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[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm infects 1.1 million in 48 hours]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-infects-1-1-million-in-48-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-infects-1-1-million-in-48-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-infects-1-1-million-in-48-hours/#comments StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, the second salvo in Blizzard Entertainment's three-pronged sequel to the beloved RTS, has managed to entice 1.1 million gamers in its first 48 hours. The 1.1 million figure accounts for sales across both retail and digital.

Predecessor StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty managed to sell 1.5 million copies worldwide in its first 48 hours. Both can't match Blizzard's launch of Diablo 3 last year, which moved 3.5 million copies in its first 24 hours and helped Activision Blizzard enjoy historical profits in 2012.

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm infects 1.1 million in 48 hours originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentpcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmThu, 21 Mar 2013 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm review: Zerg rushing towards resolution]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-review/#comments StarCraft 2 Heart of the Swarm review A zerg rush to the heartIn music theory, there's a series of notes called a tritone interval. (I'm a writer and a Rock Band player, not a musician, so bear with me, band members.) The tritone consists of three different whole tones: The first sets the stage, marks the spot on the musical scale that our ear can attune itself to. The second note is actually dissonant - it throws off the harmony, and introduces new elements so distasteful that the chord used to be called "The Devil in Music."

The third tone, however, finishes off the chord in exactly the right way, and brings resolution to all of the dissonance. Leonard Bernstein famously put the tritone to great use in the song "Maria" from West Side Story: "Ma-" is the beginning tone, "-ri-" shakes things up with some disharmony, and "-a" resolves the melody, justifying the lead couple's forbidden love.

Now, using that theory to talk about Blizzard's StarCraft 2 trilogy is a little unfair. The second campaign, Heart of the Swarm, isn't anywhere near "distasteful." But it does introduce plenty of new elements to the series, spinning off the RTS classic into places that Wings of Liberty never dared to go. And like that second note of a tritone, it makes sure to leave plenty of ambiguity and promise out there, making sure we're all ready for the big finale in Legacy of the Void.

Gallery: Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm

Continue reading StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm review: Zerg rushing towards resolution

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm review: Zerg rushing towards resolution originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfour-starsheart-of-the-swarmkerrigankerrigaynorlegacy-of-the-voidpcreviewstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmMon, 18 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm server start times]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-server-start-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-server-start-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-server-start-times/#comments
StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm launches tomorrow, and in the interest of its international fanbase Blizzard has provided a handy list of server activation times (i.e. when you can connect and start playing), broken down by region. You'll find the list after the break.

If you're playing StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty in preparation for the new expansion, you'll have to restart your game once Heart of the Swarm officially launches in your area, ensuring you'll have the very latest patch data upon starting. Changes in Heart of the Swarm includes a revamped replay system and ability to recover dropped games when playing online.

Continue reading StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm server start times

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm server start times originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardpcrelease-datestarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmMon, 11 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty for $18 on Newegg]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/get-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-for-18-on-newegg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/get-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-for-18-on-newegg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/get-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-for-18-on-newegg/#comments While Blizzard dropped the price of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty to $20 on Battle.net until March 12, Newegg managed to top that price with a deal of its own. By entering the code STW311 at checkout, players can snag the game for $17.99 on the retailer's site.

The extra $2 could be put toward the second part of the three-part RTS, StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, which is scheduled to launch March 12.

JoystiqGet StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty for $18 on Newegg originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentpcsaleStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertySun, 10 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard drops StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty to $20 until March 12]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/blizzard-drops-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-to-20-until-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/blizzard-drops-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-to-20-until-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/blizzard-drops-starcraft-2-wings-of-liberty-to-20-until-march/#comments Blizzard is selling the first part of its three-pronged assault of a sequel, StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, for half-off until March 12. You can get the game through Battle.net right now for $20.

Wings of Liberty focuses on the Terran faction (see: future humans) on the single-player campaign, saddled on the back of the series' popular multiplayer component. The second wave of the three-part RTS sequel is due on March 12, StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm. A recent multiplayer beta for Heart of the Swarm concluded on March 1, allowing those who pre-ordered and opted in a taste of the new multiplayer changes.

JoystiqBlizzard drops StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty to $20 until March 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmacpcStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-Libertystarcraft-ii-wings-of-libertyMon, 04 Mar 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm public beta ends March 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-public-beta-ends-march-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-public-beta-ends-march-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-public-beta-ends-march-1/#comments If you've been enjoying the StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm public beta, then we're afraid we've got some bad news - it all comes to an end on March 1. Blizzard has announced the end of the open beta, which concludes just under two weeks prior to the launch of StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm on March 12.

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm is the second volley in Blizzard's planned three-game delivery for the sequel to its highly-regarded real-time strategy series. We were able to spend some time with Heart of the Swarm last month, feel free to read our impressions - or, if you just want something pretty to look at, check out the game's introductory cinematic.

JoystiqStarcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm public beta ends March 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbetablizzarddemomacpcpublic-betastarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmMon, 11 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Project Blackstone is a Heart of the Swarm viral campaign]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/blizzards-project-blackstone-is-a-heart-of-the-swarm-viral-camp/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/blizzards-project-blackstone-is-a-heart-of-the-swarm-viral-camp/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/blizzards-project-blackstone-is-a-heart-of-the-swarm-viral-camp/#comments Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm teaser site crackedBlizzard Entertainment registered a site called ProjectBlackstone.com late last year, and fans wondered if maybe it might be related to the mysterious upcoming Blizzard project code-named Titan. But no such luck, it seems: The domain went live this week and, soon after that, some crafty Redditors found the password. (It's "Y7_$0>0k_3<$m," if you want to try it yourself). The whole campaign has been revealed as a Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm tie-in.

Opening the site up reveals emails between various Terran characters talking about experimenting on Zerg lifeforms and presumably we'll see updates in the future that will fill out the story heading into the new game. Heart of the Swarm, the second part of the trilogy that Blizzard's Starcraft 2 has become, is due out on March 12.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

JoystiqBlizzard's Project Blackstone is a Heart of the Swarm viral campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackstoneblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcampaignheart-of-the-swarmpcproject-blackstonesitestarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmviralThu, 07 Feb 2013 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm cinematic intro lives up to Blizzard's pedigree]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-cinematic-intro-lives-up-to-bliz/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-cinematic-intro-lives-up-to-bliz/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-cinematic-intro-lives-up-to-bliz/#comments
Blizzard does like to put on a big show with its opening cinematics, and this one for StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm is no exception. The expansion arrives on March 12, but in the meantime you can check out Mike Schramm's recent hands-on preview.

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm cinematic intro lives up to Blizzard's pedigree originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcinematicmacpcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmTue, 22 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mission to evolve StarCraft 2 with 'Heart of the Swarm']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/mission-to-evolve-starcraft-2-with-heart-of-the-swarm/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/mission-to-evolve-starcraft-2-with-heart-of-the-swarm/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/mission-to-evolve-starcraft-2-with-heart-of-the-swarm/#comments Mission to evolve Starcraft 2 for Heart of the SwarmIt was nearly five years ago now that we heard Starcraft 2 wouldn't be one game, but three: The long awaited sequel would become a trilogy, cemented into a three-year release schedule, with each iteration following a new race in the series. Though Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty arrived to critical and commercial acclaim in the summer of 2010, Blizzard is only now making its trilogy concept a reality. Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm is almost done, and set to be released this March.

Blizzard showed off the first three missions of Heart of the Swarm this past week (and the studio has been running multiplayer beta additions and features for quite some time), and from our experience it's becoming clear the second release in this trilogy isn't a simple expansion pack. With the Zerg-focused Heart of the Swarm, the Irvine-based company has crafted something new within the renowned Starcraft tradition; a game intensely focused on the Zerg, their units and abilities, and of course the story of their Queen, Kerrigan.

Gallery: Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm

Continue reading Mission to evolve StarCraft 2 with 'Heart of the Swarm'

JoystiqMission to evolve StarCraft 2 with 'Heart of the Swarm' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentdustin-browderkerriganladdermacpcstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmTue, 22 Jan 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm set for March 12, says Battle.net [update: confirmed]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/starcraft-heart-of-the-swarm-battle-net-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/starcraft-heart-of-the-swarm-battle-net-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/starcraft-heart-of-the-swarm-battle-net-date/#comments Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm set for March 12, says BattlenetStarCraft 2 expansion Heart of the Swarm deploys on March 12, 2013, according to a listing on Battle.net. There isn't an official announcement yet, but the digital purchase page for StarCraft 2 indicates Heart of the Swarm will be "available for play" on said date. The second expansion, combined with StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, is currently priced $59.99.

During Activision's earnings call last week, Blizzard head Mike Morhaime said his studio was "working hard towards a first half 2013 launch" for Heart of the Swarm. This release date matches up, but it's surprising to see so soon after the reveal of a vague timeframe.

Update: Blizzard confirm Heart of the Swarm arrives in stores and online on March 12, 2013, released individually at an expected price of $39.99. The game will also be available in Digital Deluxe and Collector's Edition versions, priced at $59.99 and $79.99 respectively.

The Digital Deluxe version includes a Torrasque look for Ultralisks, new Battle.net decals and portraits, a Baneling pet for World of Warcraft, and a new sigil for Diablo 3 along with zerg wings for your character. The Collector's Edition includes all of what's in the Digital Deluxe version, and in addition a behind-the-scenes DVD/Blu-Ray, unique soundtrack, Heart of the Swarm hard-cover art book, and 'Zerg Rush' mousepad.

Continue reading StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm set for March 12, says Battle.net [update: confirmed]

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm set for March 12, says Battle.net [update: confirmed] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbattle.netblizzardmacpcrelease-datestarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmTue, 13 Nov 2012 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2 beta getting multiplayer XP progression system]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/starcraft-2-beta-getting-multiplayer-xp-progression-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/starcraft-2-beta-getting-multiplayer-xp-progression-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/starcraft-2-beta-getting-multiplayer-xp-progression-system/#comments StarCraft 2 beta getting multiplayer XP progression systemThe StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm beta is still ongoing, and Blizzard has posted a preview of a new leveling feature coming soon to the game-in-progress.

Blizzard's adding a progression system to the multiplayer mode, in which players will earn experience, on a race-by-race basis, as they play in matchmaking and custom games. Gaining XP for each of the various factions will unlock special portraits and decals for player profiles.

Blizzard has plans for XP bonuses as well, either for specific awards like your first win of the day, or for more general happenings like XP bonus weekends and other special events. The leveling system is being added to the beta in the next patch (and will likely be reset a few times during testing), and will eventually be available in Heart of the Swarm when it's released.

JoystiqStarCraft 2 beta getting multiplayer XP progression system originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betablizzardblizzard-entertainmentmultiplayerpcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmxpThu, 25 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard looking at F2P for StarCraft 2 multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/blizzard-looking-at-f2p-for-starcraft-2-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/blizzard-looking-at-f2p-for-starcraft-2-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/blizzard-looking-at-f2p-for-starcraft-2-multiplayer/#comments Blizzard is "looking at free-to-play as an option" for the game's multiplayer mode, StarCraft 2 Lead Designer Dustin Browder said at the Valencia eSports Congress panel.

The free-to-play model brought its share of concerns for Browder as well. "We don't know how we would monetize it," he said. "While it might be good fun for me to play against someone with only half the units available to them, that's not going to be an enjoyable experience for them."

Blizzard began rolling out beta invites for StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm earlier this month.

JoystiqBlizzard looking at F2P for StarCraft 2 multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardfree-to-playmacpcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmstarcraft-iiSun, 23 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm beta starts sticking out feelers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-beta-starts-sticking-out-feelers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-beta-starts-sticking-out-feelers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-beta-starts-sticking-out-feelers/#comments Blizzard is gradually rolling out the beta for StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, starting with a select few from the pro-gaming and shoutcasting communities, Arcade contest winners and games press. And because there is no NDA with this latest beta test, participants can stream and capture footage as they please. Heck, look at all the videos that are already live on YouTube.

Sure, right now the number of participants is low but, like all Blizzard betas, more players will be added gradually. If you want in on the Heart of the Swarm beta, you'll need to first opt in to the beta through your Battle.net account, and then exercise patience - this is perhaps the most crucial step. "Signing up from a Battle.net account that's actively playing StarCraft 2 will help your chances of being selected," Blizzard says.

No exact beta period has been determined and, if you do get in, you'll only be able to sample the multiplayer side of Heart of the Swarm, compatible with both PC and Mac. Blizzard will open up the beta to more people through giveaways and fansite promotions eventually, so we'll let you know if more (and faster) opportunities become available.

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm beta starts sticking out feelers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbetablizzardmacpcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmWed, 05 Sep 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: StarCraft 2's 'Arcade' update now live]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/psa-starcraft-2s-arcade-update-now-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/psa-starcraft-2s-arcade-update-now-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/psa-starcraft-2s-arcade-update-now-live/#comments PSA StarCraft 2's 'Arcade' update now liveStarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty has been patched to version 1.5.0 today, the big "Arcade" update that adds new UI elements and functionality to the eSports poster child.

Basically there are now two big buttons on the front screen. Hiding behind the "Arcade" button is a list of custom game modes that lets users quickly rate and find specific custom matches with a rotating carousel of choices always on offer. The "StarCraft 2" button hides all of the traditional multiplayer stuff, the single-player campaign, leaderboards and the like.

The other big addition in this update is a new pipeline for speedy patching. This new data streamer will allow the game to download patch data during play, which Blizzard hopes will expedite wait times in the future. The full patch notes can be found through the source link below.

JoystiqPSA: StarCraft 2's 'Arcade' update now live originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.5.01.5.0-updateactivisionarcade-updateblizzardpatchpcStarcraft-2updateWed, 01 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 beta servers go down for good on May 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/diablo-3-beta-servers-go-down-for-good-on-may-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/diablo-3-beta-servers-go-down-for-good-on-may-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/diablo-3-beta-servers-go-down-for-good-on-may-1/#comments ImageThe Diablo 3 beta servers, running on and off for testing since last September, are coming down for good on May 1. At that point, all of the characters currently in the game will disappear forever. You'll be able to being the full quest anew when when Diablo 3 launches on May 15.

The forums for the game are also being locked down. To post there after May 1, you'll need to either have pre-purchased Diablo 3, or have an active StarCraft 2 or World of Warcraft account. So, if you have complaints about Diablo 3 but don't meet that criteria, you'll have to go, oh, you know, anywhere else on the internet.

JoystiqDiablo 3 beta servers go down for good on May 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-serversblizzardDiablo-3forumsofflinepcstarcraft-2world-of-warcraftTue, 17 Apr 2012 18:00:00 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[Blizzard brings Balance and Battletags to Battle.net]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/blizzard-brings-balance-and-battletags-to-battle-net/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/blizzard-brings-balance-and-battletags-to-battle-net/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/blizzard-brings-balance-and-battletags-to-battle-net/#comments Blizzard Entertainment has been steadily updating the Battle.net online multiplayer service recently, presumably in anticipation of Diablo 3's release next year. Last week, the company introduced what it's calling the Battle.net Balance, a currency total stored on its servers that players can use to pay for Blizzard items -- from a World of Warcraft subscription to in-game items and plushies in the company store. This is where funds not translated directly into cash will go from the real money auction house in Diablo 3, whenever it arrives.

