World of Warcraft fans queue to buy Cataclysm expansion

Thousands of people around the world queued into the night to get hold of the latest expansion for World of Warcraft (WoW).

The expansion, called Cataclysm, is the first for two years and makes big changes to the game.

The expansion re-makes the world in which WoW is set and rips up the geography of many familiar places.

It also introduces two new races to the game, increases the level cap and makes many other changes.

Shops around the world stayed open at midnight on 6 December to let eager players get their hands on Cataclysm. In Germany the MediaMarkt shop in Berlin ran a competition for the best WoW-themed costume worn by those queuing outside the store.

The Cataclysm expansion revolves around the emergence into Azeroth, the world in which WoW is set, of Deathwing the dragon. The seismic activity accompanying his emergence causes changes to almost every part of the game world.

:story: Full story: BBC News