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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Joyswag & Unboxing: 'Collector's Edition' World of Warcraft Monopoly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/joyswag-collectors-edition-world-of-warcraft-monopoly/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/joyswag-collectors-edition-world-of-warcraft-monopoly/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/joyswag-collectors-edition-world-of-warcraft-monopoly/#comments ImageUSAopoly and Blizzard have teamed up to develop a special, World of Warcraft-themed "Collector's Edition" Monopoly set, which lands at retailers tomorrow. Not only did we get a first look at the final product, the team at Joystiq is reluctantly giving it away to one lucky reader.

Get a detailed look at the WoW-themed Monopoly set in the Joystiq gallery below.

Entering the contest is easy! Just tell us where in Azeroth you'd buy the most real estate. Need some inspiration? Check out our latest coverage of WoW's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion.

Rules and conditions for this giveaway are listed after the break.

Gallery: Monopoly 'World of Warcraft Collector's Edition' Set

Continue reading Joyswag & Unboxing: 'Collector's Edition' World of Warcraft Monopoly

JoystiqJoyswag & Unboxing: 'Collector's Edition' World of Warcraft Monopoly originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzardboard-gameJoyswagMonopolyusaopolyWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 17 May 2012 15:40:00 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[Mists of Pandaria part to reveal ... so many trailers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/mists-of-pandaria-part-to-reveal-so-many-trailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/mists-of-pandaria-part-to-reveal-so-many-trailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/mists-of-pandaria-part-to-reveal-so-many-trailers/#comments
The pandas are coming, the pandas are coming! More precisely, it's the Pandaren, and whether or not you feel this is Blizzard nuking the fridge on its stalwart cash-Tauren, there's no denying it's the cutest expansion to be bestowed upon the warriors of Azeroth.

Blizzard took us to the land of kung fu pandas to check out more details about the game, but here are several trailers of the terrain we'll explore when the expansion arrives.

Gallery: World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (3/18/12)

Continue reading Mists of Pandaria part to reveal ... so many trailers

JoystiqMists of Pandaria part to reveal ... so many trailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentmacpcWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariaMon, 19 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mists of Pandaria tries to breathe new life into an old World of Warcraft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/mists-of-pandaria-tries-to-breath-new-life-into-an-old-world-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/mists-of-pandaria-tries-to-breath-new-life-into-an-old-world-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/mists-of-pandaria-tries-to-breath-new-life-into-an-old-world-of/#comments Video games these days have a shorter shelf life than ever before. Titles fall out of the top ten within days or weeks (if they ever get there at all), there are awesome new releases arriving every month or so, and even the biggest games are on a yearly (if that) sequel schedule at this point. And yet World of Warcraft has remained a constant. Blizzard's MMO has held millions of players in sway for over half a decade, and those players have killed countless boars, cleared out endless quests, dungeons, and raids, and have vanquished not one but three world-threatening expansion bosses, in the forms of Illidan Stormrage, Arthas the Lich King, and Deathwing and his Cataclysm.

So Blizzard is perhaps taking on its hardest task ever with the upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion. There's no question in the halls of the (recently quieter) Blizzard campus in Irvine, California that the game is at a crossroads of sorts. Blizzard's formula for WoW expansions (define a baddie, and lead a player to gear and level up to the final fight) has worked so far, but it's almost as if the company realizes that the old tricks are getting old.

Blizzard needs, then, to take World of Warcraft, one of history's most-played, most-traversed, and most-conquered games, and make it feel new. "This is definitely different fare from any expansion we've tried so far," VP of Creative Development Chris Metzen said in a presentation to assembled press. He then talked about the game on a much longer scale than a few weeks, a few months, or even a Call of Duty-length year. "The big global threat that's coming, to define the next couple years of WoW's gameplay, is really war itself."

Gallery: World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (3/18/12)

Continue reading Mists of Pandaria tries to breathe new life into an old World of Warcraft

JoystiqMists of Pandaria tries to breathe new life into an old World of Warcraft originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-metzenexpansionghostcrawlergreg-streetinterviewj-allen-brackpandapandarenpcscott-mercertalentsupdatewarwarcraftworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariaMon, 19 Mar 2012 03:00:00 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[Monopoly: World of Warcraft, Risk: StarCraft available this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/monopoly-world-of-warcraft-risk-starcraft-available-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/monopoly-world-of-warcraft-risk-starcraft-available-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/monopoly-world-of-warcraft-risk-starcraft-available-this-year/#comments For years, WoW had a monopoly on the MMO market, so why not celebrate that with a board game? Blizzard Entertainment and USAopoly will launch Monopoly: World of Warcraft and Risk: StarCraft before year's end. A Facebook vote will determine what tokens make it into the final version of the Azeroth real estate simulator, which will retail for $39.95 "in specialty stores across North America."

Risk: Starcraft will include 290 custom playing pieces, featuring the Terran, Protoss and Zerg factions, along with six unique heroes. It rushes into specialty stores in North America this summer for $49.45.

