Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.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[Blizzard renames Blizzard DotA to Blizzard All-Stars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/blizzard-renames-blizzard-dota-to-blizzard-all-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/blizzard-renames-blizzard-dota-to-blizzard-all-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/blizzard-renames-blizzard-dota-to-blizzard-all-stars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's better than the original plan to name it Blizzard Dot-A.
What's in a name? Quite a lot, as it turns out. A name alone was enough to send Blizzard and Valve to man the lawyer cannons over two upcoming games, DOTA 2 from Valve and Blizzard DOTA from Blizzard. The companies have reached an agreement, however, which includes Blizzard renaming its game to Blizzard All-Stars while retaining use of the "dota" name for noncommercial use in the fan community. Valve retains the commercial use of the name.

It sounds like a little matter until you remember that Warcraft III was the source of the map that spawned this game type, leading to both companies developing competing versions of a sequel. Blizzard All-Stars currently has no release date, while DOTA 2 is due out sometime next year and is currently in beta testing. Luckily, the terminology is only being changed on the corporate side, meaning players are free to continue discussing the games as they would have anyway.

MassivelyBlizzard renames Blizzard DotA to Blizzard All-Stars originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardagreementblizzardblizzard-all-starsblizzard-dotablizzard-entertainmentcorporate-agreementdefense-of-the-ancientsdotadota-2legallegal-battlenamessteamvalveFri, 11 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard announces layoffs of 600 employees worldwide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-announces-layoffs-of-600-employees-worldwide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-announces-layoffs-of-600-employees-worldwide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-announces-layoffs-of-600-employees-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blizzard Entertainment logo
Blizzard Entertainment, creator of the perennially popular World of Warcraft, announced today that it would be laying off 600 of its employees worldwide. While Blizzard takes care to note that WoW's development won't be impacted by the layoffs, we find it a bit difficult to take solace in that fact when hundreds of people are losing their jobs.

Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime commented on the layoffs, stating that "Constant evaluation of teams and processes is necessary for the long-term health of any business. Over the last several years, we've grown our organization tremendously and made large investments in our infrastructure in order to better serve our global community. However, 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." Understandable, perhaps, considering the fluctuating nature of the industry, but we still wish those Blizzard employees hit by the layoffs the very best in their future endeavors. Good luck, folks.

MassivelyBlizzard announces layoffs of 600 employees worldwide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdownsizingindustrylayofflayoffsmike-morhaimemmo-industryworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 29 Feb 2012 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard clarifies Bashiok's statements about Diablo III and hints at release announcement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When I said 'you will not pass,' that was really more of a strongly worded suggestion.
The most recent tempest in a Diablo III-shaped teapot has been community manager Bashiok making a statement to fans urging them to lower their expectations for the game. Director Jay Wilson decided that this was worth a direct reply and stated in a recent open letter to the community that Bashiok's statements were "obviously sarcastic" and that the team does want fan expectations to remain high. The letter stresses that the development staff is quite happy with the game as it continues development and the current internally tested build in a better state than the beta.

Wilson goes on to claim that fans can expect a release date announcement in the near future, avoiding the dreaded Blizzard incarnation of "soon." Given his appraisal of the beta state, we suspect that the game will be heading for a retail edition before too long, at which point players will be able to decide for themselves whether or not their expectations were met.

MassivelyBlizzard clarifies Bashiok's statements about Diablo III and hints at release announcement originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbashiokbetabetasblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcommunitycultured3developmentdiablo-3diablo-iiidiiiexpectationsjay-wilsonlaunchnewswhat-is-this-i-cant-evenFri, 24 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard tells Diablo III fans to lower their expectations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/blizzard-tells-diablo-iii-fans-to-lower-their-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/blizzard-tells-diablo-iii-fans-to-lower-their-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/blizzard-tells-diablo-iii-fans-to-lower-their-expectations/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you expect people with swords and the color brown, your expectations are definitely going to be met.
Are you eagerly awaiting Diablo III's eventual release? Well, perhaps you shouldn't be quite that eager. Community manager Bashiok recently made some comments in a thread on the official forums expressing some concern that players are getting too excited about the potential of the game and that players should instead lower their overall expectations of Diablo III. He closes by saying that fans should at the same time still purchase the game but perhaps lower the threshold of awesome it has to clear.

It's possible to read this as an attempt to control the game's hype before release, and it's possible to read this as a roundabout statement of overall quality. Either way, it's an odd statement coming from Blizzard's public relations team, since very few developers have historically told their fans to be a little less excited for release. Of course, with that having been said, it's unlikely that the level of excitement will go down at all. (Bashiok's full quote is just past the cut.)

Continue reading Blizzard tells Diablo III fans to lower their expectations

MassivelyBlizzard tells Diablo III fans to lower their expectations originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanticipationblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcommunitycommunity-managementcultured3diablodiablo-3diablo-iiidiiiexpectationsWed, 22 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard readying WoW Monopoly boardgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/blizzard-readying-wow-monopoly-boardgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/blizzard-readying-wow-monopoly-boardgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/blizzard-readying-wow-monopoly-boardgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft Monopoly cover image
If you've ever wanted to own the Twilight Highlands or the Swamp of Sorrows, Blizzard's new foray in boardgaming is for you. The gaming giant is partnering with Hasbro and Parker Brothers to bring you a World of Warcraft-style Monopoly title. The unholy hybrid will be available this May for $39.95.

Blizzard is also allowing fans to vote on game pieces via its Facebook page, and the choices include the doomhammer, crafting anvil, hearthstone, and spellbook. Blizzard is also trying its hand at a RISK tie-in with RISK: StarCraft, which is slated to debut later this summer.

