Excited to get my game discs I started the install. Unfortunately not a pain free process. The 4 CD discs each installed successfully, however, at the end of the 4th disc I am asked to upgrade my wow account. Clicking this link takes you to the wow upgrade page which currently shows a count down of 8hrs 36mins - any bets that the upgrade page will fall down about 30seconds after midnight tonight...

This was to be expected as the launch isn't until the 16th but I thought I'd login anyway to see if there is any changes. When loading up the game I am greeted with the new cinematic (as featured on gamespot) - although I've seen it plenty of times before it still exciting to see it when you've finally got the game. After this I agree to the terms, login and then... An update.
I go through the update process only to discover it is an update I already downloaded and installed days ago. I login and agree to terms again - and again it asks me to update. This time to 2.0.4. I have already been playing wow with this update. This means that the content on the Burning Crusade CD is version 2.0.2 so the BC has to be patched up to 2.0.4. (A 219mb patch and a 17mb update). I don't think I had to actually download them again just have the existing download reapplied.

Thinking I've finally got there I logged in and agreed to terms again. Yet another update. This one is new - the 2.0.5 update address issues that some players on lower end systems were struggling with. I have to say on my office PC I've noticed a slow down due to the new fancy animated background at the login screen, as to whether there is any change in game I don't know as at this point my lunch break was over. I did manage to get as far as the character screen and can confirm the two new races are still grayed out and unavailable. A character that I did a paid transfer on had arrived on my account though - not bad considering how busy wow must be today - I only requested the transfrer this morning.

I am sure there will be serveral more updates tomorrow as players on various obscure systems go through the dark portal for the first time and find glitches or slow downs as their system grinds to a halt.