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[Diablo 3 for consoles may be different, but it's still Diablo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/diablo-3-for-consoles-may-be-different-but-its-still-diablo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/diablo-3-for-consoles-may-be-different-but-its-still-diablo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/diablo-3-for-consoles-may-be-different-but-its-still-diablo/#commentsDiablo 3 for consoles different, but still Diablo Utter the phrase "Diablo for consoles" to anyone that has some familiarity with gaming history and you're bound to hear some Sideshow Bob-style shudders in response. Blizzard's skeleton-clicking series didn't have the most graceful entry into the world of console gaming, and after a disastrous 1998 PlayStation port Diablo hasn't dared to leave its PC home.

This year, however, Blizzard revealed Diablo 3 would make the transition with versions coming to Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One and PS4, finally giving console players a taste of the magic they've been missing out on for well over a decade.

Thankfully, Blizzard has been much more thoughtful this time about transitioning a mouse-and-keyboard-driven experience to console controls.

Gallery: Diablo 3 (E3 2013)

PS3 MultiplayerPS3 MultiplayerPS3 MultiplayerPS3 MultiplayerPS3 Multiplayer

Continue reading Diablo 3 for consoles may be different, but it's still Diablo

JoystiqDiablo 3 for consoles may be different, but it's still Diablo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentDiablo-3microsoftplaystationps3xboxThu, 13 Jun 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 coming to Xbox 360 as well, dated worldwide Sept. 3 [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/diablo-3-coming-to-360-as-well-dated-worldwide-sept-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/diablo-3-coming-to-360-as-well-dated-worldwide-sept-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/diablo-3-coming-to-360-as-well-dated-worldwide-sept-3/#commentsDiablo 3 coming to 360 as well, dated September 3 Blizzard revealed it's bringing Diablo 3 to the Xbox 360 as well as the PS3 and PS4. The worldwide release date for both current-gen consoles is September 3.

The console edition of the action-RPG was originally announced for the PS3 and PS4 back in February. However, a month later it emerged Diablo 3 on consoles wasn't necessarily Sony-exclusive, and sure enough Blizzard announced the Xbox 360 version this morning.

Blizzard says both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions include all the "major content and design updates" made to the original PC game, which was released last summer. Also, pre-orders on both platforms receive the 'Infernal Helm' in-game item.

Update: When asked if Diablo 3 is coming to the Xbox One, a Blizzard spokesperson told Joystiq, "We're excited for console players to get their hands on Diablo 3, but we don't have any further platform announcements to share at this time."

JoystiqDiablo 3 coming to Xbox 360 as well, dated worldwide Sept. 3 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardDiablo-3microsoftplaystationps3release-datexboxThu, 06 Jun 2013 09:05:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2 adds 'spawning' system (it's not as gross as it sounds)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/starcraft-2-adds-spawning-system-its-not-as-gross-as-it-soun/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/starcraft-2-adds-spawning-system-its-not-as-gross-as-it-soun/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/starcraft-2-adds-spawning-system-its-not-as-gross-as-it-soun/#comments
Blizzard has instituted a spawning system in StarCraft 2, granting free access to gameplay features when moochers party up with players who have purchased the game.

When you jump into multiplayer, you play the most current version of the game owned by at least one person in the party. If you have the Starter Edition and you're playing with someone who has purchased StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, for instance, you'll both play Heart of the Swarm. The same goes for parties greater than two.

Spawning is being rolled out globally today. Not all regions have access to it yet, but Blizzard assures us it's in progress.

JoystiqStarCraft 2 adds 'spawning' system (it's not as gross as it sounds) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardpcspawningstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmStarCraft-2-Starter-EditionStarcraft-2-Wings-of-Libertystarter-editionTue, 04 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Next Blizzard MMO restarts development, pushed until 2016 [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/report-next-blizzard-mmo-restarts-development-pushed-until-201/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/report-next-blizzard-mmo-restarts-development-pushed-until-201/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/report-next-blizzard-mmo-restarts-development-pushed-until-201/#commentsReport Next Blizzard MMO restarts development, not published until 2016 VentureBeat is reporting via "a source familiar with the matter" that Blizzard Entertainment has reset development on its long-rumored post-World of Warcraft MMO, codenamed "Titan." The source says Blizzard had 100 people working on the project, but that number has been reduced to just 30, with those dismissed being put to work on other games. Titan never had an official release date, but VentureBeat claims it won't be ready to publish until 2016 at the earliest.

Joystiq has also gained information on this development, with a source claiming the project "just wasn't up to polish." Stripped down to the core ideas, the game will now restart its process from the ground up.

Blizzard is no stranger to long and laborious development schedules. Diablo 3 famously went through multiple redesigns over ten years of development, and StarCraft Ghost was "postponed" after years of work, then never seen again.

