Category Archives: pet

The Lawbringer: Gotta sue ‘em all over the Pet Battle system?

Posted on by
Pop law abounds in The Lawbringer, your weekly dose of WoW, the law, video games and the MMO genre. Mathew McCurley takes you through the world running parallel to the games we love and enjoy, full of rules, regulations, pitfalls and traps. How about you hang out with us as we discuss some of the more esoteric aspects of the games we love to play?

Remember in the last edition of Lawbringer, when I wrote that the majority of the questions post-BlizzCon 2011 were questions about panda people, whether Kung Fu Panda would sue, and how Pandaren are possible in China? Well, there was a third question: How can the Pet Battle system exist in World of Warcraft when it is so spiritually and mechanically similar to the underlying game mechanics of the Pokémon franchise? The truth is that it is and it isn't as similar as you might suspect, and the key factors in any copyright fight don't hold up a potential cause of action.

From the BlizzCon presentation, we gleaned a good bit of information about the WoW Pet Battle system coming with Mists of Pandaria. Players have been collecting companion (or vanity) pets for years, little dudes and dudettes who follow your characters around looking cool, performing cute emotes, and acting as the occasional status symbol. Companion pets even became the first foray into Blizzard-accepted real-money gold buying with the Guardian Cub as an experiment in fighting gray-market gold selling. Companion pets have become their own meta-game in WoW despite the introduction of the actual meta-game Pet Battle system.

Companion pets will now be at the center of a minigame of their own. After years of collecting and coveting, finally these pets will serve a purpose beyond looking adorable or annoying Dalaran with chilling screams of "NEW TOYS, FOR ME?!" Many players have noticed that the Pet Battle system bears a striking resemblance to the biggest pet battle system franchise ever created, Pokémon. Do you know what Pokémon is? I'm sure you know what Pokémon is.

Continue reading The Lawbringer: Gotta sue 'em all over the Pet Battle system?

Filed under: ,

The Lawbringer: Gotta sue 'em all over the Pet Battle system? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Addon Spotlight: How to update GupPet and more

Posted on by
Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

We have a couple of fun topics to talk about today on Addon Spotlight, mostly notably what to do with GupPet, my personal favorite mount addon that hasn't been updated in some time. It makes me very sad, you might imagine, that this robust beauty of an addon is sitting unmanned and not updated, requiring my own hand to make things right.

In addition, we've got some questions about action bars and bags, both incredibly important topics. Let's get to it, shall we?
Hi Mathew,

Guppet hasn't been updated in some time and it doesn't recognize the Flameward Hippogryph. I was wondering if there is another add-on that does a similar function (i.e. randomizing mount selection). I have a ton of mounts across multiple characters and I like to just be surprised what pops out sometimes. Thanks a ton.

Tiek
GupPet is in a sad state of affairs. The addon is one of my favorites, period, for its robust pet and mount configuration. Not only can you set priorities and preferences for all of your mounts when you want to randomly call them, but auto-companion pet summoning is included, as well as a built-in collector's interface for finding all of the pets and mounts you are missing. One-button random summoning, 3-D model mount and pet preview, mage, druid, and shaman class support, and more is right there in the package. There's a problem: It hasn't been updated since January.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight: How to update GupPet and more

Filed under: ,

Addon Spotlight: How to update GupPet and more originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gold Capped: Selling pets for fun and profit

Posted on by
Cat vendor
Every week, WoW Insider brings you Gold Capped, in which Fox Van Allen and Basil "Euripides" Berntsen aim to show you how to make money on the auction house. Feed Fox's ego by emailing him or tweeting him at @foxvanallen.

I will admit, I'm a sucker for collecting in-game pets. Maybe it's because I like having someone following me around, even when I'm soloing content. Maybe it's just because of the obsessive-compulsive Pokemon instinct, where I gotta catch em all regardless of the consequences. Maybe it's just because I like tiny animals that depend on me.

I'm far from alone -- collecting pets in WoW is serious business. There are achievements involved. Exclusive bonus pets. People have even created websites devoted to the hobby of collecting vanity pets.

People love pets. And people will spend lots of money on the things they love, which makes making, buying, and reselling pets a very profitable endeavor indeed.

Continue reading Gold Capped: Selling pets for fun and profit

Filed under: ,

Gold Capped: Selling pets for fun and profit originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BlizzCon 2011 virtual tickets potentially giving out last year’s pet

Posted on by
Blizzard has posted that it is looking into an issue with players who purchased the newest BlizzCon virtual ticket for the 2011 show. Some purchasers have received last year's pet Deathy after purchasing this year's ticket. Blizzard is looking into whether or not this should be happening; whether or not this was a mistake or a miscommunication, we do not yet know. It is safe to assume, however, that a new pet will become available for BlizzCon 2011, and purchasers of the 2011 virtual ticket should not be getting last year's BlizzCon exclusive Deathy pet.

One of the perks of purchasing the BlizzCon virtual ticket is that players are treated to a BlizzCon exclusive in-game companion pet. In 2010, that pet was Deathy, a Deathwing-inspired version of everyone's favorite murloc. As in every previous year, a new companion pet (or a mount, once) has been given to BlizzCon attendees. Players and purchasers were potentially confused, as the new pet for BlizzCon this year has not yet been announced. When Blizzard does announce this year's BlizzCon pet, we'll be the first to let you know.

