Although it's only friends and family at the moment this is still
fantastic news because it means that the expansion is now playable
to a large extent.

Hopefully we'll be able to get some information about beta once the
alpha has been going for awhile.

If any of you are lucky enough to know a blizzard employee, you
should have them request you a key a.s.a.p.!

It seems like the expansion was only announced like a month ago. I
guess in these modern days of MMORPGs, you get used to waiting
years for games and expansions to be released, and thankfully
Blizzard never makes us wait long!

Just remember, due to this information, I'm sure there's going to
be large amounts of scams trying to get information saying you can
get into Alpha, remember that they are not real and it's only a
friends and family alpha!

Updates on Cataclysm changes:

The Major PvE change is the current Badge system is to be replaced
by a PvE points system, similar to the current battlegrounds
system. There will be 2 tiers of points.
 
Hero Points - Low-tier, easier-to-get PVE points. Maximum cap to
how many you can own, but no cap to how quickly you can earn them.
Earned from most dungeons. (most like the current Emblem of Triumph)

Valor Points - High-tier, harder-to-get PvE points. Maximum cap to
how many you can own, as well as a cap to how many you can earn per
week. Earned from Dungeon Finder daily

Heroic and from raids. (most like the current Emblem of Frost)

PvP is getting a points system as well...

Honor Points - Low-tier, easier-to-get PVP points. There will be a
maximum cap to how many you can own, but no cap to how quickly you
can earn them. Earned from most PvP activities.

Conquest Points - High-tier, harder-to-get PvP points. There will
be a maximum cap to how many you can own, and a cap to how many you
can earn per week. Earned from winning

Rated Battlegrounds or Arenas. (currently called Arena Points).

The higher-tier points will, of course, have better rewards.. When
a new tier of gear is released, the higher tier of points will be
converted to the lower tier, so players will always begin a new season
with no Valor or Conquest Points.

There are also plans for players to be able to convert the lower
tier PvP points to PvE and vice versa, though at a slight loss.

Cataclysm Raids Changes

Blizzard is chucking the separate lockouts for 10 and 25 man
encounters, on both normal and heroic modes. In other words, there
will be one lockout for each raid, you'll no longer be able to
complete both versions of a raid. Instead, raid
leaders will now be able to change the size of an existing raid to
suit the size of the group, for example, if half of a raid has been
completed as 25 man, it will be possible to swap the rest of it to 10 man.

Both 10 and 25 man raids will drop the same loot in Cataclysm, but
more loot will drop from each boss in 25 man mode, along with more
points, and more gold, making the challenge of a larger raid worthwhile.

Raids will be able decide whether or not to tackle each boss as a
normal or heroic encounter, as they reach it.

WOTLK Player Achieves Every Achievement

Caspi from Refuge on the EU server Taerar has just "achieved" every
single achievement in Wrath of the Lich King, even the 25man Lich
King Heroic kill, which means essentially that he has "beat" Wrath of
the Lich King! Seeing as there's nothing else to obtain or complete,
I wonder if he was sad to see that there was no Achievement for
completing every Achievement. Maybe Blizzard should make the "Completed every
achievement" and name it Caspi!

Featured Guide in Preparation for Cataclysm:

The PvE Bible:

==> PvE Bible

-All 17 Instances Broken Down Step by Step

-Hard Modes, 10 Man, 25 Man - Every Mode Imaginable for Every
Instance in Northrend.

-Detailed Strategies for Every Encounter in Every Instance,
Including Rare Heroic and Hard Mode Only Bosses

-No Cheats, No Exploits. All 100% Legal Strategies

-Achievements Listed for Every Encounter.

-Loot Tables, Ability Lists, and Spawn Encounters for Every
Encounter.

-Instance Maps, Quest Lists, and Mob Lists for Every Instance

-Raid Strategies Including Group Selection and Creation

-Over 300 Pages of Non Stop Information, All Catered to You, the
Raider!

If you don't know what all the frenzy is about you can get the full
scoop here...

==> PvE Bible

Rooting For You,
Tony "T Dub" Sanders

Prepare for Cataclysm -  JOIN OUR LIST NOW!