MassivelyBlizzard readying WoW Monopoly boardgame originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentboard-gamesfantasymonopolyWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-monopolyTue, 14 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard admits to 'grossly underestimating demand' for World of Warcraft in 2004]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/blizzard-admits-to-grossly-underestimating-demand-for-world-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/blizzard-admits-to-grossly-underestimating-demand-for-world-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/blizzard-admits-to-grossly-underestimating-demand-for-world-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW
If World of Warcraft is credited with a smooth initial launch, that's only because time tends to smooth over the growing pains that come with every MMO. Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce was quite up-front with the studio's stumbles in 2004 as WoW launched to unprecedented demand; he's admitted that Blizzard execs "grossly underestimated" how many people wanted to play the game, forcing the company to cease shipping boxes to stores while tech was improved to deal with the influx.

"I don't think we had any idea what we were getting ourselves into," Pearce said at the recent DICE executive summit. The studio quickly ramped up from its 500-employee taskforce to 4,700 people in 11 cities across the world.

Pearce also addressed the issue of addiction in MMOs, saying that Blizzard "think[s] about it all of the time. If there's something that you're really passionate about, whether it's video games, a book, a TV series [or something else]... we have to consume it in moderation."

MassivelyBlizzard admits to 'grossly underestimating demand' for World of Warcraft in 2004 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardaddictionblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentdemanddicedice-2012Frank-Pearcegame-addictionlaunchmmo-addictionworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 12 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III sort of confirmed for Q2 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-sort-of-confirmed-for-q2-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-sort-of-confirmed-for-q2-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-sort-of-confirmed-for-q2-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III - blasted landscape
Looking for a definitive release date for Diablo III? So are we, and unfortunately Blizzard isn't cooperating. The best the company can come up with is Q2 2012, according to Rock, Paper Shotgun.

The site reports on Blizzard's recent investors call, during which Mike Morhaime stated the obvious before alluding to the launch window. "Given the popularity of the action RPG genre, and the keen interest in Diablo III, we expect this launch to be a big opportunity for Blizzard. We can also confirm that we are targeting a Q2 launch for Diablo III. We expect to announce more details about the release schedule in the coming weeks," he said.

But hey, at least he didn't say "when it's ready."

[Source: Activision investor call]

MassivelyDiablo III sort of confirmed for Q2 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-investors-calldiablo-3diablo-iiifantasymike-morhaimerelease-datewhen-its-readyFri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW loses another 100,000 subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft
Thanks to our sister blog WoW Insider, we've got the scoop on today's Activision-Blizzard investor call. The results? Turns out World of Warcraft isn't dying, but it's certainly seen better days in its record-breaking run. Blizzard's flagship MMO now boasts "only" 10.2 million subscribers worldwide (10.3 million were reported during the call in November). The company believes the success of the 4.3 patch contributed to subscriber retention, as did the success of the annual pass; in fact, a million players took Blizzard up on a deal to purchase a year's worth of WoW in return for a free copy of Diablo III.

Blizzard also confirmed plans to launch at least two titles this year, including Diablo III in Q2. Mists of Pandaria, WoW's much-maligned upcoming expansion, might be the other, though Titan, Blizzard DOTA, and a new StarCraft II campaign are also in the works. The company's expected revenue for 2012 is $4.5 billion US.

MassivelyWoW loses another 100,000 subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyinvestor-callsubscriberswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderThu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Runes of Magic
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012

MassivelyMV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardall-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameall-points-bulletin-reloadedanetapbapb-eaapb-gameapb-reloadedarenanetarenanet-guild-warsatomic-bluebiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorblizzardccpccp-eveccp-gamesd3dc-universe-onlinedcuodiablo-3diablo-iiidiiieaelectronic-artseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefrogsterfrogster-runes-of-magicglitchglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezguild-warsguildwarsgwhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosjagexliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslivestreamlivestreaminglucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmv-guidemv-tvncsoftplaneshiftromrunes-of-magicrunescaperyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictiny-specktiny-speck-glitchvirtual-worldMon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the next patch, perhaps these will all be bunnies.
While there's still no release date set for Diablo III, it seems the release may be further off than some players were guessing, judging by the latest round of sweeping system overhauls. A new post by game director Jay Wilson goes over several major changes being made to the game, starting with the fact that Scrolls of Identify are gone. You have a short casting time to identify and item and that's it, with no need to carry around a separate item.

The latest changes also remove the Mystic artisan, the Cauldron of Jordan, and the Nephalem Cube. The latter two were removed due to the inclusion of a Town Portal button, making trips back and forth far easier, while the Mystic artisan lacked a sufficiently defined role amidst other item modifications. There's also a major stat overhaul, which reduces the core attributes to Strength, Dexterity, Intellect, and Vitality. They're far-reaching changes, and only time will tell how much their impact might slow the game's release as the team tests the altered systems.

MassivelyBlizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiigame-testinggame-updatesjay-wilsonnewssystem-changessystem-overhaulssystemstestingThu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's patch 4.3 to be last major update until Mists of Pandaria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
World of Warcraft's lead quest designer, Dave Kosak, let slip in an interview today that the recently released patch 4.3 will be the final major content update to hit Azeroth until Mists of Pandaria goes live. This is obviously a notable discovery, since it either means that Mists of Pandaria will be coming out soon, or WoW players are gonna be waiting a long time for the next patch. When asked if he believes that there's enough content in patch 4.3 to keep users sated until MoP comes out, Kosak replied that "between the three excellent dungeons [the game has], the new raid, and Raid Finder that should give people something to sink their teeth into for a few months." For the full interview, including a look back at the good and bad of WoW's patch 4.3, click on through the link below.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's patch 4.3 to be last major update until Mists of Pandaria originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.4activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmdave-kosakmists-of-pandariapatchpatch-3.4patchesupdateupdatesworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 17 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Yeah, that guy seems to have the right idea, let's go that way.
Designing MMOs is often the art of shepherding players in a given direction while at the same time giving them a sense of freedom. Even in a themepark environment, players want to be invested in areas, to have reasons to come back and explore and go off of the rails should they want to. World of Warcraft's most recent expansion, Cataclysm, has frequently been accused of giving players nowhere to go but a series of rails, and according to a recent response from a community manager, Blizzard agrees.

