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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[The MMO Report: For realsies edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/#commentsFiled under: Video, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Humor, Miscellaneous

The MMO Report

This week on The MMO Report, Casey dishes on Marvel Heroes' new engine, Dungeons and Dragons Online's inbound anniversary update and expansion, and RIFT's financial success. He cheers ArenaNet's revelation that Guild Wars 2 will launch in 2012 -- for realsies! -- but then he mourns the lack of BlizzCon this year:

"But... the fans! The swag! The concert! The cosplay! People getting hurt during the dance contest! How can we go on living without BlizzCon 2012?"

Finally, Casey dispenses bad advice and Nordic memes from Uncle Casey's Mailbag.

All this and more in today's edition of The MMO Report, which is tucked behind the break.

Continue reading The MMO Report: For realsies edition

The MMO Report: For realsies edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetblizzconcasey-schreinerddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineexpansionguild-wars-2gw2humormarvel-heroesmmo-reportncsoftnewsopinionriftthe-mmo-reporttriontrion-worldsturbinevideovideosThu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon skipping 2012 due to 'jam-packed schedule']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/blizzcon-skipping-2012-due-to-jam-packed-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/blizzcon-skipping-2012-due-to-jam-packed-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/blizzcon-skipping-2012-due-to-jam-packed-schedule/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Miscellaneous

BlizzCon

Sorry Blizzard fans, you're going to have to go without your BlizzCon fix this year.

Our sister site WoW Insider spotted the word on the World of Warcraft forums, in which a community manager posted a brief update on the popular convention: "In light of our jam-packed schedule, we've decided to hold the next BlizzCon in 2013." Currently the studio is working on Diablo III, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, and its top-secret Titan MMO project.

BlizzCon has been held yearly since 2005 with only one exception: The studio declined to hold it in 2006. The convention was notorious for being the venue in which Blizzard announced its major upcoming projects.

The absence of BlizzCon this year may be offset by the announcement of the 2012 Battle.net World Championship to take place in Asia toward the end of this year.

BlizzCon skipping 2012 due to 'jam-packed schedule' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012-Battle.net-World-ChampionshipBattle.net-World-Championshipblizzardblizzconblizzcon-2012diablo-3diablo-iiimists-of-pandariatitanworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 25 Jan 2012 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the worst thing an MMO dev's ever said?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-an-mmo-devs-ever-said/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-an-mmo-devs-ever-said/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-an-mmo-devs-ever-said/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

EverQuest

The fall season has seen two massive PR fiascos in two MMOs that just couldn't be more different: World of Warcraft and EVE Online. At BlizzCon, Blizzard cluelessly cheered on a video featuring individuals making crass anti-gay comments. And CCP managed to alienate its loyalists with an arrogant, greed-oriented internal memo.

For my part, one of the most awful dev quotes surfaced during the bygone days of EverQuest, when a dev named Milo Cooper famously posted to a player, "Shut up and give me my ten bucks per month, little man. My Porsche needs some performance upgrades." (Hey, remember back when games were $10 a month?) Comments like that one just fueled anger among the playerbase, whose members already felt they were paying too much for too little in return from a studio that took them entirely for granted.

So what's the worst thing you've ever seen an MMO dev say or do?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What's the worst thing an MMO dev's ever said? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-bucks-per-month-seems-so-cheap-nowarroganceBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconbrianna-royce-tdgccpccp-gamesdevdevelopereqeveeve-onlineeverquestfearlesshomophobiainternal-memomilooopsopen-mouth-insert-footopinionporschequotesoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstudiotdgthe-daily-grindWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week in MMO: MechWarrior edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/this-week-in-mmo-mechwarrior-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/this-week-in-mmo-mechwarrior-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/this-week-in-mmo-mechwarrior-edition/#commentsFiled under: Video, Opinion, Humor, Miscellaneous, MechWarrior Online

TWIMMO

In this week's TWIMMO, Mike B aka Fony, Josh Allen, and Mike Schaffnit join host Gary Gannon for Gamebreaker.TV's weekly chat about recent MMO stories. They kick things off by pondering how a video stuffed with anti-gay slurs slipped by Blizzard Entertainment (and a lot of the folks in the live crowd, as well) at BlizzCon. They also gush like fanboys about the newly announced F2P MechWarrior Online MMO before spending some airtime on PlanetSide 2, World of Darkness, and RuneScape.

Hit the break for the full show!

Continue reading This Week in MMO: MechWarrior edition

This Week in MMO: MechWarrior edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011bottersbottingccpccp-gamesdc-universe-onlinedcuogamebreakergamebreaker-tvgamebreakertvgary-gannonjagexlayoffsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinepiranha-gamesplanetside-2runescapesoeSony-Online-Entertainmentthis-week-in-mmotwimmovideovideocastvideoswodworld-of-darknessThu, 03 Nov 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Have you seen my bear Tibbers?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/not-so-massively-have-you-seen-my-bear-tibbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/not-so-massively-have-you-seen-my-bear-tibbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/not-so-massively-have-you-seen-my-bear-tibbers/#commentsFiled under: Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, Lore, New titles, PvP, News items, Not So Massively

Not So Massively title image

Following last week's League of Legends livestream, I joined Patrick Mackey this week in delivering a very positive first impression of the game. League of Legends officially turned two years old this week, and to celebrate, Riot Games has released the Birthday Surprise Fiddlesticks skin. Heroes of Newerth also released potentially overpowered agility carry Gemini this week, though the character is currently marked for early access and must be purchased. Bloodline Champions officially launches on steam this week, and all current and new players will receive a bonus gift to celebrate.

Diablo III fansite DiabloFans took a look at upcoming Book of Cain lore compendium, upcoming graphic novel Sword of Justice and the next Diablo novel. DiabloFans also takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Black Soulstone cinematic trailer. The game's predecessor Diablo II received a new patch this week aimed at eliminating RMT and spam bots, which has met with limited success. Finally, Firefall fires up its community coverage with the first of a new weekly community roundup.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Have you seen my bear Tibbers?

