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Blizzard Launcher (the application may actually be called the "World of Warcraft Launcher") is a utility application introduced with patch 1.8.3 to ostensibly provide news links and a minimal set of pre-launch configuration options for the actual game and the patch downloader. Behind the scenes it would also theoretically provide some measure of scanning and protection from trojan viruses and third party cheat programs.

Contents 1 Design change 2 Features 3 Controversy 4 Security 5 Cataclysm 5.1 Optimization 6 History 6.1 Mac version 6.2 Windows version 7 Patch changes 8 References 9 See also 10 External links

Design change Edit

With patch 3.0.8, the launcher was redesigned with a new look. Also added to the "Options" menu was a bare-essentials "Game Preferences" panel, "Downloader Preferences" panel, and a "Parental Controls" link to the "WoW Account Management" website.

Features Edit

• Act as a scanner and warn the user of malicious software.
• Provide news links about WoW and Blizzard.
• Control the options of the Blizzard Downloader in regards to pre-patching.
• Update the game. New in Patch 2.1.
• Options button to show options panel.
  • Minimal pre-launch game preferences.
  • Patch downloader preferences.
  • Button link to Parental Controls web page.
• Public Test button link to PTR login web page.
•  ? button to show web links panel.
  • Community page web link.
  • Forums page web link.
  • Blizzard Store page web link.
  • Technical Support page web link.
  • Parental Controls page web link.
• First run "optimization". New in Patch 4.3.2.

Controversy Edit

There was a bit of controversy regarding the Launcher as it was scanning the computer for malicious software, which some people believed to be an invasion of privacy.

Security Edit

The new Launcher may present a security issue. It does not obey the 'default' browser setting of Windows, and thus launches Internet Explorer when any link is clicked. Although this may be fixed in the future, in the past the 'Trial' Launcher has been observed to have some links obey the Default setting, and other links not obey the setting. Thus it could be said that although the Launcher is claimed to aide against some malware, its own behaviour and history of poor coding removes any benefit it may give in this regard.

Cataclysm Edit

This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

In the upcoming expansion World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the launcher will be updated to "stream" installation and patch data. The new launcher is broken up into three stages of download progress:

• SETUP (RED): Core game, or 5% of content, is being prepared. You cannot enter the game at this time.
• AVAILABLE (YELLOW): Base game, or 70% of content, is not completely applied. You can play, but your game experience will not be ideal. You should ideally have 1 MB/sec or better when choosing to play.
• PLAYABLE (GREEN): Extended, or 25% of content, is almost complete. You may begin playing at this stage with few game issues. You should ideally have 1 MB/sec or better when choosing to play.

The Updater and Downloader have been integrated closely into the Launcher, resulting in less application switching when patching and installing.^[1]

Later text, for patch updates, for color coded streaming status (percentages and other specifics were removed):

• SETUP Core game content is being prepared. You cannot enter the game at this time.
• AVAILABLE Major game content is not completely applied. You can play, but your game experience will not be ideal.
• PLAYABLE Final game content is almost complete. You may experience a few game issues while playing at this stage.

Optimization Edit

This section concerns content that is not yet released.

As of Patch 4.3.2 on the PTR, the launcher now has an "optimization" feature.

It will reorganize the game files currently installed on your hard drive to integrate all previous patch files, essentially "cleaning up" what’s on your computer and reducing the full installation size and will process these cleanups with no additional hard drive space required beyond what the patch is adding. Because of that you may see them appear more frequently with patches.^[2]

Here is the message (it may launch a web browser to show this message) it gives when it first runs:

History Edit

Mac version Edit

• 4.2.1 (2685) - As of Patch 4.3.2 build 15211 on 6-Feb-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2683) - As of Patch 4.3.2 build 15211 on 31-Jan-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2650) - As of Patch 4.3.2 build 15148 on PTR on 3-Jan-2012.
• 4.2.1 (2617) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on 11-Nov-2011.
• 4.2.1 (2609) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on 9-Nov-2011.
• 4.2.1 (2608) - As of Patch 4.3.0 build 14899 on PTR on 28-Oct-2011.
• 4.2.1 (2588) - As of Patch 4.3.0 build 14809 on PTR on 9-Oct-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2552) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on 30-Aug-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2551) - As of Patch 4.2.2 on PTR on 16-Aug-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2506) - As of Patch 4.2.0 around 10-Jul-2011.
• 4.2.0 (2492) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on 28-Jun-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2483) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 15-Jun-2011.
  • World of Warcraft LauncherB removed.
• World of Warcraft LauncherB 4.2.0 (2451) - As of Patch 4.2.0 PTR 6-Jun-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2453) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 6-Jun-2011.
• World of Warcraft LauncherB 4.2.0 (2410) - As of Patch 4.2.0 PTR 18-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2375) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 18-May-2011.
• World of Warcraft LauncherB 4.2.0 (2366) - As of Patch 4.2.0 PTR 15-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2374) - As of Patch 4.2.0 on PTR 13-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2346) - As of Patch 4.1.0 3-May-2011.
• 4.1.0 (2317) - As of Patch 4.1.0 26-Apr-2011.
  • 4.1.0 (2310) - As of Patch 4.1.0 on PTR 19-Apr-2011.
  • 4.0.1 (2295) - As of Patch 4.1.0 on PTR 15-Apr-2011.
• 4.0.1 (2210) - As of Patch 4.0.6a.
• 4.0.1 (2120) - As of Patch 4.0.3a.
• 4.0.0 (2104) - ?

Windows version Edit

• ...

Patch changes Edit

• Patch 4.3.2 (31-Jan-2012): "Optimization" feature added. 
  
• Patch 4.2.0 (28-June-2011): The PTR temporarily had its own launcher called "World of Warcraft LauncherB" that was called from the regular launcher, but was later removed. 
  
• / Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): New Cataclysm Launcher. It allows you to play although not all files have been downloaded (red - yellow - green state). 
  
• Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20): The "Show Launcher" checkbox has been removed; this behavior is now active by default. 
  
• Patch 2.1.0 (2007-05-22): The launcher will now start the game automatically, unless the "Show Launcher" option on the login screen is checked. 
  
• Patch 1.8.3 (2005-11-15): Added. 
  

References Edit

See also Edit

• Blizzard Downloader
• Blizzard Repair
• Blizzard Updater
• Public client builds
• Streaming client

External links Edit