A very long thread on the official forums has spawned some interesting discussions about the game's overall endgame philosophy, with community manager Draxxari stating that Cataclysm's tightly linear design was an "error" on the design level. He goes on to state that Mists of Pandaria is meant to give players more reason to venture out and explore the world, although players will have to wait to see whether that promise holds true or not.

[Thanks to SgtBaker for the tip!]

MassivelyBlizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmcommunityculturedesigndraxxarifreeformlinearmists-of-pandariamopopinionthemeparkworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmzone-designSat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Of course, if you're playing WoW and don't have the expansions, something seriously weird is going on, but whatever.
Reports of the demise of World of Warcraft have been greatly exaggerated, but the price of the game is falling. This isn't entirely unexpected, but the game's two more recent expansions have just seen a significant drop in their EU prices, with Wrath of the Lich King dropping to €19.99 and Cataclysm dropping to €29.99. If you've been playing the game in Europe but have yet to pick up the later expansions, this might be your incentive.

While some retailers have instituted their own price cuts in the time since the release of these expansions, these latest price drops come from the upper management at the company rather than being a limited-time sale or a reduction of overstock. The price move seems to be a result of the newly free-to-play nature of the early game and the upcoming Mists of Pandaria. No word yet on whether or not a similar official price drop will be mirrored in the US.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsmists-of-pandariamopnewspriceprice-dropsprice-reductionpricesworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online
The winter holiday season is well underway, both in and out of game. Many schools, businesses, and communities are preparing to take a little time off to enjoy the holidays, and here at Massively, we want to make sure you don't miss a single in-game party.

We've been rounding up all the details on celebrations happening in our favorite MMOs, combining them into a handy guide. Follow along after the jump for your map to all of the can't-miss MMO winter holiday events for 2011!

Continue reading Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup

MassivelyMassively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardage-of-conanaikaaionanarchy-onlineanetaocarenanetblizzardcastle-empirechampions-onlinechristmascity-of-heroesclone-wars-adventurescohcovcoxdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkedendarkeden-onlinedc-universe-onlinedcuodigimon-masters-onlinedragon-nestelswordeqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playfrogsterfuncomgpotatoguild-warsgwhellgatehellgate-globalholiday-2011holiday-roundupholidays-2011jagged-alliancekingsisleleague-of-legendslolncsoftnexonperfect-world-entertainmentpweriftriot-gamesromrosh-onlinerunes-of-magicshsosoesony-online-entertainmentsquaresquare-enixstar-trek-onlinestosuper-hero-squad-onlinet3funtrionw101warhammer-onlinewindslayer-2wizard101world-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Oh no, color! Destroying the ambiance!
Diablo III is not an MMO by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly has some strong online elements like previous installments. It also has a lot of expectations to live up to, several of which are discussed in a recent PC Gamer interview with Wyatt Cheng and Andrew Chambers. Both designers discuss the challenge level of the new Inferno difficulty, which is aimed at max-level characters in good gear who have already completed the Hell difficulty level. They confirm that while it's meant to be brutal, it can be played and beaten solo -- although having a friend won't hurt.

And speaking of getting by with a bit of help from one's friends, Cheng and Chambers both agree that twinking out new characters is a time-honored part of the game's tradition; their job as designers requires them to find ways to ensure that twinking is a fun process for players. It's the sort of interview that can leave fans wanting more of the game before it's released -- which ties in nicely to the fact that you can pre-order the Book of Cain (a collection of in-universe lore and artwork) on Amazon right now. And you can even take a look past the break to see what the book looks like.

Continue reading Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking

MassivelyDiablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardandrew-chambersartifactsbackstoryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchallenged3designdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiidiablo-iii-betadifficultydiiiinterviewsloremultiplayernewsupdatesvideowyatt-chengMon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotick questions how SWTOR will benefit EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/kotick-questions-how-swtor-will-benefit-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/kotick-questions-how-swtor-will-benefit-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/kotick-questions-how-swtor-will-benefit-ea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick and... a flashlight?
Count Activision CEO Bobby Kotick among the doubters when it comes to the financial viability of Star Wars: The Old Republic. The controversial executive mentioned the upcoming MMO in a speech at yesterday's Reuters Media Summit talk, during which he said he's unclear what publisher Electronic Arts stands to gain from the game.

"Lucas is going to be the principal beneficiary of the success of Star Wars," Kotick posited. "We've been in business with Lucas for a long time and the economics will always accrue to the benefit of Lucas, so I don't really understand how the economics work for Electronic Arts."

Kotick went on to say that the odds are stacked against new investors in the massively multiplayer market. "If you look at the history of the people investing in an MMO and achieving success, it's a small number," he said.

MassivelyKotick questions how SWTOR will benefit EA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardbobby-kotickbusiness-modelsmmo-industrysci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicTue, 29 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Year of the Dragon Who Perches On Stuff While Dripping Lava.
It's been a big year for World of Warcraft, especially considering that the MMO behemoth is currently hitting its seventh year of operation. Considering its nigh-ubiquitous nature in the MMO sphere, it's hard to imagine that there was a time without it. And this past year of the game almost perfectly synchronizes with the latest expansion, Cataclysm, an expansion that was bound and determined to head back to the old and re-work everything up to new standards.

