In 2004, Blizzard published one of the most incredible games of all time: World of Warcraft. Today, people are still flocking to WoW in droves -- when this video is being released, Season of Discovery is blowing up and the Classic and Vanilla World of Warcraft game is once again being played by millions. Azeroth is eternally popping off. People have made a ton of videos about the game of WoW, but has anyone ever really talked about the maps?

Well, in this video, we'll review the history and legacy of the maps of World of Warcraft, and decide whether they are awesome or awful. I'll specifically focus on the maps as they were released in the original vanilla game in 2004, but also touch on the broader role of maps in video games and MMOs. We'll talk about the full zone maps, as well as WoW's minimap, the gameplay and mechanics of the maps, the development of the game and the graphics, and some of the inspirations that played into the development of Azeroth's cartography.

The maps are remarkable in that they feel very simple compared to most games today. There are few, if any, icons, and everything is hand-painted and unique across the zones -- they aren't just screenshots of the terrain. WoW's maps bring you into the game in an immersive way, and though they aren't nearly as convenient as the maps World of Warcraft has in retail WoW today, they are perhaps better for getting players deeply involved in the game.

The maps of Azeroth are distinct, unique, and memorable, and they are a big part of why a game like WoW hooked so many people for so many years. I hope you enjoy the video.

All music and rights belong to Blizzard. Video clips from numerous streamers and in-game footage.

#wow #worldofwarcraft #cartography