Blizzard is gearing up to release a new digital card game named Hearthstone later this year, and then host a sold-out BlizzCon 2013 in November.

Update: Zam (via Massively) reports Blizzard, when approached, responded with this statement:
"We've always had a highly iterative development process, and the unannounced MMO is no exception. We've come to a point where we need to make some large design and technology changes to the game. We're using this opportunity to shift some of our resources to assist with other projects while the core team adapts our technology and tools to accommodate these new changes. Note that we haven't announced any dates for the MMO."

JoystiqReport: Next Blizzard MMO restarts development, pushed until 2016 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 May 2013 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdevelopmentmmopcreleaserumortitanTue, 28 May 2013 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a peek at Diablo 3's new menu system, controls for PS3/PS4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/take-a-peek-at-diablo-3s-new-menu-system-controls-for-ps3-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/take-a-peek-at-diablo-3s-new-menu-system-controls-for-ps3-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/take-a-peek-at-diablo-3s-new-menu-system-controls-for-ps3-ps4/#comments
John Hight, who serves as Production Director on Diablo 3, says the most exciting thing about the PS4, in Blizzard's eyes, is the controller. "This is not a mouse, this is something different for us," Blizzard Senior System Designer Jason Bender says of the DualShock 4. "Working on a console version of Diablo 3, for us that means the controller is king," Lead Console Designer Josh Mosqueira adds.

The use of both analog sticks comes from a perceived player expectation on Blizzard's part - players will just expect to be able to do that with a console controller, Mosqueira says. The console versions of Diablo 3 on PS3 and PS4 will feature an evasion roll technique not available on PC.

The trackpad is demonstrated in the video above, sorting through a player's inventory in the new radial-style interface. "We really built our inventory screens and the UI system from the ground up," says Mosqueira. Another new ability is quick equip - at any time, players can press up on the dpad to cycle through the last few acquired items and equip any of them.

JoystiqTake a peek at Diablo 3's new menu system, controls for PS3/PS4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardDiablo-3dualshock-4playstationplaystation-4ps3ps4Thu, 16 May 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate Diablo 3's birthday with Magic Find and EXP boosts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/celebrate-diablo-3s-birthday-with-magic-find-and-exp-boosts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/celebrate-diablo-3s-birthday-with-magic-find-and-exp-boosts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/celebrate-diablo-3s-birthday-with-magic-find-and-exp-boosts/#comments One year ago, The Diablo 3 servers went public. In celebration of the Lord of Terror's re-birthday, Blizzard is granting Diablo 3 players some special in-game boosts. From now until May 21, all dungeon-crawlers will receive an extra 25 percent bonus to both Magic Find and EXP. In addition, this bonus will stack above the usual 300 percent cap.

In addition, many Diablo 3 Twitch streamers are holding celebrations of their own, hosting special streams and giveaways. You can find the schedule right here.

Last week, Blizzard implemented a boost of a different sort, massively expanding Diablo 3's in-game gold reserves, but that was an accident.

JoystiqCelebrate Diablo 3's birthday with Magic Find and EXP boosts originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardDiablo-3macpcThu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 Auction House back online sans bug, exploiters punished]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/diablo-3-auction-house-back-online-sans-bug-exploiters-punished/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/diablo-3-auction-house-back-online-sans-bug-exploiters-punished/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/diablo-3-auction-house-back-online-sans-bug-exploiters-punished/#comments Diablo 3's Auction House is back online after Blizzard took it down earlier this week, following an update bug that allowed players to duplicate trillions in gold. Blizzard found the bug, exterminated it, and will now donate all proceeds generated from the exploit to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Blizzard will not roll back the servers across the board, but will instead target specific accounts that used the exploit, banning or rolling back those users depending on their activity.

"Only a relatively small number of players had the billions of gold necessary to exploit the bug, and only 415 of those players chose to use this exploit for personal gain," Blizzard Production Director John Hight writes in the Battle.net forums.

As of yesterday, Blizzard had recaptured 85 percent of the erroneous gold and was working to track down the remaining currency.

JoystiqDiablo 3 Auction House back online sans bug, exploiters punished originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseBlizzardbugDiablo-3exploitgoldpcreal-money-auction-houseSun, 12 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft subscribers drop by 1.3 million in three months]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscribers-drop-by-1-3-million-in-three-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscribers-drop-by-1-3-million-in-three-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscribers-drop-by-1-3-million-in-three-month/#comments World of Warcraft's subscriber base is down to 8.3 million as of March 31, representing a 14 percent drop in the past three months. In the previous-quarter financials, Activision-Blizzard said the MMO had 9.6 million subscribers, but 1.3 million have since said so long to Azeroth.

"Though the majority of our subscriber decline occurred mainly in the East, where we have more subscribers and lower revenue per subscriber, we saw declines in the West as well," Activision-Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a financials call.

"While we do believe further declines are likely and we expect to have fewer subscribers at year-end than we do today, World of Warcraft remains one of the most successful franchises in the history of entertainment," he added.

To put the plummet into perspective, it would be like the Governor of New Hampshire decreeing that every citizen must cease playing World of Warcraft - that is, if every citizen of New Hampshire plays World of Warcraft. Which they do.

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft subscribers drop by 1.3 million in three months originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardfinancialsmacpcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWWed, 08 May 2013 16:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 patch 1.08 has gold duplication bug, Blizzard working on fix]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-3-patch-1-08-has-gold-duplication-bug-blizzard-working-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-3-patch-1-08-has-gold-duplication-bug-blizzard-working-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-3-patch-1-08-has-gold-duplication-bug-blizzard-working-o/#comments Blizzard rolled out patch 1.08 to Diablo 3's American servers yesterday and, along with it, a very substantial bug. The patch increased the stack size for in-game gold in the auction house from 1 million to 10 million, effectively making gold ten times cheaper. Players then discovered a serious bug: Canceling a gold auction refunded them double the amount listed. Streams of the bug in action soon spread the word quickly. Thanks to the higher stack size, players were reportedly duplicating trillions in gold. Some were buying up high-value items in the auction house, thus driving up prices and massively inflating the in-game economy.

Blizzard became aware of the issue last night and shut down the auction house. As of midnight Pacific, the company had created a fix for the problem, but it still hasn't been implemented. The studio has decided not to rollback the update, and will instead "make corrections" to individual accounts. Writing on the Diablo 3 forums, community manager Lylirra stated, "We feel that this is the best course of action given the nature of the dupe, how relatively few players used it, and the fact that its effects were fairly limited within the region."

We've contacted Blizzard regarding the current status of the problem.

[Thanks, Pablo and Erik!]

JoystiqDiablo 3 patch 1.08 has gold duplication bug, Blizzard working on fix originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardDiablo-3macpcWed, 08 May 2013 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard acquires IGN's Pro League tech, staff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/blizzard-acquires-ign-pro-league/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/blizzard-acquires-ign-pro-league/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/blizzard-acquires-ign-pro-league/#comments Blizzard acquires IGN's pro gaming techBlizzard has purchased the IGN Pro League (IPL) technology and assets from IGN. The developer has also hired members of the IPL staff to create high-quality content in support of Blizzard's eSports. IGN will now go "agnostic" in its competitive gaming coverage, seeking to partner "with multiple organizations" to cover the events.

"This is a team of passionate gamers with a proven track record, and we're looking forward to now leveraging their expertise and technology to support a variety of online efforts," said Itzik Ben-Bassat, Blizzard's EVP of publishing.

The IGN ProLeague 6 event, scheduled for late March, was officially canceled early last month. IGN is currently going through a review of resources following its acquisition by Ziff Davis.

JoystiqBlizzard acquires IGN's Pro League tech, staff originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentigniplipl6Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzcon tickets available April 24 and 27]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/blizzcon-tickets-available-april-24-and-27/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/blizzcon-tickets-available-april-24-and-27/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/blizzcon-tickets-available-april-24-and-27/#comments Blizzcon won't be returning to the Anaheim Convention Center until this November, but tickets will go on sale (and inevitably sell out) this month. Specifically, tickets will be available in two batches, with the first going on sale April 24 at 7pm Pacific. The second batch is set for April 27 at 10am Pacific. Tickets will cost $175 and will be available directly from Blizzcon.com.

Additionally, approximately 200 tickets for the Blizzcon Benefit Dinner, an event benefiting the Children's Hospital of Orange County, will go on sale on May 1 at 7pm Pacific. These tickets will run for $500 and include full Blizzcon admission. Proceeds will go the Children's Hospital of Orange County.

The convention itself will take place on November 8 and 9, and will doubtless feature all the latest news regarding World of Warcraft, StarCraft 2, Diablo 3 and possibly Blizzard's mysterious new "Titan" MMO.

Continue reading Blizzcon tickets available April 24 and 27

JoystiqBlizzcon tickets available April 24 and 27 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardmacpcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 04 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3's missing runestones found at GDC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/diablo-3s-missing-runestones-found-at-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/diablo-3s-missing-runestones-found-at-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/diablo-3s-missing-runestones-found-at-gdc/#comments If you've followed Diablo 3's development for a long time, you might remember the idea of Runestones. They were meant to be actual in-game items that could supplement character abilities in various ways, such as adding a fire attack to a melee hit, or doubling the power of a spell for free. When the game arrived last year, the Runestone system was nowhere to be seen, replaced by the controversial Skill Rune system. So where did those Runestones go? Diablo 3's technical designer Wyatt Cheng said during a talk at GDC that they're still around, in one form or another.