So how did that work out? What's been happening with the game over the past year? Let's pick up in December because that's when the story really begins, a story that involves a dragon smashing huge chunks of both continents to pieces. The result was a complete revamp of the game's lower-level areas, the addition of several new high-level areas, and a redesign of the way the game handled progression. It kicked off a war against primal forces and Old Gods for players, and that's without even getting in to the mechanical shifts.

Continue reading A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft

MassivelyA look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanniversaryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsfeaturedmists-of-pandariamopopinionretrospectivetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-cataclysmwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingWed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst downgrades Blizzard stock in anticipation of SWTOR launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/analyst-downgrades-blizzard-stock-in-anticipation-of-swtor-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/analyst-downgrades-blizzard-stock-in-anticipation-of-swtor-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/analyst-downgrades-blizzard-stock-in-anticipation-of-swtor-launc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Sad WoW panda is worried about SWTOR (but he shouldn't be)
Zomg, the sky is falling in Azeroth! OK, not really, but World of Warcraft is heading for troubled waters if you believe an analyst at Lazard Capital Markets. According to a report at Gamespot, Atul Bagga downgraded Activision-Blizzard's stock from "buy" to "neutral" due to the results of a recent online survey that pointed to restlessness among a certain subset of WoW players.

Whether the perceived wanderlust has to do with the game's age (it turns seven this month) or the deafening hype bandwagon that is gathering steam due to next month's Star Wars: The Old Republic debut, the numbers indicated a possible loss of between 900,000 and 1.6 million WoW players following TOR's launch.

MassivelyAnalyst downgrades Blizzard stock in anticipation of SWTOR launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanalyst-predictionsbiowareblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusiness-modelseaea-biowareelectronic-artslazardlazard-capital-marketsmmo-industrypredictionsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 21 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is doing quite well in China, thank you very much]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW
Earlier this month we heard the news that World of Warcraft's subscriber base took yet another substantial hit, although Blizzard was quick to say that most of these losses were coming from eastern countries like China. It's odd then that we've just received word that World of Warcraft is on the rise in China following an extremely profitable third quarter.

NetEase, which operates World of Warcraft in the region, announced that its Q3 earnings were actually up over the same time last year. Both revenues and profits for WoW in China are on the upswing, marking a 39.8% increase year-over-year. NetEase said that it pulled in $308.3 million in revenues, out of which $128.2 million is pure profit.

Subscriber hit or no, WoW continues to be a major force in the Asian market, and with numbers like these it's hard to imagine it going away any time soon.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is doing quite well in China, thank you very much originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardchinafinancial-reportlossesneteaseprofitq3revenuesubscribersworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 17 Nov 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Dwarf looking at a musket
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I haven't written much about World of Warcraft. There are many reasons for this. For one, Massively rarely pays WoW more than the bare minimum lip service (due to the game's being fairly exclusive to our WoW Insider sister site). For another, I don't look at Blizzard's behemoth all that fondly, and the sum total of my time in Azeroth amounts to about 20 hours spread over six weeks.

As it does for everyone else who makes a living off of MMORPGs, though, WoW looms over my shoulder like a billowing dust cloud after a titanic explosion, reaching relentlessly for the heavens and effectively blotting out the sun. There's really no way to measure how influential this one game has been on not just MMORPGs but gaming in general. There are the population numbers, of course, and even though WoW has been shedding subs in bushels of late, it could continue to do so for the better part of a year and still dwarf the second largest subscription title by a considerable margin.

That kind of success cannot be planned, nor do I believe that it will be replicated. WoW was a happy accident for Blizzard, a perfect storm of polish and timing the likes of which the MMO industry will not see again.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardarenanetbiowareblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzard-titanea-biowaref2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-wars-2gw2opinionsci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-soapboxthere-will-never-be-another-wowtitantitan-blizzardtorworld-of-warcraftwowwow-killerTue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard loses 1.1 million WoW players since May, triples profits]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/activision-blizzard-loses-1-1-million-wow-players-triples-profi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/activision-blizzard-loses-1-1-million-wow-players-triples-profi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/activision-blizzard-loses-1-1-million-wow-players-triples-profi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Activision Blizzard
Today's investor call with Activision Blizzard was a rollercoaster of news for MMO fans, with both good and bad news coming forth.

Starting with the bad -- everyone asks to start with the bad news, don't they? -- World of Warcraft's subscriber numbers are much lower than they were this past May. The company reports that subscriptions have dropped from 11.4 million in May to 11.1 million in June to 10.3 million, representing a loss of 10% of the playerbase. These numbers represent the total worldwide, and Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime said that most of the losses were suffered in the eastern market. No matter where the losses come from, this continues the downward trend of the title during the past year. Blizzard declined to provide a subscriber forecast for the next quarter.

The good news is that the company has whooped expectations by nearly tripling its profit for the quarter over this time last year. During this past quarter, Activision Blizzard raked in $627 million worth of sales, of which $148 million is pure profit. A majority of the revenue -- 62% -- comes from its digital sales.

The company expects 2012 to be even better, with titles like Diablo III and another Call of Duty in the works. CEO Bobby Kotick is nothing if not confident in the company's future: "I believe our unyielding commitment to excellence and our creative talent around the globe will continue to position Activision Blizzard as the leader in interactive entertainment."

