Earlier this week, Blizzard released a patch for Warcraft 3, known to some of you as "the game before World of Warcraft" and the rest as "the client for playing Defense of the Ancients." Patch 1.22a provides balance changes for the units, fixes some technical issues and includes four new maps. You can update the game by either logging onto Battle.net or by downloading the patches manually (available from BigDownload).

PC (1.22a requires patch 1.21b for installation)

• 1.21b for W3
  
• 1.21b for W3: The Frozen Throne
• 1.22a for W3
• 1.22a for W3:TFT
  

Mac (1.21b not required)

• 1.22a for W3
• 1.22a for W3:TFT
  

Last month, Blizzard also patched Diablo 2. We've placed full patch notes after the break.

[Via BigDownload]

Tabletop gamers are no strangers to the game Blood Bowl, which we mentioned back in November. The game has spanned 22 years, multiple editions and several expansion sets. The basic concept is "fantasy" football, literally. As in orcs, trolls, elves and the like playing an organized team sport where they try to tear their opponents' heads off. Check out the newly released, Warcraft-tastic trailer after the break.

Blizzard has launched a new online store, selling games (both digital and off the grid), books, collectibles, limited apparel and more. The store is now also offering titles for digital download -- right now only Starcraft and Warcraft III (as well as their respective expansion packs) are available, but according to this handy F.A.Q., more will be made available later.

As noted by WoW Insider, registering for the store enters you into a lottery to partake in an upcoming beta such as Wrath of the Lich King, Starcraft II or the as-of-yet unannounced (but we dream so very much) Rock and Roll Racing MMO.

[Via WoW Insider]

Rob Pardo, Senior Vice President of Game Design, spoke earlier today on Blizzard's approach to multiplayer game design. Pardo shared what the iconic company has learned over the years of releasing titles like WoW, Starcraft, and Warcraft regarding game balance, PvP and UI design, player psychology and more. Head over to WoW Insider to check out the full transcript from the talk and the Q&A session plus a gallery of all the slides (and Pardo's handsome mug).

Lots of great patch 2.4 and Sunwell news on Joystiq's sister site WoW Insider this week. The biggest MMO out there is about to get a little bigger, with a brand new patch that will include a new raid instance and lots of new quests and things for players to kill (like this Dark Naaru above). Here's what we posted about last week on WoW Insider.

News

• The companion cube cannot remain through the testing
  More proof that Blizzard employees are playing Portal rather than working on the next expansion.
• Mobile WoW officially being considered
  Playing WoW on your cell phone? You will... but probably not in the way you think.
• Getting what you paid for: should the endgame be accessible to casuals?
  Shouldn't everybody get a chance to play in the deep end of the pool?
• Magister's Terrace walkthrough
  A WoW Insider exclusive: we take you through the new 5man instance in patch 2.4.
• Hail to the (Lich) King, baby
  Who's the king of MMOs? Gimme some sugar, baby.

Features

• Blood Pact: Warlocks buffed in 2.4
  Life will be even better for the demonic class after the new patch releases.
• Forum Post of the Day: These are the people in your raid
  From the Dead Mage to the Prima Donna, a few familiar faces from your raiding experience.
• The Light and How to Swing It: Four things for 2.4
  Our weekly Paladin column (we've got one for all the classes) examines the big lore moves in the new patch.
• Breakfast Topic: Hacked!
  Our daily discussion topic covers the worst experience in WoW: logging in to find your character taken over.
• Scattered Shots: Your first levels as a new Hunter
  Starting out, hunter-style.

What's the best approach for telling the community your patch isn't coming out this year? If you're Blizzard, you can try responding to a YouTube rant about an absent WarCraft III patch. And you can do it by trying to rap. We applaud the effort, but the "rhyming" verses make us cringe. Video embedded after the break.

[Thanks, Medievaldragon]

Perhaps there is life after World of Warcraft after all, and it is likely just as addicting. Various job listings for Blizzard list a "Next-Gen MMO" as the project for which they are hiring. Though many forum posters guessed this was just a way for the company to be coy about needing extra manpower for the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion, company man "Drysc" (38th post) confirmed that it is not for the Lich King but, as it says in the job listing, "it is an unannounced Next-Gen MMO ... And that doesn't mean an expansion for World of Warcraft either."

Is anyone really surprised that Blizzard would be staying in the MMO market, given their first entry into the genre makes more money than self-replicating Nintendo DS systems? Of course, given their lengthy development cycles (that have been promised to remain intact following its merger with Activision), it may be years, if not a decade, before we see anything from it.

[Via GamePro]

Like an unholy alliance, Dell and Blizzard have teamed up to unleash this beast of a laptop computer into the world. The XPS M1730 World of Warcraft Edition comes in Horde and Alliance flavors, and sells for $4,499 USD. WoW, indeed.

Admittedly, you get a lot more than just the laptop for nearly five large. The deal includes a WoW-branded backpack, a "golden ticket" entitling the buyer to a FigurePrint of their in-game avatar, a special key to all future WoW betas, and a plethora of Warcraft merchandise, including novels, trading cards, soundtrack CDs, strategy guides, and a behind-the-scenes DVD disc.

The computer itself is a 17" widescreen notebook, with backlit keyboard, illuminated speaker grills, and a built-in LCD screen dedicated to displaying in-game stats. The laptop also comes pre-loaded with World of Warcraft, as well as The Burning Crusade expansion. We haven't done the math, but we're pretty sure it's still not a bargain. Still, it's a nice little collection for the Warcraft enthusiasts out there.

[Via WoW Insider]

Here's a one-post summary for your perusing pleasure of all the good stuff showing up on Joystiq's Azeroth-inclined sister site WoW Insider. Yes, yes, we know it's not your standard SDF/ Xbot/ Wii60 trollbait, but you get plenty of that the rest of the week. Take a little time and enjoy some intelligent WoW news and analysis, whydontcha?

News

• Rumor: WoW going free-to-play in China
  Probably not true, but it's an interesting thought anyway.
• New WoW ads featuring Shatner and Mr. T
  Maybe Mr. T is pretty handy with computers. Had that occurred to you, Mr. Condescending Director?
  
• PTR Patch 2.3.2 notes leaked
  The official patch notes got released as well.
• WoW Moviewatch: Taming the elusive ghost wolf
  The rarest pet can Azeroth can be yours with a little casting speed and some good reflexes.
• Put on your party hats-- today is WoW's 3rd birthday
  Happy birthday to Blizzard's MMO masterpiece!

Discussion

• Breakfast Topic: 100 useful Warrior tips
  Priceless if you're a Warrior... or know someone who is.
• Officers' Quarters: Zero pressure raiding?
  Can you be casual and raid at the same time?
• Know Your Lore Special: So what are you doing for the holidays?
  WoW loreheads will love this one. Hilarious.
• Blood Sport: Building an arena team, part 2
  Our PvP column helps you put an Arena team together with care.
• Have any of you tried...
  It's always nice when someone in your group has actually done the pull you're about to do.

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

News

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

Discussion

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

Media

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

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

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

News

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

Discussion

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

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

Clearly an homage to Leeroy Jenkins, this Toyota commercial shows that World of Warcraft players can charge into battle as long as they have the right mount. The ad is apparently legitimate, although the only version we could find clips the tagline.

Toyota may be a follower to showing how it can save the World ... of Warcraft, but this spot hits several in-jokes in a short amount of time. See the ad after the break.

[Thanks, Mal F4cti0n and raffleski]

Well, BlizzCon is officially over, and folks will have to wait another year to experience it again. Hopefully by this time next year, however, both StarCraft 2 and the WoW expansion Wrath of the Lich King will be on store shelves, or in your hands. Until then we'll be waiting for the dribbles to trickle out of Blizzard with more information.

But, all is not lost. They did send us out with a bang that included 30 minutes of fairly decent comedy with Jay Mohr, a performance by Level 70 Elite Tauren Chieftain (the highlight of the night of which a brief video appears above), and a pretty sweet set from Video Games Live, including the Diablo theme being played on a 12-string guitar. That was the best moment of the night, and makes us wonder even more when there will be some sort of a Diablo sequel.

Check out the gallery below, which contains some new shots from the closing ceremonies. You can always head over after the break to listen to the complete audio of Jay's performance, the L70ETC set, and the Video Games Live goodness. In handy mp3 format for your listening pleasure. Also be sure to check out the exhaustive BlizzCon coverage from WoW Insider, who really brought down the house with their in-depth look at Lich King, and the event as a whole.

Blizzard and its MMO World of Warcraft has been very kind to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. In addition to providing source material (as well as helping with the filming) of the Emmy-nominated episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft."

Now the duo is returning the favor by including a 14-day trial of the MMO with its upcoming 10th season DVD collection, which includes the episode in question, according to a press release from Comedy Central. Hopefully this will be just want the fledgling little game needs to stay afloat.

South Park: The Complete Tenth Season will be out August 21.