Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Blizzard CEO on Diablo 3 problems, incoming improvements]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/blizzard-ceo-on-diablo-3-problems-incoming-improvements/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/blizzard-ceo-on-diablo-3-problems-incoming-improvements/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/blizzard-ceo-on-diablo-3-problems-incoming-improvements/#comments Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime has taken to the Diablo forums to issue a statement on Diablo 3. In the statement, Morhaime addresses the game's launch, noting that it had both positive and negative elements. Blizzard, he admits, was not prepared for Diablo 3's staggering launch numbers - to which players locked out during the initial server problems can attest.

Morhaime notes that Blizzard "looked at historical sales for Blizzard games and other top-selling PC games and watched preorder numbers" to the server requirements at launch, even going so far as to add further server capacity beyond its estimates. Still, says Morhaime, it wasn't enough, noting that "we've never gone from 0 to more than 6 million players across multiple continents within a few days with a brand-new game." He adds that Blizzard will strive to do better with future releases.

Continue reading Blizzard CEO on Diablo 3 problems, incoming improvements

JoystiqBlizzard CEO on Diablo 3 problems, incoming improvements originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardDiablo-3macMike-MorhaimepcThu, 19 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[3.5 million people bought Diablo 3 in the first 24 hours]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/3-5-million-people-bought-diablo-3-in-the-first-24-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/3-5-million-people-bought-diablo-3-in-the-first-24-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/3-5-million-people-bought-diablo-3-in-the-first-24-hours/#comments It's true - the world is big into Diablo 3. So much so that the game was purchased more than 3.5 million times in its first 24 hours available, making it the "fastest-selling PC game" of all time, according to Blizzard. On top of that 3.5 million, another 1.2 million copies were scooped via the WoW Annual Pass (which included a free copy of D3).

Blizzard's wording on this claim is especially interesting, pointing out that "more than 4.7 million gamers around the world were poised to storm Sanctuary on day 1 of Diablo 3's release." Blizzard CEO and cofounder Mike Morhaime addresses the Diablo-sized elephant in the room soon after, saying, "We also regret that our preparations were not enough to ensure everyone had a seamless experience when they did so. I want to reaffirm our commitment to make sure the millions of Diablo III players out there have a great experience with the game moving forward, and I also want to thank them for their ongoing support."

Beyond the day-one sales, Blizzard revealed that by the end of its first week on sale, more than 6.3 million copies were in the hands of gamers worldwide. That guy Diablo is getting beat up by, like, a lot of people.

Joystiq3.5 million people bought Diablo 3 in the first 24 hours originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentDiablo-3mike-morhaimesalesWed, 23 May 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard cuts 600 employees, most not in game development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-cuts-600-employees-most-not-in-game-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-cuts-600-employees-most-not-in-game-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-cuts-600-employees-most-not-in-game-development/#comments Blizzard has laid off 600 employees, 90 percent of whom are not involved in game development, a statement from Activision Blizzard reads. The cuts do not impact the World of Warcraft development team, the publisher was quick to assure, and its development and publishing schedules will not be affected.

"As Blizzard and the industry have evolved we've also had to make some difficult decisions in order to address the changing needs of our company," Mike Morhaime, CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, said. "Knowing that, it still does not make letting go of some of our team members any easier."

In the same statement, Blizzard announced that it is "recruiting and looking to hire qualified developers for a number of open positions."

JoystiqBlizzard cuts 600 employees, most not in game development originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzarddiablo-3firedlayoffsMike-Morhaimepcstarcraft-2World-of-WarcraftWoWWed, 29 Feb 2012 12:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 has a gambling problem in South Korea]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/diablo-3-has-a-gambling-problem-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/diablo-3-has-a-gambling-problem-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/diablo-3-has-a-gambling-problem-in-korea/#comments Diablo 3 is stuck in production hell in South Korea, where the Korean Ratings Board is "conflicted about what to do" with the game's auction house, which they feel is too close to gambling to be entirely legal, The Korea Times reports. Blizzard's Mike Morhaime visited Korea in September to resolve concerns and Blizzard has currently submitted three versions of Diablo 3 to the Ratings Board, including one without the auction house feature, but "committee members are still reluctant," The Korea Times writes.

