Countdown To Classic - A World Of Warcraft Classic Podcast

The eagle has landed as Josh brings you this episode of Countdown To Classic from LA! Today, Josh takes a call from a number of content creators about a classic websites, content creation and the community.  After that it's time for memory lane and some listener feedback. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown - 5:40 Memory Lane - 51:45 Listener Feedback - 56:05 Shout Outs & Show News - 59:30   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend! Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting, check back later if not there): https://open.spotify.com/show/38mHWjscNorJr7OFeNu8X5?si=c6JKxJeSRCeLQPSIlKJL8w Or @ iTunes (As above, can take a short while to upload after posting): https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/countdown-to-classic/id1352967778 Or @ Stitcher (As above, can take

Josh is getting out of dodge! Just before jumping on a 14 hour flight to Blizzcon, Countdown To Classic unloads with a take on the latest round of purported leaks from the Classic Demo. After that, Josh speaks with a number of listeners on a broad range of topics including Paladins, judgement stacking, theorycrafting, the community at large, hit tables, testing and analysing the Classic demo, and reputation grinds. Highlights Below: Josh's Take On The Leaked Screenshots - 2:45 Listener Call #1 - Paladins, Theorycrafting, and the Community - 23:25 Listener Call #2 - Classic Demo & Hit Tables - 1:26:15 Listener Call #3 - Reputation Grinds - 1:43:45 Listener Call #4 - Devs Analysing The Classic Demo - 1:54:35 Shout Outs & Show News - 2:07:45   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend!  Also listen

Countdown To Classic checks off another bucket list item for the show by sitting down with former NFL punter, Chris Kluwe, to talk about balancing life in the NFL with hardcore raiding in World Of Warcraft. Chris chats and laughs along with Josh over a variety of topics including, raiding as a rogue, Blizzard games, the state of eSports, and a few funny football memories. Highlights Below: Meeting Chris - 2:50 Becoming A Top Flight Raider - 7:55 How To Apply For A Top Raiding Guild As An NFL Player - 9:50 Easily Fund Your Real Hobbies Via An NFL Career - 13:35 Writing A Sci-Fi Book - 16:35 Balancing Hobbies With Life In The NFL - 19:10 How To Raid & Keep Your Job In Training Camp - 27:55 Enjoying Azeroth Anonymously - 30:20 Lingering Memories Of Raiding - 36:15 DKP, The Warglaives Of Azzinoth & Paying Your Dues - 39:00 Did Somebody Say 'Thunderfury - Blessed Blade of the Windseeker'? - 41:30 Building Wife Aggro - 46:20 Dealing With Kids & Online Gaming In 2018 - 49:15 Life As The Guild's Celebrit

Blizzcon is just around the corner and Countdown To Classic has you covered for all the Blizzcon speculation and predictions that you can handle. Josh calls in three avid listeners, Palfuris, Viv, and Niel, for a group call to cover off on all angles of the event, being the fans who will be there in person, the fans watching at home via the virtual ticket, and those keeping an eye on things from within the gaming industry.  Listen in for a lot of analytical chat, and many a laugh along the way as we discover that Josh has no idea what beat boxing is! After that it's time for everybody's favourite segment, memory lane, and then Josh cleans up with an epic listener submission about why there was actually NO WAR going on in World Of Warcraft. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown - 3:20 Memory Lane - 1:47:40 Clean Up - 1:59:25 Show News + Shout Outs - 2:04:55   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y

The thrilling trilogy of ex-dev interviews concludes with Monster/Raid/Encounter designer, Alex Brazie! Listen in as Countdown To Classic rounds out what has been a fascinating run of interviews with former WoW devs about some of the design principles that went into the making of the game. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 2:30 Thoughts On John Staat's WoW Diary - 3:30 Alex's Work On WoW - 6:30 What Alex Works On Now - 8:40 The Blizzard Employee Guild - 11:05 Playing WoW vs. Making WoW - 18:15 The Blizzard Guild Adjusts To TBC Raiding - 20:00 J. Allen Brack & Others As Raiders - 24:35 Do All WoW Staff Love MMO's? - 27:30 Other Games Alex Wanted To Work On - 33:00 Geeking Out At Irvine - 35:30 Visiting Bill Gates - 41:00 Making Monsters In WoW: Monster Design 101 - 47:30 Favourite Monster Design - 55:45 Naxxramas Design Observations - 1:02:20 Four Horsemen Difficulty Design - 1:06:10 Post Vanilla Boss Design/Lord Marrowgar - 1:09:15 Warlock Overhaul Post Vanilla/Warlock Tanking - 1:12:40 Early Impres

