<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reign	I-Application
of	I-Application
Chaos	I-Application
is	O
a	O
high	O
fantasy	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
computer	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
released	O
in	O
July	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
second	O
sequel	O
to	O
Warcraft	B-Application
:	I-Application
Orcs	I-Application
&	I-Application
Humans	I-Application
,	O
after	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tides	I-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
,	O
the	O
third	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
fictional	O
universe	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
first	O
to	O
be	O
rendered	O
in	O
three	O
dimensions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
expansion	O
pack	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
July	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
set	O
several	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
tells	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
Burning	O
Legion	O
's	O
attempt	O
to	O
conquer	O
the	O
fictional	O
world	O
of	O
Azeroth	O
with	O
the	O
help	O
of	O
an	O
army	O
of	O
the	O
Undead	O
,	O
led	O
by	O
fallen	O
paladin	B-Protocol
Arthas	O
Menethil	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
playable	O
factions	O
can	O
be	O
chosen	O
from	O
:	O
Humans	O
,	O
Orcs	B-Language
,	O
(	O
both	O
of	O
which	O
appeared	O
in	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
)	O
and	O
two	O
new	O
factions	O
:	O
the	O
Night	O
Elves	O
and	O
the	O
Undead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
IIIs	I-Application
single-player	O
campaign	B-Application
is	O
laid	O
out	O
similarly	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
and	O
is	O
told	O
through	O
the	O
races	O
in	O
a	O
progressive	O
manner	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
also	O
play	O
matches	O
against	O
the	O
computer	O
,	O
or	O
against	O
others	O
—	O
using	O
local	B-General_Concept
area	I-General_Concept
networking	I-General_Concept
(	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
)	O
or	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
gaming	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Beyond	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Portal	I-Application
,	O
the	O
last	O
in	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
saga	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
1996	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
began	O
development	O
of	O
a	O
point-and-click	O
adventure	O
game	O
called	O
Warcraft	B-Application
Adventures	I-Application
:	I-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Clans	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
supposed	O
to	O
continue	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lord	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Clans	I-Application
was	O
canceled	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
in	O
1998	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
presented	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
at	O
the	O
European	O
Computer	O
Trade	O
Show	O
in	O
September	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
design	O
and	O
gameplay	O
was	O
significantly	O
altered	O
during	O
development	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
final	O
game	O
sharing	O
little	O
similarities	O
with	O
the	O
originally	O
presented	O
version	O
(	O
see	O
similarities	O
to	O
StarCraft	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
shipping	O
4.4	O
million	O
copies	O
to	O
retail	O
stores	O
,	O
selling	O
over	O
a	O
million	O
within	O
a	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2020	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
released	O
a	O
remastered	O
version	O
of	O
both	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
,	O
called	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reforged	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
on	O
a	O
map	O
of	O
varying	O
size	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
large	O
plains	O
and	O
fields	O
,	O
with	O
terrain	O
features	O
like	O
rivers	O
,	O
mountains	O
,	O
seas	O
,	O
or	O
cliffs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
three	O
main	O
resources	O
that	O
are	O
managed	O
in	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	O
gold	O
,	O
lumber	O
,	O
and	O
food	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
features	O
four	O
playable	O
factions	O
:	O
The	O
Human	O
Alliance	O
—	O
a	O
coalition	O
of	O
humans	O
,	O
dwarves	O
,	O
and	O
high	O
elves	O
—	O
and	O
the	O
Orcish	O
Horde	O
—	O
composed	O
of	O
orcs	B-Language
,	O
trolls	O
,	O
and	O
minotaur-inspired	O
tauren	O
—	O
return	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
while	O
the	O
Undead	O
Scourge	O
and	O
the	O
Night	O
Elves	O
were	O
added	O
as	O
two	O
new	O
factions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
in	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
each	O
race	O
has	O