Not So Massively: Have you seen my bear Tibbers? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-soulstoneblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconbloodline-championsbook-of-caincinematicdeckard-caindiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidiablo-iii-betaf2pfeaturedFiddlesticksfirefallfree-to-playgeminiheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolnewsred-5red-5-studiosriot-gamesS2-Gamesstay-awhile-and-listenstunlock-studiossword-of-justicethe-ordertrailervideoMon, 31 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard apologizes for anti-gay slurs at BlizzCon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/blizzard-apologizes-for-anti-gay-slurs-at-blizzcon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/blizzard-apologizes-for-anti-gay-slurs-at-blizzcon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/blizzard-apologizes-for-anti-gay-slurs-at-blizzcon/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, Events, real-world

Cannibal Corpse

During BlizzCon last week, the lead singer of Cannibal Corpse, affectionately known as George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, was shown in a video explaining just how much he hates Alliance players in World of Warcraft. Although the video was censored and edited from its original version for the live crowd, the video is notorious for being filled with anti-gay slurs used to describe his hatred of the Alliance.

Taking quick action to apologize for the lapse in judgment, Blizzard's president, Mike Morhaime, issued a written statement to GayGamer.net taking personal responsibility for airing the video, which you can read in its entirety after the cut.

Continue reading Blizzard apologizes for anti-gay slurs at BlizzCon

Blizzard apologizes for anti-gay slurs at BlizzCon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-gayapologiesblizzardblizzconcannibal-corpsecorpsegrindergeorge-fishermike-morhaimeworld-of-warcraftFri, 28 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Report: Ah crap it's BlizzCon again edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/mmo-report-ah-crap-its-blizzcon-again-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/mmo-report-ah-crap-its-blizzcon-again-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/mmo-report-ah-crap-its-blizzcon-again-edition/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Classes, Culture, Events, real-world, Expansions, Interviews, Previews, Races, The MMO Report

The MMO Report

"Ah crap, it's BlizzCon again?" asks Casey Schreiner in this week's MMO Report. 'Fraid so! At the Anaheim con, Casey interviewed World of Warcraft Lead Producer J. Allen Brack about the Mists of Pandaria expansion, covering the neutral Pandaren race, the Monk class, the talent system overhaul, pet combat, world bosses, battlegrounds, challenge mode, retro dungeons, and beer.

He also found time to chat with a few fans, cut in line, sniff markers, wade into a loot elemental money machine, polish off some voiceovers for Jaina and Thrall, and play with WoW-themed LEGOs. I mean, MEGA Bloks.

Casey's takeaway? "We all learned something very valuable here: that internet rumors can sometimes be true. So thanks for ruining Christmas, The Internet!"

Enjoy the MMO Report just past the cut.

Continue reading MMO Report: Ah crap it's BlizzCon again edition

MMO Report: Ah crap it's BlizzCon again edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011casey-schreinerconinterviewinterviewsj-allen-brackmega-bloksmists-of-pandariammo-reportmonknewspandarenthe-mmo-reportvideoWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 27 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: BlizzCon, beta keys, and game trailers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/not-so-massively-blizzcon-beta-keys-and-game-trailers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/not-so-massively-blizzcon-beta-keys-and-game-trailers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/not-so-massively-blizzcon-beta-keys-and-game-trailers/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Trailers, Video, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Giveaways, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively

Not So Massively title image

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 Monday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions and more.

It's BlizzCon week, and that means a whole torrent of information has been released on Blizzard's upcoming action RPG Diablo III. Blizzard also showed off its official StarCraft mod Blizzard DOTA, which has the potential to be a fully fledged MOBA with characters from every Blizzard game. Heroes of Newerth's developer S2 Games threw together a series of developer-vs.-player matches this week and got thoroughly smashed to bits.

Online FPS Hedone has started its U.S. closed beta, and we have 2,000 beta keys to give away. Readers who managed to get their hands on a Realm of the Titans beta key from our key giveaway during the first beta test will be glad to know the second beta stage will be starting soon and that their old login details will work. Rise of Immortals fans received a new immortal spotlight video on Balak this week, while Blacklight: Retribution developers released the game's second developer diary.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other online games that aren't quite MMO

Continue reading Not So Massively: BlizzCon, beta keys, and game trailers

Not So Massively: BlizzCon, beta keys, and game trailers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardbalakbetabeta-keybeta-key-giveawayblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-dotaBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011diablodiablo-3diablo-3-betadiablo-iidiablo-IIIdiablo-III-betadotafeaturedgiveawaygolden-joystickgolden-joystick-awardshedoneheroes-of-newerthhonimmortal-spotlightleague-of-legendslolnewsnot-so-massivelypetroglyphriot-gamesrise-of-immortalss2-gamestrailertrailersvideozombiezombie-studiosMon, 24 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: BlizzCon 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/mmo-week-in-review-blizzcon-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/mmo-week-in-review-blizzcon-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/mmo-week-in-review-blizzcon-2011/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

WoW art. Woot pandas! Ahem... sorry.

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

BlizzCon owned the week with details of World of Warcraft's upcoming expansion Mists of Pandaria, Diablo III teasers, and the re-reveal of Blizzard DOTA (with which we even got a hands-on). We know Massively's often a haven for people who want to play something other than WoW, but some of us can't help but be excited anyway. Pandaren! New character models! Monks! Pandaren! New zones and dungeons! Pet battles! Pandaren! Scenarios! New talent systems (again)! Pandaren! Now all Blizzard has to do is release it before we're old and grey.

Check out the best stuff from the con along with this week's other top stories just past the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: BlizzCon 2011

MMO Week in Review: BlizzCon 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2011joystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 23 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Blizzard DOTA: Tweaking the genre it created]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/hands-on-with-blizzard-dota-tweaking-the-genre-blizzard-created/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/hands-on-with-blizzard-dota-tweaking-the-genre-blizzard-created/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/hands-on-with-blizzard-dota-tweaking-the-genre-blizzard-created/#commentsFiled under: Events, real-world, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, MMORTS, Massively Hands-on, Miscellaneous

Mat McCurley is on loan to us from WoW Insider, which dispatched him to BlizzCon 2011 just in time to bring us this hands-on with Blizzard's upcoming MOBA!

Blizzard DOTA has been reborn! We first experienced the StarCraft II module back during BlizzCon 2010, when the game felt like a very different affair. Now, Blizzard DOTA has been more streamlined to make for a unique and new playstyle. While the basic gameplay of the tri-lane DOTA maps stays similar (with two forces of minions ever-locked in eternal combat moving up and down lanes), there are changes that give the game a bit more dynamic player control.

Continue reading Hands-on with Blizzard DOTA: Tweaking the genre it created

Hands-on with Blizzard DOTA: Tweaking the genre it created originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardblizzard-dotaBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011defense-of-the-ancientsdotafeaturedfirst-impressionshands-onmobaopinionpreviewpreviewsFri, 21 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard discusses Mists of Pandaria details]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzard-discusses-mists-of-pandaria-details/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzard-discusses-mists-of-pandaria-details/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzard-discusses-mists-of-pandaria-details/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, News items

Pandas!

The big day-one BlizzCon announcement is that Mists of Pandaria is going to be the next World of Warcraft expansion, and we've got some new details on what players can expect from the new content. For starters, Blizzard is once again reworking the talent system, as the studio feels that the current system hasn't aged well and has been plagued with cookie-cutter builds. Instead, each class will have a single talent tree, and every 15 levels players will choose one of three available talents. Talent builds can be changed as easily as glyphs, meaning it's possible to customize your talents mid-instance in order to tune for a specific fight. Outdoor raid bosses are making a return, and Blizzard is aiming to allow players to choose their own paths through the content rather than forcing them onto a set path.

For more details, head on past the cut!

Continue reading Blizzard discusses Mists of Pandaria details

Blizzard discusses Mists of Pandaria details originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011dungeonsinstancesmists-of-pandariamonkmonk-classpandarentalent-systemtalentsworld-of-warcraftwowzonesFri, 21 Oct 2011 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon kicks off; new WoW, DotA details abound]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzcon-kicks-off-new-wow-dota-details-abound/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzcon-kicks-off-new-wow-dota-details-abound/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/blizzcon-kicks-off-new-wow-dota-details-abound/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world, News items, Miscellaneous

Blizzcon banner

Today's a big day for Blizzard fans, as BlizzCon is kicking off in full-swing! The opening ceremonies are underway as we speak, and there are already a couple of juicy nuggets for World of Warcraft players.

WoW players who upgrade their accounts to the 12-month subscription model will receive two lovely gifts: access to the next WoW expansion's beta test and Diablo III. That's right, upgrade to the 12-month subscription plan and you get Diablo III completely free.

Blizzard has also announced its upcoming DoTA title, and we'll have a hands-on with that as soon as possible, so stay tuned for more BlizzCon excitement.

[Update: It's official, folks. The newest World of Warcraft expansion is Mists of Pandaria. Players will have access to the Pandren race as well as a new ~~hero~~ class: the Monk. The newest trailers are embedded behind the break. Check out the official post at WoW Insider for more!]

[Update: The Monk is not a hero class. Sorry for the confusion!]

Continue reading BlizzCon kicks off; new WoW, DotA details abound

BlizzCon kicks off; new WoW, DotA details abound originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12-month-subscription12-month-subscription-planblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011d3defense-of-the-ancientsdiablo-3diablo-iiidotaFri, 21 Oct 2011 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Win a BlizzCon ticket from Gamebreaker.TV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/win-a-blizzcon-ticket-from-gamebreaker-tv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/win-a-blizzcon-ticket-from-gamebreaker-tv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/win-a-blizzcon-ticket-from-gamebreaker-tv/#commentsFiled under: Contests, Events, real-world, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous

Blizzcon

Seeing as how this year's BlizzCon tickets were sold out in the same amount of time that it takes you to read this sentence, the only way for you to experience the convention now is either virtually or by snagging a ticket from a generous donor. Fortunately, Gamebreaker.TV has a spare ticket on hand that it's prepared to bestow on a lucky fan -- and anyone can take a crack at winning it.

To try your hand at winning the golden ticket, you simply have to buy as many Wonka bars as you can possibly... no, wait, that's not right. Actually, all you have to do is head over to Gamebreaker.TV's Facebook page and click "like" to be entered into the drawing.

BlizzCon tickets were priced at $175 apiece and were sold out as of this past May. The convention might not have the big reveal of Blizzard's next big MMO, but it's got plenty of Foo Fighters to compensate.

Win a BlizzCon ticket from Gamebreaker.TV originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011facebookfoo-fightersgamebreakergamebreaker.tvgiveawaygolden-ticketticketwonkawonka-barsTue, 11 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's not talking about its unannounced MMO at BlizzCon this year, either]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/blizzards-not-talking-about-their-unannounced-mmo-at-blizzcon-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/blizzards-not-talking-about-their-unannounced-mmo-at-blizzcon-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/blizzards-not-talking-about-their-unannounced-mmo-at-blizzcon-t/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles

Remember that one time when Blizzard accidentally leaked some info stating that it's working on a new MMO (codenamed "Titan"), and we all got excited? And then BlizzCon happened, and we all thought the studio would tell us more, but it didn't? And then remember when that happened the next year, too? Well, it's happening again this year.

In a clarification statement to IGN, Blizzard has confirmed that it will not be discussing the "unannounced MMO" during BlizzCon 2011. This follows a VentureBeat interview with M2 Research senior analyst Billy Pidgeon, who predicted that news of Titan must be breaking at this October's event.

Oh well, we still have emote dance contests and the Foo Fighters, right?

Blizzard's not talking about its unannounced MMO at BlizzCon this year, either originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011emote-dance-contestignproject-titantitanunannounced-mmoThu, 29 Sep 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2011 brings in Foo Fighters for concert -- and to fight the foo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/blizzcon-2011-brings-in-foo-fighters-for-concert-and-to-fight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/blizzcon-2011-brings-in-foo-fighters-for-concert-and-to-fight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/blizzcon-2011-brings-in-foo-fighters-for-concert-and-to-fight/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous

Foo Fighters

Are you ready to rock? I SAID, ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? Oh, you are? Well then, you had better hope you already have a ticket to this year's BlizzCon, as the Foo Fighters are planning to take the center stage for a concert to end all concerts.

The Foo Fighters join Ozzy Osbourne and Tenacious D as the latest headlining act for Blizzard's annual convention. It's become tradition to end the weekend with a huge concert, and Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl is prepared to give the crowd an experience like no other: "We're pretty sure that in the future, music historians will look back at BlizzCon 2011 as the unquestionable pinnacle of Foo Fighters' long and illustrious career. We look forward to living up to that prediction by bringing the Horde and Alliance together to rock the hell out of Anaheim next month."

While BlizzCon is already sold out, there are virtual tickets and DirecTV options still available for die-hard fans. The convention will take place in California's Anaheim Convention Center on October 21st and 22nd.

BlizzCon 2011 brings in Foo Fighters for concert -- and to fight the foo originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allianceanaheimanaheim-convention-centerblizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011concertconventionDave-Grohldirectvfoo-fightershordeozzy-osbournetenacious-dvirtual-ticketsWed, 28 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second wave of BlizzCon tickets goes on sale tonight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/second-wave-of-blizzcon-tickets-goes-on-sale-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/second-wave-of-blizzcon-tickets-goes-on-sale-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/second-wave-of-blizzcon-tickets-goes-on-sale-tonight/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Promotions, Miscellaneous

If you missed out on picking up a ticket to one of the hottest events of the year, then your last chance is coming up tonight. A second batch of BlizzCon tickets is set to go on sale at 10:00 p.m. EDT (7:00 p.m. PDT) later today for the high, high price of $175 a pop.

Each ticket not only gets you into the two-day convention (October 21-22, 2011 in Anaheim, CA) but includes a goody bag and the option to purchase limited-time BlizzCon merchandise before the show.

Once the tickets go on sale tonight, you'll have minutes -- an hour at most -- to head over to the BlizzCon website and place your order. Blizzard is limiting you to only four per household, so if you have a group of friends who want to come, they'll need to coordinate their purchases as well!

This is the sixth BlizzCon since the event started in 2005. Last year's BlizzCon admitted over 27,000 fans to the shindig.

Second wave of BlizzCon tickets goes on sale tonight originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011blizzcon-ticketsgoody-bagpre-ordersaleshindigswagswag-bagticketsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 25 May 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon tickets on sale tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/blizzcon-tickets-on-sale-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/blizzcon-tickets-on-sale-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/blizzcon-tickets-on-sale-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world

Tomorrow is a big day: It's the scheduled date for both BlizzCon ticket sales and the second coming of Christ. OK, credibility on that second thing is sketchy at best, but the ticket sales are a sure thing.

The sales dates were announced back in April, and veteran BlizzCon fans know to be lightning fast when purchasing tickets. If you're new to all of this, it's important to note that all 20,000 tickets were snapped up in under an hour last year, so you'll need to be ready.

The first wave of tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning at 1:00 p.m. EDT, and if you're not quite fast enough, you can try for the second batch on May 25th. Check out all the ticket types and prices on the BlizzCon site, and good luck!

BlizzCon tickets on sale tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2011blizzcon-ticketsworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 20 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dates announced for BlizzCon ticket sales]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/dates-announced-for-blizzcon-ticket-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/dates-announced-for-blizzcon-ticket-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/dates-announced-for-blizzcon-ticket-sales/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items

Get those credit cards ready and be prepared to move quickly, because the folks at BlizzCon have announced the dates for ticket sales. If previous years are any indication, you're going to have to get your tickets almost immediately or not at all -- last year 20,000 passes sold out in less than one hour total.

Regular tickets will go on sale in two batches; the first round will be on on May 21st and the second on May 25th, and each pass is priced at $175. If you're feeling like splurging, you can wait until the 28th and spring for a benefit dinner ticket for $500. These tickets benefit the Children's Hospital of Orange County and grant you access to a pre-BlizzCon dinner with members of the Blizzard team in addition to granting you that coveted BlizzCon pass.

Finally, you can watch from the comfort of your own home for $39.99 thanks to a virtual ticket. Virtual tickets will get you comprehensive live streaming coverage, and the dates on that one are coming soon. Check the BlizzCon site for all the details.

Dates announced for BlizzCon ticket sales originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011blizzcon-ticketsworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 12 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Video, MMO industry, Humor, LEGO Universe, DC Universe Online, The MMO Report

Bad puns, sexual innuendo and all the MMO news you can handle are crammed into yet another MMO Report, brought to us by our friends at G4TV. Casey Schreiner and his fabulous tie recall a few of the biggest stories from the previous week.

First up on the docket is the cancellation of two THQ titles previously in development: Company of Heroes Online and WWE Smackdown vs. Raw Online. Both of these games were an attempt by the studio to bring its western-style MMOs to a Korean market, although THQ ultimately decided that this move wasn't at the top of its priority list.

On a more upbeat note, Casey talks up LEGO Universe's Crux Prime update, which came complete with ninjas and multiplayer madness. And yes, Casey, we agree that LEGOs are "awesome."

Other topics for the Report include Undead Labs' "Class 3" single-player XBLA title that's hopefully leading up to the studio's zombie MMO, robo-Batman in a new DCUO video, the announcement of BlizzCon's 2011 dates, and a Blizzard theme park called "Joy Land" in China. Face it: We have a weird hobby.

Hit the jump to watch the full MMO Report!

Continue reading The MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online

The MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanblizzardblizzconcasey-schreinercinematicclass-3Company-of-Heroescompany-of-heroes-onlineconventioncrux-primedc-universe-onlinedcuog4g4tvjoy-landlegolego-universelegosmmo-reportrobo-batmanthe-mmo-reportthqundead-labswwe-onlineWWE-SmackDown-vs-RAWxblaMon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2011 dates announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/blizzcon-2011-dates-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/blizzcon-2011-dates-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/blizzcon-2011-dates-announced/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world

It's time to get those time-off requests in and start saving up travel costs since hearthstones don't seem to work in the real world as yet. Blizzard has just announced that this year's BlizzCon will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center on October 21st and 22nd. Of course, if the last few years are any indication, you're also going to need a seriously quick F5 finger to get tickets, lest the dreaded Failoc prevent you from making your geeky pilgrimage to the home of all things World of Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft.

