WoW Launch Event Interview

Bengt Lemne cornered Blizzard's Chris Robinson and Thomas Pieracci at the official launch event for World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria in Stockholm, and found out more about the latest expansion to the world's most popular MMO.

Thomas Pieracci, the art producer working on Mists of Pandaria revealed how the expansion helped scratch an itch at the studio: "The whole team got behind it right away, and everyone was stoked. Everyone had been wanting to do Pandaria for a long time and we finally had a place where everything was lining up and it was a story we could tell."

But how do you keep something like World of Warcraft fresh? Art director Chris Robinson explained: "We knew we were going to have to take some risks. But that's what it's all about, right? If you don't take risks, it's not going to be awesome in the end."

Robinson also reflected on the pride that he and the team feel when they get to meet the fans at events such as this: "From our perspective it's so gratifying, and just amazing when someone comes and they've dressed up as something you've created."

"For us it's an opportunity to thank people and show them our appreciation for how involved they've been, and the passion, and the fact they're still playing our game and enjoying it eight years after it came out."