Black Login Screen

For a while now, I’ve been using a WoW “Addon” that is actually none. In fact it’s only two empty files – a model and a sound file –, which serve the purpose to send the annoying dragon animation at the start of the game into the Nirvana. Allegedly, there are people who think this dragon is cool, but I (like many others) hate it like the plague. Aside from the fact that it seems to generate the same CPU load as a complete 25 man raid on highest detail level, the bassish sounds that it utters get on your nerves pretty fast. Added to this is the noise of the CPU fan which turns up to full speed after a short time. For some people, the computer is to busy with just the dragon animation that they have to type in their account data at 0,3 FPS.

Luckily, on wowinterface.com, I found said files, which you simply have to unpack into your WoW folder while preserving the folder hierarchy. In doing so, no Blizzard files are being edited or overwritten – you only place two additional (empty) files named UI_MainMenu_Northrend.M2 and WotLK_main_title.mp3, which the game then seems to prefer over the actual versions that are still lying there, hidden deep inside some MPQ files.

Whether this “trick” is allowed or not is the parting of the ways. Personally, I would say yes, because as said before, the Blizzard files aren’t even touched. Others believe that it does indeed violate the terms of use, because the game is being made to load different data than usual. A Blizzard staff member again is of the opinion that the modified background image is legal, because it is saved in the “Interface” folder. The .mp3 file however is contravening the rules, because it is placed in the “Sound” folder … You see: Nobody knows for sure. So if you’re a totally overanxious little sissy who still pees in her own pants, keep your hands off.
I myself have been using the files for a long time, even when I still played on Blizzard servers. And to be honest, I believe that 1.) Blizzard has (should have) better things to do than banning people for trifles like this, and 2.) I’ve never heard of anybody who got banned or even warned because of it.