Something Cool about the Blue and SK's World First

Kil'jaeden is down, and has been for a short while now, thanks to the quick work that SK Gaming made of him after only 4 days of attempts.

Crazy, isn't it? How a boss that can take months and even years to create and tune can be dropped almost instantaneously? I mean damn, what must the developers think? How do they feel when all of their hard work comes crumbling down around them?

I thought it would be similar to what anti-piracy companies must feel like when their million-dollar CD-protection tools that they spend tons of time developing are broken via a simple Sharpie pen or something like that. I mean, how incredibly frustrating is it to put your absolute best out there only to see it easily beaten, right?

Wrong. Totally wrong.

Turns out that Blizzard developers and designers, who love to see their creations come to life and spend countless days and nights making them as perfect as possible, find an even greater level of excitement when those creations of theirs ultimately fall, and especially for the first time.

While top end guilds were making their run in the Sunwell Plateau, Blizzard was there. Devs, designers, GMs, CMs... they were watching every move and toasting every bit of every guild's success.

During SK Gaming's world first Kil'jaeden encounter, a good number of Blizzard employees at headquarters in the U.S. and Europe were watching the action as it happened.

As the story here in Irvine goes, which I was just told in detail earlier today, a small group was watching the pull at one of the many vacant GM stations. SK Gaming had wiped, so the number of people watching was a bit smaller than it had originally been (people had work to do, after all), but everyone was still very much interested in what was happening, so announcements were called out to the room. This is how, in very brief terms, the rest of the evening went down:

"75%."

At this point, a few comments were made about some graphical errors, but mostly about how smoothly the encounter plays out.

"50%." A few people walk over. Others stand up and watch with squinting eyes from a distance.

There was more casual talk, this time about how fast SK Gaming had progressed, and how Spell Haste was working during the encounter exactly how the devs hoped it would.

"35%."

More talk about SK Gaming's approach and their fantastic Orb control. But at this point, everyone started to sense it was getting pretty serious, and the talk slowly faded to nervous whispers, and then to nothing at all.

They're taking it all in -- all of their hard work and creativity -- it's all playing out right in front of them and for the first time outside of their own control. It's a most "surreal" experience, as one dev put it.

"25% and looking great."

Many more run towards the group, cramming themselves as closely to one another as possible. Others stand on chairs. No one talks.

***SPOILER WARNING***

Everyone is watching intently, and listening to the dramatic exchange between Kalecgos and Anveena. She is sacrificed, and Kalecgos yells for the raid to strike. A few in the crowd of creators actually start to cry.

This moment must have been so totally intense.

"10%. They got this."

Many in the group have their hands clasped together and raised to their lips as if uttering a silent prayer.

"5%."

EVERYONE in the room is frozen still, watching as the raid group scrambles away from the millionth Armageddon, when it finally happens.

Kil'jaeden falls.

The crowd roars with excitement, throwing their hands up into the air and cheering heavily and loudly. There were high-fives, pumping fists, hugs, tears, and applause. Everyone was THRILLED, and cell phones were brought out left and right to contact more of the Blizzard crew to tell them of the good news that had just happened overseas.

Oh, to have been there in person. How incredible would it have been to actually witness the creators of the game watch it play out, getting all emotional and personal with the experience that they themselves helped to create? I can only imagine what that must feel like, and what an epic time it must have been for all of those who got to see it happen. I'm so jealous. =)

Anyway, I find it very, very cool that Blizzard digs the end-game experience just as much as the raiders do. And kudos to them for making it happen, because without the designers and devs, there would be nothing to raid and experience in the first place.

Grats, guys. Well done. =)

PS - Thanks for the story, Jeff. I hate you. =)