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[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[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[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[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[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[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[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[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[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[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<![CDATA[Kinect Hacks: World of Warcraft gets moving]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/kinect-hacks-world-of-warcraft-gets-moving/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/kinect-hacks-world-of-warcraft-gets-moving/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/kinect-hacks-world-of-warcraft-gets-moving/#comments Avid World of Warcraft players are always looking for that special something to incrementally boost their in-game performance -- little did they know that the greatest boost wouldn't come in the form of a legendary item, but rather a motion-detecting Kinect hack from researchers at USC.

Continue reading Kinect Hacks: World of Warcraft gets moving

JoystiqKinect Hacks: World of Warcraft gets moving originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardkinectkinect-hacksmicrosoftmmopcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWxboxTue, 28 Dec 2010 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm - This is how the world ends]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-this-is-how-the-world-ends/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-this-is-how-the-world-ends/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-this-is-how-the-world-ends/#comments With today's launch of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm looming over us like, well, "a giant dragon" is probably a bit redundant ... Nevertheless, we turned to Massively's Ryan Greene to explain why you might be interested, either if you're new to the game or simply looking for an excuse to return to Azeroth.
Have you noticed a new excitement in the air? Have you felt the rumblings from the deep places of the world and tasted dread on the wind? Have you wondered why all your nerdiest friends planned months in advance to contract fake illnesses on the same day?

Cataclysm has arrived, and World of Warcraft will never be the same ... which is the same cheesy line you've been hearing for weeks, if not months. WoW's third expansion is huge news for dedicated players, but what does it mean for everyone else? For anyone who has never tried WoW or who gave it up many moons ago, the changes Deathwing hath wrought (with Blizzard's help) mean there has never been a better time to jump into the game. Seriously.

Continue reading World of Warcraft: Cataclysm - This is how the world ends

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm - This is how the world ends originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardBlizzardCataclysmfeaturedmacmmopcWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowTue, 07 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joyswag: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/joyswag-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-collectors-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/joyswag-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-collectors-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/joyswag-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-collectors-edition/#comments We've got a big fancy box stuffed full of Cataclysm treats and we want to give it away to one of you. But then you'll have to wait for the package to be delivered, and that's simply not acceptable, right? So after we select one lucky winner tomorrow, we'll contact them (make sure to check your Joystiq-linked email account!) and share the CD key before mailing out the rest of this stuff.

To enter this giveaway:
  1. Leave a comment telling us how many hours you've spent in World of Warcraft (be honest!).
  2. You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
  3. Limit 1 entry per person.
  4. This entry period ends at 1:00PM ET on Wednesday, December 8.
  5. At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition (ARV $80).
  6. For a list of complete rules, click here.

Gallery: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (Collector's Edition unboxing)

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition.

For more info on our policy, click here.

JoystiqJoyswag: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardCataclysmJoyswagmacpcWorld-of-WarcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmWoWTue, 07 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition, unboxed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-collectors-edition-unboxed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-collectors-edition-unboxed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-collectors-edition-unboxed/#commentsWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm We're still some hours away from the midnight launch of the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm. It won't be long before Deathwing wrecks shop, so we thought we'd take some of this downtime to share pics of the Collector's Edition which recently made its way to our doorstep. Peruse the gallery below, and stick around for a giveaway later today.

Gallery: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (Collector's Edition unboxing)

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition, unboxed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentCataclysmmacpcunboxingWorld-of-WarcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmWoWMon, 06 Dec 2010 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft streaming and playable on an HTC Desire]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/world-of-warcraft-streaming-and-playable-on-an-htc-desire/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/world-of-warcraft-streaming-and-playable-on-an-htc-desire/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/world-of-warcraft-streaming-and-playable-on-an-htc-desire/#comments Hey GameString! You guys need to cut it out. Yes, the tech demo you've been circulating for your cloud-based, game-streaming technology is wicked impressive, but the subject of said demo is just plain irresponsible. Using its own "Adrenalin Host Server" and a customized, touch-based user interface, GameString has managed to run a playable version of World of Warcraft on an HTC Desire smartphone. (Check out a video demonstrations after the jump.)

Sure, we've seen WoW running on an iPad recently, and we've seen a few cumbersome attempts to put it on a mobile phone in the past, but we're concerned nonetheless. Until now, the only thing keeping the world from ... well, stopping, was the fact that you couldn't properly play World of Warcraft without sitting (or biking) at your computer. Just think: If GameString pulls this off, you could soon be able to grind, farm, raid and PvP your way through Azeroth using a thing that fits in the pocket of your skinniest jeans! That's gonna be it, man. That's gonna be the end of this great big beautiful experiment we call humanity.

If you're looking to contribute to, you know, the apocalypse, you can sign up for the Adrenalin Host Server's public beta on GameString's official site.

Continue reading World of Warcraft streaming and playable on an HTC Desire

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft streaming and playable on an HTC Desire originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcloudgamestringhtchtc-desiremobilepcstreamingWorld-of-WarcraftWoWFri, 03 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW machinima music video takes on R.E.M.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/wow-machinima-music-video-takes-on-r-e-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/wow-machinima-music-video-takes-on-r-e-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/wow-machinima-music-video-takes-on-r-e-m/#comments We don't know about you, but seeing WoW machinima in this clip instead of R.E.M.'s lead singer Michael Stipe is totally fine. And the song -- a rendition of "It's the End of the World" by Nyhm & Sharm -- could be more gracefully sung, sure, but it's really the heart coming through that counts.

Continue reading WoW machinima music video takes on R.E.M.

JoystiqWoW machinima music video takes on R.E.M. originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmacmachinimammonyhmnyhm-and-sharmpcremsharmWorld-of-WarcraftWoWTue, 09 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenacious D to rock the doors off of Blizzcon 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/tenacious-d-to-rock-the-doors-off-of-blizzcon-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/tenacious-d-to-rock-the-doors-off-of-blizzcon-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/tenacious-d-to-rock-the-doors-off-of-blizzcon-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzcon's beginning to develop a reputation for being a breeding ground for unmitigated face rocking. Last year, the show closed out with a performance by known World of Warcraft fanatic Ozzy Osbourne -- this year, the ending ceremonies will receive musical accompaniment from Tenacious D, whom we imagine are familiar with some of Blizzard's titles. We mean, just look at them.

The duo will perform new jams and old favorites during the closing moments of the show on October 23. Of course, the event's been sold out since about fifteen seconds after tickets went on sale, so this news really only pertains to people who were agile enough to grab an entry pass. Or the diehard, presumably independently wealthy people willing to shell out $39.95 to stream the event on DirectTV.

JoystiqTenacious D to rock the doors off of Blizzcon 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzcon-2010concertmusicpctenacious-dWorld-of-WarcraftWoWMon, 11 Oct 2010 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: World of Warcraft movie on ice, as Raimi commits to Disney's 'Oz' prequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/world-of-warcraft-movie-on-ice-as-raimi-commits-to-disney-oz/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/world-of-warcraft-movie-on-ice-as-raimi-commits-to-disney-oz/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/world-of-warcraft-movie-on-ice-as-raimi-commits-to-disney-oz/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There comes a time in all great directors' careers when they must choose between not another sequel, a video game adaptation and the almost-always-panned (but-oh-so-high-grossing) remake/reboot. Sam Raimi has apparently gone with Plan D, as in Disney's Wizard of Oz 3D prequel, reports Deadline.com. In making his choice, Raimi seemingly puts off directing the World of Warcraft movie, to which he's been officially attached since last summer (he abandoned "Spider-Man 4" long ago).

While Legendary Pictures, which owns the WoW movie rights, has yet to reveal its next move, we have to imagine the studio is now in hot pursuit of David Fincher. After all, the director has been heavily applauded for his adaptation of the "Facebook story" and would seem a likely candidate to depict the dramatic significance of a billion-dollar fantasy sustained by socialized grinding.

