a moderator on the official forums. "At this time, our medical staff is continuing to develop an effective cure. We look forward to ensuring the health and vitality of the citizens of Azeroth in the near future." More on this as we get it.