The Runestone system was originally created to add flexibility to character skills, and to give players a chance to experiment and play around with new abilities after they had gained them through leveling up. The original idea had ten different effects that could be added to various abilities, including striking, lethality, efficiency, life-stealing, poison, slowing and so on. But ten was too many, Blizzard decided, and they opted to boil them down into five different stone types (Crimson, Obsidian, Indigo, Golden and Alabaster) that would each affect skills in a few different ways.

Cheng said having actual stones in the inventory worked in a few different ways. It gave the system a sense of discovery, as players enjoyed seeing which stones granted certain effects, and it accomplished the original goal of allowing players to experiment with customization. Managing the stones in the game's inventory was a "nightmare," according to Cheng, and player expectations didn't always match what the stones actually provided.

In the end, the team went with the existing Skill Rune system, which allowed Blizzard to give specific skill and stone combinations more "flavorful names," and let the team make sure that the added effects were appropriate for the skills they matched. But Cheng said the effects were still in there: Some runes still slow opponents or add more damage to attacks, and those were the effects originally conferred by the stones of Indigo and Crimson.

JoystiqDiablo 3's missing runestones found at GDC originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentcharacterdesigndesignerdesignersDiablo-3gdcgdc-2013gdc2013pcrunesrunestonesskill-runesskillswyatt-chengSat, 30 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 for consoles 'not necessarily a Sony exclusive']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/diablo-3-for-consoles-not-necessarily-a-sony-exclusive/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/diablo-3-for-consoles-not-necessarily-a-sony-exclusive/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/diablo-3-for-consoles-not-necessarily-a-sony-exclusive/#comments

Diablo 3 is a beast, a monster that Sony wrangled down for what appeared to be an exclusive, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Speaking to the Penny Arcade Report, Diablo 3 Senior Producer Julia Humphreys clarified the game's platform agnosticism saying, "We don't have any announcements to make at this time ... But we're not necessarily a Sony exclusive."

Diablo 3 for consoles has only been confirmed for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 at this point. The version shown at PAX East today was the PS3 version.

Features noted for the PS3 version include less spammy loot drops, an easier system to equip items directly form the main game screen and reiteration of no real-money auction house and the ability for offline play.

JoystiqDiablo 3 for consoles 'not necessarily a Sony exclusive' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardDiablo-3pax-east-2013playstationps3ps4Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 PS3 footage looks about right]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/diablo-3-ps3-footage-looks-about-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/diablo-3-ps3-footage-looks-about-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/diablo-3-ps3-footage-looks-about-right/#comments
After Blizzard announced that Diablo 3 was coming to PlayStation 3, many of us may have wondered just what it looked like in motion. As it turns out, it looks an awful lot like Diablo 3.

JoystiqDiablo 3 PS3 footage looks about right originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardDiablo-3playstationps3Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard announces digital collectible card game Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/watch-blizzards-pax-east-announcement-right-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/watch-blizzards-pax-east-announcement-right-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/watch-blizzards-pax-east-announcement-right-here/#comments
Blizzard's PAX East announcement is Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, a cross-platform digital collectible card game for PC, Mac, and iPad set in the Warcraft universe. The game is free-to-play, with booster packs of five cards available. Blizzard has a price of around $1 in mind for the packs; Hearthstone will have 300 cards in the initial collection. Hearthstone is scheduled to release this year, first on PC and Mac, with iPad shortly after. The beta is out this summer and can be signed-up for now. The game is playable on PAX East's show floor.

Each player's deck is based around a central hero from one of nine Warcraft classes. Players can take on computer opponents or Battle.net friends and other online players. At today's PAX East panel, Blizzard showed how Hearthstone includes twists on familiar mechanics from its Warcraft games, including disenchanting duplicate cards to turn them into arcane dust for use in card crafting.

Gallery: Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

Continue reading Blizzard announces digital collectible card game Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

JoystiqBlizzard announces digital collectible card game Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardhearthstone-heroes-of-warcraftiosipadmacmobilepax-east-2013pcrelease-dateFri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![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[Upcoming Diablo 3 patch increases Legendary item drop rarity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/upcoming-diablo-3-patch-increases-legendary-item-drop-rarity/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/upcoming-diablo-3-patch-increases-legendary-item-drop-rarity/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/upcoming-diablo-3-patch-increases-legendary-item-drop-rarity/#comments Blizzard is hard at work on the next patch for Diablo 3, version 1.0.8, but designer Travis Day and others at Blizzard thankfully took some time to detail a few of the changes coming. For one, Legendary item drops will be have increased rarity, as will Rare items. Legendary items will also be tweaked to roll base stats based on the level of the monster that dropped them. "When a Legendary drops, the question that goes through a player's mind should never be 'is this a good item?' It should be 'how awesome is it?,'" Day wrote in a blog post.

Other changes include the ability to multi-craft, for players that need to quickly craft several copies of the same recipe. You'll also be able to directly compare items you're looking to purchase against current equipment, and senior technical game designer Wyatt Cheng promises improved co-op farming mechanics.

"We are looking to improve co-op farming efficiency in 1.0.8," Cheng said in a forum post. "Co-op play in general is a big focus of the 1.0.8 patch and efficiency is definitely one component of that. Co-op is already more efficient for some players, but this is the exception rather than the norm. The degree of co-op efficiency depends heavily on the co-ordination of the party, skill builds, and the relative gear level of the teammates. Since launch we've made some modest changes to encourage co-op play but there's still room to go farther."

One of these changes is the new Identify All feature, which will ensure co-op players never need halt dungeon progression to run back to town and identify items. "Sometimes the trip back to town to sort through a bag of gear is enough of a hurdle to make somebody feel playing co-op isn't worth it. Nobody wants to be in the dungeon fighting monsters while your teammate is off in town identifying a full inventory," Cheng concluded.

At the moment, there is no official launch date for Diablo 3's 1.0.8 update.

JoystiqUpcoming Diablo 3 patch increases Legendary item drop rarity originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Mar 2013 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardDiablo-3pcplaystationps3ps4Sat, 09 Mar 2013 01:30:00 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 trailer shows Sarah's vengeful side]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-trailer-shows-sarahs-vengeful-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-trailer-shows-sarahs-vengeful-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-trailer-shows-sarahs-vengeful-s/#comments

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm takes Sarah Kerrigan down a dark path of vengeance, mass murder and blowing up entire cities. But it's OK - she's "not even human anymore," according to the latest trailer. Check it out above. The video premiered during Blizzard's livestream and Q&A session today.

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm drops on March 12, and the public beta ends in just a few days, on March 1.

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm trailer shows Sarah's vengeful side originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardpcSarah-Kerriganstarcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmvengeanceTue, 26 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 on PS3 and PS4 will allow offline play]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/diablo-3-on-ps3-and-ps4-will-allow-offline-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/diablo-3-on-ps3-and-ps4-will-allow-offline-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/diablo-3-on-ps3-and-ps4-will-allow-offline-play/#comments

Diablo 3 will not require a constant internet connection for local multiplayer on the PS3 or PS4, Blizzard production director John Hight has confirmed. "You can have four people on the same screen - no split-screen, we just zoom the camera out. Or if you're offline," he tells Geoff Keighley on GameTrailers.

It's around the two-minute mark where Hight goes into the changes to Diablo 3 for PS3 and PS4 in the episode above - specifically, the talk about the camera and local multiplayer. Hight reveals there's also a new evasion ability to help players quickly escape large encounters.

Diablo 3 launched on the PC and Mac OSX with a required connection to Blizzard's Battle.net service, even when playing single-player. Blizzard previously revealed the PS3/PS4 versions will have a different UI and feature all major PC updates.

Gallery: Diablo 3 (PS3/PS4)

JoystiqDiablo 3 on PS3 and PS4 will allow offline play originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardchris-metzenDiablo-3john-hightplaystationplaystation-4ps3ps4Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm lets you recover lost games, take command during replays]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-lets-you-recover-lost-games-tak/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-lets-you-recover-lost-games-tak/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-lets-you-recover-lost-games-tak/#comments
StarCraft 2 community manager Kevin Johnson produced the above video, a quick rundown of some major additions to the StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm eSports suite and multiplayer experience. Chief among these new features is "Take Command," which allows you to jump into a replay and take over as any player - you can rewrite history, prove your strategy yields better results or relive the conquests of your favorite eSports match-up.

You can now also recover games. No matter how your game ended prematurely, you can round up all the original players and pick up from where you left off. Or not, there's an option to set the start time in the recovered game to whenever you want.

Additionally, players can watch replays in a group, and individual units now benefit from new physics - the example above shows a cadre of Terran soldiers being torn apart in rather animated fashion as they fight off some Zerg. Remember, kids: the only good bug is a dead bug.

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm launches on March 12, 2013. The game's ongoing public beta is slated to end on March 1.

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm lets you recover lost games, take command during replays originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardcloakenkevin-johnsonmultiplayerpcstarcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmThu, 21 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 on PS4 and PS3 will feature all major PC updates, first screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/diablo-3-on-ps4-and-ps3-will-feature-all-major-pc-updates-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/diablo-3-on-ps4-and-ps3-will-feature-all-major-pc-updates-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/diablo-3-on-ps4-and-ps3-will-feature-all-major-pc-updates-first/#comments Diablo 3 on PS4 and PS3 will feature all major PC updatesDiablo 3 is heading to the PS4 and PS3 with some goodies in tow, bringing all of the PC version's latest updates, "including Paragon levels, the Infernal Machine event, Monster Power, Brawling, and more," Blizzard writes. The console version will of course have customized controls, a new user interface and fresh camera perspective. Check out the first console images in the gallery below.

Diablo 3 on PS4 and PS3 will support singleplayer and two versions of multiplayer: up to four-player, local split-screen, or four-player online games. Blizzard will debut a playable demo of Diablo 3's PS3 version at PAX East from March 22 - 24.

Gallery: Diablo 3 (PS3/PS4)

JoystiqDiablo 3 on PS4 and PS3 will feature all major PC updates, first screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardDiablo-3playstationplaystation-2013playstation-4ps3ps4SONYThu, 21 Feb 2013 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard announces Diablo 3 coming to PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/blizzard-announces-diablo-3-coming-to-playstation-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/blizzard-announces-diablo-3-coming-to-playstation-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/blizzard-announces-diablo-3-coming-to-playstation-4/#comments Blizzard announces Diablo 3 coming to PlayStation 4Blizzard Entertainment's Senior VP of Story and Franchise development Chris Metzen joined Sony during its PlayStation 4 announcement today to say that "Blizzard and Sony have entered into a strategic partnership, through which we will take over the world." The first product of that worldwide takeover will be a console port of Diablo 3, playable on both the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4.

Metzen said the game is already up and running on the PlayStation 3, and will contain a split-screen mode for local gameplay. "In the coming months, we'll formally debut the game," he added, telling fans to look for more news at PAX East, coming up at the end of next month. "We're very excited about our partnership with Sony and what the future has in store for us," Metzen finished. Diablo 3 is coming to consoles, folks, whether you like it or not.

JoystiqBlizzard announces Diablo 3 coming to PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentconsolediablodiablo-3playstationplaystation-3playstation-4ps3Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzcon is back in action Nov. 8, 9 in Anaheim]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/blizzcon-is-back-in-action-nov-8-9-in-anaheim/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/blizzcon-is-back-in-action-nov-8-9-in-anaheim/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/blizzcon-is-back-in-action-nov-8-9-in-anaheim/#comments Blizzcon 2013Blizzcon is back with a vengeance this year, scheduled for Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The convention took a vacation last year, making Blizzcon 2013 a super-special occasion.

This year's show will feature all the trappings of previous installments, including panels, tournaments, contests, rare merchandise, demos of the newest Blizzard games and the Global finals of Blizzard esports, all focused on the World of Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo franchises.

There's no word yet on when tickets to Blizzcon 2013 will go on sale, though hotel reservations are live through the Blizzcon portal. Keep in mind that in 2011, tickets to Blizzcon sold out within seconds.

Continue reading Blizzcon is back in action Nov. 8, 9 in Anaheim

JoystiqBlizzcon is back in action Nov. 8, 9 in Anaheim originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2013DiablopcstarcraftwarcraftWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 19 Feb 2013 13:00:00 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[World of Warcraft subscribers dip to 9.6 million, up from Cataclysm low]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/world-of-warcraft-subscribers-dip-to-9-6-million-up-from-catacl/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/world-of-warcraft-subscribers-dip-to-9-6-million-up-from-catacl/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/world-of-warcraft-subscribers-dip-to-9-6-million-up-from-catacl/#comments World of Warcraft subscribers dip to 96 million, up from Cataclysm lowWhen the Mists of Pandaria expansion launched for World of Warcraft, Activision Blizzard reported more than 10 million players, up from 9.1 million after Cataclysm. In today's financial call, Activision reported World of Warcraft had 9.6 million subscribers. It's like a roller coaster, kind of.

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft subscribers dip to 9.6 million, up from Cataclysm low originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzardpcsubscriptionWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 07 Feb 2013 21:15:00 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[Diablo 3 director Jay Wilson moves on to new Blizzard project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/diablo-3-director-jay-wilson-moves-on-to-new-blizzard-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/diablo-3-director-jay-wilson-moves-on-to-new-blizzard-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/diablo-3-director-jay-wilson-moves-on-to-new-blizzard-project/#comments Jay Wilson, who has been directing Diablo 3 for seven years, has decided to move on to other projects within Blizzard. Writing on the Blizzard forums, Wilson says that while working on Diablo 3 has "been one of the most challenging and rewarding periods of my life, I've reached a point creatively where I'm looking forward to working on something new." Wilson promises fans that support for Diablo 3 will continue and that he will aid the team as Blizzard finds a new director.