MassivelyActivision Blizzard loses 1.1 million WoW players since May, triples profits originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentBobby-Kotickcall-of-dutydiablo-3diablo-iiiinvesters-calllossesMike MorhaimeMikeMorhaimeprofitq3subscriptionworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 08 Nov 2011 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA['Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pictured: quality.
User-created content can be a real hornet's nest in any game. When the user-created content systems are done correctly, you get a lot of new and imaginative content in the game straight from the players. But it's the question of what happens when it goes wrong that keeps user-created content out of World of Warcraft, according to Chris Metzen. As Metzen put it in a recent GDC online panel, while he loves the idea and the team does bring it up from time to time, there's a concern about whether or not the regular level of content would meet the standards of quality the team expects for game content.

Metzen also discussed some of the pressures the Blizzard staff faces with Titan's design, since the game is explicitly not set in one of the company's existing and long-running franchises. While he doesn't reveal any major details regarding the upcoming game, if you're eager for every scrap of information about the secretive project, it's well worth taking a look.

Massively'Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-metzengdc-onlinegdc-online-2011titanuser-contentuser-created-contentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[So long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We bid a final farewell to One Shots yesterday, but we couldn't let almost four years and 1,500 reader-submitted screenshots go without a little nod to some of our favorites.

First up, of course, is the first-ever One Shots entry. Liz Harper had this to say about the image:
I wanted to start our daily screenshot feature on Massively off with something, well, massive. A memorable, recognizable, and important scene from MMO history... and while you may all argue with me about what makes this particular shot important, it was the first thing that came to mind. Here we see a group of City of Heroes players gathering at City Hall in Atlas Park to "salute the memory and inspiration that is Christopher Reeve on the 2nd anniversary of his death." It's rare to see an in-game event that brings players together for a cause other than slaying dragons and similar.
Ready for more? Follow along after the jump for more of the best of One Shots!

Continue reading So long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites

MassivelySo long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardanetarenanetaventurinebest-of-one-shotsblizzardchronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdarkfallgalleriesgalleryguild-warsgwlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftone-shotsplaydomscreenshotscreenshotsthe-chronicles-of-spellbornturbineworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Come up, enjoy the view!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/one-shots-come-up-enjoy-the-view/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/one-shots-come-up-enjoy-the-view/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/one-shots-come-up-enjoy-the-view/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft screenshot
We've got another World of Warcraft screenshot on today's One Shots, thanks to Massively reader Tim:
Back in the days of The Burning Crusade, when I still played, I caught myself looking at an amazing scene while flying around to turn in some reputation quests. Aldor Rise looked like a scene from a painting, and my screenshot button agreed.
We've got a little surprise for you -- this is One Shots' final week. Friday will be the last edition of this feature, but don't fret. One Shots is stepping aside to make room for something new here at Massively, and we think you're going to love it. Watch the site beginning Monday, October 3rd to see what's new!

For now, if you want to make one final contribution to One Shots, you've still got a few days left. Grab your favorite screenshot, add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Come up, enjoy the view! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW screenshot
Today's One Shots image comes to us from a Massively reader and World of Warcraft player:
This is my guild, Chaos Factors, buffing up for the Golemagg pull in Molten Core. I can name a dozen people in this pic -- for instance, the raid lead Gnome Mage who obsessed over his "Mage camp," the Night Elf Hunter for whom the Feign Death cooldown was tragically too long, and the Hunter off in the distance who is my roommate!
We're leaving the One Shots theme up to you this week! There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Readying the troops originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardblizzardgalleriesgalleryone-shotsraidscreenshotscreenshotsWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic is keeping a close eye on World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aside from the guns, it almost looks like a telescope. If you squint a bunch.
From the interface to the design, many people have commented that there's a certain degree of similarity between Star Wars: The Old Republic and World of Warcraft. So it probably comes as no real surprise to learn that Electronic Arts is studying WoW when it comes to SWtOR's upcoming launch -- but not in the way you might think. The company isn't concerned as much with the mechanical side of the equation, but with the question of what happens post-launch and how to increase player retention.

This might not seem like terribly relevant information, but a lot of attention is being paid to the game's content release schedule, the speed at which experienced players will go through new content, and the game's post-launch foci. It also extends to an emphasis on smooth networking code to ensure that players can log in and experience the game quickly rather than having to fight off latency. It's no secret that WoW is influencing other games, but SWtOR seems to be designed with an eye toward more than just gameplay.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic is keeping a close eye on World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowarebioware-austinblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcontent-updatesea-biowarelaunchmmo-industrynewspost-launchstar-wars-the-old-republicstudyingswtorupdate-schedulewatchingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 07 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/massivelys-guide-to-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/massivelys-guide-to-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/massivelys-guide-to-gamescom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gamescom 2011
If you've never been to Gamescom before, let's simply put it this way: It's big. Really, really big. Forget most any convention you've attended; this is likely to be even bigger. Billing itself as the world's largest games event, Gamescom sees well over a quarter-million fans, journalists and exhibitors crowd into the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany to check out hundreds of games and companies.

Due to its size and worldwide prominence, Gamescom is a significant event for anyone following the MMO genre (and video games in general). There are plenty of MMO studios gearing up to share first looks, exclusive reveals, detailed Q&A sessions, and exciting hands-on demos for attendees.

Naturally, Massively will be paying close attention to all of the news coming out of Gamescom this week. For those attending the convention or merely looking to keep abreast of all of the games, studios, and information forthcoming, we've compiled a guide to the hottest tickets at Gamescom as well as a comprehensive exhibitor list of MMO studios after the break.