Today, Blizzard introduced the BattleTag system, which is a specific public username that will identify players publicly on Battle.net services (similar to Xbox Live's Gamertag name). This is likely the compromise Blizzard came up with over its controversial Real ID service, which was originally meant to utilize real player names.

BattleTags are not unique, but players will have a number in their public profiles that will let you identify just which "touchFuzzygetDizzy" you're talking to. BattleTags will appear first in the Diablo 3 beta, and get used in all of Blizzard's games and services sometime after that.

JoystiqBlizzard brings Balance and Battletags to Battle.net originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-netbattle-net-battletagbattletagblizzardblizzard-entertainmentDiablo-3pcreal-idreal-moneystarcraft-2world-of-warcraftFri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2 for $30 this weekend from Blizzard Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/starcraft-2-for-30-this-weekend-from-blizzard-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/starcraft-2-for-30-this-weekend-from-blizzard-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/starcraft-2-for-30-this-weekend-from-blizzard-store/#comments PoultryCraft Imagine, if you will: Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing, more gravy and a mountain of dead Zerg. This could be your Thanksgiving weekend if you pick up StarCraft 2, which is on sale for $30 until Monday at the Blizzard Store. Don't forget the gravy (or the Goliaths).

Continue reading StarCraft 2 for $30 this weekend from Blizzard Store

JoystiqStarCraft 2 for $30 this weekend from Blizzard Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macpcStarcraft-2starcraft-ii-wings-of-libertyWed, 23 Nov 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2 Mega Block Battlecruiser assembled in time-lapse]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/starcraft-2-mega-block-battlecruiser-assembled-in-time-lapse/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/starcraft-2-mega-block-battlecruiser-assembled-in-time-lapse/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/starcraft-2-mega-block-battlecruiser-assembled-in-time-lapse/#comments
Check out this one minute and forty second time-lapse of a Mega Blocks StarCraft 2 Battlecruiser picked up at Blizzcon 2011, being put together over six and half hours. In the end, we're treated to the sound that lets us know it's ready for action.

JoystiqStarCraft 2 Mega Block Battlecruiser assembled in time-lapse originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlecruiserblizzcon-2011mega-blocksStarcraft-2time-lapseTue, 22 Nov 2011 02:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch the MLG Providence National Championships live, right here on Joystiq!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/watch-the-mlg-providence-national-championships-live-right-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/watch-the-mlg-providence-national-championships-live-right-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/watch-the-mlg-providence-national-championships-live-right-here/#comments A roaring crowd, concession-stand popcorn and panicked cries for additional pylons can only mean one thing: It's pro-gaming season. The sound of furiously clicking mice can be heard for miles around in Providence, Rhode Island, where Major League Gaming's Pro Circuit National Championships are happening right now.

The greatest Starcraft 2 players from around the world have assembled and are putting on one hell of a show, which you can enjoy irrespective of your proximity to The Ocean State thanks to the embedded stream above. Jump past the break for the day's complete schedule, and peep the tournament bracket here.

Continue reading Watch the MLG Providence National Championships live, right here on Joystiq!

JoystiqWatch the MLG Providence National Championships live, right here on Joystiq! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MLGMLG-2011mlg-pro-circuitmlg-providenceprovidencestarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-Libertystarcraft-iiSun, 20 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How Blizzard makes the StarCraft 2 races so iconic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/how-blizzard-makes-the-starcraft-2-races-so-iconic/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/how-blizzard-makes-the-starcraft-2-races-so-iconic/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/how-blizzard-makes-the-starcraft-2-races-so-iconic/#comments The StarCraft 2 preview for Heart of the Swarm on display at BlizzCon 2011 last week was pretty much the same thing we saw a few months ago on the Blizzard campus. Fun as it was, we instead used our short time talking with with Blizzard's lead art director Samwise Dider to have him let us in on just how Blizzard is able to make StarCraft's three races so darn iconic.

His answer was pretty simple. "Protoss," he says, "they're basically elliptical and circular. Terran are basically angular and square, and Zerg are very erratic and organic and spiky." Sounds plain enough. But when one of the game's new units (specifically the Protoss' Tempest, a strong capital ship with some heavy anti-zerg ability) showed up on the screen during the Opening Ceremony, players immediately knew the 'toss were getting a new toy. Is it as easy as shapes?

"With Protoss," says Didier, "as long as you have a few of the basic things; big golden arcs and sweeping sort of angelic-looking wings and surfaces, you can make almost anything into Protoss. With Terran, they're all about the clunkiness, boxes, utilitarian. You take em out of the box, they're ready to go."

