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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
There's only one Western subscription MMO that can stand to lose 1.3 million subs in three months and shrug it off: World of Warcraft. But shrug it off doesn't appear to what Activision-Blizzard is doing. During the investor call that revealed the heavy sub losses, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick acknowledged the changing market and his plans to adapt with speedier content. "It's important to note that the nature of online games has changed," he said, "and [that] the environment [is] becoming far more competitive, especially with free-to-play games." And Blizzard president Mike Morhaime suggested the company is "studying" the comings and goings of players and how to entice former players to return.

Well, we don't have to look much further than Star Wars: The Old Republic's recent rejuvenation to figure out that free-to-play is one of the better ways to entice gamers to return (and open their wallets). Surely, Blizzard has to be wondering whether F2P might be a huge boost to the game as it's approaching its ninth birthday later this year. What do you think -- will World of Warcraft eventually go free-to-play, and more importantly, should it?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbobby-kotickbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playinvestor-callMike-Morhaimeopinionreturning-playersstar-wars-the-old-republicsub-lossessubscriptionswtortdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon's golden tickets going on sale in two batches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/blizzcons-golden-tickets-going-on-sale-in-two-batches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/blizzcons-golden-tickets-going-on-sale-in-two-batches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/blizzcons-golden-tickets-going-on-sale-in-two-batches/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BlizzCon's golden tickets going on sale in two batches
Grabbing one of the year's hottest tickets will be a tricky prospect, especially considering how fast BlizzCon typically sells out. However, Blizzard is giving everyone a fair chance at grabbing one of these tickets by announcing the dates and times that they'll be going on sale.

Dates plural? Yes indeed! BlizzCon tickets will be sold in two batches, first on Wednesday, April 24th, at 10:00 p.m. EDT and second on Saturday, April 27th, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The tickets for the two-day convention are $175, although if you want to package in the Children's Hospital benefit dinner with the show, you'll be looking at parting with $500.

The studio also assured fans that it will once again be selling virtual tickets to BlizzCon, although specifics regarding these have yet to come. BlizzCon is taking place on November 8th and 9th at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.

MassivelyBlizzCon's golden tickets going on sale in two batches originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2013cash-shopconventiond3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymike-morhaimemultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgsaleticketsvirtual-ticketswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 04 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon returns in November]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/blizzcon-returns-in-november/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/blizzcon-returns-in-november/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/blizzcon-returns-in-november/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

BlizzCon returns in November
After skipping a year, BlizzCon is back, baby! The near-annual Blizzard convention is scheduled to take place on November 8th and 9th at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. The event will provide hands-on time with Blizzard's titles, an e-sports tournament, dev panels, and contests.

Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime is looking forward to the return of the convention: "BlizzCon gives us a chance to connect with our players and share our latest projects in a very personal way. Members from all of our gaming communities have helped make this event bigger and better every time, and we look forward to meeting up and celebrating with them in November."

While tickets are not yet on sale, the official BlizzCon site has posted hotel info for those looking to make Anaheim their temporary place of residence come this fall.

MassivelyBlizzCon returns in November originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzconblizzcon-2013cash-shopconventiond3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymike-morhaimemultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 19 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard moves 2.7 million Mists of Pandaria units in first week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/blizzard-moves-2-7-million-mists-of-pandaria-units-in-first-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/blizzard-moves-2-7-million-mists-of-pandaria-units-in-first-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/blizzard-moves-2-7-million-mists-of-pandaria-units-in-first-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Blizzard moves 2.7 million Mists of Pandaria units in first week
After two rounds of speculation, we finally have an accurate read on Blizzard's Mists of Pandaria sales numbers. The firm moved approximately 2.7 million copies of World of Warcraft since its September 25th launch. This doesn't count sales in China, where the expansion debuted on October 2nd. The company also reports that its global player base has surged upwards of 10 million subscribers.

"With Mists of Pandaria, we set out to expand on the sense of fun and discovery that's always been at the heart of World of Warcraft -- in addition to adding a huge variety of new content and features to the game," said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. "It's been gratifying to see the results of all of the work we put into this expansion and to hear all of the positive feedback from players so far."

[Source: Blizzard press release]

MassivelyBlizzard moves 2.7 million Mists of Pandaria units in first week originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentexpansionfantasyMike-Morhaimemists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-saleswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 04 Oct 2012 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Morhaime: MoP is a 'bigger, meatier expansion' than Cataclysm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/blizzards-morhaime-mop-is-a-bigger-meatier-expansion-than-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/blizzards-morhaime-mop-is-a-bigger-meatier-expansion-than-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/blizzards-morhaime-mop-is-a-bigger-meatier-expansion-than-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Blizzard's Morhaime - MoP is a 'bigger, meatier expansion' than Cataclysm
Blizzard bigwig Mike Morhaime gave an interview to GamesIndustry.biz today to coincide with the launch of World of Warcraft's latest expansion. "One of the things people will notice with Mists of Pandaria in comparison to our other expansions is the variety of things there are to do; it will feel like a bigger, meatier expansion compared to Cataclysm," Morhaime said.

He also talks about the ongoing post-launch plans for Diablo III as well as the e-sport community surrounding Blizzard's StarCraft franchise. Morhaime also offers a frank assessment of the reasons for Star Wars: The Old Republic's quick move to a free-to-play model. "Probably if they [BioWare] had to do it over again they might have held the game over and worked on the endgame content a bit more," he said.

MassivelyBlizzard's Morhaime: MoP is a 'bigger, meatier expansion' than Cataclysm originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyinterviewMike-Morhaimemists-of-pandariawarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 25 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard internal network hacked, some Battle.net account details compromised]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/blizzard-internal-network-hacked-battle-net-account-details-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/blizzard-internal-network-hacked-battle-net-account-details-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/blizzard-internal-network-hacked-battle-net-account-details-com/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blizzard
Blizzard Entertainment has just posted an "important security update" to its official site. The studio responsible for World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and StarCraft revealed that its security team "found an unauthorized and illegal access" into Blizzard's internal network.

While Blizzard president Mike Morhaime explains that no financial data (like credit card details, real names, and billing addresses) were compromised as a result of the security breach, he does admit that emails, answers to security questions, and encrypted Battle.net passwords of North American players (and others outside of China) were accessed.

"Based on what we currently know, this information alone is NOT enough for anyone to gain access to Battle.net accounts," wrote Morhaime, but the company is still investigating the breach and recommends that all players change their passwords "as a precaution."

MassivelyBlizzard internal network hacked, some Battle.net account details compromised originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbreakingfantasyhackhackingMike-Morhaimesecuritysecurity-breachwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 09 Aug 2012 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Battle of the online action RPGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/not-so-massively-battle-of-the-online-action-rpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/not-so-massively-battle-of-the-online-action-rpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/not-so-massively-battle-of-the-online-action-rpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Blizzard addressed Diablo III's poor launch in an open letter to the community this week and detailed plans for development going forward. If you're stuck in the magic find grind, an impressive new guide also surfaced this week to demystify the hunt. Upcoming free-to-play action RPG Path of Exile released a video of its updated passive tree this week, demonstrating some of the game's incredible character customisation options. Torchlight II developer Runic Games also released some statistics this week showing just how big the game is compared to its predecessor.

In MOBA news, League of Legends released updated champion spotlight videos for its recently overhauled champions Evelynn and Twitch, and Heroes of Newerth surprised players by releasing all of its heroes for free to every player. Dota 2 added classic hero Naga Siren and updated the spectator UI with a much-requested gold-per-minute table.