Blizzard is intent on a global release of Diablo 3, and this snag could affect the launch date for everyone. There is no official release date for Diablo 3 yet.

JoystiqDiablo 3 has a gambling problem in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseBlizzardDiablo-3KoreaKorea-Ratings-BoardMike-MorhaimepcSat, 07 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 to launch in early 2012, beta period extended]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/diablo-3-to-launch-in-early-2012-beta-period-extended/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/diablo-3-to-launch-in-early-2012-beta-period-extended/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/diablo-3-to-launch-in-early-2012-beta-period-extended/#comments "While this news might not be a complete surprise, I know that many of you were hopeful that Diablo III would ship this year," writes Blizzard president Mike Morhaime. "We were too."

This means, for a brief period in time, Diablo's fans and creators were united in convincing themselves that a Blizzard game might come out on time. Neither party had fully committed to an official release date, however, and the Irvine, California-based developer had only said that it was "aiming to launch by the end of 2011." Luckily, the only thing more steadfast than Blizzard's lengthy development times is its proclaimed commitment to quality.

"Ultimately, we feel that to deliver an awesome Diablo sequel that lives up to our expectations and yours as well," Morhaime said, "we should take a little more time and add further polish to a few different elements of the game." To aid the extended endeavor, Diablo 3's beta will run longer and accomodate more invitees.

If your gaming tastes incorporate more than highly anticipated role-playing games, you'll likely find some relief in this delay. Now there's more time for Batman, Drake, Ezio, two kinds of modern warfare, Skyrim and -- wait, there's still not enough time, is there?

JoystiqDiablo 3 to launch in early 2012, beta period extended originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012activisionblizzarddelayDiablo-3macmike-morhaimepcrelease-dateFri, 23 Sep 2011 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard 'working hard' to ship Diablo 3 this year, but no promises]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/blizzard-working-hard-to-ship-diablo-3-this-year-but-no-promi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/blizzard-working-hard-to-ship-diablo-3-this-year-but-no-promi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/blizzard-working-hard-to-ship-diablo-3-this-year-but-no-promi/#comments Today's Activision Blizzard earnings release includes the following disclaimer: "Since Blizzard Entertainment has not confirmed a launch date for its next global release, the company's calendar year outlook at this time does not include a new game from Blizzard in 2011."

But before you go tweetbooking about how Diablo 3 is never coming out, allow Blizz prez and co-founder Mike Morhaime a chance to address your concerns. "We are still working hard to ship the game before the end of the year; however, we're not ready to commit to a release date at this time," Morhaime told investors during a call this afternoon.

While Morhaime may not be sure if the retail box will be in stores before 2012, he's more confident that you'll be playing it in some capacity. "Diablo 3 is still on track to go into external beta testing later this quarter," Morhaime said. "We are very much looking forward to getting the beta into the hands of our players and collecting their feedback for the final phase of development."

Unlike many public(ity) betas, Morhaime insists this feedback is significant for Diablo 3. "There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to putting out a complex release like Diablo 3," Morhaime said. "We talked about the new auction house technology which has not been fully tested. We're not yet in beta and really it's just going to come down to when the game is ready for prime-time."

In fact, it sounds like Blizzard is waiting on the feedback from the beta before it makes a final decision on whether or not to release D3 this year. "We'll know more when we hit beta and we'll know more when we put some of these new systems into test. It's a brand new infrastructure, with a lot of complex moving parts." If you want Diablo 3 sooner than later, our advice is to join the beta and leave effusively positive feedback. It's a fool-proof plan!

JoystiqBlizzard 'working hard' to ship Diablo 3 this year, but no promises originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentDiablo-3macmike-morhaimepcWed, 03 Aug 2011 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard surprisingly hopeful for The Old Republic's success]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/blizzard-surprisingly-hopeful-for-the-old-republics-success/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/blizzard-surprisingly-hopeful-for-the-old-republics-success/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/blizzard-surprisingly-hopeful-for-the-old-republics-success/#comments EA Games' Frank Gibeau was less-than-complimentary to Blizzard's World of Warcraft this past week, saying that the older game "feels more like doing a shopping list at times" than EA and Bioware's upcoming The Old Republic title. But Blizzard's Frank Pearce is a little nicer to his competitor, saying in an interview that he'd love to see another popular MMO arrive. "This is a game that has an opportunity to grow the MMO market if done right," he said, "and therefore is very important to the industry as a whole, not just EA."

Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime was similarly excited by the prospect of a quality Bioware MMO and its effect on the market. "From our perspective, we hope they make an enjoyable game because they're going to bring in a lot of new players to the MMO genre," he's quoted as saying.

These guys make an MMO about war? Where's that blood, the fury, that boisterous arrogance? There's just one answer: Morhaime and Pearce must both play Alliance.

JoystiqBlizzard surprisingly hopeful for The Old Republic's success originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 01:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardeafrank-pearcemike-morhaimemmopcStar-Wars-The-Old-RepublicThe-Old-RepublicSat, 19 Mar 2011 01:32:00 EST<![CDATA[AIAS Hall of Fame 'Game Changers' confess pro mistakes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/aias-hall-of-fame-game-changers-confess-pro-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/aias-hall-of-fame-game-changers-confess-pro-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/aias-hall-of-fame-game-changers-confess-pro-mistakes/#comments Kicking off DICE 2011, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences invited Hall of Fame "game changers" to speak on a variety of topics, moderated by New York Times writer Seth Schiesel. Things got introspective when the panel discussed design decisions they wish they could take back, or a plan that didn't work out as well as they thought it would.

BioWare's Dr. Greg Zeschuk, who will be inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame this year with business partner Dr. Ray Muzyka, said that about 10 or 12 years ago he made a pitch video for Five Fingers of Death. It was going to be a kung-fu game set in the Baldur's Gate universe. Cutscenes would have have been too expensive to produce, so Zeschuk spent several weeks re-dubbing old kung-fu movies using his own voice. When the tape went out he recalls several companies laughed them off.

If anyone happens to have a copy of that tape, there are several video upload sites we'd be more than happy to recommend.

Continue reading AIAS Hall of Fame 'Game Changers' confess pro mistakes

JoystiqAIAS Hall of Fame 'Game Changers' confess pro mistakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiasaias-hall-of-famebaldurs-gatebiowarebruce-shelleydice-2011five-fingers-of-deathgreg-zeschukmark-cernymike-morhaimepcray-muzykaThu, 10 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard investigating Diablo for consoles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-investigating-diablo-for-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-investigating-diablo-for-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-investigating-diablo-for-consoles/#comments The Diablo is in the details. Blizzard Entertainment CEO Mike Morhaime brought up Diablo for consoles at DICE late yesterday. It's a subject that's received plenty of industry chatter, but the closest we'd previously gotten to it happening (since the 1998 release of the first Diablo for PlayStation) was a report late last year that the company was "exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles."

"I think you could make an argument that a game like Diablo might play very well on a console," the executive noted while discussing Blizzard's preference for PCs due to flexibility. "It's something that we're actually doing an investigation into to see if that could make sense."

He concluded that there are a "number of issues" that Blizzard would have to solve in order to bring its games over to consoles, with some of his concerns involving the ability to patch effectively and inevitably add expansions. Asked directly if he thought Diablo would be the Blizzard game that could most easily be ported for consoles, he nodded in the affirmative.

Gallery: Diablo 3 (12/22/10)

JoystiqBlizzard investigating Diablo for consoles originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardDiablo-3DICE-2011microsoftmike-morhaimenintendopcplaystationps3wiixboxThu, 10 Feb 2011 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision: At least two Blizzard titles coming in 2012, if none released this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/activision-at-least-two-blizzard-titles-coming-by-2012-diablo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/activision-at-least-two-blizzard-titles-coming-by-2012-diablo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/activision-at-least-two-blizzard-titles-coming-by-2012-diablo/#comments Speaking during a financial earnings call today, Activision COO Thomas Tippl said that if we don't see any games from Blizzard this year, the publisher expects to see them next year. "Because Blizzard Entertainment has not yet confirmed the launch date for its next global release," Tippl told investors and press, "our outlook at this time does not include a new game from Blizzard in 2011." But don't worry, Blizzard fans, Activision's got a whip it's not afraid to crack: "Should we not release a major title from Blizzard this year, we would expect for planning purposes to launch a minimum of two Blizzard titles in 2012."

Presumably, those two titles would be Heart of the Swarm (the Zerg-based expansion for Starcraft 2) and the long-awaited Diablo 3. Blizzard president Mike Morhaime joined the call after Tippl spoke and promised that more information was coming about both. Blizzard's developers, he said, are hard at work on Heart of the Swarm, and we'll hear more "in the coming months."

Additionally, Morhaime said that he would talk about Diablo 3 "and the upcoming beta on the next call," in about three months. "Until we get to beta and have the community help us test the game," he later said, "we're not going to lock in a release date."

Blizzard is also working to get both World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and Starcraft 2 out in China, but had "no specific updates to share at this time" about those releases -- or the "Titan" MMO, for that matter. Morhaime did plug both the upcoming BlizzCon and Blizzard's twentieth anniversary this year, and closed by saying that "the games we have in the pipeline represent the best and widest slate of games we have ever produced."

JoystiqActivision: At least two Blizzard titles coming in 2012, if none released this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbetablizzardDiablo-3heart-of-the-swarmmike-morhaimepcrelease-datestarcraft-2thomas-tippltitanWed, 09 Feb 2011 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[AIAS Hall of Famers delivering 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit keynote]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/aias-hall-of-famers-delivering-2011-d-i-c-e-summit-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/aias-hall-of-famers-delivering-2011-d-i-c-e-summit-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/aias-hall-of-famers-delivering-2011-d-i-c-e-summit-keynote/#comments So, you've only got a few hours set aside this year with which to absorb illumination from some of the gaming industry's smartest folks? You won't find a more efficient way to satisfy your needs than the 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit keynote panel, which will feature the shared wisdom of a number of Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Famers from years past. (And years current!)

Presenters include Blizzard president Mike Morhaime, Grandfather of the RTS genre Bruce Shelley, Cerny Games president Mike Cerny and BioWare co-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk. If you can make it to the panel on the evening of February 9, we're pretty sure that you'll possess all the knowledge you'll need to create the industry's next big game. At the very least, you'll have some inspiration for some awesome last names for said game's characters.

Continue reading AIAS Hall of Famers delivering 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit keynote

JoystiqAIAS Hall of Famers delivering 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit keynote originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIASaias-hall-of-famebiowareblizzarddicedice-summitdice-summit-2011greg-zeschukkeynoteMike-Morhaimeray-muzykaSun, 30 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm available for download at midnight, Dec. 7]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-available-for-download-at-midnight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-available-for-download-at-midnight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-available-for-download-at-midnight/#comments When the world is being torn asunder, isn't it best to remain inside? During a presentation at the ongoing BlizzCon 2010 in Anaheim, California, Blizzard president Mike Morhaime confirmed that the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm, would be offered in downloadable format right on time and on launch day. When the game's December 7 release date was first announced, it wasn't clear if the digitally distributed version would lag behind retail copies.

It doesn't get clearer than this: You'll be able to purchase and download World of Warcraft: Cataclysm from Blizzard's site (which will accomodate pre-orders soon) at midnight, Pacific Standard Time, on December 7th. That means you can safely start questing, never having left the comforting confines of your home and risked contact with those crude human beings.

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm available for download at midnight, Dec. 7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzcon-2010Cataclysmdigital-distributionmacmike-morhaimemmopcrelease-dateWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmFri, 22 Oct 2010 15:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: StarCraft 2 sold over 3 million in first month]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/01/blizzard-starcraft-2-sold-over-3-million-in-first-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/01/blizzard-starcraft-2-sold-over-3-million-in-first-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/01/blizzard-starcraft-2-sold-over-3-million-in-first-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard Entertainment issued a press release this morning to report that over 3 million copies of StarCraft 2 have been sold worldwide in the game's first month of release. While it's always wise to approach publisher estimates with a measure of skepticism, we must admit that this milestone seems plausible. The game sold half that amount in its first two days on the market, leaving the rest of the month to sell that same amount.

"We appreciate all the enthusiasm that players around the world have shown for StarCraft 2," Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime said. "It was important to us to deliver an overall gameplay experience that was accessible, balanced, and fun, and it's been gratifying to see how strongly the global community has already embraced the game." Not that the people who bought it on day one were concerned with accessibility, after years of training on the first StarCraft.