This year marks the sixth year that BlizzCon has run, and it will feature all manner of fun that players have come to expect from Blizzard's annual convention. There will be hands-on game time with the "latest versions" of Blizzard's games, discussion panels with developers, competitive and casual contests, swag to buy, friends to meet up with, and more. Additional details will be announced on the official BlizzCon site as the convention draws closer. Until those details are posted, we'll have to guess who could possibly top Ozzy and Tenacious D as far as a musical guests!

BlizzCon 2011 dates announced originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6th-annualanaheimblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconconventionfailocsixth-annualMon, 07 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Did you go to a game convention last year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

It is, in many ways, the ultimate gamer's pilgrimage -- to make the long trek to attend a gaming convention. Whether it be PAX, Dragon*Con, Fan Faire, BlizzCon, Leipzig or GamesCom, it's surprising the amount of money, time, effort and willingness to stand in line with sweaty people that we put up with just to see the latest games and talk to our favorite developers.

It's hard to explain the allure of these conventions to outsiders, but there's something thrilling in seeing crowds of people who share your same hobby and get excited over all the same stuff you do. Plus, there's the swag. OH, the swag!

Did you make your pilgrimage in 2010? Did you manage to get away to a fabulous retreat (from reality) and attend a game convention? And was it everything you'd hoped, or did it let you down?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Did you go to a game convention last year? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconconsconventionconventionsdragon-condragonconfan-fairegamescomLeipzigopinionpaxpenny-arcade-expopilgrimagesoe-fan-fairespandex-is-a-privilege-not-a-rightswagtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you upset with how MMOs handle women?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/#commentsFiled under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

While this year's BlizzCon didn't feature any shocking revelations about World of Warcraft, it still contained some shocking revelations for a few people during one of the question-and-answer panels. A question about the game's treatment of female characters wasn't just brushed off, it was mocked by the development team. This has been picked up in a couple of places, with the uniform opinion not just being that it was a bad way to respond to the question, it was a bad sign that developers can essentially brush off the question altogether.

It's not an unfamiliar debate, one that runs through every media in one form or another. Whether you're a man or a woman, you might be of the mind that there's a serious problem with how the genre treats a substantial portion of its audience... or you might be of the mind that people get way too bent out of shape over a bit of extra skin on female characters. So where do you stand? Are you unhappy with the way that women are represented in MMOs, or do you think that it's much ado about nothing?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Are you upset with how MMOs handle women? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2010controversyfeminismgendergender-relationsmaturityopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwomenwomen-in-gamingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 27 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Interviews

A Bungie MMORPG is a rumor that simply won't die. Whether it's Joe Staten hinting at a persistent world during the recently concluded GDC, or Bobby Kotick telling investors that one of the reasons Bungie signed with Activision was to avail itself of Blizzard's vast customer service expertise, scuttlebutt about a Halo-themed MMO is a speculative fire that's hard to douse.

In a new interview at Next Gen, Blizzard boss Rob Pardo (co-designer on World of Warcraft) says his company could share resources with Bungie on an MMO project and furthermore, he'd love to play it. "I think that's one of the other reasons we've been so successful at Blizzard -- all of us play and love games. We're as big a fans as anybody. I would love to play a Bungie MMO. I think it would be cool," he said at last week's Blizzcon.

Pardo was also quick to point out that Blizzard is very focused on their own development, and talk of a Bungie collaboration is somewhat premature. "There are a lot of ifs there. It would have to be a very specific proposal," he said.

Blizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentblizzconbungieBungie-StudiosBungieStudioshalohalo-mmointerviewjoe-statenrob-pardospeculationMon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Week in Review: Convention underload]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/week-in-review-convention-underload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/week-in-review-convention-underload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/week-in-review-convention-underload/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Week in Review

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on the site and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big story last week? Curious about what's going on next door at our sister site, WoW Insider? Don't worry -- we've got you covered.

Last week was all about the convention overload, but this week, the convention of honor was BlizzCon. And while it was a great convention at which to be if you're a fan of World of Warcraft -- enough so that we had two days worth of roundups -- there were no earth-shattering revelations this time around. But amidst the week's news of Hi-Rez Studios developing a Tribes MMO, more debates between Bethesda and Interplay on the Fallout MMO, and quelling Guild Wars 2 rumors, it's for the best to have a convention that doesn't turn the world on its ear. Isn't it?

Join us past the break for a look at this week's other top stories!

Continue reading Week in Review: Convention underload

Week in Review: Convention underload originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2010massively-metametaroundupweek-in-reviewweekly-recapwow-insiderSun, 24 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon Roundup - Saturday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/blizzcon-roundup-saturday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/blizzcon-roundup-saturday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/blizzcon-roundup-saturday/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world, News items

This year's BlizzCon is not one of startling revelations, but instead a chance for players to meet with and engage the developers, as well as celebrate Blizzard Entertainment's three long-running and much-loved franchises. But that doesn't mean there's nothing for World of Warcraft fans to learn from the various panels and interviews, so of course the team from WoW Insider is on the ground and reporting on every detail of the convention. And just like yesterday, we've distilled all the stories into a handy digest format!

Focusing on Q&A panels and interviews, today's highlights include a talk with the two most prolific authors of World of Warcraft novels: Christie Golden and Richard A. Knaak. There are also transcripts from the two major Q&A panels, and some interesting tidbits from the designers -- including the long-awaited confirmation that the dance studio feature promised for Wrath of the Lich King has not been quietly forgotten. Read on past the break for a roundup of the day's coverage!

