At Blizzard's recent Worldwide Invitational, Diablo 3's World Designer Leonard Boyarsky and Art Director Brian Morrisroe got on stage in front of a crowd hungry for details on Blizzard's latest project to talk about combining art and lore to expand the world give the player a deeper and more engaging experience. Diablo is a unique fantasy universe in that instead of having Dwarves and Elves, it has Angels and Demons. The game's setting makes it a dark fantasy environment that the previous games had only scratched the surface of.

Q&A with Leo and Brian

Q: In the end of Diablo 2 we went to hell, killed him, smashed his Soulstone and essence of him, Bael, Maphesto ... how do we justify him coming back?
Leo: You don't know for sure that Diablo is coming back. [Ed: ... !] We don't want to divulge too much of the story, we just want to say that it will be entertaining when you come to it.

Q: In previous game you had quests to achieve to get, say the Horadric Cube. Will there be similar quests? Will we be able to get the Horadric Cube again?
Leo: The way the process works is we look into the story, look into the lore, and we want that to drive the gameplay and drive the quests. I can say there will be quests related to lore. In Diablo 2 they didn't just set out to say "let's make this great cube," it came out of the design process.

The buzz here at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is all about Diablo 3. When will we have a playable demo? When can we expect a release? Blizzard, of course, isn't willing to commit to a date other than their standard "when it's done" answer:

• What classes are going to be available? Blizzard's answer: we're not ready to talk about that.
  
• Will there be a cow level? Blizzard's answer... well, more on that later.

Joystiq had a chance to catch up with Diablo 3's lead designer Jay Wilson (whom you may know from his work on a little game called Dawn of War) and pick his brain about how he got on the Diablo 3 project, what's in store for Battle.net, and the secret cow level.

Joystiq will make any sacrifice to bring you the latest news -- even if it means flying to Paris, France in order to attend Blizzard Entertainment's Worldwide Invitational. Only seconds ago we were shown a cinematic from Blizzard's newest game: Diablo 3. We're currently being shown a live demo of the game (which we're reminded is a work in progress) by lead designer Jay Wilson. The look and feel of the game -- though graphically updated from its aging sibling -- looks a lot like the dungeon crawls we all know and love from the original series. We're promised more loot, more quests (and some old friends like Deckard Cain), and new environments. Classes demo'd include the familiar Barbarian and the brand new Witch Doctor (a master of disease and fire who will control pets). Says Wilson, the game is "primarily cooperative" and it will be quick and easy to form groups over Battle.net. Sorry, folks who were expecting an MMO, but it sounds like Diablo 3 will continue in the tried-and-true Diablo format.

Update: Blizzard's European site is now live with the cinematic teaser and gameplay footage for your perusal!

Having trouble keeping up with all of the latest from Blizzard's mega-MMO, World of Warcraft? Joystiq's friends at WoW Insider are here to keep you up to date on the latest. This week, we've had bug-fix patch 2.3.3 hit the test realms and, today, the live realms. We also celebrated the birthday of the game's Burning Crusade expansion (happy first birthday, BC!) and have had our weekly dose of forum drama fufilled by Blizzard's removal of the ghost wolf pet. For more of the week's most interesting stories from the world... of Warcraft, read on!

As a way to ring in 2008, WoW Insider is taking a look back at all the things 2007 brought to the World of Warcraft. Interested in seeing where the game has gone in the last year? We've got in-depth looks at 2007 for Paladins, Priests, Warlocks, Warriors, Arena PvP, and crafting -- with more to come through the next week! For the rest of the week in Warcraft...

I have enjoyed reading about all of the other places that people enjoy the same game as I do and I would like to let them enjoy mine as well. I will start with the basics...


15 Minutes of Fame: Noor the Pacifist
...and Noor the pacifist, who levels without intentionally killing anything. Now, this isn't the first time we've heard of players who've given this idea a whirl, but Noor seem to have the gumption and persistence to make it to the top of the XP tree.

Stretching yourself too thin
But sometimes I have a problem, in that everyone I know has the same work and play schedule, and as a result, they want me to tank or heal or DPS for them at the same time. I don't know about you, but I can't tank Heroic Shattered Halls for my wife while DPSing in Heroic Ramparts for my friends.

News

• WoW Insider goes hands-on with Dell's new Warcraft-themed XPS M1730 laptop.
• World of Warcraft is coming to Russia with its latest language localization.
• New details arrive on this year's Winters' Veil celebration.
• Do the costs of the Dell's WoW laptop add up in the end?
• Bring your character to life with a 3d replica from FigurePrints (for a mere $100!).