And the Zerg? They're "just a gumbo of teeth and snot and bile," according to Didier. "We wrap them in the movement of a snake or a spider or a roach, there's your Zerg stuff." Boiling these races down into their elements like that is just another reason why this company, and its games, are so incredibly popular. "It's very easy to tell these races apart, because they are so diametrically opposed," Didier concludes, before deconstructing the series completely: "Gold, gray, brown."

Gallery: StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm (10/21/11)

JoystiqHow Blizzard makes the StarCraft 2 races so iconic originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artboxesdesignpcprotosssamwise-didierstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmterranzergTue, 25 Oct 2011 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard to release six 'proven' properties over next three years]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/blizzard-to-release-six-proven-properties-over-next-three-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/blizzard-to-release-six-proven-properties-over-next-three-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/blizzard-to-release-six-proven-properties-over-next-three-year/#comments Blizzard will release six "proven property" titles over the coming three years, Activision Blizzard COO Thomas Tippl said at the Citi 2011 Technology Conference. Tippl named five of these six expected releases: Two World of Warcraft expansion packs, two StarCraft 2 titles and Diablo 3. Tippl also pinned a Diablo 3 expansion as the possible sixth title. Blizzard said it is immediately focused on updates for Cataclysm, releasing Diablo 3 and finishing StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm.

It would satisfy our OCD if these six games would release two-a-year at six-month intervals for three years, and it would satisfy our ADHD if all six titles dropped on the same day, but Tippl didn't provide any more specific dates. Titan, the mysterious next-gen MMO from Blizzard, wasn't mentioned, but it's not a "proven" property and could still launch in its rumored timeframe of late 2013.

JoystiqBlizzard to release six 'proven' properties over next three years originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzarddiablo-3pcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmtitanWorld-of-WarcraftSat, 10 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Major League Gaming's Raleigh Championship Sunday, live on Joystiq!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/watch-major-league-gamings-raleigh-championship-sunday-live-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/watch-major-league-gamings-raleigh-championship-sunday-live-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/watch-major-league-gamings-raleigh-championship-sunday-live-on/#comments
Smell that? That gentle, wafting scent in the breeze? That unique blend of concession-stand popcorn, USB and pwn? It's a specific, enticing fragrance that can only mean one thing: It's time for Major League Gaming finals, and you can watch it all live on Joystiq!

All day today, teams from around the globe will be competing for thousands of dollars in prizes across 4 games: Starcraft 2, Halo: Reach, Black Ops, and making its MLG debut, League of Legends. It's an exciting day for pro-gaming, so strap on your beer hat and big foam finger and head on through for the day's full schedule.

Continue reading Watch Major League Gaming's Raleigh Championship Sunday, live on Joystiq!

JoystiqWatch Major League Gaming's Raleigh Championship Sunday, live on Joystiq! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionblack-opsBlizzardBungiecall-of-duty-black-opshalo-reachleague-of-legendslivemajor-league-gamingmicrosoftMLGpcplaystationps3riot-gamesstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyxboxSun, 28 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: Positive correlation between piracy and game review scores]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/study-positive-correlation-between-piracy-and-game-review-score/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/study-positive-correlation-between-piracy-and-game-review-score/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/study-positive-correlation-between-piracy-and-game-review-score/#comments Pirates may be dirty, pillaging fiends, but they have high standards, according to a study from Copenhagen Business School and University of Waterloo. The study tracked 173 new games on BitTorrent over a three-month release period, finding 127 of these were downloaded by 12.7 million unique peers, and that a torrent's popularity was directly correlated to its review scores. The 10 most-downloaded games comprised over 5.3 million downloads, or 42 percent of the 127 pirated games.

Fallout: New Vegas had the most downloads (962,793) and an average review score of 83.7, followed by Darksiders (656,296) with a review score of 82.7. Tron: Evolution had the lowest score of the top 10 at 59.5, yet came in fifth place (496,349). StarCraft 2 had the highest review score at 89.5 and landed in seventh place (420,138). Review scores can't trump a title's notoriety, reputation or core fanbase, but researchers found "Metacritic Scores explain 10% of the variance in the unique peers per game on BitTorrent." In other words, the only vessel that these pirates are sailing on is a statistically positive relationship.

JoystiqStudy: Positive correlation between piracy and game review scores originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bittorrentDarksidersDarksiders-Wrath-of-WarFallout-New-Vegaspcpiracy-researchPiratesStarcraft-2Tron-EvolutionSat, 06 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA['StarCraft 2: Starter Edition' replaces Wings of Liberty demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/starcraft-2-starter-edition-replaces-wings-of-liberty-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/starcraft-2-starter-edition-replaces-wings-of-liberty-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/starcraft-2-starter-edition-replaces-wings-of-liberty-demo/#comments The StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty demo has been replaced by StarCraft 2: Starter Edition. The new version allows players to play four levels of the campaign, the first two challenges, access the terran race in custom games and single-player vs. AI, and play four of the custom maps.

All campaign progress and achievements are saved to the player's Battle.net account, so they can pick up from right where they left off, if they decide to buy the full game. Already have a Battle.net account? You'll find the StarCraft 2: Starter Edition in Account Management under "Your Game Accounts." Who says drug dealers don't do house calls and make it easy to get hooked up anymore?

