BlizzCon 09 Press Panel: No charging for WoW mods, Blizzard iPhone games, more

We just got back from a press-only BlizzCon panel, wherein all questions were answered. Blizzard spilled its guts, and we recorded every excruciating detail. See all the carnage below:

• Guild housing probably isn't coming to WoW. It was talked about for both Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm, but Blizzard has relegated it to the backburner for now.
• Blizzard is "very interested" in the iPhone, but currently has "no plans" to develop games for Apple's tiny marvel.
• Why only bump the level cap up to 85? Duh, because the game ends once people hit level 100, right? Wrong. WoW's not ending any time soon, and certainly not when the level cap reaches 100.
• Blizzard mentioned that, conceptually, a WoW expansion that didn't raise the level cap would certainly be possible. Instead, it could, for example, focus on unlocking hero class versions of current classes -- or something like that.
• Blizzard does not plan to allow players to charge for WoW mods. "Why mess with a good thing?" was the basis of their reasoning.
• Though Worgen and Goblin starter areas were demoed at BlizzCon, players began at level 6. So, what lies behind the veil of secrecy that is levels 1-5? For the Worgen, it's the process of becoming a Worgen. That's right -- you start as a human. The early goings for Goblins, meanwhile, simply were too early in development to be shown.
• The WoW movie's script isn't finished yet. However, WoW production director J. Allen Brack said that the movie will be "like Lord of the Rings" in that it'll be a treat for fans, but accessible to people who can't tell a Worgen from a Murloc.
• WoW: Cataclysm will alter Azeroth's landscape "instantly" when the expansion comes out. The roll out of content will not be gradual, because Deathwing's going to cut through the place like a knife through butter.

So there you go. We flipped BlizzCon over, shook it, and spilt the crumbs in your open hands. Hope you enjoyed our coverage.