a	O
unique	O
set	O
of	O
units	O
,	O
structures	O
,	O
technologies	O
,	O
and	O
base-building	O
methodology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
also	O
introduced	O
a	O
day/night	O
cycle	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
adds	O
powerful	O
new	O
units	O
called	O
heroes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Progressing	O
up	O
a	O
level	O
increases	O
the	O
hero	O
's	O
attributes	O
and	O
also	O
allows	O
the	O
hero	O
to	O
gain	O
new	O
spell	B-Application
options	O
(	O
bringing	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
elements	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
level	O
six	O
,	O
the	O
hero	O
can	O
obtain	O
an	O
"	O
ultimate	O
"	O
skill	O
that	O
is	O
more	O
powerful	O
than	O
the	O
three	O
other	O
spells	B-Application
that	O
the	O
hero	O
possesses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
IIIs	I-Application
campaign	B-Application
mode	O
is	O
divided	O
into	O
four	O
campaigns	O
,	O
each	O
featuring	O
a	O
different	O
faction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
campaign	B-Application
is	O
itself	O
divided	O
into	O
chapters	O
,	O
and	O
there	O
is	O
a	O
set	O
order	O
in	O
which	O
they	O
have	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
as	O
the	O
story	O
follows	O
the	O
events	O
in	O
these	O
campaigns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
an	O
optional	O
prologue	O
campaign	B-Application
that	O
serves	O
as	O
a	O
tutorial	O
can	O
be	O
played	O
before	O
starting	O
the	O
main	O
campaign	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
previous	O
Blizzard	O
titles	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
or	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
there	O
are	O
no	O
mission	O
briefings	O
in	O
which	O
plot	O
exposition	O
occurs	O
and	O
objectives	O
are	O
announced	O
;	O
rather	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
uses	O
a	O
system	O
of	O
"	O
seamless	O
quests	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Through	O
each	O
race	O
's	O
campaign	B-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
retains	O
control	O
of	O
one	O
or	O
more	O
heroes	O
who	O
slowly	O
grow	O
in	O
experience	O
as	O
the	O
levels	O
progress	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
carried	O
over	O
to	O
subsequent	O
missions	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
hero	O
to	O
become	O
more	O
powerful	O
throughout	O
the	O
course	O
of	O
the	O
campaign	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
only	O
campaign	B-Application
that	O
breaks	O
this	O
pattern	O
is	O
the	O
Night	O
Elf	O
campaign	B-Application
,	O
whose	O
first	O
mission	O
involves	O
building	O
a	O
limited	O
base	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
last	O
level	O
of	O
each	O
race	O
's	O
campaign	B-Application
is	O
an	O
"	O
epic	O
battle	O
"	O
in	O
which	O
a	O
large	O
number	O
of	O
enemy	O
foes	O
has	O
to	O
be	O
defeated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
uses	O
the	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
previous	O
Battle.net-enabled	O
games	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
introduced	O
anonymous	O
matchmaking	O
,	O
automatically	O
pairing	O
players	O
for	O
games	O
based	O
on	O
their	O
skill	O
level	O
and	O
game	O
type	O
preferences	O
,	O
preventing	O
cheating	O
and	O
inflating	O
their	O
records	O
artificially	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
players	O
want	O
to	O
play	O
with	O
a	O
friend	O
in	O
ranked	O
matches	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
offers	O
"	O
Arranged	O
Team	O
Games	O
"	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
team	O
joins	O
a	O
lobby	O
,	O
and	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
will	O
search	O
for	O
another	O
team	O
;	O
as	O
with	O
anonymous	O
matchmaking	O
,	O
the	O
enemy	O
team	O
is	O
not	O
known	O
beforehand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
campaign	B-Application
games	O
can	O
have	O
many	O
different	O
objectives	O
,	O
the	O
sole	O
objective	O
in	O
multiplayer	O
games	O
is	O
to	O
destroy	O
all	O
the	O
buildings	O
of	O
the	O
opposition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
like	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
previous	O
title	O
StarCraft	B-Application
,	O
allows	O
for	O
single	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
replays	O
to	O
be	O
recorded	O
and	O
viewed	O
,	O
allowing	O
a	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
at	O
slower	O
and	O
faster	O
speeds	O
and	O
viewed	O
from	O
the	O
perspective	O
of	O
all	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
map	O
editor	O
allows	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
custom	O
maps	O
to	O
be	O
created	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
and	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
battle	O
arena	O
maps	O
,	O
the	O
most	O
notable	O
of	O
which	O
was	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
also	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
band	O
together	O