Wait -- you mean it's supposed to be a live-action Warcraft universe movie? Like with orcs and elves and things? Yeah, we'd totally pick Oz, too.

JoystiqReport: World of Warcraft movie on ice, as Raimi commits to Disney's 'Oz' prequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delaysfilmlegendary-picturesmoviesam-raimiWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-movieWoWThu, 07 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft sustaining ginormous subscriber base, surpasses 12 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/world-of-warcraft-sustaining-ginormous-subscriber-base-12-mil/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/world-of-warcraft-sustaining-ginormous-subscriber-base-12-mil/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/world-of-warcraft-sustaining-ginormous-subscriber-base-12-mil/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard today announced that WoW has topped 12 million subscribers, following the Wrath of the Lich King expansion launch in mainland China just over a month ago and in anticipation of the third expansion, Cataclysm, coming this holiday worldwide.

For a time, it seemed as though World of Warcraft's subscriber base was well on its way to 20 million -- somewhere in the ballpark of Australia's total population. Then, in December 2008, the game reached 11.5 million subscribers, and six months later, the number hadn't changed. It appeared the world's most popular subscription-based MMO had reached its cap.

When Cataclysm is released on December 7, World of Warcraft will have passed its sixth year in operation. And with 12 million-plus paid subscriptions? Wow.

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft sustaining ginormous subscriber base, surpasses 12 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardBlizzardmacpcsubscribersWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 07 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard cracking down on in-game World of Warcraft sex roleplay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/blizzard-cracking-down-on-in-game-world-of-warcraft-sex-roleplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/blizzard-cracking-down-on-in-game-world-of-warcraft-sex-roleplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/blizzard-cracking-down-on-in-game-world-of-warcraft-sex-roleplay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In what many telecommunications scholars and sociologists are tentatively referring to as "the saddest forum post in the history of all mankind," Blizzard recently informed World of Warcraft players on the Moon Guard server that moderators would now be patrolling the server for ... erotic role-playing. Particularly in one in-game town, Goldshire, which appears to be a non-stop, Bacchanalian festival of delights of the virtual flesh and oh man, that's the creepiest thing we've ever typed.

Blizzard customer service reps will now "regularly" keep an eye on the town's public chat channels, privately punishing players who violate the game's harassment policies. We can't wait to hear about some of the super awkward /Tells this enforcement will lead to. "Dear Razorbladez, please stop trying to have cybersex with that level 2 Paladin. That is very, very gross."

JoystiqBlizzard cracking down on in-game World of Warcraft sex roleplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmmorpgpcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 05 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft currency becomes real-world coins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/world-of-warcraft-currency-becomes-real-world-coins/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/world-of-warcraft-currency-becomes-real-world-coins/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/world-of-warcraft-currency-becomes-real-world-coins/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We can easily wrap our minds around the hobby of coin collection -- after all, coins are pretty awesome, and at the end of the day, you're really just spending money on money, making it a relatively low-cost endeavor. However, DC Direct's recently pressed World of Warcraft-themed currency -- which comes in a set of one bronze, silver and gold coin, each featuring a faction leader and major city from the MMO on both sides -- is a bit beyond our understanding.

According to G4, these three coins were on sale at Comic-Con for $69.99, though their real-life spendability is negligible at best. Heck, even if you wanted to use them to purchase your Artisan Riding skill and mount, you'd have to shell out well over $350,000 in order to do so. Then again, those things ... aren't real. But these coins are! And, as we've said, coins are awesome. We're so conflicted!

JoystiqWorld of Warcraft currency becomes real-world coins originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcoinscomic-con-2010dc-directpcWorld-of-WarcraftWoWFri, 30 Jul 2010 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: World of Warcraft movie has slowed, but still happening]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/blizzard-world-of-warcraft-movie-has-slowed-but-still-happenin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/blizzard-world-of-warcraft-movie-has-slowed-but-still-happenin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/blizzard-world-of-warcraft-movie-has-slowed-but-still-happenin/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard Entertainment took the stage here at Comic-Con in San Diego to talk about World of Warcraft-inspired merchandise, and when the topic of the WoW movie came up during the Q&A, Vice President of Creative Development Chris Metzen confirmed that though the process has slowed recently, the movie is still happening. Director Sam Raimi is still "very, very passionate" about getting the movie made, but Metzen said that a treatment is still being hammered out. If that gets approved, he said, then "hopefully it'll start moving very quickly, very soon."

Metzen and the rest of the panelists also talked about the next lore-based novel to be released -- it's called The Shattering, and will set up a lot of the events leading up to the Cataclysm expansion. Metzen cautioned the game's fans that there are "dark times ahead" for Azeroth with the return of Deathwing and quakes destroying large parts of the game world. "It's going to get rough out there for a while," he admitted. "But there's a plan. The great heroes always rise to the top."

JoystiqBlizzard: World of Warcraft movie has slowed, but still happening originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentCataclysmchris-metzencomic-con-2010moviepcsam-raimitreatmentworld-of-warcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-CataclysmwowThu, 22 Jul 2010 21:05:00 EST<![CDATA[ESRB accidentally releases email addresses of Real ID complainants]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/esrb-accidentally-releases-email-addresses-of-real-id-complainan/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/esrb-accidentally-releases-email-addresses-of-real-id-complainan/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/esrb-accidentally-releases-email-addresses-of-real-id-complainan/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In an ironic turn of events this evening, it appears that the Entertainment Software Ratings Board has revealed the entire list of email addresses belonging to people who appealed to the ESA's rating group over Blizzard's recently proposed and then retracted Real ID implementation. According to our World of Warcraft-focused sister site WoW.com, the ESRB issued a response letter to the nearly 1,000 folks who had emailed with complaints about Blizzard's decision -- unfortunately, it seems that rather than hide everyone's email addresses, someone hit "reply all."

We've dropped the letter itself beyond the break, which, as WoW.com points out, concludes with a statement espousing the ESRB's "Privacy Online" program. Whoops! All that said, mistakes will happen from time to time. Unlike Blizzard, however, the ESRB can't simply take this back.

Continue reading ESRB accidentally releases email addresses of Real ID complainants

JoystiqESRB accidentally releases email addresses of Real ID complainants originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardemailentertainment-software-ratings-boardesrbmistakepcreal-idWorld-of-WarcraftWoWMon, 12 Jul 2010 23:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Real ID nixed from Blizzard forums, Morhaime explains]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/real-id-nixed-from-blizzard-forums-morhaime-explains/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/real-id-nixed-from-blizzard-forums-morhaime-explains/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/real-id-nixed-from-blizzard-forums-morhaime-explains/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Well, that was quick! Just as soon as Blizzard announced sweeping changes to its forum policy, company head Mike Morhaime took to those very forums to say, "real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums." In a letter addressed to the Blizzard community, Morhaime says the company "has been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us, as well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums," and thusly has come to the decision to not require real names.

Outside of that change, Blizzard will still be implementing all other forum changes (detailed by our sister site WoW.com right here). That said, the opt-in Real ID system will still be implemented in forthcoming Blizzard titles. Morhaime explains: "We believe that the powerful communications functionality enabled by Real ID, such as cross-game and cross-realm chat, make Battle.net a great place for players to stay connected to real-life friends and family while playing Blizzard games." Further, he adds that "you'll still be able to keep your relationships at the anonymous, character level if you so choose when you communicate with other players in game." Additionally, the Real ID system is set to "evolve" as time goes on, with Battle.net getting "new and exciting functionality" for those of you "who decide to use the feature." Could that mean incentivized Real ID use from Blizzard? We're not sure just yet, but it certainly sounds like it.

Check out the full message from Morhaime to the Blizzard community after the break.