JoystiqBlizzard: StarCraft 2 sold over 3 million in first month originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzardMike-MorhaimepcSalesStarcraft-2StrategyWed, 01 Sep 2010 09:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Real ID nixed from Blizzard forums, Morhaime explains]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/real-id-nixed-from-blizzard-forums-morhaime-explains/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/real-id-nixed-from-blizzard-forums-morhaime-explains/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/real-id-nixed-from-blizzard-forums-morhaime-explains/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Well, that was quick! Just as soon as Blizzard announced sweeping changes to its forum policy, company head Mike Morhaime took to those very forums to say, "real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums." In a letter addressed to the Blizzard community, Morhaime says the company "has been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us, as well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums," and thusly has come to the decision to not require real names.

Outside of that change, Blizzard will still be implementing all other forum changes (detailed by our sister site WoW.com right here). That said, the opt-in Real ID system will still be implemented in forthcoming Blizzard titles. Morhaime explains: "We believe that the powerful communications functionality enabled by Real ID, such as cross-game and cross-realm chat, make Battle.net a great place for players to stay connected to real-life friends and family while playing Blizzard games." Further, he adds that "you'll still be able to keep your relationships at the anonymous, character level if you so choose when you communicate with other players in game." Additionally, the Real ID system is set to "evolve" as time goes on, with Battle.net getting "new and exciting functionality" for those of you "who decide to use the feature." Could that mean incentivized Real ID use from Blizzard? We're not sure just yet, but it certainly sounds like it.

Check out the full message from Morhaime to the Blizzard community after the break.

Continue reading Real ID nixed from Blizzard forums, Morhaime explains

JoystiqReal ID nixed from Blizzard forums, Morhaime explains originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardmike-morhaimepcreal-idreal-id-forumsstarcraft-2World-of-WarcraftWoWFri, 09 Jul 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Epic' StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition announced]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-announc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-announc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-collectors-edition-announc/#comments
Click to enlarge e-pic
 Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime calls it an "epic" Collector's Edition, fit for celebrating the long-awaited return of real-time strategy behemoth, StarCraft. The special StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty set includes: a 2GB USB thumb drive which mimics protagonist Jim Raynor's dog tag (and comes loaded with the original StarCraft and its Brood War expansion); a 176-page art book; a behind-the-scenes DVD with interviews, cinematics and developer commentary; a soundtrack CD; a prequel issue in the StarCraft comic series; a mini Thor in-game pet for World of Warcraft; and "exclusive" Battle.net content, such as alternate character decals, skins and profile portraits.

The space treasure trove will set you back $100 -- a cost that is likely to generate much less discussion than the price of the regular edition (picture), which will retail for the atypical suggested price of $60. Blizzard also intends to distribute the game in digital format shortly after launch.

Of course, if you've become enamored with StarCraft II's ongoing beta as we have, you're ready to exchange every one of your Liberty Dollars for the privilege of knowing the release date. That, Blizzard says, "will be announced in the coming weeks."

Gallery: StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty (box art)

Joystiq'Epic' StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardcollectors-editionmacmike-morhaimeretailrtsstarcraft-2starcraft-2-wings-of-libertyThu, 08 Apr 2010 14:18:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools: BlizzCon already sold out ... before tickets go on sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-blizzcon-already-sold-out-before-tickets-go-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-blizzcon-already-sold-out-before-tickets-go-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-blizzcon-already-sold-out-before-tickets-go-on/#comments In a surprise announcement this morning via IncGamers, Blizzard has revealed that tickets to the just-announced BlizzCon 2010 sold out earlier than ever before -- before the tickets even went on sale, in fact. Apparently, due to a high rate of calls on Blizzard's tech support line suffering from "3 - 4 hour wait times," the company released early tickets to some customers. "We didn't intend to sell all of them already, but I guess the vast, password-losing World of Warcraft community spread the word, and one thing led to another," CEO Mike Morhaime said.

He added that he's "looking forward to another great show, with some of our most passionate, patient, credit card-possessing fans," speaking from a recently purchased yacht, allegedly. You can check out the full press release right here, which you might have realized by this point is not legit.