Patch 2.3 hit the live realms in World of Warcraft last week, which means a flurry of activity on Joystiq's sister site WoW Insider. And if you're interested in a bit of free game-time, don't forget to check out our Caption This contest! So what's going on with the latest patch from Blizzard? We're here to tell you all about it.

Patch 2.3

• Ring in the new patch by saying goodbye to patch 2.2.
• Read up on the 2.3 changes by reading the full 2.3 patch notes or check out our highlights:
• Pre-60 dungeons have been tweaked for level and drops: read Eliah's 2.3 dungeon review.
• 2.3 on the live realms doesn't quite match 2.3 on the test realms! Also, the undocumented patch notes.
• For those of you who haven't made it out there yet, WoW Insider reports live from the new raid dungeon, Zul'Aman.
• Check out the game's coolest epic mount, the engineer-crafted Turbo-Charged Flying Machine. (Complete with hula girl!)
• A change in how the game servers communicate with the game client causes some problems for players who mash their buttons.
• New daily quests have arrived! We've got your guide to daily battleground quests and are already wondering if the daily dungeon quests are repetitive.
• And, of course, there are bugs:
• Shamans get access to free tier 6 armor -- until Blizzard caught them, that is.
• Hunter chaos! Hunters can no longer feign death & drink or double trap.

Beyond patch 2.3

• Blizzard plans soloing improvements for protection warriors and paladins.
• World of Warcraft hits 9.3 million players -- is there anywhere to go but up?
• Blizzard claims patch 2.4 will be hitting the test realms this year.

Welcome to another weekend on Joystiq! Your local WoW Insiders are here to bring you up to date on everything happening in their world of Warcraft. For those of you not in the know, patch 2.3 is coming to WoW next week and bringing a lot of changes with it, including new raid dungeon Zul'Aman. For the rest of the details of the week, keep reading!

News

• Diminishing returns on silence effects reverted
  After a loud revolt on the forums, Blizzard reverts the change to slience effects.
• Patch 2.3 coming this Tuesday!
  Are you prepared?
• <Dude Wheres My Shaman>
  A new guild on Auchindoun Horde protests Shaman issues.
• Aimed Shot changes (again)
  A half second cast time reduction causes controversy
• Mage buffs on the horizon
  They aren't all making 2.3, but expect more for mages in 2.3.X or 2.4.

Discussion

• All the World's a Stage
  Where should we draw the line on ERP?
• Unconventional group makeup
  What unconventional groups have worked for you?
• If I knew then what I know now...
  What would you do differently if you started WoW over again?
• Nobody's perfect
  What's your biggest WoW mistake?
• The Light and How to Swing It
  A field guide to bad paladins.
• Your server's [item]
  Does your server have its own obsession item?
• Growing confidence
  Taking steps towards mastering your class.

Another week has passed, which means it's time for Joystiq's MMO-loving sister-site WoW Insider to bring you a run down of the latest happenings within the World of Warcraft.

News

• Heroic dungeon keys no longer require revered reputation
  The grind required to get your heroic keys has been shortened -- instead of requiring revered reputation, they will only require honored reputation.
• Patch 2.4 is nearly ready for testing
  Though patch 2.3 is still on the test realms, apparently patch 2.4 is right around the corner.
• The latest info on guild banks
  Guild banks have hit the test realms and WoW Insider has all the details.
• Blizzard implements paid name changes
  For a mere $10, you will now be able to change your characters' name.
• How much extra XP?
  With community help, Tekkub is compiling the specifics of the XP changes in patch 2.3.
• Hunter dead zone not quite dead
  Though it has shrunk significantly, the Hunter dead zone will live on in patch 2.3.

Discussion

• Eyonix on Hallow's End epics
  What's the real reason players are upset about the epic loot drops from the Headless Horseman?
• The History of the World (of Warcraft)
  When I first started playing, we had to walk uphill in the snow to get to our class trainers.
• The Great Spirit Debate
  WoW Insider's Priest staff debates the usefulness of Spirit.
• Officer's Quarters: Reinforcements
  Scott talks about how to grow your guild.
• Should there be tanks in World of Warcraft?
  Matt asks the tough question: When everyone wants to DPS, should we have tanks?
• Reviving the PUGs
  Can the problems with in-game pick-up groups be fixed?
• Do you hate Rogues?
  Matt considers the many reasons to love -- and hate -- Rogues.

