I played WOW in what the hardcore players call the vanilla flavor. The basic game, before any expansions. It was awesome, but like many, I quit because it was too much of a time sink. Over the years since I have installed it a few times, “just to see”, but it has never been the same.
Now I can relive those days with charity auctions featuring server hardware originally used during World of Warcraft’s early days! Since the game infrastructure has undergone several hardware upgrades, they have hung onto all the originals and are now auctioning them off. Proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases).
There are a TON of these too, 500 to be exact. I honestly feel like bidding on my old Proudmoore realm (which had an oddly high number of Asian, Australian and New Zealand players).
Mounted on all the blades are a plaque which reads:
Blizzard Entertainment has carefully preserved and archived our retired server blades, releasing only a limited number for a noble cause. To us, this server blade is more than just hardware: within the circuits and hard drive, a world of magic, adventure, and friendship thrived. From fishing in quiet lakes to defeating Arthas in Icecrown Citadel, this blade was home to thousands of immersive experiences across the world of Azeroth and beyond. We thank you for the safekeeping of this important part of history.