In the second part of the trilogy of talks with former World Of Warcraft developers, Josh sits down with exterior level designer Bo Bell, for a lengthy chat on the making of vanilla WoW. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 2:35 Bo's Resume - 3:20 Working At Blizzard - 7:50 Working in QA - 9:50 Speaking Publicly About Games - 16:05 What Bo Works On Now - 19:35 Artistic Freedom Working On Exterior Designs - 24:30 Balancing Metzen's Vision With Personal Tastes - 31:30 Fighting For Keeping Duskwood Dark - 37:10 Love For The Planned Emerald Dream - 41:45 Real World Inspirations In WoW Exteriors - 47:50 WoW Planned To Be Everquest? - 53:40 Smoke Break Ideas/Cutting Wee From WoW - 1:05:25 How Close Were We To Flying Mounts In Vanilla? - 1:09:45 Lord Of The Rings Inspirations - 1:13:20 Runemasters In Vanilla WoW - 1:22:50 Other Scrapped Classes - 1:27:25 Favourite/Challenging Zones That Bo Worked On - 1:31:00 Seeing Cataclysm Change Bo's Work - 1:37:50 Blizzard's Level Design Approach Now vs. Then - 1:42:45 Origi

It's raining former Blizzard staff as Countdown To Classic brings you the first of three straight fantastic interviews with the people that helped make the game that we've all come to know and love. Listen in as Josh chats with Kevin Jordan, one of three original game designers who was brought on early to World of Warcraft, and who helped design many of the abilities that we'll be using again soon when Classic drops. After that, Josh finishes with a Memory Lane segment, and then a quick comment on the big news that J. Allen Brack would be replacing Mike Morhaime as President at Blizzard. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 3:10 All About Kevin - 4:10 Working With Blizz Personalities - 8:00 State of WoW/Blizz When Kevin Arrived - 11:45 Designing/Balancing Abilities - 14:30 Designing Talents + Talent Trees - 17:40 Cookie Cutter Builds - 21:20 Spec Failures/Ret Paladins - 25:10 Elemental Mages - 29:20 Things That Hit The Cutting Room Floor - 31:25 Class Design Pride/Warriors - 36:05 Warriors Being OP - 37:35

What a week it's been for the Classic Community and we've got a lot to break down including the bombshell news that we'll be getting a playable World Of Warcraft: Classic demo at Blizzcon and at home for virtual ticket holders. On top of that we also got wind of another purported Classic 'leak'.  While we don't seek to give too much credence to what it says given its source, it's still a little fun to analyse and speculate with so Josh puts some of the points to two former vanilla WoW developers, Bo Bell & Kevin Jordan, for their thoughts on what was said as Josh plays excerpt previews from those upcoming long form interviews. After that, it's time for a bunch of listener calls covering windfury, normalisation, hunters, warriors, dueling and WoW art.  Then we hit up Anger Management, Memory Lane and some show clean up. Forum & Fauna - Classic Demo - 3:05 Vanilla Dev Call Excerpt #1 - Bo Bell on Classic 'Leaks' - 29:45 Vanilla Dev Call Excerpt #2 - Kevin Jordan on Classic 'Leaks' - 50:05 Calling Count

Josh loosens his tie a little and brings you a fun trip through time with friend of the show, dareal MarkyMark, as Countdown To Classic loosely covers every major patch that came in the vanilla WoW life cycle. After that, Josh chats with MysticalOS of Deadly Boss Mods fame, all about DBM, addons, personal life and plans for classic. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 2:40 Anger Management - 1:27:40 Memory Lane - 1:29:05 Calling Countdown - 1:33:00 Shout Outs -  2:10:05   DBM Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/deadlybossmods Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend! Directly download here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/countdowntoclassic/C2C_Episode_71_Final.mp3  Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting, check back later if not there): https://open.spotify.com/

