World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion pack went live in North America at 3AM Eastern time this morning, roughly two hours after European protection Paladin Forscience hit level 85.
European players got their hands on the Cataclysm expansion at 12:01AM Central European Time, nine hours ahead of the official North American release time of 12:01AM Pacific. Notorious power player Athene made good use of the head start, reaching the new level cap on his Paladin with the aid of friends in a ridiculously short amount of time. According to a YouTube recording of his guild's Ventrilo server, the feat was completed in approximately six hours.
The character page on the World of Warcraft Armory (as of this writing) shows Forscience hitting level 85 11 hours ago, which would be set the time approximately two to three hours before the expansion launched in North America.
How did he do it? I have no clue. I spent last week trying to level my mage from 72 to 80 in time for the expansion and only made it to 76. I consider myself lucky I didn't go down in level.
I did get my rogue to level 10 though. It's a Fahey's account first!