Joystiq'StarCraft 2: Starter Edition' replaces Wings of Liberty demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardmacpcStarcraft-2StarCraft-2-Starter-EditionStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyStarcraft-ii-Wings-of-LibertyWed, 03 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/#comments
Strap on your beer-hats and huge foam fingers, e-sports fans, because Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday is under way, and you can catch all the fragging, pylon-constructing action right here on Joystiq. Championship matches for Starcraft 2, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops will take place all day long on 4 different streams, so make sure you've got enough overpriced concession-stand munchies to last you a while.

Head on through for the day's full schedule, and be sure to let us know how you feel about competitive gaming coverage on Joystiq, either in the comments or in the poll. This sort of post is a new jam for us, and if you like it, we'll do more!

Continue reading Watch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq

JoystiqWatch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anaheimcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-opschampionship-sundaycompetitive-gaminghalohalo-reachlive-streamlive-streamingmajor-league-gamingmicrosoftMLGpcplaystationpro-gamingps3starcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyxboxSun, 31 Jul 2011 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/#comments Blizzard has shared the plan for two big e-sports events at BlizzCon in Anaheim, CA, and it looks like there's going to be a full plate of noobs, ownage and ggs yet again this year. Not only will the Global Battle.net Invitational showcase some of the best StarCraft 2 players from Blizzard's online multiplayer service, but the 2011 Global StarCraft League Final matches will be held at the same event, pitting the best of the best at the game against each other.

Those are just the two StarCraft 2 events -- Blizzard traditionally also holds contests and tournaments for World of Warcraft arena matches and the World of Warcraft TCG at BlizzCon, and though we haven't seen an official announcement yet, it's possible we'll see some Warcraft 3 or even Diablo 3 e-sports play as well. Outside of competitive play, Blizzard usually also offers new content for attendees to play through, so Diablo 3 specifically, plus any other unannounced games, may be playable too.

Tickets for the October 21-22 event are sold out, but the tournament play will likely be streamed online through "virtual tickets" later on this year.

Continue reading BlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more

JoystiqBlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-netblizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011competitione-sportsesportsfinalsglobal-starcraft-leaguepcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmtournamentWed, 13 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard Dota still on the way, has undergone 'some massive overhauls']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/blizzard-dota-still-on-the-way-has-undergone-some-massive-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/blizzard-dota-still-on-the-way-has-undergone-some-massive-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/blizzard-dota-still-on-the-way-has-undergone-some-massive-over/#comments Blizzard Dota, the Defense of the Ancients-style official mod that was shown off at last year's BlizzCon, is still a work in progress, according to lead producer Chris Sigaty. The other three mods shown last year were released a little while ago to the community, but the Dota mod, which pits all kinds of Blizzard franchise characters up against each other in a real-time battle, needed a little extra work, apparently.

"We basically put it back up in the shop and did some massive overhauls to some things, which I'm not going to go into specific detail about," Sigaty told Joystiq at a press event last week. "But yeah, we are working on Blizzard Dota, and we do intend to launch it at or around the time of Heart of the Swarm, but the official details will be online later."

Will the mod eventually require the upcoming Heart of the Swarm expansion to play? Sigaty's got nothing yet: "We're not even talking about the business level decision of it at this point." But rest assured that, somewhere on Blizzard's Irvine, CA campus, there are still developers fighting over who'd win in a fight, Thrall, Diablo, or Tychus Findlay.

JoystiqBlizzard Dota still on the way, has undergone 'some massive overhauls' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 May 2011 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-dotachris-sigatydotamodsofficialpcStarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmstarcraft-2-wings-of-libertyTue, 31 May 2011 03:02:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm preview: Kerrigan, again]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-preview-kerrigan-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-preview-kerrigan-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-preview-kerrigan-again/#comments When Blizzard announced that StarCraft 2 would be split into three different games years ago, there was quite a bit of weeping and gnashing of teeth -- lots of complaining that the new corporate entity of Activision Blizzard was triple-dipping our wallets. But time heals all wounds and in this case, the great reviews of the full-featured first title didn't hurt either.

So it may come as something of a surprise to be reminded that as much fun as StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty was, you've got two more campaigns coming your way. At a recent press event inside Blizzard HQ in Irvine, California, we got to take a look at two single-player missions from Heart of the Swarm, the first expansion pack-priced followup, focused on the popular Zerg race.

One note of warning before we begin: There are story elements revealed in these missions that will sorta, kinda spoil the plot of Wings of Liberty if you haven't finished it yet. If you aren't done with Jim Raynor's Terran campaign, play that and then come back. Otherwise, feel free to read on.

Gallery: StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm (5/31/2011)

Continue reading StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm preview: Kerrigan, again

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm preview: Kerrigan, again originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 May 2011 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrian-kindreganchris-sigatyexpansionkaldirpcprotossstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmstarcraft-2-wings-of-libertyzergTue, 31 May 2011 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm teaser shoots its way onto the Internet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/28/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-teaser-shoots-its-way-onto-the-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/28/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-teaser-shoots-its-way-onto-the-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/28/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-teaser-shoots-its-way-onto-the-i/#comments We're not sure what the original distribution plan for the 45-second teaser for Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm was, but we're pretty sure it wasn't "Let it leak onto every video site on the Internet." Regardless, we're glad it's here -- and after watching it below, we wager you will be, too.

Continue reading StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm teaser shoots its way onto the Internet

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm teaser shoots its way onto the Internet originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 May 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardpcstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmSat, 28 May 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2 headlines game-related Lightning Deals on Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/starcraft-2-headlines-game-related-lightning-deals-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/starcraft-2-headlines-game-related-lightning-deals-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/starcraft-2-headlines-game-related-lightning-deals-on-amazon/#comments It's time once again to save on a seemingly random selection of nine games -- the Amazon Gold Box is loaded with game deals today. The Deal of the Day is Starcraft 2 for $39.99, but if that's not the craft you're after, you can also pick up the World of Warcraft Battle Chest right now (until 11AM EST, at least) for $18.

Hints for upcoming deals suggest that savings for Dragon Age and Kingdom Hearts games are on the way, along with Bulletstorm. Find the full schedule, with hints, after the break.

Continue reading StarCraft 2 headlines game-related Lightning Deals on Amazon

JoystiqStarCraft 2 headlines game-related Lightning Deals on Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbulletstormdeal-of-the-daydragon-agegold-boxkingdom-heartspcplaystationps3Starcraft-2world-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-battle-chestTue, 19 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzcon 2011 tickets on sale (briefly) in May]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/blizzcon-2011-tickets/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/blizzcon-2011-tickets/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/blizzcon-2011-tickets/#comments Start working out your index finger now, you've only got until May 21 to get into top clicking shape and secure your tickets to the Nerd-vana that is Blizzcon 2011. But there are two bits of good news for slow-pokes: (1) A second swath of passes will go on sale on May 25 and (2) Blizzard has upped prices by $25 to $175. That should knock out some your penny-pinching competitors, right?

If you want a start with either the May 21 or 25 batches, start refreshing Blizzcon.com feverishly at around 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. PST, respectively. You'll also want to make sure you can make it to Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on Oct. 21 and October 22, otherwise, what was the point?

If all else fails, you could wait till May 28 and pay $500 to gain entry to an exclusive Blizzard charity dinner and the convention. What would the dinner conversation be like with people who have that kind of cash to drop on Blizzcon? We've got no guesses, but suffice to say we'd love to be a Darkmist Silkspinner on that wall.

JoystiqBlizzcon 2011 tickets on sale (briefly) in May originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011conventionsstarcraft-2the-lost-vikingsworld-of-warcraftWed, 13 Apr 2011 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard releases three official StarCraft 2 mods]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/blizzard-releases-three-official-starcraft-2-mods/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/blizzard-releases-three-official-starcraft-2-mods/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/blizzard-releases-three-official-starcraft-2-mods/#comments Blizzard has finally released three of the four official StarCraft 2 mods it announced at BlizzCon last year -- though, the one that didn't make the cut might surprise you. Players can now download Aiur Chef, which might possibly be the world's first cooking/RTS title; Starjeweled, a gem-swapping puzzler with a few light strategy elements thrown in for good measure; and Left 2 Die, in which players build up their base and train units to defend it when hordes of infected Terran come to play at night.

That leaves poor little Blizzard Dota standing alone out in the cold, with no indication of when it might get an official release. Don't worry, little guy -- we don't think the multiplayer online battle arena genre's gonna get stale anytime soon.

JoystiqBlizzard releases three official StarCraft 2 mods originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiur-chefblizzardblizzard-dotaleft-2-diemodpcrtsStarcraft-2starjeweledThu, 07 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools: Blizzard nails it, as always]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/april-fools-blizzard-nails-it-as-always/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/april-fools-blizzard-nails-it-as-always/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/april-fools-blizzard-nails-it-as-always/#comments For like, the hundredth year running, Blizzard has kicked off this most dishonest of days with an overwhelming salvo of fake additions to its current and pending titles. Take, for instance, the Diablo 3 "Horadic Cube" app, which possesses the power to combine your phone's applications into super applications. Or how about the new Kinect functionality for StarCraft 2? Not since Dance Central: The Krump Imperative have we seen such feverish flailing.

The best of the bunch is clearly the World of Warcraft update, which not only adds a new, pitch-black dungeon, but also a "Dungeon Helper" named Crabby, who assists you in navigating the game's instances. Go get acquainted with your new crustacean cohort -- but we wouldn't suggest letting Clippy find out. That dude's jealous as all get-out.

JoystiqApril Fools: Blizzard nails it, as always originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-foolsapril-fools-2011blizzarddiablo-3pcstarcraft-2World-of-WarcraftWoWFri, 01 Apr 2011 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2 open beta begins in China on March 29]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/starcraft-2-open-beta-begins-in-china-on-march-29/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/starcraft-2-open-beta-begins-in-china-on-march-29/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/starcraft-2-open-beta-begins-in-china-on-march-29/#comments Just as we experienced here in the United States, mainland China is about to undergo a beta testing period for StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty. Ever since striking a deal back in 2008, Blizzard and NetEase have been working to bring the game to the country -- on March 29, that deal will come to fruition.