The listeners are running the asylum! Josh cleans out the Countdown To Classic closet with a whole bunch of listener calls and memory lane submissions that he's been sitting on for a few weeks. So listen in as he hands the reins of the show over to you, the listener! No pressure! Highlights Below: Scarab Lords - 3:20 Vanilla Reunions - 33:15 LFR: Looking For Richie - 1:06:45 TBC Classic - 1:18:55 Unconventional Tanks - 1:30:30 Anger Management - 1:40:00 Memory Lane - 1:46:20 Clean Up & Shout Outs - 2:14:00     Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend! Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting, check back later if not there): https://open.spotify.com/show/38mHWjscNorJr7OFeNu8X5?si=c6JKxJeSRCeLQPSIlKJL8w Or @ iTunes (As above, can take a short while to upload

Countdown To Classic is back with another great in depth class interview. Today, join Josh as he sits down with Melderon and Orcbit to discuss everything and anything about those totem pounding, lightning wielding and chain healing Shamans! After that, Josh is joined once again by former vanilla dev, John Staats, to discuss the success and reception of his upcoming book about the making of World of Warcraft, 'The World of Warcraft Diary'. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 2:50 Anger Management - 1:52:00 Memory Lane - 1:58:20 Calling Countdown - 2:05:20 Shout Outs - 2:25:05   Defcamp & Melderon TV @ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGm8RmKIW0EF1RfmNFVr2-Q Defcamp & Melderon Discord - https://discord.gg/hHCCJD8 Orcbit @ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBNvbIQxM12SoaS5RuCjzQ Orcbit @ Twitter - https://twitter.com/orcbitgg?lang=en Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.co

Venture into the Necropolis with Countdown To Classic as Josh enlists the help of listener Ayle in explaining what makes Naxxramas such a special place in vanilla World of Warcraft. Ayles walks and talks us through Naxx's true difficulty, what may come with Classic, discussions and thoughts on each and every encounter, loot notes and hopes for future runs. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 3:30 Anger Management - 1:57:20 Memory Lane - 1:58:35 Shout Outs - 2:02:40   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend!   Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting, check back later if not there): https://open.spotify.com/show/38mHWjscNorJr7OFeNu8X5?si=c6JKxJeSRCeLQPSIlKJL8w Or @ iTunes (As above, can take a short while to upload after posting): https://itunes.apple.com/

Hunters! Listen up! Countdown To Classic comes at you this week with an interview with two of the best in the business for another entry of our general class overviews. Josh puts Timecop and Raziya on the hot seat as they answer a barrage of questions all about their thoughts on the perception of the class today, whether or not there's a use for the Survival spec, and Hunter PvP dominance, amongst others. After that, Josh takes a quick call all about the Black Lotus and the farming mayhem that may be coming with what will likely be one of the more highly sought after items of WoW: Classic. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 3:00 Anger Management - 1:37:30 Memory Lane - 1:41:25 Calling Countdown - 1:52:00 Shout Outs & Show News - 2:05:45   Find Raziya The Ravager at YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/BrutalDoomguy Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your su

Love The Barrens? Want to know everything there is to know about the place? Then Countdown To Classic has your back! Get to know all the places and people in this huge, beloved zone as it was before the Cataclysm ravaged the area, and while it still smelled of sweet vanilla goodness. After that, listen in on a special debut of Countdown To Classic Original Content, as Josh employs the skills of IRL Homicide Detective & WoW Fan, Riv, to investigate who really killed Mankrik's Wife, in Law & Order: Mankrik's Wife Unit. Highlights Below: A Scoop Of Vanilla - 4:00 Guided Bus Tour - 19:30 That's What We Said - 41:15 Anger Management - 56:05 Law & Order: Mankrik's Wife Unit - 1:01:35 Tidbits - 1:26:05 Shout Outs & Show News - 1:27:50   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend!   Also listen @

Coming off the back of the what was easily the show's most successful week yet, Josh turns back to the listeners as we bring in Countdown fan, Shriken, who talks all things Dire Maul with Josh. Listen in as we go over tips, tricks, loot, and thoughts on controversial topics like nerfing the DM farm and world buffs for World of Warcraft: Classic. After that, Josh takes another trip down Memory Lane with some fun listener stories, and then reads out the most epic Anger Management submissions yet all about the problems with Stormwind city planning. Highlights Below: In Depth Interview - 4:30 Memory Lane - 58:30 Anger Management - 1:06:15 Clean Up - 1:14:00 Shout Outs - 1:20:15     Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend!   Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting

Countdown To Classic brings you another bucket list interview today as Josh sits down with Nostalrius core member, Nano, to discuss exactly what happened in THAT famous meeting with Blizzard at Irvine. Find out who was there, what was said and the attitudes of all involved.  Listen to this blow by blow account of someone who was in the room for the meeting that we've all wished we were flies on the wall for. Highlights Below: Interview With Nano - 3:40 Memory Lane - 1:03:15 Clean Up + Shout Outs - 1:20:30   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend! Directly download here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/countdowntoclassic/C2C_Episode_63_Final.mp3  Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting, check back later if not there): https://open.spotify.com/show/38mHWjscNorJr7O

Speaking with someone who was a part of the team that made the game that is the subject of this podcast has been a lofty goal of Josh's ever since beginning this journey with you all. Listen in as Josh sits down for a very special, lengthy, chat with vanilla World of Warcraft's original 3D Level Designer, and architect of many of the caves, dungeons and raids that you've spent hundreds of hours in, John Staats. John has written a book, titled 'The World of Warcraft Diary: A Journal In Computer Game Development' (which will have a Kickstarter campaign starting on August 28).  John was kind enough to send me a preview of the first 100 pages of the book and I can easily say it's something that I will be recommending getting behind wholeheartedly as an excellent 'in the room' account of the making of World of Warcraft. This is an exceptionally long interview.  John was too kind in affording me 3 1/2 hours of his time over two back to back days.  Whilst you may rightfully balk at this run time, I can assure you ev

Countdown To Classic kicks off another the new week with a jam packed episode! Listen in as Josh speaks with avid PvP and budding eSports caster, OhhGee, on two equally epic topics.  Firstly, OhhGee breaks down the possibility for WoW Classic to succeed as an eSport, then we go into the state of PvP in vanilla WoW, as well as battleground breakdowns, weapons and items to look out for and general PvP tips and tricks. After that, it's time for a listener call touching on topics such as the one off legendary item, Talisman of Binding Shard, as well as Classic desires and playing as an older gamer. Highlights Below: Classic WoW as an eSport - 3:30 Everything PvP + BG's - 54:25 Calling Countdown - 1:55:35 Shout Outs - 2:20:50   Here's the PvP clip OhhGee commentated in the interview - watch along: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_OoUNtunIw&t=1m50s  Follow OhhGee and his work at the following places online: Twitter - https://twitter.com/OG_Haptix?lang=en YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdUQvn5wiWE

Countdown To Classic starts out with some end game content discussing the top 4 zones as mentioned by the vanilla WoW fans and perhaps with a little bit of Josh's influence too.... After that we go through a LOT of anger management and memory lane submissions from a whole bunch of amazing listeners who tell some great stories. Then Josh takes a call from two listeners all about Gayming in WoW and the gaymer community. Highlights Below: Forum & Fauna - 2:20 Anger Management - 56:40 Memory Lane - 1:07:30 Calling Countdown - 1:35:15 Shout Outs - 1:55:40   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend! Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting, check back later if not there): https://open.spotify.com/show/38mHWjscNorJr7OFeNu8X5?si=c6JKxJeSRCeLQPSIlKJL8w Or @ iTunes

DING!!!!! 60!!!!! We did it! Sixty episodes of Countdown To Classic! And how do we celebrate getting ready for raiding at Countdown HQ? With a huge special community event! Listen in as Josh organises six listeners for an old school, 3 vs 3, high school style debate on the topic that has had everyone talking the past 9 months - Changes vs. No Changes! Listen in to see if your ideals and beliefs were put forward in the best possible way as Josh moderates a semi-formal debate on how we all feel about what's to come with World of Warcraft: Classic. Highlights Below: The Great Debate - 3:30 Heartfelt Thank You and Many Shout Outs - 1:47:00   Pick up awesome Countdown To Classic show rewards @ Patreon: patreon.com/countdowntoclassic Or support the show with a tip @ Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/Y8Y3D2TT Or simply show your support by leaving the show a review at iTunes or by telling a friend!   Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple of hours to upload after posting, check back later if not there): https: