In Cataclysm, it's a sort of Gnomecoming for the smallest race in World of Warcraft as the gnomes fight to retake their irradiated capital. While all of the hullaballoo of the big changes in the latest expansion captures attention, Brendan Main is more interested in the little guys.

Large upheavals, be they real-life events or an expansion to your favorite MMOG, can be opportunities to reflect on your life. Dr. Mark Kline examines how a cataclysm can lead to soul-searching and personal growth.

Locations and environments in games can evoke emotion in games easier than in characters. Quintin Smith posits that Cataclysm proves that point and that the destruction of Azeroth has much more emotional breadth than at first glance.

It takes a lot of courage to tear down the walls that you've constructed, but it can also be a lot of fun. Lead Systems Designer Greg "Ghostcrawler" Street tells us how he plans to destroy the world of Azeroth.

Check out our visual history of the major events of World of Warcraft and its impact on MMOGs.