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Reminder: Second batch of BlizzCon tickets go on sale at 10AM Pacific today, May 30

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 30th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Don't have a ticket to BlizzCon 2009 and still want to go? Best lock and load, because the second batch of entry passes go on sale today at 10AM Pacific on the Blizzard site. The first set sold out in less than 30 minutes, so if you're not there at precisely the appointed hour when the golden passes go on sale ... seriously, just don't bother.

The tickets cost $125 apiece and there's always the option to "attend" though DirectTV's $40 pay-per-view. But just imagine all the sights, sounds and smells you'd be missing. Best of luck to the faithful (and forsaken) warriors attempting to grab a ticket.

[Via Big Download, WoW]

First round of BlizzCon 2009 tickets sold out in under 30 minutes

by Griffin McElroy { May 17th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Convinced that the creators of their favorite PC gaming titles just weren't making enough money with its MMO/Class 3 Narcotic, World of Warcraft, Blizzard fans came out of the woodwork yesterday to throw buckets of cash at the aforementioned developer. No, they weren't generously donating -- they were purchasing one of the rarest scraps of paper in existence: A golden ticket to BlizzCon 2009.

Said buckets of moolah were flying fast and furious -- the first round of tickets, priced at $125 a pop (a $25 increase over last year), sold out within 30 minutes. Don't fret if you don't get your hands on any of the remaining entry passes (the next round drops May 30) -- you can always pay-per-view the entire event on DirecTV (or online) for $39.99. A hefty fee, but given the huge games they'll likely be showcasing this year, it might just be worth it.

BlizzCon 09 tickets on sale May 16, event streamed online for first time

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 5th 2009 at 7:45PM }

Blizzard announced to its children today that they may pay for their return to the warm bosom of BlizzCon on May 16. The cost for the "Tickets of Comradery" will set back the faitful's coin purses by $125 -- that's a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Blizzard apparently has a new system in place to prevent last year's ticket fiasco. Come May 16, attendee hopefuls go to the ticketing website and sit their actual butts in a virtual queue -- this will not guarantee a ticket, just that you'll be in a line for a golden ticket.

For those who can't get to the Anaheim Convention Center on August 21 and 22, there's always the option of the pay-per-view package from DirecTV for $40. There will also be a live stream of the event online, also available for $40, for non-DirecTV customers. So, Blizzard horde, hopefully this year's ticketing process won't be visited by the "Failoc."

[Via WoW Insider]

Blizzcon 08 beta codes now being accepted

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 24th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Attention Blizzard fans: Remember those mysterious beta codes handed out at Blizzcon last year? Well, Blizzard is now accepting them. All you have to do is head over to this website, enter the appropriate info and you should receive an email confirming your "Blizzard Future Beta Sign-Up."

Alas, the email doesn't mention what the beta will actually be for, nor does it say when the beta will occur. If we had to guess -- and we do -- it's probably for StarCraft II or Diablo III, both of which have betas planned. StarCraft 2 seems the likelier choice, given that plans for a 2009 beta were revealed earlier this year.

[Thanks, Sean]

April Fools: Behold! Diablo III's Archivist

by James Ransom-Wiley { Apr 1st 2009 at 5:05PM }

Forget the pen being mightier than the sword. A single "shush" uttered from the lips of the Archivist packs enough punch to burst the guts of Sanctuary's most disorderly beasts. The fourth of five Diablo III character classes was revealed today, in historic fashion. So saith the annals of Abd al-Hazir: "These brave souls wade into battle wielding tome and quill, armored not in ensorcelled plate or links of chain, but in the knowledge of generations past. These archivists fight not only for our future, but for our past as well."

The Archivist schools evil with such learned powers as the Lorenado and Quest Bolt, complimented by witty dialogue tree choices like "I've dropped knowledge" and "Test me and I will chronicle your pain." Man, somebody please point us to the library where this guy got his game!

[Thanks, Luis]

Diablo III's interface, in your face

by Randy Nelson { Mar 30th 2009 at 10:30PM }

Click to enlarge

When is an inventory screen more than an inventory screen? Well, never, actually. But this is Diablo III's inventory screen. Which, for whatever reason, makes us want to play the game even more. Maybe it's because it makes Diablo's third coming look more ... playable?

Also, note that the menus are really quite dark. You might even say they look Diablo-ish. But, for some, they'll never be dark enough.

[Via Shacknews]

Gallery: Diablo III Interface

Diablo II's producer weighs in on sequel's art style

by Randy Nelson { Mar 18th 2009 at 4:00AM }

Former VP of the now-defunct Blizzard North and producer of Diablo II, Bill Roper, agrees with fans who feel Diablo III ... well, doesn't quite look "Diablo" enough. Roper discussed the game's brighter, more cartoon-like art style with VideoGamer.com as part of a broader interview.

"I can't say that I dislike it. I didn't look at it and go, oh my God that's horrible," Roper said of his initial reaction to Diablo III. "But I looked at it and went, it's not really... to me as a player it just didn't really ring with Diablo."

With Blizzard "really pleased" with the look and feel of the game as-is, the only option for those seeking a darker Diablo III experience will be labeled "reduce gamma" under "visual settings."

[Via Shacknews]

Blizzard in August: BlizzCon 2009 announced

by JC Fletcher { Feb 17th 2009 at 1:20PM }

Blizzard Entertainment has announced details of this year's BlizzCon event, the celebration of all things Blizzard and the most convincing reason for WoW players to leave the house. This year's event will take place Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22 at the Anaheim Convention Center, in four convention halls (last year's event was contained in a mere three).

The event will feature panel discussions from Blizzard staff, tournaments, contests, playable demos of upcoming Blizzard games, an auction, and, of course, merch. Blizzard has yet to offer information about price, availability, or method of purchase for tickets. Keep rapid-firing F5 on www.blizzcon.com for more information. Actually, don't do that -- if Blizzard's servers crash, they'll just have to buy more, and the cost might show up in ticket prices.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: The Experience

[Via WoW Insider]

Blizzard gives E3 the cold shoulder

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 5th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Blizzard doesn't need you, E3! "Activision Blizzard Inc." is showing up at E3, but one half of that power couple already plans to stay home and count its money ... and laugh at all the broken homes it's created with World of Warcraft. Giant Bomb has been told by a Blizzard rep. that the powerhouse developer will "not be attending or participating in E3 2009."

Don't worry, kids. If you want to touch the Blizzard goods, it'll probably be at a public event and the company is gonna make you pay for the privilege! Put that $100 aside for Blizzcon now (if it happens this year) and prepare to hit F5 like a monkey as soon as tickets go on sale for a (slim) chance to enter the Blizzaphile lovefest.

[Image]

Blizzard unleashes five new Diablo III screenshots

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 9th 2009 at 10:18AM }

Click for shocking new images.

It's like Christmas all over again for Blizzard fans. The company showed off new images of Starcraft II just a few days ago. But wait! There's more in that bag o' goodies. Blizzard just updated the Diablo III website with five brand new action-packed screenshots. This sneak peak reveals a towering enemy, some magic spells, and moody fog-filled environments. Considering Blizzard's penchant for painstakingly slow development, clicking on these images will be closest thing to playing the game we'll have for a very long time.

[Via BigDownload]

Gallery: Diablo III

Blizzard orchestral soundtrack CD available in November

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 27th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Australian-based Eminence Symphony Orchestra is releasing a two-disc compilation of Blizzard Entertainment's best known symphonic pieces. The album, called Echoes of War, covers music from the Diablo, StarCraft and WarCraft universes -- sorry, Lost Vikings fans.

The box set, which features 90 minutes of music, will cost $30 and release in mid-November. There's also an orange Legendary Edition with an extra DVD, featuring a making-of featurette and other dross supporting material for $50. Good peons will find the CD's full track list after the break. Zug-zug.

[Thanks, Jayson; Via OSV]

Continued →

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

Continued →

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

Continued →

BlizzCon 2008: Rob Pardo talks Battle.Net monetizing

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 13th 2008 at 9:00AM }

Not everyone was thrilled with the weekend news that Blizzard is looking to monetize Battle.Net in some way. So we made that one of the first questions we asked Blizzard VP Rob Pardo. The good news is, they're not going to make Diablo III subscription based. Find out everyone he told us after the break.

Continued →

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.