For those looking to diversify their Risk portfolio, there are also Metal Gear Solid and Halo adaptations of the game about global conquest. Sadly, the best Monopoly jobs we've seen over the years are custom one-off crafts honoring Mass Effect and Fallout.

Continue reading Monopoly: World of Warcraft, Risk: StarCraft available this year

JoystiqMonopoly: World of Warcraft, Risk: StarCraft available this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentMonopoly-World-of-WarcraftpcRiskRisk-StarCraftStarCraftusaopolyWorld-of-WarcraftWoWTue, 14 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The entire World of Warcraft being recreated with Minecraft blocks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/the-entire-world-of-warcraft-being-recreated-with-minecraft-bloc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/the-entire-world-of-warcraft-being-recreated-with-minecraft-bloc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/the-entire-world-of-warcraft-being-recreated-with-minecraft-bloc/#comments 0We all have goals in life -- some of us work for our families, some seek money and fame, and some work for a greater good. Minecraft forum user Rumsey's chosen path is to recreate the entire World of Warcraft inside the indie sandbox hit, Minecraft. And as you can see above, he's doing pretty well -- the entire continent of Kalimdor (including the new zones from the Cataclysm expansion) is almost done, and he's well on his way to doing the rest, including all of the instances and dungeons.

Rumsey came up with some custom software to put it all together, which basically translates the current maps of WoW over to the measurements of Minecraft blocks. Rumsey is trying to keep Minecraft's "1 yard to 1 block" ratio, though that means he has to balance WoW's detail with Minecraft's inherent blockiness (and Minecraft's height limit of 128 blocks has required mods to make some of WoW's tallest features work). Still, what's been created so far is certainly recognizable as Azeroth.

Now if we can only get StarCraft, Crafting Mama, CrimeCraft, GemCraft, and macaroni and cheese in this project somehow.

JoystiqThe entire World of Warcraft being recreated with Minecraft blocks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerothbuildingcomputercraftfansmapsMinecraftpcresolutionworld-of-warcraftWed, 08 Feb 2012 20:08:00 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[WoW Patch 4.3 'Hour of Twilight' launches today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/wow-patch-4-3-hour-of-twilight-launches-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/wow-patch-4-3-hour-of-twilight-launches-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/wow-patch-4-3-hour-of-twilight-launches-today/#comments
If you've built up a thick layer of hatred for Deathwing every time his grim visage appears on the login screen for World of Warcraft, your hour of retribution has come. Or rather, your "Hour of Twilight" has come -- that's the name of WoW Patch 4.3, which launches today.

The update, and last major addition for WoW: Cataclysm, adds three new dungeons and a new raid to the title which see your hero traveling through time in an attempt to gather the tools required to take Deathwing down. There are also new, oft-requested features like Armor Transmogrification and Void Storage. Check out the trailer above for a taste of the action, and turn an eye towards WoW Insider for all the juicy patch notes therein.

JoystiqWoW Patch 4.3 'Hour of Twilight' launches today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardCataclysmhour-of-twilightmmommorpgpatchpcupdateworld-of-warcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmwowTue, 29 Nov 2011 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft offers new in-game item, new TV spot for seventh anniversary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/world-of-warcraft-offers-new-in-game-item-new-tv-spot-for-seven/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/world-of-warcraft-offers-new-in-game-item-new-tv-spot-for-seven/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/world-of-warcraft-offers-new-in-game-item-new-tv-spot-for-seven/#comments World of Warcraft is about to celebrate its seventh anniversary on November 23 next week (which means that some of its players have been alive for less time than the game's servers have been up), and to celebrate, Blizzard is giving everyone who logs in between this Sunday and December 3 a Feat of Strength achievement (which means it's only available during this time) and a "celebration package" item. The item will fire off a virtual fireworks display, and gives players a spiffy new tabard, as well as a 7% experience point and reputation bonus when used.

The company will also introduce a brand new "What's your game?" celebrity TV commercial this weekend during the Bears/Chargers game on CBS. The star of the new commercial is set to be a surprise, so you can start guessing right now in the comments below. We have no idea who it might be, but considering all of the stars so far (William Shatner, Mr. T, Ozzy Osbourne, Jean Claude Van Damme, and Verne Troyer), a girl might be nice?

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft offers new in-game item, new TV spot for seventh anniversary originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcommercialin-gamepcseventh-anniversarytvtv-commercialwhats-your-gameworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariawowSat, 19 Nov 2011 05:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria sets a new direction for Blizzard's first MMO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-sets-a-new-direction-for-bl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-sets-a-new-direction-for-bl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-sets-a-new-direction-for-bl/#comments Blizzard has made the next expansion in the World of Warcraft official as Mists of Pandaria, and after conquering other planets, the Lich King, and a big bad dragon, the Horde and Alliance are headed to ... China. Well, not China per se, but Pandaria, a long-rumored, Eastern mysticism-influenced realm, where panda-based humanoids roam, brew and drink beer, and offer players the next five levels in their continuing progression.

As is often the case with this game, many players have revolted. The Pandaren have long been used as a joke in the world of Warcraft, either referred to on April Fool's Day, or showing up in the company's parodic Christmas cards. But lead quest designer Dave Kosak says players who scoff at Pandaria should think twice. "Maybe people, because they've only been portrayed as cameos or only April Fool's jokes, people think that there's nothing to this race, and that's not it at all," Kozak says to us during BlizzCon last week. "I think the Pandaren are kind of fascinating -- they work hard, they play hard, they eat hard, they drink hard, and they don't do anything half way."

The Pandaren, in addition to some of the other announced features of the new expansion, point to the next long arc of the World of Warcraft game. In the first few expansions of the title, Blizzard has cashed in on the earlier origins of the series. But with Mists of Pandaria, Blizzard seems to be setting up the world's most popular MMO for years of content to come.

Gallery: World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (10/21/11)

Continue reading World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria sets a new direction for Blizzard's first MMO

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria sets a new direction for Blizzard's first MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardallianceblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzcon-2011dave-kozakhordelead-quest-designerpandarenpandariapcworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariawowTue, 25 Oct 2011 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Buy the Diablo 3 collector's edition, add four months to the WoW annual pass free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/buy-the-diablo-3-collectors-edition-add-four-months-to-the-wow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/buy-the-diablo-3-collectors-edition-add-four-months-to-the-wow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/buy-the-diablo-3-collectors-edition-add-four-months-to-the-wow/#comments Blizzard announced so many deals, expansions and Pokemon things yesterday that there was bound to be some confusion. Today at a Q&A panel, Diablo 3 developers clarified the meta-deal it has with World of Warcraft's annual pass -- purchasing the Diablo 3 collector's edition adds four free months to the World of Warcraft annual pass timeframe. We knew buying the annual pass gets existing WoW players Diablo 3 for free, but it turns out the feeling is mutual.

To be completely clear, to get Diablo 3 for free, you must:
  • Have a WoW account existing on or before Oct. 18, 2011
  • Purchase the WoW annual pass
  • Enjoy your free standard version of Diablo 3, available at launch on your Battle.net account
To get four months of WoW for free, you must:
  • Purchase the Diablo 3 collector's edition
  • Have a WoW account existing on or before Oct. 18, 2011
  • Purchase the WoW annual pass
  • Enter the Diablo 3 collector's edition license key into your associated Battle.net account
  • Enjoy a grapefruit
Maybe not that last one, but you should check the annual pass FAQs just to be sure. Besides, you look as if you could use some Vitamin A.

JoystiqBuy the Diablo 3 collector's edition, add four months to the WoW annual pass free originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2011Diablo-3diablo-3-collectors-editionpcWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-annual-passSat, 22 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's Samwise Didier talks about finally bringing his Pandaren to life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/world-of-warcrafts-samwise-didier-talks-about-finally-bringing/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/world-of-warcrafts-samwise-didier-talks-about-finally-bringing/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/world-of-warcrafts-samwise-didier-talks-about-finally-bringing/#comments The newly announced Mists of Pandaria expansion for Blizzard's World of Warcraft finally brings the long-awaited Pandaren race to the fantasy world of Azeroth, and while many players have been waiting to see pandas officially implemented into the game, no one, perhaps, has been waiting longer than Samwise Didier. Blizzard's longtime art director originally created the race in his own art, and up until this release, they existed only in bits and pieces of legends inside the games, as little in-jokes or secrets.

"It's very personal to me," Didier tells us at BlizzCon this week. "It all started with a picture done for Christmas after the birth of my daughter." Since that first piece of concept art, the Pandaren have always been a fan favorite race (combining a heady mix of panda humanoids, Eastern-style religions and mythology, and even beer brewing monks), and while Didier is quick to point out that lots of people are working on Mists of Pandaria, he's thrilled to see his personal creation come to virtual life. "I'm not trying to take away" credit for the expansion, he says, quickly acknowledging all of the creative folks at Blizzard, "however many it takes to make a game. But it's nice to know that some goofy thought in my head, done for that reason, for my kid, turned into this."

Does the portrayal live up to what Didier envisioned? "Yeah, and then some," he says. "There was only a few Pandaren pictures, and most of them were of Chen [Stormstout], a big fat sweaty heavy, beer-drinking Pandaren. Well that's not the entire society. He's sort of the anomaly. He likes to go to the outside world. So what do the normal Pandarens do, what is their normal culture like? A lot of sweat went into designing that."

But Didier does say that whenever the expansion finally arrives, and the race long hidden in Warcraft's shadows finally gets their time in the spotlight, he'll be proud they're there. "It was one of the last things that I really wanted to see in World of Warcraft, which is Warcraft in general," he says, after having worked on some of the most iconic designs in Blizzard's legendary game franchises. "Now I can almost say, well, I think I've done good with Warcraft -- they're finally in."