JoystiqApril Fools: BlizzCon already sold out ... before tickets go on sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionapril-foolsapril-fools-2010blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2010mike-morhaimeworld-of-warcraftThu, 01 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Activision reshuffles execs in US, UK; layoffs result]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/report-activision-reshuffles-execs-in-us-uk-layoffs-result/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/report-activision-reshuffles-execs-in-us-uk-layoffs-result/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/report-activision-reshuffles-execs-in-us-uk-layoffs-result/#comments According to "internal memos" acquired by the LA Times, Activision has switched up more of its executive positions, in addition to the change in position for Thomas Tippl, who is currently co-serving CFO/CCO/COO (enough acronyms?). A representative for the company told the LA Times, "We realigned our structure to better reflect our slate and marketing opportunities and direct our resources against the largest, most profitable business segments," without directly confirming a claimed 15 layoffs in the US.

The report claims that, in an email from company head Bobby Kotick, Activision revealed that business head Mike Griffith will now serve as vice chairman and adviser to Kotick, while Thomas Tippl's new job is detailed as "the only executive reporting directly to Kotick" (and overseer of Blizzard head Mike Morhaime). Heading up licensed game properties will now supposedly be Dave Oxford, in addition to Maria Stripp taking over "all internally owned titles besides Call of Duty and Blizzard games" (CTO Steve Pearce and product head Steve Ackrich are temporarily overseeing the CoD franchise).

Further, MCV confirmed with Activision that the corporate reshuffling will result in changes in the publisher's UK division as well, though no specifics are available at this time. The site claims to have independently confirmed UK layoffs have already occurred, and we've reached out to Activision for clarification on both reports.

Source - Activision Blizzard quietly hits reset button [latimes.com]
Source - Activision UK to restructure [MCV]

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JoystiqReport: Activision reshuffles execs in US, UK; layoffs result originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbobby-kotickcall-of-dutycorporatedave-oxfordfinanciallayoffsmike-griffithmike-morhaimereportsteve-ackrichsteve-pearcethomas-tipplukusaWed, 31 Mar 2010 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision report lists World of Warcraft as a 'risk factor']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/activision-report-lists-world-of-warcraft-as-a-risk-factor/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/activision-report-lists-world-of-warcraft-as-a-risk-factor/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/activision-report-lists-world-of-warcraft-as-a-risk-factor/#comments If there's anything that all the chaos between Activision and Infinity Ward in the past 24 hours has taught us, it's that no one is safe and dry under Bobby Kotick's umbrella. And while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was one of Activision's biggest earners, that hasn't stopped the company from revamping the brand however it sees fit. So what about Activision's other big game, Blizzard's World of Warcraft? The same annual report released to the SEC yesterday that kicked off the Infinity Ward shakeup also mentions that Activision is worried about WoW becoming "obsolete," and that the regulatory issues in China could affect the entire company's bottom line.

So will we hear about Mike Morhaime being frogmarched off of the Blizzard campus? Not likely -- the fears about WoW are all in a section of the report labeled "Risk Factors," in which a company must disclose anything that could possibly go wrong with its financials in the future, just in case. In there, Activision worries about everything from credit card fraud to its ESRB ratings -- WoW is mentioned a lot because it makes up most of the revenue (in fact, one of the worries is that Activision depends on WoW too much), but these are all worst case scenario guesses. The report admits that Blizzard did decrease its net revenues last year, but then credits that to no new releases in 2009 and interrupted licensing fees from China. Assuming Blizzard releases both Starcraft II and Cataclysm as planned in 2010, the odds are low that Activision will raise the axe in that direction.

JoystiqActivision report lists World of Warcraft as a 'risk factor' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardcataclysmearnersinfinity-wardmike-morhaimereportrevenuesecstarcraft-iisubscriptionsworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 02 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm targeted for 2010 release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/23/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-targeted-for-2010-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/23/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-targeted-for-2010-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/23/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-targeted-for-2010-release/#comments
We know, we know -- 2010 is an entire year, and doesn't provide much information as to when we'll be perusing the ruined landscape of Azeroth when World of Warcraft's next expansion, Cataclysm, is released. Still, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the only piece of information yet to surface about the release schedule of the recently announced expansion, via a WoW.com interview with Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. Thus, here it is: It's targeted for a 2010 release.

