Mists of Pandaria: Launch Night

London gets Panda action.

Published 2012-09-25

Mists of Pandaria, the latest expansion for World of Warcraft, has just launched across the world.

Mirroring a similar launch as Cataclysm two years ago, Pandaria was host to a glamorous midnight launch event in London's Leicester Square as crowds within counted down to an 11pm release.

Live link-ups with simultaneous events across the globe mixed with on-site competitions by SteelSeries, entertainment from dancing troupes and the odd Panda - both of the cosplayer kind in the crowd and Blizzard's own hulking representatives who appeared on stage to draw the evening's festivities to a close.

While the London event was hosted by Iain Lee, most in the line that snaked round the venue's floor were waiting for the main event: the 11pm launch. Come the end of the countdown those that'd been queuing for several hours finally got their hands on the game and disappeared back home to get cracking into the expansion.

For those who couldn't attend, here's a few snaps from the event.

Tantalising glimpses of what lay in store for gamers as they proceeded inside.

The queue soon became a sea of free hats as they were handed out during the event.

There were oodles of merchandise on display at the event - but gamers couldn't get their hands on any until the 11pm countdown had been reached.

SteelSeries got audience members on stage for a series of compo questions - though those in the crowd were quick to supply the answer as quickly, and as loudly, as possible.

Subtle cameraman wasn't quite as subtle as he hoped.

<bild>The venue was mocked up to parallel the expansion's more exotic locales.</bild>
<bild>Iain Lee providing host duties for the course of the evening.</bild>
<bild>Live link-ups to other events and pre-recorded presentations saw TVs dotted around the venue's walls.</bild>
<bild>And we're live! The crowd's enthusiasm picked up once the feeds switched to London.</bild>
<bild>"What's my line again?"</bild>
<bild>Photo-Op! Stick a kung Fu Panda on stage, and the mobiles and cameras are whipped out faster than you can say "chinese chicken".</bild>

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