Continue reading Real ID nixed from Blizzard forums, Morhaime explains

JoystiqReal ID nixed from Blizzard forums, Morhaime explains originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardmike-morhaimepcreal-idreal-id-forumsstarcraft-2World-of-WarcraftWoWFri, 09 Jul 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard Global Writing Contest now open for submissions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/blizzard-global-writing-contest-now-open-for-submissions/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/blizzard-global-writing-contest-now-open-for-submissions/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/blizzard-global-writing-contest-now-open-for-submissions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fan fiction writers, gather round! Well, first, close out of all those Word documents you've been agonizing over for the past few months. You know the ones we're talking about. The ones which involve throbbing. And quivering. And Sonic the Hedgehog. Why not put your unique skill set to good (and infinitely less creepy) use, and participate in Blizzard's Global Writing Contest?

The company is accepting 2,500 to 7,500-word pieces of fiction set in the Diablo, StarCraft or WarCraft universes until August 23, 2010. The grand prize winner will receive a tour of Blizzard HQ, where they'll meet the team's writing staff, and will walk away with some sweet Blizzard collectibles. Also, though the contest's FAQ doesn't explicitly prohibit it, we'd strongly advise against sending in your steamy, Kerrigan/Thrall-fronted erotic fantasy-thriller.

JoystiqBlizzard Global Writing Contest now open for submissions originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcontestdiablopcstarcraft-2warcraftWorld-of-WarcraftWoWwritingMon, 05 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Freemium WoW is not something Blizzard is 'spending a lot of time thinking about']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/freemium-wow-is-not-something-blizzard-is-spending-a-lot-of-tim/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/freemium-wow-is-not-something-blizzard-is-spending-a-lot-of-tim/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/freemium-wow-is-not-something-blizzard-is-spending-a-lot-of-tim/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While you may think your friends at Joystiq are only on the prowl for the hottest gaming scoops, we want you to know that's not true ... we also monitor the fabric of the universe for any tears that might upset its delicate balance. Do not panic, but World of Warcraft's lead designer, Tom Chilton, mentioned to PC Gamer that "at some point, it may not make sense for us to have a subscription fee." Now, pause and savor the moment, because it's fleeting.

Before you decide whether to buy a loaf of real bread or another month's subscription, listen to the remainder of Chilton's thought: "We're not spending a lot of time thinking about it. It's not something that's a reality for us in the near future."

When the fateful day comes that WoW can make more money as a freemium title than an MMO with a monthly subscription, we're sure it'll take that path. MMO expert Elizabeth Harper, high mistress of WoW.com, tells Joystiq, "Free to play is the future of MMOs. We're seeing Turbine push their games to the free-to-play model and becoming more profitable because of it. Life or death for an MMO is all in subscriber numbers -- free to play lowers the initial barrier to entry and opens up more opportunities for players to give you money."

JoystiqFreemium WoW is not something Blizzard is 'spending a lot of time thinking about' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardblizzardpctom-chiltonWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sam Raimi: movie director, level 72 WoW player]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/sam-raimi-movie-director-level-72-wow-player/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/sam-raimi-movie-director-level-72-wow-player/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/sam-raimi-movie-director-level-72-wow-player/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You always like to think that the director working on a film adaptation of your favorite video game is actually a fan of the game. Some claim to be, but World of Warcraft director Sam Raimi appears to be the genuine article. Speaking with Collider, Raimi revealed that he's currently rocking a level 72 character in WoW, this after someone wiped his level 29 shaman "by accident."

Raimi also talked about his WoW film due in 2013, of course, confirming that it won't be a Tron-like affair with segments set in the real world and the gameworld -- "It will all be taking place in the world of Warcraft," he said. Also offered: his list of likes about the franchise from a director's perspective, including its scale and locations, calling the world "incredibly, engrossingly terrifying."

[Image credit: CHUD]

JoystiqSam Raimi: movie director, level 72 WoW player originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>moviespcSam-RaimiWorld-of-WarcraftWoWFri, 25 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST