Hearthstone is the game that has changed how we look at card games. Long before this masterpiece, when someone said “card games,” they usually meant poker. But, when Hearthstone came into action, the gaming world got its new pioneer in the card game field.
Now, we all know that Hearthstone was developed by Blizzard Entertainment, but who’s the creative mind behind this idea? Originally called Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, this free-to-play gem debuted in 2013 when Rob Pardo announced it at the Penny Arcade Expo.
From there, it’s all history. So, let’s see more about this game and the creative minds behind the whole project.
Origins of Hearthstone
Things got really exciting when the closed beta kicked off on August 26th, 2013, in the Americas and a little later on September 4th, 2013, in Europe. The buzz reached a high when the open beta hit the scene on January 21st, 2014, leading to the grand release on March 11th, 2014.
That’s how the game started, yeah. But what about the story? How did Hearthstone come to life in the realm of Kalimdor and Azeroth?
It all started with the Bryher Stonekeeper, a dwarf innkeeper who once struck a deal with a crafty gnome warlock. Why? To turn his daughter Keelin into a living hearthstone, ensuring she could always find her way back to the inn.
History Lesson
In the world of Hearthstone, there’s more than meets the eye. Take, for instance, an ancient hearthstone brought by a refugee from Zin-Azshari during the War of the Ancients. Tyrande Whisperwind almost scrapped it, but he changed its magic binding with a little help from Elune.
This special stone found its way to the night elf ambassador in Stormwind City, tightly connected to the heart of Darnassus. But during the War Against the Nightmare, things got wild. Tyrande, Broll Bearmantle, and Thura went searching for the hearthstone to get back to Darnassus. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go smoothly. Ambushes, nightmares, and a maddened ambassador threw them off.
In the end, only Broll made it back to Darnassus, but the hearthstone had other plans. It slipped from his hands, rolled out of sight, and vanished into thin air. Poof! Gone.
But enough about the lore; let’s see more about its creator, the famous Ben Brode.
Ben Brode – Mastermind Behind Hearthstone
Meet Ben Brode, the brains behind Hearthstone. Driven by his love for card games and a dream to make something extraordinary, Brode set out to redefine the gaming scene. He’s known to play Warcraft III, Dota2, and other scenario maps in Wc3.
So, he gathered a team of professionals (Blizzard-Team-5) to create the best card game ever for gamers. Brode and his team shaped every bit of Hearthstone. They wanted a game that was easy to pick up but still a challenge to master. From card mechanics to how it all looked, they worked hard to create a world that would grab you the moment you stepped into the digital tavern.
And there you have it – Hearthstone, a game born from Ben Brode’s passion and desire to make gaming an unforgettable experience.