Continue reading Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011

MassivelyMassively's guide to Gamescom 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardage-of-wulinalderaananetapbapb-reloadedarenanetastabiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcarbine-studiosconventionconvention-guidecryengine-3defiancedota-2eaea-biowareelectronic-artsend-of-nationsfeaturedfirefallfor-the-love-of-god-not-gamesconfrogsterfuncomgamersfirstgamescomgamescom-2011gamigoglobal-agendagpotatogrimlandsguideguild-wars-2gw2hi-rezhi-rez-studiosjagged-alliance-onlinejeremy-gaffneylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-guidenexonnhnred-5-studiosriftrise-of-isengardsmitestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorsylvari-weekthe-old-republicthe-secret-worldtortribes-ascendtriontrion-worldsturbineufo-onlinevalvevindictuswargaming.networld-of-tanksworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warplaneswowTue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"No king rules forever, my son." Those words were a big part of the capstone event for World of Warcraft's last expansion, but they may be equally appropriate for the game itself. According to reports from the company, WoW's subscription numbers have continued to drop in the quarter ending June 30th, with the game now holding approximately 11 million subscribers worldwide. It's a slower rate than the game had been bleeding players, but it's still a definite decrease.

According to president Mike Morhaime, the reason for the drop can be traced back to the time since the last expansion release, but even Morhaime admits that this is the fastest drop the game has seen during its run. There are obviously rumors that the next expansion is not so far away, but as it stands, WoW's longstanding grip on the MMO market is no longer quite as strong as it once was.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusinessindustrymike-morhaimemmo-industrysubscriber-numberssubscribersworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 03 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

First there was The Burning Crusade, then Wrath of the Lich King, and, most recently, Cataclysm. World of Warcraft's expansions have been the lifeblood of literally millions of gamers' playtime, which is why many fans are anxiously awaiting word of the fourth expansion pack to the hit MMO.

Today we may know the name of the expansion: Mists of Pandaria. According to MMO Champion, Blizzard filed a trademark with this title on July 28th, which is exactly in line with how the company has procured titles for the previous expansions. The trademark specifies that this is for "computer game software."

The Pandarens are one of the more light-hearted races in the Warcraft franchise, with kung fu panda bears from a secret empire somewhere in Azeroth. Despite being fan favorites, the Pandarens have been rarely seen in WoW, while Blizzard has used them in a couple different April Fool's jokes in the past.

We'll be keeping our eyes on Blizzard for any official confirmation.

MassivelyRumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardapril-foolsazerothblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionexpansionskung-fu-pandamists-of-pandariapandarenpandarenspandariarumorthe-burning-crusadetrademarkwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft coming to Brazil]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A fully localized World of Warcraft is on its way to Brazil, complete with a Portuguese client and customer service platform. This marks Blizzard's ninth officially supported language according to a press blurb on the company's website, and the third supported language in Latin America (following the English and Spanish versions).

Blizzard is providing a full suite of payment options for Brazilian customers, with the base game (plus the Burning Crusade expansion) available for BRL 29.90, while Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm will retail for BRL 99.90 each. If retail boxes aren't your thing, the Brazilian version of WoW will also be available through Battle.net.

Finally, subscription plans come in 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day flavors, and 60-day time cards will be available in retail stores. North American players who wish to play on the dedicated Brazilian realms may install a language pack or purchase the Portuguese client, and Blizzard says that "additional pricing details and an official release date [...] will be announced closer to launch."

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft coming to Brazil originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrazilburning-crusadebusiness-modelscataclysmfantasylatin-americammo-industryportugueseportuguese-clientworld-of-warcraftwowwow-brasilWrath-of-the-Lich-KingFri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamersFirst welcomes World of Warcraft to 'the free-to-play revolution']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/gamersfirst-welcomes-world-of-warcraft-to-the-free-to-play-revo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/gamersfirst-welcomes-world-of-warcraft-to-the-free-to-play-revo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/gamersfirst-welcomes-world-of-warcraft-to-the-free-to-play-revo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sarcastic, genuine, or merely self-promoting? An open letter from GamersFirst's Joshua Hong to Activision-Blizzard's Bobby Kotick following World of Warcraft's surprise move to an indefinite free trial could be all three. "I wanted to congratulate you on taking your first big step to join the Free2Play(R) revolution," Hong writes.

He certainly isn't shy in expressing what he sees as GamersFirst's great accomplishments in the market: "Having created this market in the western hemisphere, it's very encouraging for us to see the last bastion of the subscription-only online gaming business joining the Free2Play movement... Given our recent success in reviving APB Reloaded, which launched as a subscription-based game we transitioned to Free2Play, we know that the first steps are often the hardest. But the proof is in the metrics, as APB now has more than three times the active player base than when it initially launched as a subscription product. We also plan to repeat this success with Fallen Earth."

Hong continues the letter by "extending [his] friendship and support" to Blizzard, inviting Kotick to the free-to-play party at Gamescom, and hoping that the company's entire library will be made free in the future.

MassivelyGamersFirst welcomes World of Warcraft to 'the free-to-play revolution' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardall-points-bulletinapbapb-reloadedblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbobby-kotickf2pfree-to-playfree2playgamersfirstgamescomjosh-hongjoshua-hongmetricsopen-letterrobert-kotickworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 29 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT approaching the one million sell-through mark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/rift-approaching-the-one-million-sell-through-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/rift-approaching-the-one-million-sell-through-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/rift-approaching-the-one-million-sell-through-mark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For some, success is measured in how fun a game is and how much it accomplishes that which it promised. For others, success is all about the cold, hard numbers -- subscribers, units sold, accounts created, concurrent players. Today, Trion Worlds considers RIFT a success on the latter front as well as the former, as it announced that the company is nearing the million sell-through mark for the game.

A unit sold-through means that a copy of RIFT -- physical or digital -- has been sold to a customer, not merely shipped to retail. In an interview with Gamasutra, Trion's David Reid says that the company's $50 million title is doing well with direct competition against established fantasy MMOs like World of Warcraft.