Continue reading BlizzCon 2011 virtual tickets potentially giving out last year's pet

BlizzCon 2011 virtual tickets potentially giving out last year's pet originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

WoW Armory now displaying mounts and pets

Posted on by
The World of Warcraft Armory/community site has been updated with a useful new feature showing players the mounts and companion pets they have collected so far. You'll be able to see where each pet or mount comes from or who drops them, a picture of each, and even a listing of not-yet-collected pets and mounts, making it easier to be an achievement hunter or collector.

The armory has changed drastically from its original interpretation and implementation, adding features over time that give players a more cohesive out-of-game experience. What is most interesting are the potential tie-ins later on with the previously announced WoW APIs coming down the pipe in the near future; we are still unsure of the amount of data that developers will be able to access from the WoW armory. I would not be surprised to see collected pet and mount data also being part of that package.

We've got a pretty full-featured armory at this point. What other types of data do you think the armory could or should provide? Perhaps next we'll see a tabard and title tab, showing players' collected tabards and a scroll list of titles earned. The sky is the limit, apparently.

Continue reading WoW Armory now displaying mounts and pets

Filed under:

WoW Armory now displaying mounts and pets originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Winged Guardian mount in action

Posted on by
Blizzard has just released the Winged Guardian, the newest mount in the Blizzard pet store, which of course means I had to buy it and quickly throw together a video of this majestic beast in action. The Winged Guardian works as both a ground and flying mount, scaling with your riding skill all the way up to 310% mount speed.

Over a year ago, WoW players ran the gamut of emotions when the Celestial Steed was introduced. Now, however, DLC (downloadable content) has become a fact of life for many games and virtual worlds. In fact, many people (myself included) don't understand why these mounts don't come out even more frequently, because there is obviously a market for these cool extras.

Check out the video of the Winged Guardian in action. So far, I like this guy. He feels thick and beefy, with a lot of weight to him -- definitely an imposing presence. Plus, it's not another dragon, and we can all be excited for that.

Filed under:

Winged Guardian mount in action originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Patch 4.2: Pet collector achievements updated on the PTR

Posted on by
A few new achievements were for added pet collectors in the latest PTR patch today, according to Wowhead. The small patch on the test realms contains three new achievements for players who collect 100, 125, and 150 non-combat pets.
Just as with previous pet collecting achievements (Shop Smart, Shop Pet...Smart, Lil' Game Hunter), our obsessive efforts will once again be rewarded with a unique pet. We've seen Nuts' Acorn in the patch 4.2 game files before, and the Celestial Dragon (pictured above) appeared in game files back in Wrath of the Lich King, but the Brilliant Kaliri is a new addition. Currently, there aren't any datamined pictures of the pet, but I can only assume it will be very similar to the Kaliri mobs found in Skettis and other zones from The Burning Crusade.

One thing I'm curious about with these pets is if they'll have any special animations or Easter eggs like previous pets have. If you remember, the skunk pet from the 50-pet achievement pays tribute to Pepé Le Pew from Looney Tunes by chasing nearby Black Tabby and Bombay cat pets.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!

Filed under: ,

Patch 4.2: Pet collector achievements updated on the PTR originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 25 May 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New reward for collecting 150 companion pets: Nuts

Posted on by
Companion pet collectors, Blizzard has heard your cries for new pets and rewards for collecting 100, 125, and 150 critters. Nuts, who is probably some kind of squirrel (duh), is the new reward for Littlest Pet Shop. Nuts will no doubt add to the wonderful world of WoW companion pets and provide even more awesome jokes for trade chat.

Other pet collecting achievements have also been given rewards. Both Petting Zoo and Menagerie, the achievements for collecting 100 and 125 companion pets respectively, will grant the player pet biscuits. We have no idea how many uses these pet biscuits have, but it appears they will work the same as the WoW TCG's Papa Hummel's Old Fashioned Pet Biscuits.

Go forth and collect, companion pet enthusiasts. Nuts will be waiting for you in patch 4.2.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!

Filed under: ,

New reward for collecting 150 companion pets: Nuts originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 14 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Patch 4.2: New achievements include new daily areas and companion pets

Posted on by
Tons of new achievements have been added to the PTR for the upcoming patch 4.2, including the Molten Front and the Regrowth achievements. Blizzard has stated that a bunch of the encounters in the new daily hubs will be directly linked to "raid-type" damage dodging and healing, so it is nice to see achievements for some of those feats.

Some of the achievements hint at some awesome characters showing up in unexpected places, like Have... Have We Met?, potentially getting Mankrik, Thassarian, Linken, and more on the front lines in Hyjal and the Firelands. Also, pet collectors are going to jump for joy, as collecting 100, 125 and 150 pets now rewards players with pet biscuits for 100 and 125, and a new pet, Nuts, at the 150 mark.

Continue reading Patch 4.2: New achievements include new daily areas and companion pets

Filed under: ,

Patch 4.2: New achievements include new daily areas and companion pets originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 13 May 2011 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Blizzard releases Cenarion Hatchling pet for Japan earthquake relief

Posted on by
Blizzard has just released a new pet at the pet store called the Cenarion Hatchling, a baby version of the hippogryph that once was only available as part of the old WoW TCG. A full 100% of the proceeds generated by this pet purchase will go to help the American Red Cross's Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief efforts, compared to the 50% from previous pets like the Pandaren Monk. The donation process will be ongoing through July 31.

Continue reading Blizzard releases Cenarion Hatchling pet for Japan earthquake relief

Filed under: ,

Blizzard releases Cenarion Hatchling pet for Japan earthquake relief originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments