blizzcon-2008 posts (Subscribe to this feed)

BlizzCon 2008: Blizzard's Rob Pardo talks Diablo 3

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 16th 2008 at 9:30AM }

We met up with Blizzard's Rob Pardo, vice-president of game design and one of Time Magazine's 2006 "100 Most Influential People in the World," at BlizzCon to ask him about all things Diablo 3, since we'd already gotten the good from him about Starcraft 2 and Battle.net. He didn't grant our wish to let us take home a copy of the Diablo 3 demo, but he did say a beta would be out for the game ... at some point. Find out what little we were able to squeeze out of him after the break.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: The Experience

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The best of WoW Insider: October 7-14, 2008

by Joystiq Staff { Oct 15th 2008 at 12:30AM }

Warcraft fans are pretty much all just as happy as that kid above (ok, well maybe not that happy). But there's lots of reasons to cheer -- BlizzCon took place in Anaheim, California this past weekend, patch 3.0.2 hit the live realms today, and next month, Wrath of the Lich King, the second WoW expansion, sees release. And throughout everything that's happening, WoW Insider has you covered -- here's our biggest stories from this weekend's convention and today's patch release.

BlizzCon 2008

BlizzCon Roundup: Day 1
Everything we saw on Friday inside the Anaheim Convention Center.
BlizzCon Roundup: Day 2
Even more news from Blizzard about World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, and Starcraft 2.
BlizzCon 2008: Sound panel
Blizzard's music team provided a rare treat during the Sound panel, and we recorded it just for you.
BlizzCon 2008: The Art Gallery
A gallery on the show floor exhibits some terrific art from all of Blizzard's games (and a few hints at what upcoming titles will look like).
BlizzCon 2008: The first day of mayhem
Didn't make it to BlizzCon? Browsing this huge gallery of the show floor will put you there anyway.
BlizzCon 2008: Costume contest
The real reason everyone goes to these conventions: the costumes.

Patch 3.0.2: Echoes of Doom

Patch 3.0.2: Echoes of Doom
Our main page for the patch has everything you need to know about what's new in game, and then some.
Barbershops live in Wrath beta
For the first time, your characters will be able to change their physical appearance. Find out how.
In-game calendar system revealed
Here's how you can use the brand-new in-game calendar to organize your gameplay.
Spellpower 101, or how I learned to love unified attributes
No more +healing or +damage -- now, all of your spell stats are combined into one.

BlizzCon 2008: In-depth Diablo 3 hands-on

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 14th 2008 at 9:30AM }

When we weren't taking photos, sitting in Starcraft 2 panels, or watching the closing ceremonies at BlizzCon, all of our available free time was devoted to Diablo 3. It was the first thing we played within minutes of the grand opening, and the game they had to pry us away from when the doors closed. Yes, it's just that good. Plus, we still have two character classes that haven't been revealed yet, so who knows what else this has in store for us.

We were happy just to be able to return to the world of Diablo after seven years since the Lord of Destruction expansion set was on store shelves, and it was worth the wait. Find out everything we could during our exhaustive hands-on after the break, and be sure to check out the galleries below that show off in-game screens and concept art. Plus we're sticking that gameplay footage in again, because it's the only way we can enjoy Diablo until there's a beta, or some sort of miracle occurs.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo 3

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Blizzard VP: Starcraft 2 Trilogy on the 3-year plan

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 13th 2008 at 10:00AM }

Blizzard's Vice President of Game Design Rob Pardo wants us to think about Starcraft 2's two followups, containing the Zerg and Protoss single player campaigns, as expansion packs, so does that mean they won't contain as much gameplay as the Terran-based initial game? Plus, you'll have to wait at least whole year between "expansions." Said Pardo, "With any luck, it would be like a year for each successive one, but that's going to be a target date, that's not a promise."

Since SC2 won't be out until 2009, you won't be able to play the Protoss single player until at least 2011. That's a long time to wait. Check out what Rob said after the break, and start yer speculatin'.

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BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III lore & art panel

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 12th 2008 at 7:30PM }

Story guru Leonard Boyarsky and background artist Chris Donnelson spoke at yesterday's Diablo III Lore & Art panel just before the closing BlizzCon eremonies, and they detailed how the background of the previous two Diablo games will tie into this one. Check out the highlights after the break, and find out how the gameplay has been changed to emphasize the story and art in this title, and what's been happening in the 20 in-game years since the events of Diablo II.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Art & Lore

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BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II lore panel

by Mike Schramm { Oct 12th 2008 at 9:00AM }

Chris Metzen and Andrew Chambers sat down at BlizzCon to chat about the lore and story behind the universe of Starcraft II. As we saw in the gameplay panel yesterday, Blizzard is aiming to really break a lot of new characters into the foreground using the adventure game-style cutscenes, and Metzen and Chambers seem really excited to bring some new faces into the RTS staple sequel.

To start off the panel, they ran through a few of the folks we'll meet in the Terran campaign. Dr. Hanson is a "Dr. Lady with glasses (so she looks really cute)," said Chambers -- originally she was designed to be a male citizen kind of person (someone the player just helps to make their way through the campaign), but they moved on to try and make Jim Raynor (Starcraft's protagionist) a sort of romantic interest. As much of a romantic interest as a hard-bitten mercenary can have, anyway.

Lots more from the SC2 lore panel below.

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BlizzCon 2008: The comedy of the closing ceremony

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 12th 2008 at 12:15AM }

BlizzCon offered up not one but two, Two, TWO comedians for the price of one at the closing ceremonies. We knew Patton Oswalt would be performing, but were weren't aware he'd have a warm-up act. As far as our experience with comedy goes (which is basically reading Ludwig's and Justin's posts), opening acts normally suck. And even though he dresses like a lumberjack and looks much older than the 31 his MySpace page claims, Kyle Kinane was funny as well.

Head after the jump to listen to the full comedy stylings of both Patton and Kyle after the break. You may never go commando in corduroy pants again.

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BlizzCon 2008: WoW Wrath of the Lich King new gameplay and images

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 11th 2008 at 7:30PM }

If you've been playing the Wrath of the Lich King beta, then this stuff isn't new to you. However, it sure is pretty. All those lush environments, just waiting to be riddled with the corpses of the vanquished. Straight to you from BlizzCon comes the video above, and the gallery below.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Jay Mohr grabs Sword of Frostmourne, kills 12 at BlizzCon

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 11th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Click to magnify the horror.

Story at 11.

BlizzCon 2008: New Starcraft II gameplay footage and images

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 11th 2008 at 6:30PM }

Been itching for some Zerg action? Now you have it, in video form. Check out the new Starcraft 2 video above, and the new screenshots down below, straight from BlizzCon. We'll have a full hands-on with Starcraft 2 and the Zerg experience later.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II

BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III gameplay panel

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 11th 2008 at 6:00PM }

Blizzard's Jay Wilson and Wyatt Cheng took the stage at BlizzCon for a second time yesterday to helm the Diablo III Gameplay panel, which gave us a few more details about the eagerly awaited third part in Blizzard's mouse-button mashing trilogy. Check out the highlights after the break, which include updates on some of the creatures you'll encounter, and how they're taking steps to mix up the gameplay by inserting "random adventures."

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Joystiq Interview: StarCraft 2 Lead Producer Chris Sigaty

by Adam Holisky { Oct 11th 2008 at 5:00PM }

click to embiggen

The big announcement at BlizzCon yesterday was the morphing of StarCraft II into a trilogy. I had the opportunity to sit down with one of the people instrumental behind this change, StarCraft II Lead Producer Chris Sigaty. I spoke with him right after the announcement was made, and we talked about how this will impact SC2, what it will mean for multiplayer games, and what challenges the developers are facing in making SC2 the best game it can be.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II

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BlizzCon 2008: The costume and dance contest

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 11th 2008 at 4:00PM }

One day of BlizzCon is already behind us, and with it came the announcement of the Wizard class for Diablo III, the fact that Starcraft II is going to be a trilogy, and the truism that World of Warcraft players really love their costume and dance contests.

Check out the video of the pants-off dance-off above, hit the links below that for some highlights, and then be sure and crawl through our galleries below for all that we've seen so far. Today brings more panels, more Diablo III news (omg wtf?!), and a closing ceremony featuring Patton Oswalt, Video Games Live, and Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain. We'll be bringing you audio and video, so keep watching.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Costume Contest

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: The Experience

BlizzCon, day one

by Elizabeth Harper { Oct 11th 2008 at 3:30PM }

Were you one of the many who didn't have the opportunity to make it out to Blizzneyland... er, we mean BlizzCon, of course... this year? Never fear, because Joystiq is on-hand to tell you exactly what's happening on the show floor. Enjoy BlizzCon from the comfort of your desk chair, away from the lines and the crowds and the delicious Diablo 3 gameplay... but we digress. On with the show. See our live coverage of:

The convention floor, full of all sorts of shiny temptations for your inner fanboy (or girl).
The uneventful opening ceremonies. I hope you weren't expecting a big announcement!
The many fans attending in costume and the costume contest.
Panels on World of Warcraft's user interface, the game's classes, the game's art, and the arena PvP tournament.
Diablo 3 news ruled the day, with the announcement of a new class (the wizard), plenty of wizard info in their class panel, new screenshots & cinematic, gameplay video, and hands-on gameplay.
The news that StarCraft 2 was being released as a trilogy (with one game for the Terran campaign, one game for the Zerg campaign, and one game for the Protoss campaign) left some people cold, but we've got to say the gameplay Blizzard is showing off still looks incredible.

Stay tuned for more news from Blizzneyland... er, BlizzCon... throughout the day.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: The Experience

Blizzard's Wilson: Some Battle.net features to be 'monetized'

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 11th 2008 at 3:00PM }

Speaking at yesterday's Diablo III Gameplay panel, Blizzard's Jay Wilson was asked one of the questions that's been hiding in the back of all of our brains, "Is Battle.Net going to remain free?"

His response probably wasn't what you'd want to hear. "We are looking to monetize Battle.Net so that we get to keep making these games and updating features," said Wilson. "We kind of have to." He went on to say that they do recognize that everyone loves having it as a free service, and that they don't have a strong desire to make a subscription-based game.

What does that mean for our beloved free online gaming service? We're hoping to find out when we talk to Blizzard bigwig Rob Pardo later this afternoon.