First, when reading the news on official forums, we know Mage current state of the class. On the topic of mages, we agree with many of your points. We have always really liked the class design because it almost defines "simple to learn, hard to master." Players who never play mages say "Lol must be hard to hit Fireball 1000 times."
Yet if you look at the damage done by good mages and bad mages, even with the same gear, even in the same raid, you can see the difference that skill plays. You have to know when to use your cooldowns and maximize your procs. You need to know when to Blink, when to Evocate and (soon) when to go invisible. The mages I have raided with can do really high dps, but they also die a lot.
Then BlizzCon 2009 live stream orders open, according to Eyonix, he said this year, for the first time, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a live Internet stream of BlizzCon coverage from the comfort of your own home. The stream includes the same content as the DIRECTV pay-per-view event, but you do not have to be a DIRECTV subscriber to purchase it. It consists of over 16 hours of video, including interviews and commentary, main stage presentations, and tournament coverage. It’s now available to order for $39.95, and purchasers will also receive the BlizzCon 2009-exclusive in-game pet, Grunty the Murloc Marine (not available in all regions). Head over to the BlizzCon 2009 Live Stream website to get more information, to test video playback on your system, or to place an order. Come to http://blizzcon.rayv.com/ to find more.
About Crusaders' Coliseum, there was a topic on a departure from raiding philosophy. It's a departure from dungeons like Naxxramas and Ulduar, to be sure, but the Crusaders' Coliseum layout doesn't signify the future of World of Warcraft raiding in the sense that we're ditching the idea of having trash pulls and expansive halls in which players must fight.
If anything we simply expanded upon the ideas seen in the Ring of Blood or Amphitheater of Anguish, this time providing players with more epic challenges and a break from the standard raid format. Beyond that, the core values Jeff has discussed with BlizzCon audiences in the past have not been abandoned... aside from the fact that you will need a 2200 Arena rating in 3's or 5's to fight Arthas, which will take place entirely on Mechano-hogs as you chase him through the citadel (hint: the red shells track your target).