"We're really pleased with what we're seeing. And beyond that, it was a pleasure to see in the latest Activision Blizzard earnings call that RIFT was inquired about when Blizzard announced their subscriber numbers went from 12 million to 11.4 million," Reid said. "You can do some math... we know very well where those 600,000 people are."

Trion is becoming well-known for its aggressive marketing push behind RIFT, which Reid thinks is paying off handsomely: "We know we have a very stick game, we know we are getting a lot of success right now... If in fact the 600,000 players [Blizzard] lost came to RIFT, I don't think they'll be getting those 600,000 people back as quick as they did from Aion, Conan, Warhammer and the like."

MassivelyRIFT approaching the one million sell-through mark originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardage-of-conanaionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdavid-reidgamasutrainterviewriftrift-planes-of-telarasell-throughsubscriber-numberstriontrion-worldsunitsunits-sold-throughwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftTue, 07 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Exclusive reveals, Diablo III, and HoNiversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/not-so-massively-exclusive-reveals-diablo-iii-and-honiversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/not-so-massively-exclusive-reveals-diablo-iii-and-honiversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/not-so-massively-exclusive-reveals-diablo-iii-and-honiversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Saturday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Defense of the Ancients, Bloodline Champions, and more.

In recent years, the online space has been invaded by countless small-to-medium-sized development studios producing some awesome online games. Some of the games have included MMO elements, using an ongoing iterative development strategy and marrying a form of character or stat persistence to what would otherwise be just a match-based game. In last week's Not So Massively, we got a first look at Aida Arenas, introduced the first Rise of Immortals developer podcast, and announced the massive League of Legends Your DreamHack contest. We also got to grips with the new HoN's hero Flux.

In this week's absolutely colossal multi-part Not So Massively, we've got our hands on an exclusive reveal of Rise of Immortals' creepy necromancer The Netheurgist. We go on to look at the new LoL champion Vayne in patch 1.0.0.118 and the major Honiversary one-year update to Heroes of Newerth, which has decreased the learning curve significantly and turned the game free-to-play until Sunday, May 22nd. We also take a look at a few new games this week, including Prime World, Realm of the Titans, Karma Online, and Blizzard's highly anticipated Diablo III.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Exclusive reveals, Diablo III, and HoNiversary

MassivelyNot So Massively: Exclusive reveals, Diablo III, and HoNiversary originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbloodline-championsdiablodiablo-iiiexclusivefeaturedgadgetmeisterheroes-of-newerthhonkarma-onlinekarma-online-prisoners-of-the-deadleague-of-legendslearning-curvelolmichael-morhaimenewsnivalpetroglyphprime-worldrealm-of-the-titansrise-of-immortalsrois2s2-gamesthe-netheurgistvaynevideoSat, 14 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard: RIFT players will come back to WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/activision-blizzard-rift-players-will-come-back-to-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/activision-blizzard-rift-players-will-come-back-to-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/activision-blizzard-rift-players-will-come-back-to-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

During yesterday's Activision Blizzard conference call announcing the company's first quarter results, the massive publisher announced record profits. This was achieved despite a small decline in World of Warcraft subscriptions from the previous record of 12 million to March's 11.4 million players, a number that has barely changed since 2008. The call included not only discussions on the financial state of Activision Blizzard but also plans for Blizzard's ongoing MMO development. During the call, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment Michael Morhaime confidently answered questions from participants on what the future holds for its industry-dominating title.

As the financial details and subscription numbers presented in the call were collected in March, the question of how RIFT's launch in early March had affected WoW's playerbase inevitably came up. Morhaime was quick to point out that while a percentage of players have historically left WoW to try out each new game released in the MMO market, a healthy proportion of them tend to return. Blizzard expects the same to occur with RIFT, pushing players to take a break from WoW but ultimately keeping them as long-term customers.

"We knew that this year was going to be a year where we faced new competitors; this isn't the first time, though, that we've had strong competitors enter the MMO market. What we have seen in the past is we tend to see our players leave for some period of time, try out the new MMOs, and then a good percentage of them historically have come back to World of Warcraft. So far, I haven't seen anything to indicate this will be different."

MassivelyActivision Blizzard: RIFT players will come back to WoW originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 May 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentironhammersmichael-morhaimemmo-burnoutmmo-industrymorhaimequitreturning-playersriftrift-planes-of-telaraworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 10 May 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard posts record profits, WoW subs declining [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The most recent World of Warcraft expansion has garnered its fair share of criticisms from players, but for better or for worse that hasn't made a dent in the parent company's empire. Activision Blizzard hasn't just been surviving but thriving, posting a record profit for the first quarter of 2011 -- $503 million in net income, more than $100 million over the year before. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Blizzard Entertainment was responsible for a large portion of that profit, bringing in $170 million all by its lonesome.

Needless to say, this has serious implications for the MMO world, especially with the long-awaited Star Wars: The Old Republic still on deck for this year -- a game rumored to have a nearly ruinous budget reaching well into the $200 million territory. While some of Blizzard's profit no doubt came from StarCraft II, the numbers involved will nevertheless send the message that there's still a great deal of profit to be had in MMOs, or at least in World of Warcraft.

[Update: Our sister publication WoW Insider is reporting that during the earnings call earlier this afternoon, Blizzard admitted to a drop in WoW's subscriber levels, from pre-Cataclysm levels of 12 million to 11.4 million at the end of March.]

MassivelyActivision Blizzard posts record profits, WoW subs declining [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusinessfinancialgaming-industrymmo-industryprofitsworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 09 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard bigwigs recall company's first 20 years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/blizzard-bigwigs-recall-companys-first-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/blizzard-bigwigs-recall-companys-first-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/blizzard-bigwigs-recall-companys-first-20-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Twenty years is a long time, and to illustrate how long (and make you feel old in the process), let's do a little retrospective. In 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev led the Soviet Union, James Cameron's Terminator 2 and Kevin Costner's Robin Hood ruled the box office, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was flying off toy store shelves everywhere following its August release.