Continue reading BlizzCon Roundup - Saturday

BlizzCon Roundup - Saturday originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2010cataclysmconventionreal-world-eventroundupworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmSat, 23 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Sinister moves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/one-shots-sinister-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/one-shots-sinister-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/one-shots-sinister-moves/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Screenshots, One Shots

Deathwing lies ready to tear the World of Warcraft apart. Meanwhile, thousands of Blizzard fans are getting their party on at BlizzCon this weekend. For those who weren't able to make the annual trek to Anaheim, or aren't glued to the livestreams going on, there's still quite a bit to do in Azeroth as today's One Shots contributor, Kimmara, points out. The note attached read: "Here is my Death Knight dancing with a jack-o-lantern on my head with my new Halloween pet. This was taken after killing the Headless Horseman in the Scarlet Monastery. Happy Halloween!" If you haven't snapped up your Sinister Squashling, now would be an excellent time -- the Scarlet Monastery may not be there next year!

Are you enjoying a holiday event in your favorite MMO? If so, why not send us a screenshot! We're always curious as to what's going on out there. Email those in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Sinister moves originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2010halloweenkimmaraone-shotspetscarlet-monasteryscreenshotscreenshotssinister-squashlingworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 23 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon Roundup - Friday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/blizzcon-roundup-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/blizzcon-roundup-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/blizzcon-roundup-friday/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world, Expansions, News items

For those of you unaware, this weekend is playing host to BlizzCon, Blizzard Entertainment's annual fan gathering for all of their franchises. For those of you really unaware, that includes World of Warcraft. (If you aren't familiar with the game, really, there's no helping any more.) And while the Massively crew is off taking care of other important things this weekend, our sister site WoW Insider has plenty of staff on the scene covering the big stories to come out of the convention.

The focus of the World of Warcraft coverage, to no one's great surprise, are the changes coming in Cataclysm. Friday has featured the panel for Dungeons and Raids as well as Quests and Lore, not to mention the unveiling of convention swag and the first round of costume photos. Click past the break for the roundup of stories, and check back tomorrow for another helping of convention news!

Continue reading BlizzCon Roundup - Friday

BlizzCon Roundup - Friday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2010cataclysmconventionreal-world-eventroundupworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmFri, 22 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This week on The MMO Report]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/this-week-on-the-mmo-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/this-week-on-the-mmo-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/this-week-on-the-mmo-report/#commentsFiled under: Video, News items, Opinion, Humor, The MMO Report

Jonah Ray has taken over The MMO Report for the week, as Casey Schreiner has headed off to the wilds of BlizzCon along with nearly everyone else in the world. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been news to cover elsewhere, starting with the epic $26 million ragequit from Final Fantasy XIV and moving on to the equally epic but far less economical cinematic for the upcoming World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. (The latter is largely Deathwing's epic ragequit from the elemental planes, so they're rather similar.)

Moving on, the report takes a look at Minecraft's new social network, the beta testing of Dynasty Warriors Online, and of course the usual dip into Uncle Casey's mailbag. (Technically Uncle Jonah this week, but you can't get hung up on technicalities like that.) Take a look past the cut for the most recent episode, and tune in every week for another installment of The MMO Report from G4tv and Massively!

Continue reading This week on The MMO Report

This week on The MMO Report originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconcase-schreinercataclysmdwodynasty-warriors-onlineff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivg4tvjonah-rayminecraftmmo-reportthe-mmo-reportvideovideosworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmFri, 22 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon sold out; additional conventions cannot be launched]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/blizzcon-sold-out-additional-conventions-cannot-be-launched/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/blizzcon-sold-out-additional-conventions-cannot-be-launched/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/blizzcon-sold-out-additional-conventions-cannot-be-launched/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world, MMO industry

If you had planned to spend the summer mowing lawns and scraping together enough dough to attend BlizzCon this fall, you're already too late. After going on sale this past Wednesday, all 20,000 tickets to the event were snatched up quickly. ZAM reports that the first batch of tickets on Wednesday were sold out in 23 minutes, and the second batch on Saturday in 28 minutes. The official Blizzard Store page simply notes now that "BlizzCon 2010 Tickets Currently Unavailable."

This is certainly no surprise considering that past BlizzCons proved to be one of the most popular conventions of the year, with ticket scalping at a premium. Currently, some desperate Blizzard fans are combing through eBay for scalped tickets, although high prices and Blizzard asking eBay to crack down on such sales make this a difficult alternative. Blizzard is also requiring photo ID this year to match tickets as a way to limit these transactions.

Fortunately, there is hope for Blizzard fans: they will once again offer virtual passes to the convention through DirecTV as a Pay Per View event available through satellite and multi-channel Internet stream. The virtual pass enables fans to watch all of the presentations and panels, as well as receive an exclusive in-game item, all for $39.95.

BlizzCon sold out; additional conventions cannot be launched originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2010blizzcon-2010-ticketsdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiiDirecTVebaypay-per-viewsold-outstarcraftstarcraft-2world-of-warcraftzamMon, 07 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Good to look back]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/one-shots-good-to-look-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/one-shots-good-to-look-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/one-shots-good-to-look-back/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Screenshots, One Shots

With the news that BlizzCon tickets will soon be on sale, many fans of Blizzard's World of Warcraft are limbering up their F5 mashing fingers and getting ready to drop $150 (or more) to be a part of this year's convention craziness. Cataclysm will undoubtedly take center stage this year, we'd bet. Of course, not everyone is laser-focused on what's to come -- some are choosing instead to go back and run content they may have skipped such as today's One Shots contributor, Kahdaj. Here's what he had to say about this recent solo kill-shot:

"This is my disc priest Kahdaj on the Mannoroth server of World of Warcraft. I have been spending some time seeing the older content of Outland and realizing how beautiful it is. I can't believe I missed out on it while power leveling. So here I am, standing proudly before my kill of Durn the Hungerer who was much too large a challenge during our first meeting at level 65. Although there's no challenge in what I'm doing in the Outlands, I'm certainly glad I'm getting a chance to experience the wonderful world Blizzard has created."

Are you one of the millions playing Blizzard's crazy popular MMO, World of Warcraft? Would you like a chance to show off your screenshot and tell your story? We'd love to hear from you if so. Just email it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. You never know -- it could be the next image we feature here on Massively.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Good to look back originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzcondurn-the-hungererkahdajone-shotsoutlandsscreenshotscreenshotsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 19 May 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you ready for Blizzcon?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-ready-for-blizzcon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-ready-for-blizzcon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-ready-for-blizzcon/#commentsFiled under: Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind

If you're a fan of World of Warcraft, or just Blizzard in general, you may already be following our sister site WoW.com for all the latest news on Blizzcon 2010. Not only will they prepare you for the event (no seriously, they've thought of everything), but we may now have just as much reason to be excited with the possibility of the next Blizzard MMO being announced soon.

The latest piece of information was definitely the most exciting for those interested in attending as we learn that Blizzcon Tickets will be on sale June 2nd and 5th. If the $150 ticket price is a bit out of your budget, you can get exhaustive coverage for $39.95 through a live internet stream or DirecTV.

So do you plan to attend via either of those options? What do you hope to see and hear at Blizzcon 2010? Do you think that next Blizzard MMO will finally be announced? Click that handy little button and let us know what you think!

The Daily Grind: Are you ready for Blizzcon? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2010blizzcon-2010-ticketsopinionthe-daily-grindwow.comWed, 19 May 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Single-game conventions, or multi-title meccas?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/the-daily-grind-single-game-conventions-or-multi-title-meccas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/the-daily-grind-single-game-conventions-or-multi-title-meccas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/the-daily-grind-single-game-conventions-or-multi-title-meccas/#commentsFiled under: Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind

When it comes to gaming conventions, the options for MMO players seem to get bigger every year. (Not that we're complaining, mind you!) You can get a taste of the MMO world within a bigger convention like PAX or the MMO track at Dragon*Con. Alternately, fans of a particular game or company have more and more choices to check out -- EVE FanFest; BlizzCon, SOE's Fan Faire, and now Jagex's RuneFest. Add to that the LFG Expo, which promises to give us more MMOs in one space than we've seen before, and you can see where a gamer might not know which to pick!

But with all the myriad choices opening up to us, we wondered this morning just how you like MMOs in your conventions? Are you more inclined to hit company-specific MMO conventions, so you can immerse yourself in a particular game (or series of games)? Do you prefer the large conventions where Mario and Magic: The Gathering fans mingle with murlocs? Or are you chomping at the bit for a convention like L4G, which should give players a huge choice of MMO diversity under one roof?

The Daily Grind: Single-game conventions, or multi-title meccas? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconconventionconventionsfan-fairefanfestlfg-expommoopinionpaxrunefesttdgthe-daily-grindWed, 28 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Blizzard show their next MMO at BlizzCon 2010?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/will-blizzard-show-their-next-mmo-at-blizzcon-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/will-blizzard-show-their-next-mmo-at-blizzcon-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/will-blizzard-show-their-next-mmo-at-blizzcon-2010/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, News items, Opinion

WoW.com's Zach Yonzon takes a speculative look at BlizzCon 2010 and all the possibilities that lie ahead. The article predicts that Blizzard will officially announce their sophomore MMO effort this year, which seems likely given StarCraft II's impending release and Diablo III being a known quantity. To top it off, the developer probably wouldn't mind stifling some of the substantial buzz building up around Star Wars: The Old Republic.

We'd love to see the cyberpunk MMO described in the article, but who wouldn't want a sci-fi MMO that's like Diablo's dark fantasy to Warcraft's light-heartedness? Nobody (well, except for Blizzard) really knows what the future holds, although for now you can read about it and share your thoughts if that helps out -- at least, it helps us feel slightly less helpless when pondering our MMO gaming future.

Will Blizzard show their next MMO at BlizzCon 2010? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowareblizzardblizzard-mmoblizzconcyberpunkdiablo-3diablo-iiieaelectronic-artslucasartspredictionsspeculationstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iiswtorthe-old-republicwarcraftFri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamesCom enters the ranks of E3 on its first year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/gamescom-enters-the-ranks-of-e3-on-its-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/gamescom-enters-the-ranks-of-e3-on-its-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/gamescom-enters-the-ranks-of-e3-on-its-first-year/#commentsFiled under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Hands-on

With a bajillion gaming conventions going on this year, and the global economy being the way it is, you'd think gamers would need to pick and choose their events more carefully. You would actually think that if you decided to run your brand new gaming convention the exact same days as BlizzCon, you're in for some problems. Well, you'd be wrong.

GamesCom in Cologne, Germany has just reported its attendance numbers and it blew away all expectations. 245,000 people attended the 5-day event that exhibited 458 companies from 31 countries. Quite a feat considering it was their first year. Our parent site, Joystiq, was on the ground at GamesCom and can provide more helpful statistics such as liters of Kölsch consumed and number of times they ran into champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Very important stuff.

GamesCom enters the ranks of E3 on its first year originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2009conferenceconventiongamescomgamescom-09gamescom-2009joystiqMon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[20k BlizzCon tickets gone in eight measly minutes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/07/20k-blizzcon-tickets-gone-in-eight-measly-minutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/07/20k-blizzcon-tickets-gone-in-eight-measly-minutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/07/20k-blizzcon-tickets-gone-in-eight-measly-minutes/#commentsFiled under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items

Klondike ain't got nothing on BlizzCon tickets when they're selling out faster than fiber optic internet on steroids.We're pretty sure there are thousands of people who would commit all kinds of unspeakable acts in order to acquire one. Maybe next year they're hold a Running Man style competition, or they could just hold a random lottery. Fans would probably do whatever Blizzard asked them, just to get the tiniest of peeks at their next big thing.

Surely though, people must be expecting some serious info to drop if the tickets sold out that quickly. Obviously there's a slim chance Blizzard's next MMO could be announced this year. There's also a chance we'll just hear more about already announced titles, but what else is there to know about StarCraft II at this point? No, we're holding out hope for MMO 2, because what's life without a little dangerous hoping?