Media

• Episode 8 of the WoW Insider Show available for download
  Listen to Elizabeth, Krystalle, and Mark discuss everything about World of Warcraft
• The Guild: Gag Reel
  A little something to tide us over while we wait on the next installment of everyone's favorite guild drama.
• Fun with Brewfest Goggles
  If you aren't aware of the fun you can have with the Brewfest Goggles, this gallery will give you some idea.
• World of What?
  As proof that World of Warcraft is a pop culture phenomenon, I offer this case on Judge Judy.
• How I Met Your Draenei
  World of Warcraft gets a mention in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
• Azerothian Supervillains, Episode 4
  Here we see our anti-heroes working on plans to kidnap Thrall.
• /silly
  This week, we meet a Shaman...
• Unlimited Escapism, Volume 0
  Baron Soosdon brings us another episode of his surreal machinima series.

Still haven't had enough World of Warcraft? Then hop over to WoW Insider for every last detail on what's happening in the World of Warcraft today!

For those of you not following all of the news from Azeroth, Joystiq's sister-site WoW Insider is here to catch you up on everything that's happened in the World of Warcraft this week, broken into convenient, bite-sized links.

News

• Hallow's End hits the live realms.
  We guide you through the new quests and events.
• Engineers get their own flying mount.
  But everything has a cost -- we go over the materials needed.
• Season 3 Arena gear.
  Season 3 will begin in patch 2.3, but we already know what to expect from the test realms.
• Season 1 Arena gear available for honor points.
  When Season 3 starts, the Season 1 gear will move to honor vendors.
• Epic gear for mid-level dungeons.
  Blizzard adds new itemization for mid-level players working their way up the ranks.
• The new Dustwallow Marsh.
  A preview of the new mid-level zone coming in patch 2.3.
• Retribution Paladins get threat reduction.
  In patch 2.3 the Retribution paladins get everything they've asked for.
• Everything you want to know about patch 2.3.
  Sure, we've highlighted some of the big announcements this week -- but for those of you who need to know everything, this is where to look.

Discussion

• What makes a casual player?
  What the average MMO-player thinks of as "casual" may not be.
• Want to rid the world of gold farmers?
  Blizzard could get rid of gold farmers -- the question is how much inconvenience would you put up with to see it done.
• Tank, heal, and DPS!
  Should classes get to do all three?
• How much should death matter?
  Eric discusses improving the game by implementing permanent death.
• The race to 70.
  Why is everyone in such a hurry?

Still haven't gotten your World of Warcraft fix? Check out our features from the last week or join us this afternoon for our live podcast -- just tune your browser to WoW Radio at 3:30 PM EST or 8:30 PM GMT to listen in!

Joystiq's MMO-addled sister site WoW Insider strives to bring you the most up-to-date news and information on the World of Warcraft every day. But for those of you who don't stop by on a daily basis, we've broken down the most interesting and exciting topics of the past week into bite-sized pieces for easier digestion. Don't play World of Warcraft? Never fear -- we'll return you to your regularly scheduled Joystiq programming right after this message.

• Noncombat companions and you
  They won't help you fight, but do you have a favorite noncombat pet?
• Four wheels of fury!
  Toyota meets World of Warcraft
• Brewfest screenshots
  See the Brewfest without that pesky hangover
• All the World's a Stage
  David talks about how to give your RP character
• Using WoW to teach children values
  Robin discusses how you can use WoW to teach your kids
• Leveling improvements for patch 2.3
  Want to catch up to your friends in Outland? Patch 2.3 is going to help you out.
• /silly: Time for Plan B
  WoW Insider's own comic goes over some of the problems with pets
• Patch 2.2.3 is live!
  Patch 2.2.3 hits the live realms with a handful of bug fixes
• WoW Insider interviews Hugh Hancock and Johnnie Ingram
  Mike chats with the two authors of Machinima for Dummies
• Do pricy mounts support goldsellers?
  If Blizzard wants goldsellers to go away, should they try to remove the reasons we need the gold?
• What's the most boring class?
  We all have our favorite classes -- but what about our least favorite classes?
• The return of Varian Wrynn
  Is Varian Wrynn, the King of Stormwind, coming back to us?
• Patch 2.3 on the PTRs
  It's the biggest patch yet!
• Surprises in Patch 2.3
  We knew a lot about the patch before it hit the PTRs, but there were still some surprises!

Do you live and breathe massively multiplayer online games? Can you chart the history of your game characters all the way back to Ultima Online? Is the list of betas you've participated in enough to wallpaper a small room? Then you may just have what it makes to join us and make some money doing something you love -- writing about games. The Joystiq network is looking for some talented writers with an interest in those funny "massively multiplayer online" games to add to the team. Have we got your interest yet? Then keep reading for complete application instructions!