to	O
form	O
"	O
clans	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
participate	O
in	O
tournaments	O
or	O
offer	O
a	O
recreational	O
aspect	O
to	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
fictional	O
world	O
of	O
Azeroth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
demon	O
army	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Burning	O
Legion	O
intent	O
on	O
Azeroth	O
's	O
destruction	O
corrupted	O
a	O
race	O
called	O
the	O
Orcs	B-Language
,	O
and	O
sent	O
them	O
through	O
a	O
portal	O
to	O
attack	O
Azeroth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
events	O
were	O
previously	O
shown	O
in	O
Orcs	B-Application
&	I-Application
Humans	I-Application
,	O
Tides	B-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
and	O
Beyond	B-Application
the	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Portal	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
many	O
years	O
of	O
fighting	O
,	O
the	O
Orcs	B-Language
were	O
defeated	O
by	O
a	O
coalition	O
of	O
humans	O
,	O
dwarves	O
and	O
elves	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Alliance	O
;	O
the	O
surviving	O
Orcs	B-Language
were	O
herded	O
into	O
internment	O
camps	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
seemed	O
to	O
lose	O
their	O
lust	O
for	O
battle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
follows	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
three	O
different	O
heroes	O
:	O
The	O
one	O
of	O
young	O
and	O
idealistic	O
human	O
paladin	B-Protocol
and	O
crown	O
prince	O
of	O
Lordaeron	O
,	O
Arthas	O
Menethil	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
becomes	O
more	O
and	O
more	O
corrupted	O
until	O
he	O
joins	O
the	O
Undead	O
and	O
assists	O
with	O
the	O
summoning	O
of	O
demonic	O
forces	O
to	O
Azeroth	O
;	O
the	O
adventures	O
of	O
Orc	B-Language
warchief	O
Thrall	O
as	O
he	O
brings	O
his	O
people	O
to	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Kalimdor	O
to	O
escape	O
human	O
captivity	O
and	O
the	O
impending	O
downfall	O
of	O
Lordaeron	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
events	O
involving	O
Tyrande	O
Whisperwind	O
,	O
the	O
Night	O
Elven	O
leader	O
,	O
who	O
has	O
to	O
deal	O
with	O
both	O
the	O
arrival	O
of	O
humans	O
and	O
orcs	B-Language
in	O
their	O
sacred	O
lands	O
and	O
the	O
invasion	O
by	O
the	O
demon	O
forces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
opens	O
with	O
the	O
Orc	B-Language
leader	O
,	O
Thrall	O
,	O
waking	O
from	O
a	O
nightmare	O
warning	O
him	O
of	O
the	O
return	O
of	O
the	O
Burning	O
Legion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Arthas	O
defends	O
the	O
village	O
of	O
Strahnbrad	O
from	O
orcs	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
then	O
joins	O
Archmage	O
Jaina	O
Proudmoore	O
,	O
who	O
aids	O
him	O
in	O
investigating	O
a	O
rapidly	O
spreading	O
plague	B-Application
,	O
which	O
kills	O
and	O
turns	O
human	O
victims	O
into	O
the	O
undead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Arthas	O
kills	O
the	O
plague	B-Application
's	O
originator	O
,	O
Kel'Thuzad	O
,	O
and	O
then	O
purges	O
the	O
infected	O
city	O
of	O
Stratholme	O
which	O
leads	O
Jaina	O
to	O
part	O
ways	O
with	O
him	O
in	O
disgust	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Now	O
an	O
Undead	O
Death	B-Application
Knight	I-Application
,	O
Arthas	O
meets	O
with	O
the	O
leader	O
of	O
the	O
dreadlords	O
,	O
Tichondrius	O
,	O
who	O
tasks	O
him	O
with	O
resurrecting	O
Kel'Thuzad	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
the	O
Orcish	O
Warsong	O
Clan	O
is	O
left	O
behind	O
in	O
Ashenvale	O
to	O
build	O
a	O
permanent	O
settlement	O
,	O
but	O
angers	O
the	O
Night	O
Elves	O
and	O
their	O
demigod	B-Language
Cenarius	O
by	O
cutting	O
down	O
the	O
forests	O
for	O
resources	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thrall	O
and	O
Grom	O
begin	O
to	O
hunt	O
Mannoroth	O
and	O
Grom	O
kills	O
him	O
,	O
dying	O
in	O
the	O
process	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
doing	O
so	O
freeing	O
the	O
orcs	B-Language
from	O
the	O
demonic	O
control	O
of	O
Mannoroth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tyrande	O
Whisperwind	O
,	O
leader	O
of	O
the	O
Night	O
Elves	O
,	O
is	O
outraged	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
Humans	O
and	O
Orcs	B-Language
violating	O
the	O
forests	O
and	O
blames	O
them	O
for	O
Cenarius	O
 '	O
death	O
,	O
so	O
she	O
vows	O
to	O
destroy	O
both	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
order	O
to	O
oppose	O
the	O
Burning	O
Legion	O
,	O
Tyrande	O
reawakens	O
the	O
sleeping	O
Elf	O
Druids	B-Protocol
,	O
starting	O
with	O
her	O
lover	O
,	O
Malfurion	O
Stormrage	O
,	O
and	O
frees	O
his	O
brother	O
Illidan	O
Stormrage	O
from	O
prison	O
,	O
against	O
Malfurion	O
's	O
wishes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
the	O
Prophet	O
summons	O
Thrall	O
,	O
Jaina	O
,	O
Tyrande	O
and	O
Malfurion	O
,	O
and	O
reveals	O
that	O
he	O
used	O
to	O
be	O
Medivh	O
,	O
the	O
Last	O
Guardian	O
and	O
the	O
betrayer	O
from	O
Warcraft	B-Application
:	I-Application
Orcs	I-Application
&	I-Application
Humans	I-Application
,	O
returned	O
to	O
make	O
amends	O
for	O
his	O
past	O
sins	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
Burning	O
Legion	O
marching	O
towards	O
Mount	O
Hyjal	O
in	O
their	O
intent	O
to	O
corrupt	O
the	O
World	O
Tree	O
and	O
thus	O
the	O
whole	O
world	O
,	O
Humans	O
,	O
Orcs	B-Language
,	O
and	O
Night	O
Elves	O
form	O
a	O
reluctant	O
alliance	O
to	O
spring	O
a	O
trap	O
on	O
the	O
Burning	O
Legion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
and	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Beyond	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Portal	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
originally	O
planned	O
to	O
continue	O
the	O
story	O
with	O
a	O
point-and-click	O
adventure	O
game	O
called	O
Warcraft	B-Application
Adventures	I-Application
:	I-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Clans	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
in	O
1998	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
canceled	O
Lord	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Clans	I-Application
for	O
not	O
meeting	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
quality	O
standards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thrall	O
's	O
story	O
was	O
instead	O
worked	O
into	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
whose	O
development	O
began	O
in	O
early	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Pardo	O
,	O
Mike	O
O'Brien	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
lead	O
programmer	O
,	O
originally	O
planned	O
a	O
strategy	O
game	O
—	O
tentatively	O
titled	O
Warcraft	B-Application
Legends	O
—	O
with	O
few	O
units	O
to	O
command	O
,	O
over-the-shoulder	O
camera	O
and	O
no	O
base	O
building	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
after	O
a	O
year	O
of	O
work	O
this	O
concept	O
did	O
not	O
work	O
out	O
and	O
the	O
existing	O
framework	O
was	O
used	O
to	O
create	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
instead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
first	O
previews	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
design	O
and	O
gameplay	O
was	O
therefore	O
compared	O
to	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Myth	B-Application
and	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Might	I-Application
and	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2001	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
still	O
experimented	O
with	O
different	O
resources	O
and	O
had	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
gold	O
,	O
lumber	O
,	O
mana	B-Application
stones	O
and	O
upkeep	O
or	O
a	O
race	O
depending	O
resource	O
that	O
represented	O
the	O
population	O
like	O
the	O
required	O
food	O
in	O
newer	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
middle	O
of	O
January	O
2002	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
shipped	O
out	O
5000	O
beta	O
versions	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
to	O
randomly	O
selected	O
testers	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
help	O
improve	O
it	O
before	O
being	O
released	O
in	O
stores	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
beta	O
release	O
had	O
all	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
units	O
and	O
races	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
only	O
playable	O
over	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
;	O
single	O
player	O
games	O
and	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
play	O
were	O
not	O
playable	O
on	O
the	O
beta	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
first	O
released	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
on	O
July	O
3	O
,	O
2002	O
and	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
July	O
5	O
,	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
continued	O
to	O
maintain	O
WarCraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
regarding	O
technical	O
issues	O
and	O
compatibility	O
for	O
newer	O
operating	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
Blizzard	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
rendered	O
using	O
3D	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
each	O
campaign	B-Application
features	O
pre-rendered	O
cinematics	O
that	O
show	O
the	O
outcome	O
of	O
the	O
campaign	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Samwise	O
Didier	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
art	O
director	O
for	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
the	O
company	O
,	O
when	O
developing	O
the	B-Application
first	I-Application
game	I-Application
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
attempted	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
more	O
realistic	O
experience	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
belief	O
that	O
PC	O
gamers	O
preferred	O
these	O
graphics	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
Warcraft	B-Application
:	I-Application
Orcs	I-Application
and	I-Application
Humans	I-Application