20k BlizzCon tickets gone in eight measly minutes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzcondiablodiablo-3starcraft-2world-of-warcraftwowFri, 07 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you looking forward to any gaming conventions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/the-daily-grind-are-you-looking-forward-to-any-gaming-conventio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/the-daily-grind-are-you-looking-forward-to-any-gaming-conventio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/the-daily-grind-are-you-looking-forward-to-any-gaming-conventio/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

August and September are notoriously known as the months of gaming conventions, and ultimately, two months where we're pretty busy reporting announcements and general event coverage. We have both GamesCom and GamesCon (yes, confusing), GenCon, BlizzCon, GDC Austin, PAX, Tokyo Game Show and Dragon*Con to think about. Plus, there are countless smaller cons all around the world celebrating the gaming and general geek culture.

So which conventions are you most looking forward to in the coming months? Since we already have plans to attend a few of these conventions, we're curious to know which ones our readers see as the most important to them. Let us know your annual favorites that you usually attend, plan to attend for the first time or simply want to hear more about.

The Daily Grind: Are you looking forward to any gaming conventions? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconconventionsdragoncon-2009gamescom-09gamesconventiongdc-austin-2009genconopinionpaxthe-daily-grindtokyo-game-showSat, 01 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft and Mountain Dew contest prizes include BlizzCon trips and laptops]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/world-of-warcraft-and-mountain-dew-contest-prizes-include-blizzc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/world-of-warcraft-and-mountain-dew-contest-prizes-include-blizzc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/world-of-warcraft-and-mountain-dew-contest-prizes-include-blizzc/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Contests, Events, real-world

Are you desperate for a BlizzCon 2009 ticket? Desperate enough to jump through marketing hoops to get one? Well read on. Massively took a lighthearted jab at the World of Warcraft and Mountain Dew partnership with "WoW in Liquid Form", all in good fun. But the "Choose Your Side" contest they're running this summer has prizes some of our readers may be interested in, given how quickly BlizzCon tickets tend to sell out: all-expense-paid trips to BlizzCon 2009, each valued at $3000. They're giving away one per week through June 19th. It's a trip for two with round trip air and accommodation plus some spending cash thrown in.

If you're despondent over being #7585 in line for a BlizzCon 2009 ticket, head on over to the Game Fuel site where you can register and start racking up tokens which are essentially contest entries. Additional prizes they're giving away daily include Razer gaming gear (7 each day, not including the speakers), but there are also Alienware laptops (1 each day) waiting to be snagged. More info can be found in the official rules.

One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

World of Warcraft and Mountain Dew contest prizes include BlizzCon trips and laptops originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2009contestseventsfantasygame-fuelgame-fuel-tokensmountain-dewworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 30 May 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain Placeholder reminds you: Get your BlizzCon tickets tomorrow!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/captain-placeholder-reminds-you-get-your-blizzcon-tickets-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/captain-placeholder-reminds-you-get-your-blizzcon-tickets-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/captain-placeholder-reminds-you-get-your-blizzcon-tickets-tomor/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world, News items

In case you somehow forgot in the crush of excitement coming into E3, there are other conventions going on out there later this year. There again, if you're a die-hard World of Warcraft player, we suspect you probably remember BlizzCon - potentially before E3 even springs into your mind. Well, if you're one of the teeming masses who are just dying to get your hands on some BlizzCon tickets, we felt it was best to remind you that the second (and final) round of tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning for $125 each.

If you're after one of those coveted tickets, remember, you need to make sure you have a Battle.net account ready for tomorrow's insane crush of humanity on the ordering servers. The last round was sold out insanely fast, so you may also want to consider getting to bed early and making sure you have all the proper mats gathered to buff yourself up for the BlizzCon raid tomorrow. It's going to be an epic battle to get them, we're sure.

Captain Placeholder reminds you: Get your BlizzCon tickets tomorrow! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzconblizzcon-2009captain-placeholderticketsFri, 29 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't forget BlizzCon tickets go on sale today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/dont-forget-blizzcon-tickets-on-sale-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/dont-forget-blizzcon-tickets-on-sale-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/dont-forget-blizzcon-tickets-on-sale-today/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world

If all goes to plan, tickets for BlizzCon 2009. the must-attend event of the year, are due to go on sale in a couple of hours time. This year's BlizzCon is being held on the weekend of 21st August at the Anaheim Convention Center in Los Angeles.

Our sister site WoW Insider will be updating all day and if you're planning on joining the queue for tickets, you might want to check out their guide to the event. If you are, set up a Battle.net Account right now and then read up on how the new ticket system is going to work. Remember the first batch of tickets is going on sale at 10am PDT today, the second batch will be released at some point on 30th May, but we suggest you try and get them today if you can, as they are sure to sell out fast.

Don't forget BlizzCon tickets go on sale today originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2009diablo-3diablo-iiistarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-warcraftwow-insiderSat, 16 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you going to BlizzCon?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/the-daily-grind-are-you-going-to-blizzcon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/the-daily-grind-are-you-going-to-blizzcon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/16/the-daily-grind-are-you-going-to-blizzcon/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world, The Daily Grind

With BlizzCon tickets going on sale later this morning, this Daily Grind is probably going to be one of the more obvious and occasionally repeated. But as it is topical, I shall ask straight off before going into my customary anecdote. Are you going to BlizzCon? Will you be queuing for tickets all day today? Why exactly do you want to go? Is it Grunty, the promise of new announcements or rather for an IRL catch up with guildies?

I admit, until last year I never went to fan events and then the WWI was announced for Paris. Well, living across the pond in Blighty, I couldn't not go, could I? Granted I spent 98% of my time in a near pitch black press room squinting at my laptop, it was still amazing to sit in a bus headed for the convention centre, watching thousands of people standing in a queue which must have gone on for at least four blocks.

It only hit me when I found myself in the front row of the press area, mere inches from Mike Morhaime as he announced Diablo III. I don't cosplay and I'm usually working but very mention of a fan event makes me want to squee like a fan girl. I'm not even sure if I'm going to this year's BlizzCon yet, but if I don't, I will certainly be getting the DirectTV stream. What about you?

The Daily Grind: Are you going to BlizzCon? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anaheim-convention-centerblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2009blizzcon-ticket-salesblizzcon-ticketsthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftSat, 16 May 2009 08:00:00 EST