It has some limitations though... Max level is level 20, and you can only gather a max of 10 gold. Also, every vanilla and TBC account has been upgraded to a Battle Chest account. :)

Thank you, Blizzard!

More info here!

If anybody wants to try it, write here, I have 4 keys that I wanna give away! (you don't need a key to play it, but I have 4 spare, and just wanna give them away - with a key you can activate the game on your Battle.Net account right away)

The free game come with the expansions?

Dunno, but you won't be able to access any expansion content at level 20 anyway. :)

The Battle Chest has the first expansion, if I remember correctly. From the first post I would assume that the free accounts contain it as well.

Stay off the crack, people.

The expansion races would be available, and professions.

Now, the question is, since I have paid before and have a number of higher-than-20 characters. Will I be able to play them, will they be unable to level up, or will I have to create new characters to play for free?

Not that I plan on continuing anyway.

I think the game still requires active subscription to pass the 20th level. There hasn't been an official press event, afaik, so don't really know all the details.

Check the link in the first page.

How many hours of gameplay is for rookie player to reach 20th level?

A dozen should be enough, if you play at a normal pace, read questlines and stuff like that, and don't rush, of course.

Of course, one could also travel Azeroth and complete more starting quests around the world (you won't be able to level up when you hit level 20 though).

With the changes in Cataclysm, going 1-20 can be done in an evening if you push.

wth 20 level HAHAHAH you cant even do any major run at that low level, other than just trying out the game and its features
wow is a time sink just avoid it and play better games

Hmmm... So maybe Ill give it a try...

Is it avaible now to play until level 20 without 14-day time limit?

Yes, you can continue playing as much as you want. Let me know if you want me to give you a key (just wanna give them away since I have the game and they are useless to me).

So you need a key?!

Well, you don't. :D Hahahaha, but the keys also work in the same way, and I have 5 spare, but don't want to throw them in the trash.

:D