looking	O
like	O
Medieval	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
allowed	O
classical	O
fantasy	O
properties	O
like	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
and	O
The	O
Lord	O
of	O
the	O
Rings	O
to	O
influence	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
adding	O
more	O
fantasy	O
races	O
such	O
as	O
elves	O
,	O
ogres	O
and	O
dwarves	O
,	O
while	O
still	O
keeping	O
a	O
more	O
realistic	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
establishment	O
of	O
a	O
dependable	O
fan	O
base	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
games	O
,	O
the	O
creative	O
team	O
behind	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
decided	O
no	O
longer	O
to	O
follow	O
their	O
artistic	O
vision	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Didier	O
also	O
integrated	O
characters	O
he	O
designed	O
for	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
into	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
Uther	O
The	O
Lightbringer	O
and	O
Illidan	O
Stormrage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
shift	O
towards	O
a	O
more	O
cartoonish	O
looking	O
world	O
that	O
started	O
with	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
continued	O
in	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
which	O
deliberately	O
used	O
less	O
realistic	O
depictions	O
to	O
allow	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
on	O
less	O
powerful	O
PCs	O
,	O
thus	O
increasing	O
the	O
potential	O
player-base	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
artwork	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
hugely	O
influential	O
on	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
other	O
high	O
fantasy	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
games	O
that	O
followed	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
the	O
music	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Tracy	O
W	O
.	O
Bush	O
,	O
Derek	O
Duke	O
,	O
Jason	O
Hayes	O
,	O
and	O
Glenn	O
Stafford	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Limited	O
Edition	O
of	O
Reign	B-Application
of	I-Application
Chaos	I-Application
came	O
with	O
much	O
of	O
the	O
orchestral	O
music	O
on	O
a	O
separate	O
CD	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
of	O
the	O
four	O
playable	O
races	O
has	O
different	O
music	O
:	O
monastic	O
music	O
for	O
the	O
humans	O
;	O
ambient	O
and	O
Native	O
American-sounding	O
music	O
for	O
the	O
Night	O
Elves	O
;	O
warlike	O
music	O
for	O
the	O
Orcs	B-Language
;	O
and	O
fast	O
,	O
haunting	O
music	O
for	O
the	O
Undead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metzen	O
had	O
previously	O
contributed	O
artwork	O
to	O
the	B-Application
first	I-Application
game	I-Application
and	O
became	O
involved	O
in	O
writing	O
stories	O
and	O
missions	O
in	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
the	B-Application
first	I-Application
game	I-Application
Metzen	O
served	O
as	O
creative	O
director	O
for	O
,	O
a	O
role	O
he	O
would	O
continue	O
in	O
for	O
all	O
Blizzard	O
games	O
until	O
his	O
retirement	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
did	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
StarCraft	B-Application
before	O
it	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
contains	O
a	O
World	O
Editor	O
program	O
that	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
create	O
their	O
own	O
custom	O
scenarios	O
and	O
maps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Through	O
Battle.net,	O
players	O
can	O
then	O
share	O
these	O
maps	O
with	O
others	O
,	O
increasing	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
custom	O
maps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
custom	O
maps	O
have	O
enjoyed	O
great	O
success	O
,	O
particularly	O
maps	O
based	O
on	O
Aeon	O
of	O
Strife	O
such	O
as	O
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
(	O
DotA	B-Operating_System
)	O
,	O
which	O
became	O
a	O
tournament	O
item	O
at	O
BlizzCon	O
2005	O
and	O
other	O
tournaments	O
around	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
DotA	B-Operating_System
is	O
largely	O
attributed	O
with	O
to	O
being	O
the	O
most	O
significant	O
inspiration	O
for	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
battle	O
arena	O
(	O
MOBA	O
)	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
Valve	O
acquired	O
commercial	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
DOTA	B-Operating_System
name	O
trademark	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2003	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
expansion	O
pack	O
was	O
titled	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
and	O
continues	O
the	O
story	O
for	O
the	O
Night	O
Elves	O
,	O
Humans	O
and	O
Undead	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
while	O
providing	O
a	O
completely	O
separate	O
,	O
role-playing	O
focused	O
campaign	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Orcs	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Among	O
other	O
changes	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
