Despite the recent spate of warm weather around the country, we should have known Arthas wouldn't arrive without a fanfare of epic proportions. Blizzard's latest expansion for World of Warcraft, the eagerly-awaited Wrath of the Lich King was launched in Australia last night - and it wasn't just gamers who came out in force to support the various midnight launches around the place, with Mother Nature turning up with some weather better suited to Northrend than Australia.

UgLyPuNk and Jessica headed out in Melbourne, while Timmy Campbell turned up to the festivities in Brisbane, Team Acaila checked out what Adelaide had to offer, and we've also managed to get some photos from Sydney - so we've pretty much got the nation covered.

Melbourne Launch!
- Jessica Citizen + UgLyPuNk

The Melbourne news reported that Thursday was warm - up to 17 degrees above average in some places, so gamers rejoiced! Pleasant weather for a midnight launch - what more could you ask for? ...alas, twas not to be. The first fat raindrops fell as we were eating dinner, but by 10pm when the doors opened for the pre-launch festivities, the downpour had set in properly. The cold front we'd been promised had arrived - and Arthas would have been proud.


The line...
It seemed that many of the gamers in attendance were immune to the weather however, turning up in droves, the line stretching down the street and around the corner. Those who didn't like the damp were soothed by the welcoming presence of the lime-green energy drink car parked outside the door, as well as the bright pink donut boxes contained tantalisingly within. Soon, warm food arrived in the form of a towering stack of pizza boxes - what more could cold, hungry gamers want?

...Wrath of the Lich King, of course. Before they could get their prized game, however, they had to wait. Patient store staff handed out tickets to those in line, effectively holding their place for them as they milled around Swanston Street.

Sustenance... and a trivia comp
It wasn't all just waiting, though. Someone produced a stack of question cards, rallied a selection of gamers, and proceeded to hold a trivia competition to win a signed poster. Of course, given the location, many of the answers were drowned out by the crowd, and one helpful gentleman arrived late and decided that - no matter the question - the answer was "LICH KIIIIIING". Needless to say, the poster went home with someone else.


The musical gamer way to keep warm, and the desk dealing with preorders
To keep warm, a brief Guitar Hero: World Tour competition was announced, with a minimal turnout but an enthusiastic audience (and some winners who could hardly believe their luck!). The cosplay competition also had a (very) minimal turnout, with the EB staff calling for anyone in costume, before the award was presented to - unsurprisingly - the only girl who'd dressed up for the event. C'mon, Melbourne, what's all that about?

Despite the somewhat lacking sense of spirit and gaming, there were more than a hundred gamers standing in the rain - thanks to EB Games Swanston Street for opening their store at such a late hour for all the local gamers who couldn't possibly wait until 9am.

While the crowd in Melbourne were more interested in getting their hands on a copy rather than the festivities, other states turned on the charm. Take a look at what was on display in Sydney!

Sydney Launch!
- Photos thanks to Nick


...the line...


Just a quiet night out on the town.


They start 'em young in NSW

Adelaide Launch!
- Team Acaila

The crowd began to form at 8pm. By 11:45 it had swollen to over a hundred restless souls under the full moon in rundle mall. The air was pregnant with expectation, and competitive chatter of achievement points. Some as young as 6 were waiting for the clock to strike 12, so they could swear their allegiance to the Lich King.

Intoxicated teenagers swaying down the mall after a girls night out couldn't quite puzzle what all the fuss was about. Tense fingers gripped raffle tickets as though they were a lifeline..... the ticket that would secure them a copy of the long awaited WOW expansion.

McDonalds stayed open for the epic event.... offering food and refreshments for the intrepid souls committed to getting there first... at least for Australia.


Lineup: Outside and Inside
Less than a hundred meters away, at the EB Games store safely nestled in City Cross Arcade, it was another story entirely.

Feeling relegated to the level of paparazzi as a security guard tried to destroy the camera... we were grateful to the store manager for coming to our rescue. We couldn't take pictures of the queue for two
reasons - the aforementioned security guard on a power trip and secondly..... THERE WASN'T ONE!

In stark contrast to the mob mentality tension brewing down in the mall itself, this store was a haven of no more than 20 people casually chatting, looking at other merchandise, and having a great night - even if they did make a hasty farewell .

Back over to the queue in Rundle Mall, and the forlorn faces of those with tickets 80 and above, as Jack (pictured on the megaphone) began calling the numbers.


Jack outside, line inside, Frosty and his prize
In a moment of deja vu, an Adelaide Internode staffer better known as "Frosty", had the honour of "First Copy" when the clock struck 12. How exactly he managed it, being ticket #4 and all I suppose is a story for another day.

Hot tip for next time?

Pre-order from City Cross. Seriously.

Brisbane Launch!
- Timmy Campbell

The wrath of the Lich King was felt in Brisbane for the midnight launch. With fear of rain many headed out to the Albert St EB store to wait in line for their copy of the next expansion. With snow (in Queensland!), lights and music going off the crowd was pumped and ready to /party.


The front of the line - 2nd line and security!
The lines were forming well before the festivities started with the first guys in line waiting since 4:30pm! Unfortunately when the staff started to organise a few of them had to move to the second line because their pre-order was from another city store. Luckily they got just as close in the end.


Guitar Hero Comp - A guild that buys together stays together
The staff at EB kept the crowd entertained with raffles, guitar hero competition and a WoW racial dance off. The prizes, upgrades to a collectors edition. There was also a trivia walking up and down the lines with winners scoring figurines.


Trivia - The Brave Dancers
The dancers were excellent with a good mix of different races coming out and the winners obviously having the better moves. It was unfortunate to the people who used the same dance as someone before, but the crowd got involved and cheered on anyone brave enough to get up there.


Undead Male Dance - The crowd looking on the dancers
With around 700 pre-orders for the city stores the numbers were many and towards midnight there would have easily been 300+ people waiting to get their copy. The staff had been preparing for days and were finally excited to see the launch of the game. With free pizza and V organised to keep the crowd full and pumped, it was easily a well organised and entertaining launch.


First copy! - The madness
In the end the snow died down and many happy players ran home to jump in and explore the new features. Filled up on pizza and V many players wouuld have been up for the rest of the night enjoying their new adventures.

Snow!! - End of the line

...so - how many of you called in mysteriously "sick" today, huh? Have you cancelled your weekend plans, bought a few days' worth of supplies, and locked yourself in your bedroom until you ding 80? How are you celebrating the Wrath of the Lich King?