Aussies line up for Burning Crusade

Thousands around the world are already grinding their way to level 70 in The Burning Crusade, and last night it was the Aussies' turn to get their hands on the first expansion pack for World of Warcraft.

Nick Burchell of Roseville, Sydney, was the first in line at last night's Aussie Burning Crusade launch.

More than 400 eager gamers lined up at Vivendi Games' official midnight launch location at EB Games in Chatswood, Sydney, last night, to grab their copy of The Burning Crusade. While the line-up was long -- stretching out several hundred metres from the front of the store -- the mood was upbeat, with several showing up in costume to celebrate the event.

Roseville's Nick Burchell was the first in line, having showed up at EB Games at 5pm yesterday afternoon to start his vigil. "I've prepared for The Burning Crusade for the last two months. I'm going to go straight home, install, and go right to the Outland," he said.

EB Games Australia and New Zealand buying director Shane Stockwell says The Burning Crusade was the biggest PC games launch the retailer has had. "The vibe all night has been awesome -- we're thinking that there are at least 300 to 400 people here tonight based on pre-orders we had in the store," he said.

The line outside EB Games in Chatswood stretched for several hundred metres.

Vivendi Games Australia product marketing manager Chris Davey says World of Warcraft's wide appeal to gamers of all types was the main factor behind the expansion's strong launch. "I think we've really grown past that male 18 to 35 demographic that everyone throws around in the games industry. And I think that's why the game has been so successful -- it's touched on so many different types of people," he said. "For EB Games to come out and say it's the biggest launch and had the biggest pre-orders they've ever received is a great tick in the box for World of Warcraft."

More than eight million people worldwide have subscribed to World of Warcraft since the game's release in 2004. The Burning Crusade is available in Australia for AU$59.95, while the World of Warcraft game itself is available for AU$29.95