World of Warcraft Community Magazine Issue 8 | Page 12

ARTICLE

12 // World of Warcraft Community Magazine

BLACKROCK MOUNTAIN: A
HEARTHSTONE ADVENTURE
A FLAVOR EXPLORATION OF THE DARK IRON DWARVES

By Ian Kernohan

T

he years pass us by, trends

the WoW universe and what’s in

the better part of it has to do with

come and go, and what

the Hearthstone universe. Both

that oh-so-nebulous concept of

was once old becomes new

technically take place in Azeroth,

‘game feel.’ By that I don’t mean

again. Next month, Hearthstone,

and while the latter is not, strictly

how the game works or plays

the Collectible Card Game

speaking, canon, it still feels

-- MMORPG to CCG (Collectible

offshoot of World of Warcraft,

like it is part of the same game.

Card Game), is just about as big of

will release its second solo

That might have something to

a genre change as can be, aside

adventure based on the first raid

do with the inclusion of dozens

from maybe symphony to morse

area and possibly most famous

of races and characters from

code -- but rather, how the card

PvE instance hub of WoW’s

WoW, and it doesn’t hurt that

designs and interactions reflect

history, Blackrock Mountain.

the Hearthstone’s heart beats

the experience of playing WoW.

with the same energy and humor
I have a hard time drawing any
distinct lines between what’s in
The GameOn Magazine

that’s so central to Blizzard
products in general; but I think

A quick set of examples: Cairne
Bloodhoof has been succeeded