While the Cataclysm expansion won't release until December 7th, the Cataclysm did happen in-game this week, shattering Azeroth in preparation for the launch of the new content. The result is a drastically improved 1-60 leveling experience and some amazing changes. What's new?

• New race-class combinations (Tauren Paladins, Night Elf Mages, Human Hunters and more)
• New Gnome/Troll starting areas
• Changes to existing zones (Too staggering to list, but massive changes)
• New music
• City Quartermasters, with rep tabards
• Class balancing and a completely revamped talent point system
• Experience required to gain levels 71 through 80 is being reduced by 20%
• New tamable hunter pets (Monkey, fox, dog, and beetle, as well as new skins for existing pet classes.)

And coming the 7th with the launch of Cataclysm, there will be:

• Worgen/Goblin race unlocked, start zones
• Archeology
• Professions past 450 (Illustrious Grand Master)
• Guild leveling
• Guild achievements
• Eastern Kingdoms/Kalimdor flight
• New Zones (80+)

On top of this, until the 30th, the original game, Burning Crusade expansion, and Wrath of the Lich King can be purchased (or gifted) for only $20. They can even be bought separately, so if you already have the original game you can get caught up cheap and catch up to your guild.

For those not playing or who have taken a hiatus, I also want you to see one thing regardless of whether you intend to play the new content. This content revamp has added what I believe to be the very first gay content to the game.

See the video after the jump the first gay content in World of Warcraft!

In the third portion of this 'Tall Tale' themed quest, you take control of an orc that claims 'he beat Deathwing in a knife fight'. As part of this story, he claims to have rescued a hot babe on his motorcyle. There are several elf and human women, and then a Blood Elf male.

This is obviously a joke on the perceived effeminacy of the Blood Elves by the playerbase, but you ARE able to chose him, and the orc character will then proceed to get tender with him while flying around on the motorcycle.

So if I'm not mistaken, if the player chooses it, this is the first official gay content in World of Warcraft.

UPDATE: The user in question has received an e-mail response from Xbox support and they have removed his suspension as the term in common in Germany. Good to hear they have fixed this issue so quickly.

I thought this issue was settled once and for all, but apparently not. A German gamer going by the forum name Schmoo found his account suspended under the Xbox Live Terms of Service for having the following line in his bio.

Ich bin ein homosexueller Mann in einer großen schlechten Stadt. Ich mag kleine Kuchen und Cheeseburgers.

Which translates into English as 'I am a gay man in a big bad city. I like cupcakes and cheeseburgers'.

Xbox support, when called, first explained to him incorrectly that he was not allowed to put his sexual preference in his profile, and was eventually told by higher managers his profile was sexually explicit and would stay suspended. Xbox Terms of Service states that words allowed are "Lesbian", "Gay", "Bi", "Transgender" and "Straight". "Other terms regarding relationship orientation are not allowed,"

The catch here, is that as far as I can tell, there isn't an exact translation of the word gay in the German language. The closest I can find is 'schwul' which can also mean 'humid or muggy' when there is an umlaut over the vowel. (any of our readers who know German, please confirm for us)

So, do we need to now ask Xbox for a list of approved foreign language words that can be used to describe sexuality? And more importantly, why are there still Xbox Live customer support reps who are so woefully misinformed about the change in policy? We'll keep you updated on the story as it develops.

Suspended for being openly gay., Once again, Microsoft's unjust hammer strikes. [Gaymer.org Forums]
[via: The Consumerist]

If the design of this movie looks familiar, that's because you've played Samorost 1, Samorost 2, or Machinarium. The creator, Jakub Dvorský has applied his talent to film this time, in this puppet-filled movie about a teddy-bear named Kooky. I find the real-world application of his visual style intriguing... and a bit creepy, but in a good way.

Kooky [Official Movie Site]
[Via: Boing Boing]

This week for our Rock Band DLC we get some tracks from X, and a couple free and/or discounted tracks from Little Fish.

• X - "Blue Spark"
• X - "The Hungry Wolf"
• X - "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts"
• X - "Los Angeles"
• Little Fish - "Am I Crazy"
• Little Fish - "Bang Bang"
• Little Fish - "Darling Dear"
• Ace Frehley - "Outer Space"
• Carrie Underwood - "All-American Girl"
• OneRepublic - "Stop & Stare"

These tracks will be available for purchase as "X Pack 01," as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. "Am I Crazy" will be available only on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system and will be a free track.

Prices are $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track, $6.99 (560 Microsoft Points) for "X Pack 01". "Bang Bang" and "Darling Dear" are each $.99 (80 Microsoft Points). All Wii tracks are $2.00 (200 Wii Points™).

I just wanted to highlight to people this cute WOW-based comic that came out in relation to valentine's day. Please be aware it does have a certain f-word in it, but the comic itself is quite gay positive. Click below for the full comic, or check it out at Dark Legacy Comics, which you should find amusing if you enjoy WOW-themed humor.