Anxious gamers in the region can pre-load the beta client -- provided they have a Battle.net account or at least a willingness to register -- which will grant access to all of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty's multiplayer modes. Upon the conclusion of the unspecified beta period, Blizzard and NetEase will launch the game commercially, allowing players to buy 30-day access passes to the game for a suggested price of RMB 20 ($3.04). It's in line with a pricing structure that Blizzard outlined a year ago.

To pre-load the Chinese beta client, head on over to Blizzard's site.

JoystiqStarCraft 2 open beta begins in China on March 29 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betablizzardchinaneteaseopen-betapcStarcraft-2Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: StarCraft 2 'marketplace' still coming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/blizzard-starcraft-2-marketplace-still-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/blizzard-starcraft-2-marketplace-still-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/blizzard-starcraft-2-marketplace-still-coming/#comments During BlizzCon 2009, Blizzard revealed plans to put a shopping interface inside StarCraft 2, which would allow players to purchase user-created maps, with revenue shared between Blizzard and the creator. The game came out in July 2010, sans marketplace, and that feature is still missing.

During an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Blizzard's Frank Pearce asserted that the feature is still on the way. "But it's not necessarily something we have a specific timeline for," he said, "which is unfortunate because one of the things that we've found is, especially from our learnings from World of WarCraft, is that these audiences that play these games are very, very passionate and want to experience lots and lots of content. With the StarCraft 2 client and the StarCraft 2 map editor and the Battle.net platform, it creates an opportunity for the community to serve itself with content, if the mechanisms are there."

To be fair, if it did have a timeline, it would be a Blizzard timeline, and therefore could only be specific to the year. Approximately.

JoystiqBlizzard: StarCraft 2 'marketplace' still coming originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardfrank-pearcemarketplacepcstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyUGCuser-created-contentThu, 17 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA['World of StarCraft' mod reborn as 'StarCraft Universe']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/world-of-starcraft-mod-reborn-as-starcraft-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/world-of-starcraft-mod-reborn-as-starcraft-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/world-of-starcraft-mod-reborn-as-starcraft-universe/#comments Ryan Winzen's dream of using the StarCraft 2 mod tools to create his own full-fledged MMORPG wasn't crushed by Blizzard -- rather, it was only renamed. Winzen's "World of StarCraft" mod, which saw its video demos pulled from YouTube by Blizzard (citing copyright violations), is now known by a much less infringing title: "StarCraft Universe." (We just hope the Lego Universe folks don't take umbrage with the new moniker. Yeesh.)

It seems the modders that are working on StarCraft Universe with Winzen have also adopted a much more realistic set of goals to go along with the new name. For instance, they're adhering to the 12-player cap that's applied to all other player-made StarCraft 2 mods. We guess that makes it just a "MORPG," now -- though that also sounds like the name of some kind of exotic alien species. But hey, that's kind of appropriate too!

Joystiq'World of StarCraft' mod reborn as 'StarCraft Universe' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmodpcStarcraft-2starcraft-universeworld-of-starcraftThu, 10 Feb 2011 19:15:00 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[Get your BlizzCon on Oct. 21-22]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/get-your-blizzcon-on-oct-21-22/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/get-your-blizzcon-on-oct-21-22/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/get-your-blizzcon-on-oct-21-22/#commentsBlizzard has announced the dates for this year's BlizzCon, the annual gathering of fans who want to celebrate the fact that they got tickets to BlizzCon (and also celebrate Blizzard games). The event will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center on October 21 and 22.

Blizzard hasn't announced any specific content yet, so we don't know who will fulfill the Ozzy or Tenacious D role. However, chances are you know enough about your relationship with Diablo, Starcraft, and World of Warcraft to know right now whether or not you want to go.

JoystiqGet your BlizzCon on Oct. 21-22 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzcon-2011Diablo-3pcstarcraft-2world-of-warcraftMon, 07 Feb 2011 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2 now testing new ladder maps, Blizzard mods]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/05/starcraft-2-now-testing-new-ladder-maps-blizzard-mods/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/05/starcraft-2-now-testing-new-ladder-maps-blizzard-mods/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/05/starcraft-2-now-testing-new-ladder-maps-blizzard-mods/#comments Blizzard has updated the Public Test Region for StarCraft 2 and, along with a few bug fixes (they should call them Zerg fixes, get it?), there are some new ladder maps to play around with. Test server players also have access to the mods announced at BlizzCon last year, which include the StarJeweled minigame, Aiur Chef and the Blizzard DotA mod that players are looking forward to. Anyone can download and install the test server, and of course when testing is done, the new maps will all make their way out to the live servers as well.

JoystiqStarCraft 2 now testing new ladder maps, Blizzard mods originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betablizzardblizzard-dotablizzard-entertainmentladdermapspcStarcraft-2Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:15:00 EST