Here's the two observations we can cull from that ambiguous launch announcement -- first, it's not coming out this year. Second, it's not coming out in two years. It's coming out somewhere between January 1 and December 31 of next year, it seems. That is, unless it takes Blizzard longer to develop than Morhaime initially thought, in which case, we'll hastily revoke our second observation.

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm targeted for 2010 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzcon-2009cataclysmexpansionmike-morhaimemmopcrelease-dateworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowSun, 23 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard 'reevaluates' BlizzCon space, announces ticket lottery]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/blizzard-reevaluates-blizzcon-space-announces-ticket-lottery/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/blizzard-reevaluates-blizzcon-space-announces-ticket-lottery/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/blizzard-reevaluates-blizzcon-space-announces-ticket-lottery/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

lottery
Blizzard president Mike Morhaime has issued a public apology on behalf of the company for the recent BlizzCon fiasco -- the "Wrath of the Ticke-Ting" -- which left thousands of F5ers empty-handed after two days of strenuous clicking. "As a result of this week's events, the excitement that many of you felt about the show has turned into dissatisfaction and disappointment," Morhaime writes in a statement posted on various Blizzard-operated sites. "Due to these circumstances, we've reevaluated our convention hall space and come up with some solutions that will allow us to offer 3,000 more tickets for sale."

We don't know where Blizzard plans to squeeze the additional load of freaks and geeks -- worst case scenario: dump some mobile buildings in the parking lot and load 'em with free diet soda and chips ... and dip -- but we do know that the only way to become one of the fabled "3,000" is to sharpen your Sword of Last Resort and spill some virgin blood upon the Alter of Actilizzard toss your name into a hat and hope it gets pulled. That's right, "To avoid the issues many of you faced this week, we'll be selling these 3,000 via a lottery," Morhaime explains (read: the servers still can't handle the force of 10 million clicks). Further details will be posted once Blizzard figures out how it's gonna work. Suggestions?

JoystiqBlizzard 'reevaluates' BlizzCon space, announces ticket lottery originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2008lotteryMacmike-morhaimePCThu, 14 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wrath of the Lich King coming Q4 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/wrath-of-the-lich-king-coming-q4-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/wrath-of-the-lich-king-coming-q4-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/wrath-of-the-lich-king-coming-q4-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After the beta announcement, we knew the hour of bewilderment was almost upon us. Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime announced in a conference call (via Shacknews) that the latest World of Warcraft expansion Wrath of the Lich King is coming this year between October or December. Morhaime actually said it was coming out this year, but "it's not coming out in the July to September quarter," which after hours of calculations left us certain of the Q4 2008 window. Brush up on your WotLK news care of WoW Insider.

[Via WoW Insider]

JoystiqWrath of the Lich King coming Q4 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentbreakingnewsMacmike-morhaimePCq408World-of-WarcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-Wrath-of-the-Lich-KingwotlkWoWWrath-of-the-Lich-KingThu, 31 Jul 2008 23:12:00 EST<![CDATA[The Activision Blizzard conference call]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/notes-from-the-activision-blizzard-conference/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/notes-from-the-activision-blizzard-conference/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/notes-from-the-activision-blizzard-conference/#commentsFiled under:

Following yesterday's big Activision Blizzard news, executives from Activision and Vivendi Games held an 8:30am conference call explaining the merger, the product of over a year of discussion between the two companies.

There are a few major takeaway points from the conference call, most of which involve Blizzard. Those worried that the merger could affect Blizzard's sterling reputation for quality -- and those still unconvinced despite Blizzard's FAQ on the topic yesterday -- will be pleased to know the company will operate as its own entity. The deference paid to Blizzard's properties throughout the call -- not to mention the new comapany's name itself -- serves as a testament to the value of Blizzard in the arrangement.

Will Blizzard make World of Warcraft for consoles? "There are no plans to release anything on the console side. Blizzard's focus is on the PC side. If we were to release anything on the console side, that would be managed by the Blizzard side of the business. At some point in the future, if it made sense to talk to the Activision side of the business about that, we would certainly do so. At this point, there are no plans to release any of the Blizzard franchises on the consoles," says Blizzard boss Mike Morhaime.

Continue reading The Activision Blizzard conference call

JoystiqThe Activision Blizzard conference call originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzardBobby-KotickBreakingNewsMike-MorhaimeVivendi-GamesMon, 03 Dec 2007 11:05:00 EST