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft's Samwise Didier talks about finally bringing his Pandaren to life originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artblizzcon-2011legendmists-of-pandariapandarenpcsamwise-didierworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariaFri, 21 Oct 2011 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW: Mists of Pandaria will introduce Pokemon-like Pet Battle System]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/wow-mists-of-pandaria-will-introduce-pokemon-like-pet-battle-sy/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/wow-mists-of-pandaria-will-introduce-pokemon-like-pet-battle-sy/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/wow-mists-of-pandaria-will-introduce-pokemon-like-pet-battle-sy/#comments The Blizzard Entertainment developers are walking through the biggest features of the newly announced Mists of Pandaria expansion, and while you can head on over to our sister site at WoW Insider for all of the details, there was one big new feature that we couldn't ignore. Players have been able to collect pets in the World of Warcraft for quite a while now, but a new Pet Battle System will come with the next expansion that allows players to both customize their pets with new names and other items, and even battle each other.

And if you think that sounds a little bit like Pokemon, you're not wrong at all. The battle system, which Blizzard's lead designer Cory Stockton walked through, will have players choosing three pets to fight with at a time, turn-based battles using three abilities per battle (out of six), and even "Master Trainers" which can be beaten around the world of Azeroth to unlock new abilities.

Pets can be obtained in all kinds of different ways, and there will be new "wild pets" that can only be found out in the world (in Goldshire, the devs suggested, while it's raining, during the Spring, only at night). Blizzard has given away special pets during holidays, at events like BlizzCon, and even sold pets for real money on the store. As if World of Warcraft needed to be any more addictive, Blizzard has somehow figured out a way to include their own version of Pokemon inside of it.

JoystiqWoW: Mists of Pandaria will introduce Pokemon-like Pet Battle System originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleblizzardblizzconcory-stocktonmists-of-pandariamists-of-pandriapcpet-battle-systempetsworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariawowFri, 21 Oct 2011 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria announced [Update: Now with trailer!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-announced/#comments
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria will be the fourth expansion to the game. It was announced today at the opening ceremonies at BlizzCon 2011 in front 26,000 cheering fans. The expansion promises to deliver the next phase in WoW's development, ushering in a new era of quests, raids, PvP, professions, and instances.

The major details:
  • New talent system
  • Pandaren race
  • Pannaria region
  • Monk class
  • 90 level cap raised to 90
  • Dungeon challenge mode
  • PVE Scenarios
  • Pet Battle System
Follow us all day for the next few days as we cover BlizzCon from top to bottom!

Gallery: World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (10/21/11)

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria announced [Update: Now with trailer!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzcon-2011macmmopcWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariawowFri, 21 Oct 2011 14:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard announces World of Warcraft Annual Pass]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzard-announces-world-of-warcraft-annual-pass/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzard-announces-world-of-warcraft-annual-pass/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzard-announces-world-of-warcraft-annual-pass/#comments At BlizzCon's Opening Ceremony today, Blizzard's President and CEO Mike Morhaime unveiled Blizzard's newest grand idea: free Diablo 3 access to current World of Warcraft players. All we, the players, have to do is sign up for the new World of Warcraft annual pass, a 12-month subscription that can be billed monthly.

In addition to getting full access Diablo 3 to download and play for free the same day it's released, Blizzard is throwing in a few goodies for anyone who signs up for the annual pass. For one, you'll get the in-game World of Warcraft mount, Tyrael's Charger. You will also gain access to the beta of the next World of Warcraft expansion as soon as it goes live. For more information, check out the official Annual Pass Promotion Page.

Stay tuned throughout the day for more information coming from the BlizzCon floor!

JoystiqBlizzard announces World of Warcraft Annual Pass originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2011macpcworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 21 Oct 2011 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 limited edition includes Diablo 2, Diablo skull USB drive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/diablo-3-free-with-wow-annual-subscription-limited-edition-also/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/diablo-3-free-with-wow-annual-subscription-limited-edition-also/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/diablo-3-free-with-wow-annual-subscription-limited-edition-also/#comments
Hey, remember that amazing StarCraft 2 special edition? You know, the huge one, with the full sized art book, and the USB drive with Starcraft and Starcraft: Brood War? And the WoW pet? Man, that was sweet.

Well we hope you like Diablo 3, because, like, that's pretty much exactly what they're doing for the Diablo 3 Limited Edition. Announced at today's Blizzcon press conference, the Limited edition will also come with a behind-the-scenes DVD. Diablo 2 will be included in the box on a special USB drive (in a holder shaped like freaking Diablo's skull), and, for users who register their LE, an in-game mount for WoW, Tyrael's Charger. And don't forget that giant art book.

So. Awesome.

JoystiqDiablo 3 limited edition includes Diablo 2, Diablo skull USB drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011Diablo-3limited-editionpcworld-of-warcraftFri, 21 Oct 2011 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard auctions off old server hardware for charity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/blizzard-auctions-off-old-server-hardware-for-charity/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/blizzard-auctions-off-old-server-hardware-for-charity/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/blizzard-auctions-off-old-server-hardware-for-charity/#comments You can't actually own a piece of Azeroth, because the virtual World of Warcraft doesn't exist -- sorry, ThrallFan6969, it's true. But this is probably your closest chance to the fake thing: Blizzard is auctioning off a group of hardware server blades that were used to run the popular MMO in the past, so for a price you can own the circuits and silicon that served up all of those boars, dwarves, and elves.

All of the money raised in the auctions is going to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. All in all, about 2,000 server blades will be auctioned off, and you can even aim to buy one from a specific realm -- the hardware where your very own characters once resided! Each blade will be mounted in a windowed case adorned with the WoW logo, and the hardware displayed prominently.

The auctions start on October 17 (just a few days before BlizzCon), with sales occurring in four different rounds. Good luck!

JoystiqBlizzard auctions off old server hardware for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentCataclysmcharitypcworld-of-warcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmwowFri, 14 Oct 2011 05:45:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW Magazine calling it quits]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/wow-magazine-calling-it-quits/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/wow-magazine-calling-it-quits/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/wow-magazine-calling-it-quits/#comments WoW Magazine calls it quits after five issues After just five issues, the official World of Warcraft Magazine is calling it quits. Future US has posted a notice on the website, and subscribers can either get a refund for the issues they didn't receive, or a voucher for six in-game World of Warcraft pets. Future recommends subscribers who want to keep up with the game in a dead tree format can subscribe to its PC Gamer publication, and it's possible Blizzard may try to publish something itself, though there are apparently no plans for that yet.

It's kind of a shame -- the WoW Magazine did offer a lot of solid coverage about the game (and some good looks inside the workings of Blizzard's Irvine, CA campus), but the publication was also torn between its status as an official outlet and a separate press entity. Dan Amrich, the magazine's first editor-in-chief (who left even before the first issue was published, and is now working as an official Activision blogger) recently wrote about some of the troubles he had dealing with Blizzard's licensing department and their control over the magazine.

When you combine that with the fact that MMO fans tend to prefer digital over analog, then apparently the whole venture just wasn't worth it. Like we said, shame.

JoystiqWoW Magazine calling it quits originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzard-entertainmentdan-amrichfuturefuture-uspcpublicationWorld-of-WarcraftWoWwow-magazinewow-the-magazinewow-the-official-magazineSat, 17 Sep 2011 20:30:00 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[World of Warcraft receives mighty mouse from SteelSeries]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/world-of-warcraft-receives-mighty-mouse-from-steelseries/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/world-of-warcraft-receives-mighty-mouse-from-steelseries/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/world-of-warcraft-receives-mighty-mouse-from-steelseries/#comments

Continue reading World of Warcraft receives mighty mouse from SteelSeries

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft receives mighty mouse from SteelSeries originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardmacpcSteelSeriesWorld-of-WarcraftWoWMon, 08 Aug 2011 22:59:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft goes free-to-play until characters hit level 20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcraft-goes-free-to-play-until-characters-hit-level-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcraft-goes-free-to-play-until-characters-hit-level-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcraft-goes-free-to-play-until-characters-hit-level-2/#comments We respect the tenacity of every human being left on the planet who hasn't played Blizzard's mind-bogglingly gripping MMORPG World of Warcraft -- but unfortunately, your teetotaling has come to an end. In the game's latest update, titled "Rage of the Firelands," WoW's free 14-day trial has been extended, allowing Azerothian adventurers to grind to their heart's content -- but their levels will remain capped at 20 until they upgrade to the full version.

It's a clever ploy that Blizzard's calling the World of Warcraft Starter Edition, which even includes some of the content from the game's first expansion, The Burning Crusade -- for instance, free players can create Draenei and Blood Elf characters, two races added in said expansion. Should you decide to upgrade, you can get the core game and Burning Crusade for a cool $19.99 as part of the digital World of Warcraft Battle Chest -- though you'll first have to wait for the site to stop getting Zerg rushed by newcomers. (Apologies for mixing our Blizzard metaphors.)

Already a hardened WoW veteran? There's plenty more in the update to slake your thirst -- check out WoW Insider's handy FAQ for a rundown.

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft goes free-to-play until characters hit level 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardblizzardfree-to-playmmorpgpcWorld-of-WarcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-The-Burning-CrusadeWoWTue, 28 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft experiences a small drop in subscribers post-Cataclysm]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/world-of-warcraft-experiences-a-small-drop-in-subscribers-post-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/world-of-warcraft-experiences-a-small-drop-in-subscribers-post-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/world-of-warcraft-experiences-a-small-drop-in-subscribers-post-c/#comments Around the release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Activision Blizzard repeatedly touted its 12 million subscribers. During yesterday's investor conference call, however, Blizzard president Mike Morhaime revealed that as of the end of March, the subscriber base had fallen from a stratospheric 12 million all the way to a humiliating 11.4 million, a decline of 5%.

Morhaime explained the tiny mass exodus by saying that players were completing the new content in Cataclysm more quickly than previous expansions, and then leaving the game. However, Rift also launched in March, which may have lured away part of those 600,000 ex-WoWers.

Still, if we're talking about part of 5% of your userbase maybe leaving for another game, things are still going well for you.

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft experiences a small drop in subscribers post-Cataclysm originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 May 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardCataclysmmmopcriftsalessubscriptionworld-of-warcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmwowTue, 10 May 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Make-A-Wish receives $800K from WoW DLC proceeds]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/make-a-wish-receives-800k-from-wow-dlc-proceeds/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/make-a-wish-receives-800k-from-wow-dlc-proceeds/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/make-a-wish-receives-800k-from-wow-dlc-proceeds/#comments The Make-A-Wish Foundation has received an $800,000 donation from Blizzard Entertainment. Well, technically, it's from Blizzard's customers, who dropped $10 on the World of Warcraft "Moonkin Hatchling" in-game pet. According to the foundation, the donation was based on "50 percent of the total sales during November and December 2010" of the little bear-bird.

Blizzard also welcomed two Make-A-Wish kids to the studio on April 29, "World Wish Day," to tour the digs and meet the development team. A similar promotion a year ago, featuring a Pandaren Monk, raised $1.1 million for the organization.

JoystiqMake-A-Wish receives $800K from WoW DLC proceeds originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macMake-A-WishMake-A-Wish FoundationMake-A-Wish-Foundationmoonkin-hatchlingpcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 05 May 2011 23:00:00 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[World Bank: Gold farming aids poor nations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/world-bank-gold-farming-aids-poor-nations/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/world-bank-gold-farming-aids-poor-nations/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/world-bank-gold-farming-aids-poor-nations/#comments Sure, it may get old being hassled by semi-English speakers in World of Warcraft selling their virtual gold for real-world cash, but were you aware they were doing their part to bring economic parity to the globe?

It's true! A new report from the World Bank says that gold farmers in China and Vietnam bring money into their economy at an even better rate than farmers of cash crops. The study estimates that 98 cents of every dollar made from gold farming stays in the nation where the work was done, an impressive number compared to the 7 cents made from the coffee industry.

By cutting out middle men, poorer countries are using the $3 billion virtual goods market to funnel cash from the West into their own impoverished nations. Plus, you don't have to spend time combing Winterspring for Thorium Ore. Everybody wins!

JoystiqWorld Bank: Gold farming aids poor nations originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinagold-farmingmacmmopcvietnamWorld-of-warcraftwowFri, 08 Apr 2011 22:30:00 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[Blizzard pro-cannibalism: Diablo 3 could eat into World of Warcraft audience]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/blizzard-pro-cannibalism-diablo-3-could-eat-into-world-of-warcr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/blizzard-pro-cannibalism-diablo-3-could-eat-into-world-of-warcr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/blizzard-pro-cannibalism-diablo-3-could-eat-into-world-of-warcr/#comments Diablo 3 While Blizzard cofounder Frank Pearce is unexpectedly bullish on EA's prospects with its Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO - and of course Blizz's own next-gen, untitled "Titan" MMO - he sees another potential product that could cannibalize his massive World of Warcraft audience. "I think even a shorter-term concern is whether or not we might see cannibalization of WoW players from Diablo 3 when we launch it, because it's a similar type of experience," Pearce told Gamasutra. "Not exactly similar, but it's that RPG feel."

While Diablo 3 currently has no release date - it's possible it may not make it out this year - Pearce said "it's better we cannibalize them ourselves than let someone else do that, because if we cannibalize them ourselves, they're still a Blizzard customer." And that, ladies and gentlemen, is maybe the only kind of cannibalism that we can endorse.

JoystiqBlizzard pro-cannibalism: Diablo 3 could eat into World of Warcraft audience originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Diablo-3Frank-PearcemacpcProject-TitanTitanWorld-of-WarcraftWoWMon, 21 Mar 2011 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Gameloft brings WoW-like 'Order and Chaos Online' to iOS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/gameloft-brings-wow-like-order-and-chaos-online-to-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/gameloft-brings-wow-like-order-and-chaos-online-to-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/gameloft-brings-wow-like-order-and-chaos-online-to-ios/#comments Earlier this week, Gameloft revealed a new MMORPG intended for distribution on the iOS App Store -- a first for the French copycat developer. Not a first, however, is the game's concept and art style, which more or less directly ape Blizzard's behemoth, World of Warcraft.

As seen in the game's first trailer, Order & Chaos Online pits the forces of Order against those of Chaos in a massive, multiplayer setting. The forces of both sides, it seems, are on vacation from Azeroth ... and they like vacationing somewhere very similar to home. Gameloft hasn't given its first mobile MMO a release date, but does say it's "coming soon" to the iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone.

Continue reading Gameloft brings WoW-like 'Order and Chaos Online' to iOS

JoystiqGameloft brings WoW-like 'Order and Chaos Online' to iOS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentgameloftiosmmommorpgmobileorder-and-chaos-onlineworld-of-warcraftFri, 18 Mar 2011 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard turns 20, thanks fans for support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/blizzard-turns-20-thanks-fans-for-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/blizzard-turns-20-thanks-fans-for-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/blizzard-turns-20-thanks-fans-for-support/#comments Blizzard Entertainment is 20 years old today. Instead of spending it quietly counting the billions of dollars raked in from World of Warcraft players, CEO Mike Morhaime and EVP Frank Pearce sent a message of thanks to Blizzard's loyal fans.

Continue reading Blizzard turns 20, thanks fans for support

JoystiqBlizzard turns 20, thanks fans for support originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayblizzardpcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 03 Mar 2011 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Full-length 'Gamers' MMO documentary available on Hulu]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/27/full-length-gamers-mmo-documentary-available-on-hulu/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/27/full-length-gamers-mmo-documentary-available-on-hulu/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/27/full-length-gamers-mmo-documentary-available-on-hulu/#comments Feeling guilty about your lack of documentary consumption leading up to the Oscars? Well, director Ben Gonyo's MMO-focused doc Gamers is now available for you to watch on Hulu (or after the jump). It's not nominated for anything, though it deserves consideration for "Most Free Movie of the Year."

Continue reading Full-length 'Gamers' MMO documentary available on Hulu

JoystiqFull-length 'Gamers' MMO documentary available on Hulu originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddocumentarygamersmmopcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWSun, 27 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision reports fiscal 2010 earnings, digital sales up 20%]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/activision-reports-fiscal-2010-earnings-digital-sales-up-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/activision-reports-fiscal-2010-earnings-digital-sales-up-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/activision-reports-fiscal-2010-earnings-digital-sales-up-20/#comments Publishing giant Activision Blizzard has dropped some hard numbers regarding its business performance for its fiscal 2010 year, which ended December 31. The company reports net revenue for the year reached $4.45 billion, up from $4.28 billion in 2009. (Though revenue recorded in the fourth quarter alone was just $1.43 billion, down from $1.56 billion during the same period the year before.)

The standout news is that $1.5 billion of annual revenue came from digital sales, which the company says are up 20 percent over 2009 -- and up 40 percent in Q4 alone. According to the report, digital-based revenue was "driven by increased sales of Activision Publishing's Call of Duty map packs and value-added services for Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft," which CEO Bobby Kotick attributed in part to "significantly enhanced user activity and engagement for our expanding online communities."

Selling 1.4 million copies of the first Black Ops map pack on a single platform within 24 hours of its release is certainly what we'd call "user activity."

JoystiqActivision reports fiscal 2010 earnings, digital sales up 20% originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-BlizzardCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsearningsfinancialfy-2010q4World-of-WarcraftWed, 09 Feb 2011 18:00:00 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[Paypal accounts for World of Warcraft gold sellers now on notice]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/paypal-accounts-for-world-of-warcraft-gold-sellers-now-on-notice/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/paypal-accounts-for-world-of-warcraft-gold-sellers-now-on-notice/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/paypal-accounts-for-world-of-warcraft-gold-sellers-now-on-notice/#comments Blizzard recently took action to hit World of Warcraft gold sellers right where it hurts: Their wallets. Well, the online services they use to transfer intangible funds from other people's wallets to their wallets, but you know what we mean. The developer has successfully petitioned Paypal to issue notices to the major names in gold selling, warning them that if they didn't stop selling WoW's virtual currency for non-virtual currency, their accounts would be irreversibly suspended.

Paypal appears to accept Blizzard's argument that these sales represent an intellectual property violation -- though this area has proven nebulous in the past, as suggested by the WoW Glider lawsuit from last year. Regardless, we hope they find some success with this venture. We don't understand why people can't earn gold the honest way: By buying everything off of the auction house and selling it back for three times its original price.

JoystiqPaypal accounts for World of Warcraft gold sellers now on notice originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardgold-sellinglawlegalmmopaypalpcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWSat, 29 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard comments on World of StarCraft, invites creator to HQ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/blizzard-comments-on-world-of-starcraft-invites-creator-to-hq/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/blizzard-comments-on-world-of-starcraft-invites-creator-to-hq/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/blizzard-comments-on-world-of-starcraft-invites-creator-to-hq/#comments Blizzard has released a statement regarding the pulled YouTube videos of a StarCraft 2 mod by Ryan Winzen that turned the RTS title into a game more closely resembling World of Warcraft. While the developer admits that YouTube was asked to kill the videos because of the trademarked name "as part of our routine procedure," the mod itself will live on. "As always, we actively encourage development of custom maps and mods," Blizzard says in the statement, and it is "looking forward to seeing the continued development of this mod."

In fact, the company sought out the mod's creator and has "extended an offer to the developer to visit the Blizzard campus and meet with the StarCraft 2 development team." If it wants to hire him, though, they'll have to hurry -- Blizzard isn't the only dev that wants to meet the guy. You can read the full statement, send out by Blizzard's Bob Colayco, after the break.

Continue reading Blizzard comments on World of StarCraft, invites creator to HQ

JoystiqBlizzard comments on World of StarCraft, invites creator to HQ originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmacmodofficialpcstarcraft-2world-of-starcraftWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 20 Jan 2011 19:10:00 EST<![CDATA['World of Starcraft' mod Zerg rushed by Blizzard lawyers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-mod-zerg-rushed-by-blizzard-lawyers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-mod-zerg-rushed-by-blizzard-lawyers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-mod-zerg-rushed-by-blizzard-lawyers/#comments Apparently, that crack we made about Blizzard's mighty cease-and-desist hammer in yesterday's post about the World of StarCraft mod project (which uses StarCraft 2 tools to attempt to create a standalone MMO) was a tad prophetic. Though the developer hasn't actually slapped the team with the dreaded C&D (yet), it did petition YouTube to have the mod's demo videos removed, citing a copyright violation.

It's unclear what further action Blizzard will take, but it would be irresponsible to assume that its actions are indicative of the existence of a real World of StarCraft game. It's entirely possible that the company simply wants to protect its "StarCraft" name, or reserve the title for possible future use -- though it would be a shame if their squatting ended up shutting down these modders' impressive efforts. Especially after they asked so nicely for permission.

Joystiq'World of Starcraft' mod Zerg rushed by Blizzard lawyers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardcopyright-infringementmmomodpcStarcraft-2world-of-starcraftWorld-of-WarcraftWed, 19 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This World of Warcraft bathroom is strictly for the Horde]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/this-world-of-warcraft-bathroom-is-strictly-for-the-horde/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/this-world-of-warcraft-bathroom-is-strictly-for-the-horde/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/this-world-of-warcraft-bathroom-is-strictly-for-the-horde/#comments What kind of feelings do you want to inspire in people who are lucky enough to spend time in your commode? A sense of wonder? Or maybe you just want some badass World of Warcraft stuff hanging in there, proudly declaring your Horde affiliation. If you're in the latter camp, we may have found your next potential BFFs.

Pictured above is the bathroom of couple Paul and Gloria, who did all of the work themselves, documented from beginning to end in this Photobucket gallery. They've got dragon heads for the light fixtures, a full potion cabinet and, of course, an assortment of themed weaponry.

JoystiqThis World of Warcraft bathroom is strictly for the Horde originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bathroomCataclysmpcworld-of-warcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmwowWed, 19 Jan 2011 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA['World of StarCraft' finally a reality, created by modders]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/world-of-starcraft-finally-a-reality-created-by-modders/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/world-of-starcraft-finally-a-reality-created-by-modders/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/world-of-starcraft-finally-a-reality-created-by-modders/#comments Though it's slightly lacking in originality, a StarCraft-themed version of Blizzard's World of Warcraft always seems to come up while fans are discussing the company's possible upcoming projects. One group of modders got sick of the speculation, and made this dream a reality: Using StarCraft 2's powerful user-generated content tools, the team created a surprisingly beefy World of StarCraft game mode, a video demonstration for which is posted after the jump.

Sure, it's unlikely that the mod will ever obtain the player networking features required to merit the "Massively Multiplayer" moniker ... but it still looks really neat! We just hope that it's not "really neat" enough to garner a cease and desist from Blizzard. Hopefully, it's just the right amount of "really neat."

Continue reading 'World of StarCraft' finally a reality, created by modders

Joystiq'World of StarCraft' finally a reality, created by modders originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmodpcStarcraft-2world-of-starcraftWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 18 Jan 2011 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Razer Switchblade impressions: It's a 7" gaming PC with an LCD keyboard]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/razer-switchblade-impressions-its-a-7-gaming-pc-with-an-lcd-k/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/razer-switchblade-impressions-its-a-7-gaming-pc-with-an-lcd-k/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/razer-switchblade-impressions-its-a-7-gaming-pc-with-an-lcd-k/#comments Razer may be best known for its well-regarded line of angular, extreme gaming peripherals for the core PC gaming set - think mice, keyboards, mouse pads and yes, motion controllers - but the San Diego-based company is looking to branch out into an area you may not have expected: efficient (and graphically anemic) netbook computers.

While it's an unusual move for the peripheral maker, it's not a departure from their core competency. Gaming laptops may have whittled down the bulk required for a high-end gaming experience but they're still far from portable. Inversely, netbooks are steadily becoming increasingly capable laptop replacements, but fall short when performing the most demanding tasks ... like video gaming.

Gallery: Razer Switchblade (CES 2011)

Continue reading Razer Switchblade impressions: It's a 7" gaming PC with an LCD keyboard

JoystiqRazer Switchblade impressions: It's a 7" gaming PC with an LCD keyboard originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESCES-2011mobilepcRazerRazer-SwitchbladeWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 13 Jan 2011 20:20:00 EST