added	O
a	O
new	O
hero	O
for	O
each	O
faction	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
five	O
neutral	O
heroes	O
that	O
can	O
be	O
hired	O
by	O
all	O
factions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
made	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
available	O
with	O
four	O
different	O
box	O
arts	O
,	O
one	O
for	O
each	O
faction	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
limited	O
edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
regular	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
limited	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
bundle	O
containing	O
a	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
cinematic	O
DVD	O
,	O
including	O
behind-the-scenes	O
features	O
and	O
the	O
cinematics	O
of	O
all	O
prior	O
Warcraft	B-Application
games	O
;	O
a	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
Soundtrack	O
;	O
a	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
instruction	O
manual	O
;	O
The	O
Art	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
book	O
;	O
and	O
lithographic	O
prints	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
also	O
released	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
Battle	O
Chest	O
,	O
which	O
contains	O
Reign	B-Application
of	I-Application
Chaos	I-Application
bundled	O
with	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
in	O
one	O
box	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
version	O
,	O
the	O
Exclusive	O
Gift	O
Set	O
,	O
came	O
bundled	O
with	O
the	O
cinematic	O
DVD	O
,	O
official	O
BradyGames	O
strategy	O
guide	O
,	O
and	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Battle.net	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
BlizzCon	O
2018	O
on	O
November	O
2	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
Blizzard	O
announced	O
a	O
remaster	O
of	O
both	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
entitled	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reforged	I-Application
featuring	O
remodeled	O
characters	O
and	O
graphics	O
with	O
a	O
prospective	O
release	O
in	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
release	O
of	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Reforged	I-Application
resulted	O
in	O
the	O
termination	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
titles	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
The	B-Application
Frozen	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
being	O
supported	O
any	O
further	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
review	O
aggregator	O
website	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
received	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
92/100	O
,	O
indicating	O
"	O
Universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
campaign-related	O
cinematics	O
were	O
especially	O
noted	O
,	O
with	O
multiple	O
critics	O
declaring	O
them	O
most	O
impressive	O
feats	O
of	O
video	O
rendering	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
reviewers	O
praised	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
campaign	B-Application
for	O
creating	O
an	O
epic	O
storyline	O
that	O
avoids	O
typical	O
stereotypes	O
and	O
provides	O
a	O
nuanced	O
portrayal	O
of	O
the	O
different	O
factions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gamecritics.com	O
concluded	O
that	O
Blizzard	O
had	O
finally	O
succeeded	O
in	O
fleshing	O
out	O
the	O
story-line	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
Warcraft	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
giving	O
each	O
side	O
its	O
own	O
motivations	O
and	O
differences	O
beyond	O
cosmetics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
retrospect	O
published	O
in	O
March	O
2018	O
,	O
Waypoint	O
calls	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
all-time	O
great	O
single-player	O
campaigns	O
in	O
history	O
"	O
,	O
specifically	O
emphasizing	O
the	O
Alliance	O
mission	O
"	O
The	O
Culling	B-Algorithm
"	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
placed	O
in	O
a	O
no-win	O
situation	O
and	O
forced	O
to	O
help	O
Arthas	O
slaughter	O
his	O
own	O
people	O
before	O
they	O
turn	O
into	O
aggressive	O
zombies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
years	O
prior	O
,	O
in	O
2015	O
,	O
Vice	O
called	O
"	O
The	O
Culling	B-Algorithm
"	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Arthas	O
's	O
betrayal	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
Alliance	O
campaign	B-Application
and	O
the	O
destruction	O
of	O
Dalaran	O
three	O
of	O
the	O
seven	O
greatest	O
moments	O
in	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
's	O
history	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
emphasized	O
that	O
the	O
Battle.net	B-Operating_System
integration	O
made	O
multiplayer	O
games	O
easier	O
than	O
with	O
any	O
other	O
game	O
at	O
that	O
time	O
and	O
lauded	O
the	O
variety	O
of	O
factions	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
balance	O
between	O
those	O
factions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
sold	O
one	O
million	O
units	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
month	O
after	O
release	O
,	O
becoming	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
PC	O
video	O
game	O
in	O
history	O
at	O
that	O
time	O
and	O
surpassing	O
a	O
record	O
set	O
by	O
Diablo	O
II	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
sold	O
1	O
million	O
copies	O
and	O
earned	O
$49.4	O
million	O
by	O
August	O
2006	O
,	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
in	O
July	O
2002	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
country	O
's	O
seventh	O
best-selling	O
computer	O
game	O
between	O
January	O
2000	O
and	O
August	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
received	O
a	O
"	O
Gold	O
"	O
sales	O
award	O
from	O
the	O
Entertainment	O
and	O
Leisure	O
Software	O
Publishers	O
Association	O
(	O
ELSPA	O
)	O
,	O
indicating	O
sales	O
of	O
at	O
least	O
200,000	O
copies	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2018	O
,	O
Rock	O
,	O
Paper	O
,	O
Shotgun	O
declared	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
to	O
be	O
the	O
34th	O
best	O
strategy	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
German	O
magazine	O
GameStar	O
ranked	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
as	O
the	O
best	O
strategy	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
second	O
best	O
PC	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
in	O
2018	O
,	O
noting	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
pack	O
received	O
scores	O
higher	O
than	O
any	O
other	O
game	O
since	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
has	O
been	O
an	O
influence	O
on	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
games	O
,	O
especially	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
role-playing	O
elements	O
and	O
heroes	O
as	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Defense	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
the	I-Operating_System
Ancients	I-Operating_System
(	O
DotA	B-Operating_System
)	O
paved	O
the	O
way	O
for	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
online	O
battle	O
arena	O
genre	O
,	O
inspiring	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
the	O
mod	O
's	O
standalone	O
sequel	O
,	O
Dota	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
and	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
League	B-Application
of	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
and	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
Newerth	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blizzard	O
pointed	O
to	O
DotA	B-Operating_System
as	O
an	O
example	O
of	O
what	O
dedicated	O
mapmakers	O
can	O
create	O
using	O
strong	O
developer	O
's	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
DotA	B-Operating_System
All-stars	I-Operating_System
became	O
an	O
important	O
tournament	O
scenario	O
,	O
starting	O
with	O
its	O
prominence	O
at	O
the	O
debut	O
of	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
BlizzCon	O
convention	O
in	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
World	O
Editor	O
was	O
used	O
as	O
a	O
tool	O
for	O
creating	O
many	O
popular	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
custom	O
maps	O
that	O
served	O
as	O
inspiration	O
for	O
the	O
standalone	O
tower	B-Application
defense	I-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
Plants	B-Application
vs.	I-Application
Zombies	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
characters	O
,	O
locations	O
and	O
concepts	O
introduced	O
in	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
went	O
on	O
to	O
play	O
major	O
roles	O
in	O
Blizzard	O
's	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
(	O
2004	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
became	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
most	O
popular	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
by	O
player	O
count	O
of	O
nearly	O
10	O
million	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
its	O
earliest	O
stages	O
of	O
pre-alpha	O
,	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
was	O
even	O
being	O
developed	O
on	O
a	O
modified	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Warcraft	B-Application
3	I-Application
engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
took	O
a	O
notable	O
part	O
in	O
other	O
Blizzard	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
the	O
playable	O
heroes	O
from	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
were	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
crossover	O
MOBA	O
game	O
Heroes	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Storm	I-Application
(	O
2015	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2018	O
,	O
Comic	O
Book	O
Resources	O
listed	O
four	O
characters	O
introduced	O
in	O
Warcraft	B-Application
III	I-Application
in	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
Top	O
25	O
most	O
iconic	O
characters	O
ever	O
created	O
by	O
Blizzard	O
,	O
including	O
Illidan	O
Stormrage	O
and	O
Jaina	O
Proudmoore	O
.	O
</s>