Hi-Rez Studios released a new SMITE video featuring Hindu demon Bakasura, a character who can eat enemies to regain health and later vomit them up on the battlefield. Wrath of Heroes also revealed ranged assassin Korith Bitterborn this week, and Guardians of Middle-Earth published its first battle profile video showing some of Gollum's and Gandalf's attacks.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Battle of the online action RPGs

MassivelyNot So Massively: Battle of the online action RPGs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbattlenetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingconsoled3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportseaelectronic-artsesportesportsevelynnf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-ownfree-to-playgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguideheroes-of-newerthhi-rez-studioshonitem-levelitemsleague-of-legendslegendarieslegendarylegendary-itemslollootlord-of-the-ringslotrmagic-findmiddle-earthMike-Morhaimemobamonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayermythicmythic-entertainmentnaga-sirennewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exileplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvprare-itemsriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamess2s2-gamesskill-treeskill-tree-revamptwitchvalvevideowarhammerwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswarner-broswohwrath-of-heroesxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360zyraMon, 23 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard acknowledges Diablo III always-on is DRM]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/blizzard-acknowledges-diablo-iii-always-on-is-drm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/blizzard-acknowledges-diablo-iii-always-on-is-drm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/blizzard-acknowledges-diablo-iii-always-on-is-drm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Blizzard acknowledges Diablo III alwayson Is DRM
Despite weeks of insisting that Diablo III's internet connection requirements were all about improving the experience for gamers, Blizzard has finally copped to the fact that the feature was actually designed to prevent piracy.

"While we've never said that this requirement guarantees that there will be no cheating or game cracks, it does help us battle those problems," Blizz co-founder Mike Morhaime said in a D3 state-of-the-game post.

As Rock, Paper Shotgun points out, Morhaime claims to "fully understand the desire to play Diablo III offline" despite the fact that the game was "designed from the beginning to be an online game that can be enjoyed with friends." The online requirement "is the best way for us to support that design," Morhaime writes.

MassivelyBlizzard acknowledges Diablo III always-on is DRM originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgalways-onalways-on-drmbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3d3-state-of-the-gamediablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-3-drmdiablo-iidiablo-iiidiablo-iii-always-ondrmerror-37fantasygames-as-a-servicegames-as-a-service-sucksgothic-fantasymike-morhaimemultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgThu, 19 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft holding steady at 10.2 million subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/world-of-warcraft-holding-steady-at-10-2-million-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/world-of-warcraft-holding-steady-at-10-2-million-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/world-of-warcraft-holding-steady-at-10-2-million-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Attack of the corporate logo!
World of Warcraft's subscriber numbers had been falling at the end of last year, but they appear to have stabilized once again. According to president Michael Morhaime, the game continues to remain steady at 10.2 million subscribers through the end of March, the same as the number seen in February during the previous conference call for Activision Blizzard. Morhaime went on to confirm that the agreement with NetEase regarding World of Warcraft in China has been renewed, with the companies planning to continue their agreement for another three years at least.

The studio is also seeing definite success with Diablo III; although the game has yet to release, it's currently surpassed all of the studio's previous high-water marks regarding pre-orders. This includes units sold as part of the Annual Pass promotion, which saw 1.2 million copies purchased in total. While WoW may not have reached its previous peak, it's certainly holding on to a stalwart base for the time being.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft holding steady at 10.2 million subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbreakingcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymichael-morhaimemike-morhaimemultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgsubscriber-numberssubscriberswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 09 May 2012 17:23:00 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[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[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: , , ,

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

MassivelyBlizzard 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[Blizzard's Morhaime: F2P not right for WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/blizzards-morhaime-f2p-not-right-for-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/blizzards-morhaime-f2p-not-right-for-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/blizzards-morhaime-f2p-not-right-for-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Blizzard's Mike Morhaime tests his deoderant
Before you burn Blizzard at the stake, free-to-play fans, it's worth noting that head honcho Mike Morhaime isn't dismissing the model forever. In a new interview at Eurogamer, though, he does say that it makes little sense for an insanely profitable enterprise like today's World of Warcraft.

"I think that there's an underlying, a fundamental assumption right now, that the less you charge, the more money you make. Which isn't true. And it doesn't necessarily make for a better game. I mean, everybody likes free... I think that definitely, players have seen a lot of really great quality free-to-play experiences, but I'm not sure it's the best model for us right now," Morhaime explains.

The interview also touches on the controversy surrounding the new Mists of Pandaria expansion as well as the business logic behind Blizz's decision to give away Diablo III to long-term WoW subscribers. Head to Eurogamer for the full report.

MassivelyBlizzard's Morhaime: F2P not right for WoW originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsf2pfantasyfree-to-playinterviewsMike-Morhaimemmo-industrysubscription-basedsubscriptionsWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 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[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[Blizzard speaks (briefly) about new MMO plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-speaks-briefly-about-new-mmo-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-speaks-briefly-about-new-mmo-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/blizzard-speaks-briefly-about-new-mmo-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"To break the mold, sometimes you have to start over," says Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. Apparently the monolithic development firm's next MMO won't be a World of Warcraft sequel, and In fact, the company expects the two titles to co-exist for a number of years.

"We're really trying to leverage all the lessons we learned through the years. Some of which we were able to address in World of Warcraft and others that maybe because of the design decisions we've made, you just can't address. So we're kind of taking a step back with all that knowledge to make something that's completely new and fresh," Morhaime said yesterday while speaking at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas.

Specific details were nowhere to be found of course, but Morhaime did hint at the social aspects that Blizzard sees as defining characteristics for the future of gaming.

MassivelyBlizzard speaks (briefly) about new MMO plans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-titandicedice-summitfantasymike-morhaimenew-blizzard-mmotitanWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-sequelThu, 10 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Blizzard MMO project is confirmed to be Titan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/new-blizzard-mmo-project-is-confirmed-to-be-titan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/new-blizzard-mmo-project-is-confirmed-to-be-titan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/new-blizzard-mmo-project-is-confirmed-to-be-titan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Blizzard has kept its newest MMO project under tight wraps despite some corporate leakage earlier this month. However, Destructoid seems to have a confirmation from World of Warcraft's Executive Producer Frank Pearce that Titan is the name of the company's next big project. Pearce told Destructoid, "Titan... the media is not supposed to know anything about that. It's our next-gen MMO, and we've only started talking about it in a limited fashion because we wanna leverage the fact that we're working on something like that for the purpose of recruiting, getting some of the best talent in the industry on that project."

However, Titan may only be an internal title for the -- obviously -- massive project. The title is not meant to replace WoW, according to Blizzard President Mike Morhaime. "We think that World of Warcraft can continue co-existing with our new MMO," he said in a GameTrailers interview at BlizzCon 2010.

Massively will be sure to keep you informed as more news becomes available.

[Thank you to Merketh for the link]

MassivelyNew Blizzard MMO project is confirmed to be Titan originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentfrank-pearceMike-Morhaimenew-mmorumortitanWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 16 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm to launch December 7th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-to-launch-december-7th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-to-launch-december-7th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-to-launch-december-7th/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The news that the World of Warcraft community has been waiting for is finally here: Blizzard announced the launch date for Cataclysm this morning.

The expansion will release on December 7th, and Blizzard CEO and Founder Mike Morhaime is confident that it will appeal to old and new players alike: " Cataclysm includes the best content we've ever created for World of Warcraft. It's not just an expansion but a re-creation of much of the original Azeroth, complete with epic new high-level adventures for current players and a redesigned leveling experience for those just starting out."

The expansion will be available in retail stores or via digital download in the WoW store. For fans who love the extras that come with a boxed collector's edition, those will be available exclusively in stores. Be sure to read the full press release, available at our sister site, WoW Insider.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm to launch December 7th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbreakingcataclysmexpansionMike-MorhaimeWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowMon, 04 Oct 2010 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard believes fans make their games successful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/blizzard-believes-fans-make-their-games-successful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/blizzard-believes-fans-make-their-games-successful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/blizzard-believes-fans-make-their-games-successful/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With E3 2009 officially underway, it's a great time for devs and CEOs to chat about their games and Blizzard's very own Mike Morhaime has been talking about the company's position in the MMO market with Develop. He believes that Blizzard is uniquely positioned within the industry and that it's all about the players:

"The story behind us is the passionate community that has grown up around our games," he explains during the interview. "Our commitment to quality has helped us grow a global audience that has grown with every release. While our competitors will be trying to overcome these challenges to grow their brands, we're already a major player there. None have achieved the same level of online growth as World of Warcraft. We're able to leverage huge investments in new content across the world's largest MMO subscriber base."

MassivelyBlizzard believes fans make their games successful originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentdevelopE3e3-2009fanbasemike-morhaimemmommosMon, 01 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW's Lich King sells record 2.8 million copies in 24 hours]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/wows-lich-king-sells-record-2-8-million-copies-in-24-hours/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/wows-lich-king-sells-record-2-8-million-copies-in-24-hours/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/wows-lich-king-sells-record-2-8-million-copies-in-24-hours/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The numbers are in and Blizzard has broken their own record once again. After selling 2.8 million copies in 24 hours, World of Warcraft's second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, has set the record as the fastest-selling PC game of all time, according to Blizzard. The irony is that the previous record holder was also Blizzard with their first WoW expansion, The Burning Crusade, which sold 2.4 million on the January 2007 launch day.

Blizzard's CEO and co-founder, Mike Morhaime, commented on the occasion, "We're grateful for the incredible support that players around the world have continued to show for World of Warcraft." Now the company is setting its sights on breaking the next record of 3.5 million copies sold in the first month; a record also set by The Burning Crusade. At this pace, they should easily break that next week.

MassivelyWoW's Lich King sells record 2.8 million copies in 24 hours originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbreakingbreakingnewsmike-morhaimerecord-breakingtbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 20 Nov 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard has no plans to change World of Warcraft's subscription rate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/blizzard-has-no-plans-to-change-world-of-warcrafts-subscription/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/blizzard-has-no-plans-to-change-world-of-warcrafts-subscription/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/blizzard-has-no-plans-to-change-world-of-warcrafts-subscription/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In another chat with MTV's Tracey John, this time held in an NYC Best Buy during the Wrath of the Lich King launch, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime had some interesting things to say about the economics behind World of Warcraft. Despite the game's towering success, 11 million players and a thriving community, the Blizzard folk have no plans to change the way they charge US customers. John ties this in with the recent announcement of plans for a subscription-based Guitar Hero series, something Morhaime says Blizzard had nothing to do with.

He goes on to note something MMO players have long used as a talking point for their hobby: the extremely low rate of cost for content. "If you look at other choices that you can make - like going to a movie with a date - you've already over 15 dollars for two hours. I think that players really see that in terms of value for their entertainment, that this the best value that they can find right now." The CEO states that so far the company hasn't been affected by the country's economic downturn, and they have hopes they won't see any problems moving into the winter months. Click through to read the full interview, which touches on the company's enthusiasm for their new expansion and their plans for future content expansions to WoW.

MassivelyBlizzard has no plans to change World of Warcraft's subscription rate originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbusiness-modelmike-morhaimesubscriptionworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 18 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard execs haven't played Wrath as yet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/13/blizzard-execs-havent-played-wrath-as-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/13/blizzard-execs-havent-played-wrath-as-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/13/blizzard-execs-havent-played-wrath-as-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Last night was generally a time for merriment and revelry, as many World of Warcraft players talked in lines around the world about just what they were going to do when they first got into game. Would it be the frozen tundra of Northrend, with new races and achievements by the score? Or would they instead be starting a new character and heading for Arthas' floating Necropolis? Surprisingly, among two of the people discussing just what they'd be doing in the strange new lands that Blizzard built were two of Blizzard's very own co-founders; Mike Morhaime, Blizzard's CEO, and Frank Pearce, Blizzard's Executive VP of Product Development. MTV's Multiplayer blog had a launch-night chat with with both Morhaime and Pearce, and discovered neither one of them has really played through the Wrath content as yet.