Also in 1991, a software company known as Silicon & Synapse started its life by working on ports for other gaming companies before re-branding itself as Blizzard Entertainment three years later. In a new interview at PC Gamer, Blizzard bigwigs Frank Pearce, Mike Morhaime, and Rob Pardo talk about the company's past, present, and future, as well as where PC gaming is headed in general.

"I think the effect we're on the verge of having -- at least for World of Warcraft specifically -- is that right now, gaming is on the edge of not being the basement-geek entertainment anymore," Pardo says.

MassivelyBlizzard bigwigs recall company's first 20 years originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdamn-were-oldfrank-pearcegeezersinterviewmike-morhaimemmo-industrynostalgiapc-gamerrob-pardoworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 25 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Banned WoW player offers $1,000 for reactivation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/banned-wow-player-offers-1-000-for-reactivation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/banned-wow-player-offers-1-000-for-reactivation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/banned-wow-player-offers-1-000-for-reactivation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you lost an MMO account through hacking, banning, or any other method, what would you pay to get it back? One California World of Warcraft player didn't hesitate to put a hefty price tag on that possibility.

"I got my WoW account banned yesterday during the archaeology bot ban wave. I wasn't a gold farmer or seller, never bought gold. I just botted archaeology because it's a boring profession. I'm looking for a WoW Account Admin [...] to unban my account for $1000USD. No questions asked - your anonymity will be preserved."

The plea for reinstatement says it all. The anonymous player posted via Craigslist last week, offering any form of payment the recipient might ask for -- including "an envelope under a tree." While it's a safe bet that nobody on the WoW team will open this particular can of worms, it's an interesting look at how far some players will go to preserve the time invested (or not invested, in this case) in gameplay.

MassivelyBanned WoW player offers $1,000 for reactivation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardbanningblizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentbotbottingcraigslistWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 22 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA["WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A couple of years ago, fans of the Halo franchise were crushed to find out that their favorite first-person shooter probably wasn't going to make the leap to MMO space. However, the company behind the Halo phenomenon has been diligently at work on another highly speculated-about project -- and it looks as though this project could go a long way to giving the fans what they want.

According to Kotaku, Bungie has been developing a massively multiplayer first-person shooter named Destiny. Previously code-named "Tiger," Destiny is described by Kotaku's unnamed source as being "World of Warcraft in space" and will run on all-new technology developed by the studio, including unique online connectivity and matchmaking software.

Bungie is currently in a 10-year publishing agreement with Activision Blizzard, so presumably Destiny will be published by the company. Last year, Blizzard's Rob Pardo applauded the idea of a Bungie MMO, although he refused to comment on a collaboration between the two studios.

Massively"WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbungiebungie-studiosdensity-i-mean-destinydestinyfpshalokotakummofpsrob-pardotigerworld-of-warcraftwowwow-in-spaceThu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of StarCraft modders clash with Activision Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-modders-clash-with-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-modders-clash-with-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-modders-clash-with-activision-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last night, we brought you the news that a talented StarCraft II modder had begun developing a full MMO based in the StarCraft II engine. World of StarCraft, as the mod came to be known, used the game's open modding and map-editing tools to produce some pretty impressive MMO-style mechanics. But the project has not been officially endorsed by Activision or Blizzard Entertainment, who own the rights to the StarCraft intellectual property.

Given the huge popularity of both StarCraft and StarCraft II, an MMO based in that setting would be a sure bet to attract a lot of interest. There has even been speculation that Blizzard may be planning to develop an official StarCraft MMO in the near future -- a move that, after the rampant popularity of World of Warcraft, would seem like a no-brainer.

Today brings some bad news for fans of the World of StarCraft mod and its development, as Activision has finally taken notice. The alpha trailer released on YouTube has been removed at the request of Activision, the reason being cited as copyright and intellectual property violations. This may pertain to the use of StarCraft II material in a game trailer, the similarity of the name to World of Warcraft's, or something else entirely. Whatever the reason for it, it's clear that it won't be plain sailing for the development of this popular StarCraft II mod.

MassivelyWorld of StarCraft modders clash with Activision Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentDMCAlegalmoddingmodding-communitystarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iitrailervideoYouTubeWed, 19 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft II turned into World of StarCraft by enterprising fan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/starcraft-ii-turned-into-world-of-starcraft-by-enterprising-fan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/starcraft-ii-turned-into-world-of-starcraft-by-enterprising-fan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/starcraft-ii-turned-into-world-of-starcraft-by-enterprising-fan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

World of StarCraft is, by all indications, high on the list of desirable games that have never been announced or even hinted at. It's certainly a universe ripe for development, and it's not as if Blizzard doesn't know anything about running an MMO. But why wait for an official release when you can put the game together yourself? That's what's behind the rather intuitively named project making the rounds today -- an effort to use the powerful map editor in StarCraft II to create a full MMO within the existing game's framework.

While development is still in the very early stages, and of course the project is wholly unofficial, it's a fascinating use of player-edited gameplay as well as a display of just how much people want to play in the world as an MMO. Take a look at the trailer past the cut to see the surprising amount of work that's been done on converting the RTS into a more familiar genre -- although bear in mind that the official forums have been getting rather hammered before you go nuts.

Continue reading StarCraft II turned into World of StarCraft by enterprising fan

MassivelyStarCraft II turned into World of StarCraft by enterprising fan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfan-projectfan-worknewsscsc2sciistarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iivideoworld-of-starcraftwosTue, 18 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST