Massively^™

I don't know why this threw you for a loop...there are some pretty clear reasons as to why specific mods were broken. Most UI mods in WoW are generally designed to make information more accessible, or make the layout more accomodating to your playstyle, or add guild communication functionality...either through calendars or raid mods (much of which has been integrated into the default UI). While this may give some players an edge due to the information available, it does not trivialize game content.

Blizzard makes it so UI's can only do so much...and when they find mods are created that can do things they do not want them to do, they fix or change what allows those mods to function. They don't care if you can see 20 different aspects of your DPS, but when a mod automatically debuffs your entire raid, that kinda defeats the purpose of having debuffing raid mobs.

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I'm a little disappointed by this story, frankly. Blizzard has been very clear about mods since WoW was launched more than three years ago:

1.They developed an API for mod authors to use.

2.They continually refine the API. When changes to the API are likely to impact more than just developers, those changes are in the published patch notes.

3. They maintain a UI forum on their official forums, full of sticky threads that contain everything you could ever need to know to use mods or even write mods.

4. They have a staffer, Slouken, who develops the API. He is an active member of the modding community, answering questions about the API, discussing possible changes and developments, and keeping the mod community informed.

Mods have never been a gray area for Blizzard -- they've been clear about how they want to work with mod authors since before the game's release. When they make big changes like the ones mentioned in this article, they alert the mod community months in advance so that changes, when necessary, can be made in plenty of time.

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I think addons and mods is making World of Warcraft even greater. To be able to personalize a User Interface provided by a game, to the way it just fits your playstyle is marvelous.

Addons & Mods only provide information. It is the player that has to make the choices and transform that data into actions, so I think it's not an exploit, it's rather a good thing and every new MMO should allow UI modification through an easy and simple developing language.

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