As if that weren't strange enough, it would appear that both men really haven't thought about rolling a Death Knight - or for that matter, what they'd name theirs if they do. We know people who weren't in beta that have planned talent trees, gear progression and more for their Death Knights, so drawing a blank on a good name seems a bit strange to us. Of course, Pearce's reasoning for not going Death Knight is one many World of Warcraft players can likely relate to; he doesn't want to get left behind on his main by his guild, as he was when Burning Crusade launched. But Morhaime, well, we'll have to cut him slack for being the CEO of a company making oodles of money and in heavy development and marketing cycles between Wrath, StarCraft II and Diablo III. Our suggestion would be to take a few well-deserved days off and enjoy some gaming; we hear there's this really popular new MMO expansion just came out that they might enjoy.

MassivelyBlizzard execs haven't played Wrath as yet originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddeath-knightfrank-pearcemike-morhaimenameworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 13 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Looking to leave World of Warcraft? Good luck!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/looking-to-leave-world-of-warcraft-good-luck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/looking-to-leave-world-of-warcraft-good-luck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/looking-to-leave-world-of-warcraft-good-luck/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If you're playing World of Warcraft right now, odds apparently are that you'll be doing that for some time to come. That's the word straight from sister site Joystiq, which listened in on the Activision/Blizzard financials conference call earlier this week. In speaking to the assembled business-types Blizzard President Mike Morhaime reiterated earlier statements, saying something like 70% of folks who left WoW for Age of Conan are already back. Of the players that left the game for Warhammer Online, almost 50% of them have already returned to the Azerothian fold.

Mark Jacobs may have pooh-pooh'd Blizzard claims (on more than one occassion) but anecdotally it certainly seems like Shattrath has been a busy place in the last few weeks. These numbers, of course, are all in advance of Wrath of the Lich King's launch next week. Analysts see Wrath of the Lich King garnering a whole new wave of attention to the game, and within the next few weeks we could see announcements of even more individuals signing into Blizzard's juggernaut of a title.

MassivelyLooking to leave World of Warcraft? Good luck! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocmark-jacobsmike-morhaimewarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 06 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: Next MMO won't be WoW 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/blizzard-next-mmo-wont-be-wow-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/blizzard-next-mmo-wont-be-wow-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/blizzard-next-mmo-wont-be-wow-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Go ahead a strike the possibility of a World of Warcraft 2 off your list of possible next-gen Blizzard MMOs because it's officially not happening. In an interview with Wired, Blizzard's recently talkative Mike Morhaime flat out said that their next MMO project isn't a sequel to their first. Of course, he wouldn't divulge exactly what it was either or this would be an entirely different sort of news post.

With this news, the odds for a StarCraft or Diablo MMO go up, but so do the odds for an entirely new IP as well. We're sure the guessing game will continue for quite some time before Blizzard tips their hand to everyone. At least the mystery will offer all of us something to do for the next few years while we wait for other unannounced super-secret games to be revealed in the meantime.

MassivelyBlizzard: Next MMO won't be WoW 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddiabloeaelectronic-artsmike-morhaimenext-gennext-gen-mmostarcraftwiredworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 17 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What could (and should) Blizzard's next-gen MMO be?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/the-daily-grind-what-could-and-should-blizzards-next-gen-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/the-daily-grind-what-could-and-should-blizzards-next-gen-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/the-daily-grind-what-could-and-should-blizzards-next-gen-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard's been talking about new MMOs as of late. Mike Morhaime told gamesindustry.biz about the challenges of launching a new game, and Jeff Kaplan dropped a few hints about the next-gen MMO that the company's been developing for a while now.

Kaplan hinted that the new game will hit consoles, and answered "all of the above" when asked if the genre would be sci-fi, fantasy, or historical. What impression does that give you, readers? Is it a totally new IP? If so, what do you think Blizz will try to do? And just as importantly -- what do you want them to do? What are you looking for in the next Blizzard MMO? World of Starcraft, or something completely different?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What could (and should) Blizzard's next-gen MMO be? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardconsolesdiscussionjeff-kaplanjeffrey-kaplanmike-morhaimenext-gen-mmoopinionspeculationtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard comments on new MMO launch issues and WoW expansion schedules]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzard-comments-on-new-mmo-launch-issues-and-wow-expansion-sch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzard-comments-on-new-mmo-launch-issues-and-wow-expansion-sch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzard-comments-on-new-mmo-launch-issues-and-wow-expansion-sch/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Blizzard's Mike Morhaime feels that companies new to the MMO genre underestimate the challenges of launching a new game into the market, according to an interview with gamesindustry.biz. Morhaime's specifically says, "I think everyone who hasn't done it will probably underestimate the logistics behind it - we certainly did," He continues to lay out his reasoning, citing such factors as scaling everything up quickly, multiple languages, 24/7 services and maintaining internal developer support all at the same time.

Morhaime also mentions the once trumpeted yearly release schedule for Word of Warcraft expansions, saying, "Right now we're on the longer than a year plan." The news is unfortunate for anyone hoping to see another expansion released by the same time next year, but Morhaime assures fans that it will be worth the wait. We certainly hope so with developers like Turbine and Mythic who've had past experience getting quality expansions out on a regular beat biting at Blizzard's heels.

MassivelyBlizzard comments on new MMO launch issues and WoW expansion schedules originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcodemasterseaelectronic-artsgamesindustry.bizmike-morhaimemythicturbineworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 14 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: Yes, some players left for AoC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-yes-some-players-left-for-aoc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-yes-some-players-left-for-aoc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-yes-some-players-left-for-aoc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Say whatever you will about Age of Conan, but it's been one of the only games to actually put a tangible dent in Blizzard's ten million ton monster truck of an MMO, World of Warcraft. The news came from Blizzard president Mike Morhaime who recently said on an Activision Blizzard earnings call, "Age of Conan released with some initial success a couple of months ago, and we did see some of our players leave to try the game. However, we've seen about 40 percent of those players return to World of Warcraft." We know that Age of Conan saw about 700,000 players jumping into the game during its first month on the market. What we don't know is how many of those players were World of Warcraft vets. It must have been fairly substantial though for Morhaime to have even mentioned it at all.

With Warhammer Online purportedly coming out sometime this September we're wondering how many players will go and stay gone this time around, especially with Wrath of the Lich King hot on its heels. It's certainly going to be an interesting holiday season this year.

MassivelyBlizzard: Yes, some players left for AoC originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocblizzardelectronic-artsfuncommike-morhaimemythic-entertainmentwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 01 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's initial ideas for World of Warcraft were concieved in 1994]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/blizzards-initial-ideas-for-world-of-warcraft-were-concieved-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/blizzards-initial-ideas-for-world-of-warcraft-were-concieved-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/blizzards-initial-ideas-for-world-of-warcraft-were-concieved-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In an interview with Eurogamer, Blizzard's Mike Morhaime recently went into some depth about the origins of World of Warcraft. According to the company's CEO, the roots of the world-girding MMO giant stem from discussions held as early as 1994. Just after the release of Warcraft II, actually. Said the executive, "We thought, wow, this would be such a great game to create a virtual world around, where you're a character inside the game and you can explore this fantastic universe. Technology finally advanced to the point where it was feasible to make the game. So, genre first, then franchise."

Morhaime also steps up on the PC gaming soapbox, joining Gabe Newell in shouting down detractors that say PC gaming is 'dying'. He slams those who would rely solely on retail sales to judge the health of the marketplace, and views that sort of thinking as 'completely dead wrong.' Read into the article for all this, and a sense of what can make the CEO of a billion dollar-a-year company nervous.

MassivelyBlizzard's initial ideas for World of Warcraft were concieved in 1994 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmike-morhaimeworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 03 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools at Tobold's blog: WoW to cost $20 a month]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-at-tobolds-blog-wow-to-cost-20-a-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-at-tobolds-blog-wow-to-cost-20-a-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-at-tobolds-blog-wow-to-cost-20-a-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We have to admit, Tobold's April Fools' joke is easily one of the better ones coming out today. Upon first glance his reasoning for the $5 dollar subscription bump seems somewhat plausible, citing rising power costs and the weakening dollar. However the real treat is beyond the joke, in the comments where 'Mike Morhaime' -- co-founder and current president of Blizzard -- makes a comment about the joke being a good idea and to wait for official announcement on the World of Warcraft website.

