Wrath of the Lich King NYC Midnight Opening Photos

Blizzard Entertainment developers came down to the Big Apple: New York City to celebrate the Midnight Opening launch of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. Nearly 800 fans lined up outside Best Buy (529 5th Avenue and 44th Street). I arrived at 8pm to the premises and got my press badge. The treatment given by the Best Buy staff was excellent from the moment I arrived to the media booth. Shortly after, I walked downstairs to purchase a Collector’s Edition and a Standard Edition. However, the game wouldn’t be physically given to customers until midnight, as expected. Great to be able to purchase it in advance. Less hassle.

The Best Buy staff excelled with live broadcast on all huge monitors (seen from outdoors) and sound system all around the store within and outside. The live Best Buy broadcast host and his cameraman would walk along the line up of fans interviewing them and asking why they consider themselves the best Blizzard fan. He was giving away $25 Gift Cards to anyone who answered the Blizzard Trivia. Someone couldn’t answer correctly what the draenei Unbroken in Black Temple was named as? Duh, Akama! Epic fail. But there were so many fans who answered correctly and won many of these gift cards. For tough questions, they would double the stakes and giveaway $50 gift cards.

Mike Morhaime and Frank Pearce were interviewed by the Best Buy host and fans would sit next to them to ask questions. It was a fun way to spend all those hours prior to the midnight opening, since 8:00pm.