More than 2,500 people queued outside HMV in Oxford Street, central London last night to get their hands on the latest instalment of the World of Warcraft series. "Wrath of the Lich King" is the newest "expansion pack" for the online role-playing game.

Shoppers at Oxford Street also had the chance to meet some of the team who created the Lord of the Rings-stlye game - probably the most successful MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game).
Similar events were held in other cities including Los Angeles, Mexico City and Seoul.

Mike Morhaime, chief executive of Blizzard Entertainment, which makes WoW, said: "We've been looking forward to these launch events all year."

WoW has more than 11 million players around the world paying a monthly subscription of £8.99.
The new game - which costs £24.99, as long as you already have the original game - allows players to fight new enemies and find extra powers for their characters. It is set in the continent of Northrend and pitches players against the evil Lich King Arthas Menethil and his undead army.

World of Warcraft has grown so large that it has been the subject of court decisions - and even taxation - in various countries where it is played. A US court ruled last month that it was illegal to sell software to cheat in the game, while in China the government has reversed an earlier position banning people from profiting on it, and instead instituted a 20% tax on "virtual currency" profits, according to the Financial Times (paid registration).