If that weren't enough, the director of Activision Blizzard Jean-René Fourtou mysteriously pops up in the comments afterwards and publicly fires Morhaime! Oh no, what will happen next? Ah, well then things take a truly inspired twist as the CEO of Electronic Arts John Riccitiello triumphantly appears to announce that Warhammer Online is actually coming out May 1st and then promptly thanks Actiblizzvision for allowing EA to scoop up their lost customers.

We thoroughly enjoyed the joke, as it's fairly surreal to see even fake versions of these people posting comments on a blog.

MassivelyApril Fools at Tobold's blog: WoW to cost $20 a month originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardapril-fools-08blizzardelectronic-artsjean-rene-fourtoujohn-riccitiellomike-morhaimetoboldwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 01 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard discusses its methods for success at DICE '08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/blizzard-discusses-its-methods-for-success-at-dice-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/blizzard-discusses-its-methods-for-success-at-dice-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/blizzard-discusses-its-methods-for-success-at-dice-08/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The D.I.C.E. Summit is a yearly gathering of the gaming industry's top talent, there to discuss everything from business practices to development methods to the latest in crazy game mechanics ideas. This year, not only did Gore Verbinski go a little nutty, but the Big Guns at Blizzard -- Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder; Rob Pardo, vice president of game design; and Frank Pearce, executive vice president of product development -- got on-stage to give a talk entitled "Blizzard: From Developer to Worldwide Publisher".

The talk covered a great deal of ground in discussing how Blizzard has gotten to be the king of the hill in the gaming world. Key elements included retaining complete creative control, noninterference from parent companies, and building up layers of knowledge over the years that helped them take calculated risks with each successive title. "If we tried to do WoW from scratch, it would be a monumental effort. We already had the community for WoW. Even though they weren't MMO players, they were willing to try it out," said Pardo.

Go check out the entire article at Gamespot here.

MassivelyBlizzard discusses its methods for success at DICE '08 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddice-summitfrank-pearcegamespotgore-verbinskimike-morhaimerob-pardoworld-of-warcraftFri, 08 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video game giants awarded at CES 2008]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/video-game-giants-awarded-at-ces-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/video-game-giants-awarded-at-ces-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/video-game-giants-awarded-at-ces-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Several video games and their respective creators were honored at the fifty-ninth Annual Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards at CES 2008 in Las Vegas. The awards spotlighted some of the most groundbreaking titles in development of massively multiplayer online graphical role playing games as well as user generated content or game mods.

The winners of the first category for development of MMORPGs were Sony Online Entertainment for Everquest (Laura Naviaux), Blizzard for World of Warcraft (Mike Morhaime) and AOL/Time Warner for Neverwinter Nights (Don Daglow).

And the winners of the second category for user generated content/game modification were EA for Pinball Construction (Bill Budge), Id Software for Quake (John Carmack) and Linden Lab for Second Life (Philip Rosedale).

Pictured from left to right: Daglow, Budge, Carmack, Naviaux, Rosedale, Morhaime

We really only have just one thing to mention. If you're the representative of a multi-billion-dollar international corporation like Activision Blizzard, shouldn't you consider something other than raiding your dad's closet for a 1970's brown polyester suit? Although, only really rich people can afford to look broke, because they buy good stuff and wear it forever. So when Mike got it, it was probably very chic... in the 70's.

MassivelyVideo game giants awarded at CES 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aolaol-time-warnerawardawardsbill-budgeblizzardblizzard-activisioncesdon-dagloweverquestid-sofwarejohn-carmacklaura-naviauxlinden-labmike-morhaimeneverwinter-nightsphilip-rosedalesecond-lifesoesony-online-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftTue, 08 Jan 2008 18:30:00 EST