Wilson makes note of Diablo 3's bumpy launch and its subsequent woes. The development team doesn't always make "the right decisions" he admitted, "but if we made a mistake then I feel we've made an exceptional effort to correct it." That effort includes scads of additional items and changes to drop rates, as well as the Monster Power and Paragon systems.

As for what project Wilson will take on next, we'll just have to wait and see.

JoystiqDiablo 3 director Jay Wilson moves on to new Blizzard project originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardDiablo-3jay-wilsonmacpcFri, 18 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Diablo 3 patch offers dueling without all the pain]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/latest-diablo-3-patch-offers-dueling-without-all-the-pain/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/latest-diablo-3-patch-offers-dueling-without-all-the-pain/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/latest-diablo-3-patch-offers-dueling-without-all-the-pain/#comments Diablo 3 Patch 107 adds duelingBlizzard is hard at work on patch 1.0.7 for Diablo 3 and revealed a preview of the changes it will include, the most notable of which is a dueling feature. In December Blizzard said it would work on a dueling system, though there was no word on how it would work. Today's preview solves some of that mystery: Dueling will be a safe environment for players to kick the crud out of each other, devoid of "the potential for griefing as it existed in Diablo 2," Blizzard writes.

Players who wish to duel must speak with Nek the Brawler at the inn in New Tristram, who will transport the party to the Scorched Chapel, a new area designed specifically for dueling. Scorched Chapel has four areas, the church, graveyard, river and lake, and supports up to four players in free-for-all battles. Dueling doesn't offer any rewards aside from bragging rights, and death in the dueling area isn't permanent, even for Hardcore players.

Other updates in patch 1.0.7 include class updates, crafting additions, monster power and affix changes, and quality of life improvements. Check out the entire preview list here.

JoystiqLatest Diablo 3 patch offers dueling without all the pain originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardDiablo-3duelingpatchpcupdateMon, 14 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 'Team Deathmatch' goes back to the drawing board, 'dueling' coming in the new year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/diablo-3-team-deathmatch-goes-back-to-the-drawing-board-duel/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/diablo-3-team-deathmatch-goes-back-to-the-drawing-board-duel/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/diablo-3-team-deathmatch-goes-back-to-the-drawing-board-duel/#comments Diablo 3's Team Deathmatch mode has been a long-promised addition for players of the loot-hunting dungeon crawler since it first launched seven months ago. Though the mode is up and running at Blizzard, a blog post from Blizzard's Jay Wilson says the Player vs. Player-focused mode "isn't yet where we want it to be," and thus won't be released in its current form.

One reason the mode has eluded release is its lack of depth. "Simply fighting each other with no other objectives or choices to make gets old relatively quickly. We've brought a lot of people in to try out Team Deathmatch and, while some found it entertaining, most of our testers didn't feel like it was something they'd want to do beyond a few hours," Wilson wrote. The mode requires more varied objectives and lucrative rewards to compel players to keep playing over time, Diablo 3's lead designer added.

Another issue is class balance in a game designed with Player vs. Environment scenarios in mind. "In a casual PvP mode, something equivalent to a WoW Battleground, this would be fine, but Team Deathmatch felt very hardcore, and it put a laser focus on class balance in a way that we didn't think would be good for the game as a whole." Because of these issues, Blizzard has decided to go "back to the drawing board on a new replacement for Team Deathmatch." Whatever the mode ends up evolving into will indeed be free, Wilson noted.

Wilson adds Blizzard will add "Dueling" soon, due to fan demand. "First and foremost, if our original goal was to support dueling, then we're not achieving that goal very well if we don't actually give players a way to duel in-game," he wrote. Dueling will be added to Diablo 3 in patch 1.0.7., set to arrive after the new year.

JoystiqDiablo 3 'Team Deathmatch' goes back to the drawing board, 'dueling' coming in the new year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentDiablo-3Jay-WilsonmacpcPVPThu, 27 Dec 2012 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo statue claws its way out of Hell June 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/diablo-statue-claws-its-way-out-of-hell-june-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/diablo-statue-claws-its-way-out-of-hell-june-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/diablo-statue-claws-its-way-out-of-hell-june-2013/#comments Diablo the StatueBrian Fay, the creator of the impressive Arthas statue, has been commissioned by Blizzard again, this time to summon the demon Diablo in premium-priced novelty form. The polystone sculpture pictured above stands 22 inches atop its base, where it commands a fearsome hand-painted visage and imposing $349.99 price tag.

Statues are available for pre-order through manufacturer Slideshow Collectibles' website right now. Statues are expected to ship starting in June of 2013.

JoystiqDiablo statue claws its way out of Hell June 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzarddiabloDiablo-3pcslideshow-collectiblesFri, 30 Nov 2012 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard celebrates Black Friday with Diablo 3, StarCraft 2 deals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/blizzard-celebrates-black-friday-with-diablo-3-starcraft-2-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/blizzard-celebrates-black-friday-with-diablo-3-starcraft-2-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/blizzard-celebrates-black-friday-with-diablo-3-starcraft-2-deal/#comments Blizzard Black Friday stuffBlizzard's Black Friday offer is sweet and simple: StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty and Diablo 3 are each $20 off, now through Monday, November 26. StarCraft 2 is $20, while Diablo 3 turns out to be $40. These deals are blowing directly through the Blizzard Store.

Other Blizzard wares, specifically in the World of Warcraft realm, can be found on the cheap at various retailers, including GameStop, Target, Best Buy and Amazon.

JoystiqBlizzard celebrates Black Friday with Diablo 3, StarCraft 2 deals originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridayblack-friday-2012Blizzarddiablo-3holiday-2012pcStarcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyWed, 21 Nov 2012 01:00:00 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[Blizzard faces class action suit over account authenticators]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/blizzard-faces-class-action-suit-over-account-authenticators/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/blizzard-faces-class-action-suit-over-account-authenticators/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/blizzard-faces-class-action-suit-over-account-authenticators/#comments Blizzard Entertainment is facing a class action lawsuit over the sale of its Battle.net authenticators, which are used to provide security for player account information for games such as World of Warcraft and Diablo 3. The suit, filed by the law firm Carney Williams Bates Pulliam & Bowman, PLLC in the Central District of California, alleged that the authenticators were needed by players "in order to have even minimal protection for their sensitive personal, private, and financial data." The lawsuit referred to an August security breach in which no financial user data was reported to be stolen.

The class action suit posited that Blizzard practiced "deceptive upselling," in that it allegedly failed "to disclose to consumers that additional products must be acquired after buying the games in order to ensure the security of information stored in online accounts that are requisites for playing."

A Blizzard representative told Forbes that "this suit is without merit and filled with patently false information, and we will vigorously defend ourselves through the appropriate legal channels." The representative said the use of the authenticator tool was optional for players, and offered players "an added level of security against account-theft attempts that stem from sources such as phishing attacks, viruses packaged with seemingly harmless file downloads, and websites embedded with malicious code."

Blizzard's statement continued, "the suit's claim that we didn't properly notify players regarding the August 2012 security breach is not true. Not only did Blizzard act quickly to provide information to the public about the situation, we explained the actions we were taking and let players know how the incident affected them, including the fact that no names, credit card numbers, or other sensitive financial information was disclosed."

Continue reading Blizzard faces class action suit over account authenticators

JoystiqBlizzard faces class action suit over account authenticators originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountauthenticatorbattle.netBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbreachclass-actionDiablo-3lawsuitpcsecuritySat, 10 Nov 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mists of Pandaria and the new age of World of Warcraft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mists-of-pandaria-and-the-new-age-of-the-world-of-warcraft/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mists-of-pandaria-and-the-new-age-of-the-world-of-warcraft/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mists-of-pandaria-and-the-new-age-of-the-world-of-warcraft/#comments Back in March during a press event for the fourth expansion for World of Warcraft, Blizzard's VP of Creative Development Chris Metzen said that the release of Mists of Pandaria would mark a turning point for the grandest of MMOs. "This is definitely different fare from any expansion we've tried so far," he said at the time. Mists of Pandaria, Blizzard believed right in the middle of its development, wasn't just about five more levels or pet battles or big, playable Pandas, though all of those things are in there. It was about designing the next cycle of content for World of Warcraft. "The big global threat that's coming, to define the next couple years of WoW's gameplay, is really war itself," Metzen said.

At the end of the last expansion, Cataclysm, Blizzard did need a new plan. Long ago, even before the game's first Burning Crusade expansion, word had leaked out that the development team had ideas for expansions about the world's Northrend continent (which eventually became the Wrath of the Lich King expansion), and the setting's elemental planes (which was reworked into Cataclysm). But Pandaria was never on that list, or any other lists that have reached the public's eyes before it was announced.

So Mists of Pandaria, then, does represent a new turn in the already long and still growing story of World of Warcraft. It represents not only a turn in the game's lore (which up until this point has been heavily based on the series' previous titles), but a turn in the game's direction, the first step in answering how (and even why) you keep a PC game this old and this unwieldy still profitable, fresh, and growing.

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

Continue reading Mists of Pandaria and the new age of World of Warcraft

JoystiqMists of Pandaria and the new age of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardblizzardmacpcworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariaFri, 09 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST