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 Summoner's Guidebook: Get back, get back!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/the-summoners-guidebook-get-back-get-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/the-summoners-guidebook-get-back-get-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/the-summoners-guidebook-get-back-get-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Last week, I said I would avoid doing articles on the situational "soft skills" in League of Legends. Well, this week kind of ruins that already. Today we're going to talk about lane positioning, zoning, and harassment. These things are not something I can just give you blanket tips on. There are a lot of nuances involved in good positioning, and every single matchup is completely different. You do not stand in the same places laning against Cassiopeia as you do against Kennen, and those positions change depending on which character you're playing, too.

Even though there is a lot of matchup-specific knowledge involved in lane positioning, there are some general tips I can provide. This week I'm going to only teach you about the basics of lane safety but give you some dirty mindgame tricks that will absolutely ruin your opponents. Interested? Read on!

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Get back, get back!

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Get back, get back! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioncounter-logic-gamingcounterpushingcurse-gamingdoppler-effectf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankingganksguideharassmentkorealane-harassmentlaninglast-hittingleague-of-legendslollolpromobaopinionpatrick-is-a-beast-at-image-editingpeak-concurrent-userspushpushingriotriot-gamesshureliastarcraft-2starcraft-brood-warsudden-attacksummoners-guidebookteam-dignitaszone-controlzoningThu, 23 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard introduces universal BattleTags to its titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/blizzard-introduces-universal-battletags-to-its-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/blizzard-introduces-universal-battletags-to-its-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/blizzard-introduces-universal-battletags-to-its-titles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Battle.net logo
When Blizzard first rolled out Battle.net's Real ID feature, many players were timid (read: incensed) about using it due to the fact that it revealed players' real-life names to fellow gamers they added. These worries can be easily laid to rest with Blizzard's latest announcement: the addition of BattleTags. What's a BattleTag, you ask? Well, simply put, it's a screen name by which you are identifiable across all Blizzard games, only without the privacy concerns of Real ID. Real ID, however, will continue to exist along with BattleTags, so players can use whichever method they so desire.

BattleTags are currently being tested in the Diablo III beta, and the feature will be available to Diablo III players when the game launches. The feature will also be rolled into World of Warcraft and StarCraft II, but the studio isn't ready to give solid dates on when that may take place. For the full details on BattleTags, including instructions on how to claim your own, head on over to WoW Insider and have a read.

MassivelyBlizzard introduces universal BattleTags to its titles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b-netb.netbattle-netbattle-tagsbattle.netbattletagbattletagsblizzblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbnetd3diablo-3diablo-iiireal-idrealidstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 15 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft makes inroads into southeast Asia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/world-of-warcraft-makes-inroads-into-southeast-asia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/world-of-warcraft-makes-inroads-into-southeast-asia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/world-of-warcraft-makes-inroads-into-southeast-asia/#commentsFiled under: , ,

World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft may be slipping in the subscription department over this past year, but a recent deal may change all that. Blizzard has signed a contract with game publisher Asiasoft to bring the title to three additional countries: Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Blizzard's Paul Sams sees this move as a great way to expand ever further: "One of our top priorities is ensuring that our games are easily accessible to players all around the world. We are confident that as a leading online game services provider in southeast Asia, Asiasoft will help us reach many new players in this growing region."

Asia is one of WoW's biggest markets, with countries like China producing massive amounts of players who are into the game. Under the terms of this deal, Asiasoft will get the rights to publish World of Warcraft and all of its expansion packs to the three countries, as well as Starcraft II and Diablo III.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft makes inroads into southeast Asia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiasoftblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdiablo-3diablo-iiiMalaysiapaul-samssingaporestarcraft-2starcraft-iithailandworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 19 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Yoogames yoinks assets from EVE Online and others, faces retribution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/yoogames-yoinks-assets-from-eve-online-and-others-faces-retribu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/yoogames-yoinks-assets-from-eve-online-and-others-faces-retribu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/yoogames-yoinks-assets-from-eve-online-and-others-faces-retribu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Enjoy the show!
Let's get ready for a lawsuit! Yoogames has been called out on the EVE Online forums for using images from EVE in order to promote its own game, Planet War. But it's not just EVE Online getting ripped off here; keen-eyed forum-goers have spotted pictures of StarCraft 2's Protoss Yo-Mommaship and Star Wars' Trade Federation space station.

What will become of this, no one knows... oh, who are we kidding? This is lawsuit city. CCP's own CCP Fallout stopped by the thread to thank the OP for pointing out the infringement and to say that he is "notifying the relevant parties in the company." So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show. We'll be sure to bring you the latest in courtroom entertainment as it develops.

MassivelyYoogames yoinks assets from EVE Online and others, faces retribution originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescopyright-infringementcourthouse-tveveeve-onlineinfringementlawsuitlollegalplanet-warstarcraft-2starcraft2yoogamesThu, 15 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard quashes speculation about a potential World of StarCraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/blizzard-quashes-speculation-about-a-potential-world-of-starcraf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/blizzard-quashes-speculation-about-a-potential-world-of-starcraf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/blizzard-quashes-speculation-about-a-potential-world-of-starcraf/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As the kids say, headshot.
There's a very good reason why the now-infamous World of StarCraft mod had so many people so excited -- it seems like a pretty obvious project. After all, Blizzard has certainly made a big impression on the MMO world with World of Warcraft, so it seems like a no-brainer that their science fiction RTS might follow a similar path. Unfortunately, those of you waiting for just such an announcement have been told the exact opposite -- Blizzard currently has no plans to adapt the StarCraft setting to an MMO.

According to senior VP Frank Pearce, it's not so much a case of not liking the idea as not having available staff and time to pursue the angle, with the company's teams currently occupied by Diablo III, the mysterious Titan project, further sequels to StarCraft II, and of course World of Warcraft. While the title remains in Blizzard's trademark arsenal, it doesn't look as if the company will be using it for a game any time in the near future. It's good news for players who want the series to remain as an RTS, but bad news for the many fans hoping to make their own mark on the galaxy.

MassivelyBlizzard quashes speculation about a potential World of StarCraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-activisionindustryopinionrumorsstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-starcraftWed, 17 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: 2029 Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-2029-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-2029-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-2029-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

You can't win them all, as they say. I suppose that has to be true in any field or occupation. I try to find the coolest indie, free-to-play and odd little games to show you guys in this column, but of course I don't always play them ahead of time (I haven't played every single game in existence yet), so I might wind up with a dud occasionally. I try to give them a fair chance, though, and will play them as long as they let me.

Unless, of course, a game fights me almost every step of the way. If there is one person who is understanding and who will give a fair chance to pretty much any game on Earth, I'm the one. I will forgive glitches and mistakes in smaller or lesser-known games because I have to. If I had some of the standards of some of our readers and writers, I would only be talking to you about RIFT and Lord of the Rings Online. There's nothing wrong with that, but I think it's safe to say that even broken games like 2029 Online deserve a chance.

So I gave it one. Heck, I gave it several. Click past the cut and I'll tell you all about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: 2029 Online

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: 2029 Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20292029-onlineatlantica-onlineauto-pathingbeau-hindmanbot-systemf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphot-messIGGigg-gamesLiveStreamLiveStreamingNexonrtsstarcraftstarcraft-2Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard plays nice with World of StarCraft modder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/blizzard-plays-nice-with-world-of-starcraft-modder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/blizzard-plays-nice-with-world-of-starcraft-modder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/blizzard-plays-nice-with-world-of-starcraft-modder/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Gaming giant Blizzard Entertainment has officially weighed in on the World of StarCraft controversy, and the verdict is something of a happy ending for fans of the MMO-flavored mod and its mastermind Ryan Winzen. Gamasutra reports that Winzen has been invited to meet the StarCraft II development team, and his hard work won't be for naught despite the removal of his YouTube preview videos.

"It was never our intention to stop development on the mod or discourage the community from expressing their creativity through the StarCraft II editor. As always, we actively encourage development of custom maps and mods for StarCraft II, as we've done with our strategy games in the past," Blizzard said in a prepared statement.

The company went on to explain that issuing a take-down order for the offending videos is part of its standard procedure when dealing with fan mods and possible copyright infringement and that it is "looking forward to seeing development of the mod continue," according to Gamasutra.

MassivelyBlizzard plays nice with World of StarCraft modder originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentgamasutralegalmmo-industrymoddingmodsryan-winzenstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-starcraftFri, 21 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: It's my birthday and I'll devote a column title to it if I want to edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/ask-massively-its-my-birthday-and-ill-devote-a-column-title-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/ask-massively-its-my-birthday-and-ill-devote-a-column-title-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/ask-massively-its-my-birthday-and-ill-devote-a-column-title-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Yes, 28 years ago, something very special (to me, anyway) happened. That means that while I'm going to spend the day on my usual cocktail of whatever the heck I do, I get the opportunity to make Ask Massively's opening even more of a non sequitor than it normally is. Here, have a screenshot from one of the worst-animated episodes in all of the original Transformers cartoon. I swear that looks bad even in a still frame.

It was either this shot or the one of Blaster and Ultra Magnus getting married. (That's what it looks like, anyway.)

Now that I've gotten that out of my system for another 10 minutes or so, we can move on to this week's column, which is sadly devoid of giant robots. It does have questions about DC Universe Online and the sad story of World of Starcraft's rise and subsequent fall, so I still get to indulge in things that I like. And birthday or not, questions can be left in the comment field or mailed along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: It's my birthday and I'll devote a column title to it if I want to edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: It's my birthday and I'll devote a column title to it if I want to edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybackstorydc-universe-onlinedcuofan-projectsfeaturedloreopinionq-and-aquestions-and-answersscsc2sciistarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-starcraftwosThu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] Starcraft MMO modder wins the internet with a job offer from Riot Games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/starcraft-mmo-modder-wins-the-internet-with-a-job-offer-from-rio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/starcraft-mmo-modder-wins-the-internet-with-a-job-offer-from-rio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/starcraft-mmo-modder-wins-the-internet-with-a-job-offer-from-rio/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Modifying video games is nothing new. Most mods are overlooked by game developers because a good chunk of them are not malicious and the modders themselves aren't looking to break the game; they just want to improve it in some way. However, yesterday, we reported that a talented modder named Ryan created an MMO mod using the Starcraft II engine calling it World of Starcraft. Blizzard had the trailer for the mod pulled from YouTube citing copyright infringement, but no other contact was made. Ryan attempted to make contact with Blizzard regarding the issue, but was directed to another department leaving the issue unresolved for the moment.

There is, however, a silver lining in all of this. The popularity and quality of the mod caught the attention of Riot Games, the creators of League of Legends. A developer from Riot contacted Ryan via Pixelated Geek offering him a job. This was later confirmed as an actual offer on the League of Legends official forums. Lead Designer Tod "Zileas" Cadwell said this: "When I see a modder with a lot of drive that has done something cool, I tend to contact them. I shot him an email recently asking if he was interested in exploring an opportunity here. As to what comes of that, who knows -- that depends on the mutual fit and his own goals."

Cadwell believes the legal issues do not extend beyond the name of the mod, so it is very possible Ryan will be living out his dream as a game designer. Sometimes dreams do come true.

[Update: We want to clarify that Riot Games is only talking with Ryan at this point, and no actual job offer is pending (despite previous reports).]

Massively[Updated] Starcraft MMO modder wins the internet with a job offer from Riot Games originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBlizzardleague-of-legendsmodmoddingmodsriot-gamesstarcraft-2starcraft-iiTod-cadwellworld-of-starcraftThu, 20 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of StarCraft modders clash with Activision Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-modders-clash-with-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-modders-clash-with-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/world-of-starcraft-modders-clash-with-activision-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfan-projectfan-worknewsscsc2sciistarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iivideoworld-of-starcraftwosTue, 18 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[G-Star 2010: From the show floor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/g-star-2010-from-the-show-floor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/g-star-2010-from-the-show-floor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/g-star-2010-from-the-show-floor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With the booming popularity of Korean games in western culture, the G-Star convention in Busan, South Korea is quickly turning into an international event. We had an opportunity to attend the four-day convention to see the latest and greatest from Korean online gaming.

Follow along after the jump as I describe my experiences on the first day of the convention, as well as take a look at what else you can expect as we go into days two, three and four.

Continue reading G-Star 2010: From the show floor

MassivelyG-Star 2010: From the show floor originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionarcheageblade-and-soulBlizzardbusanen-masseen-masse-entertainmentg-starg-star-2010gstarGuild-Wars-2hangamejake-songkim-jung-jukingdom-under-fireKingdom-Under-Fire-2korealineagemabinogi-heroesmassively-event-coveragencsoftnexonopinionpusansouth-koreastar-wars-the-old-republicstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iiswtorteravindictusWorld-of-WarcraftxlgamesThu, 18 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Quest for Camelot: A talk with Mark Jacobs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-quest-for-camelot-a-talk-with-ma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-quest-for-camelot-a-talk-with-ma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-quest-for-camelot-a-talk-with-ma/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Life is full of serendipitous moments. For example, the other day I found the Holy Grail at a garage sale while looking through a box of half-broken Transformers. Who would have thought? If only the Knights Templar took a few Saturdays off from their epic quest to do a bit of bargain shopping.

Consider also that this month we've been reminiscing about Dark Age of Camelot in this column -- looking at the history, the devs, and the players -- and then, out of nowhere (well, technically Virginia) one of the key figures of this title returned from a year-long sabbatical. Mark Jacobs, who was let go from EA last June, recently popped back up on his personal blog to talk about everything under the sun.

Hey -- isn't DAoC under the sun? Why yes, yes it is. So I threw on my hiking boots, strapped a machete to my thigh, hired a Sherpa, and then composed a quick message to see if Mr. Jacobs would be willing to be interviewed by the eccentric media. He agreed, as long as we stuck to the topic at hand and didn't veer into his plans for world domination. Whoops... I've said too much. Hit the jump before I get into hot water. My Sherpa hates hot water.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Quest for Camelot: A talk with Mark Jacobs

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Quest for Camelot: A talk with Mark Jacobs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air-warriorclass-balancedaocdark-age-of-camelotea-mythiceqeverquestfeaturedgarage-salehive-mindinto-infinitykesmaiknights-templarmark-jacobsmythicMythic-Entertainmentpvepvprealm-vs-realmrtsrvrsherpasherpa-not-shirpastarcraft-2the-game-archaeologisttrials-of-atlantisultima-onlineuovirginiavirginia-is-for-lovers-and-mmo-developerswarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 24 Aug 2010 15:00:00 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: , ,

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.

MassivelyBlizzCon 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[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: , , ,

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.

MassivelyWill 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[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: , ,


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?

Massively20k 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[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: ,


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.

MassivelyDon'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[The9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Yesterday, we reported the rumor that it looked like Chinese World of Warcraft operator The9 might be losing the licensing rights to a competitor, and today we can confirm that rumor to be 100% true. Rival company NetEase has purchased the rights to operate World of Warcraft in China, starting once The9's current contract is up with Blizzard on June 8th.

NetEase is already the operator of Battle.net in China, supporting Warcraft III and the to-be-released Starcraft II. They have been operating with Blizzard since last August, when they acquired all of the rights to the other Blizzard games. This acquisition only brings NetEase and Blizzard closer together in their business arrangement.

What is still up in the air, however, is the fate of Wrath of the Lich King. DoNews, a Chinese news site, has reported that Wrath has been licensed by NetEase, although no formal announcement has yet been made.

[Via JLM Pacific Epoch]

MassivelyThe9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardlegallicensingneteasepatch-3.0rightsstarcraft-2starcraft-iithe9transitionwarcraft-3warcraft-iiiworld-of-warcraftwotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2009 announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/blizzcon-2009-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/blizzcon-2009-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/blizzcon-2009-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Blizzard, apparently deciding that listing BlizzCon so late last year was a bad idea, announced today that there will indeed be a BlizzCon 2009 according to a post on our sister site, WoW Insider. This year's BlizzCon will be held on August 21st & 22nd at the Anaheim Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. Among the many things that we're told to expect this year, Blizzard fans can look forward to:
  • Hands-on play time with upcoming Blizzard Entertainment games
  • Discussion panels with Blizzard Entertainment developers
  • Competitive and casual tournaments for players to showcase their talents
  • Community contests with great prizes
  • Commemorative merchandise based on Blizzard Entertainment's game universes
  • A silent auction
  • More exciting activities and attractions to be announced
With the further announcement that they're planning to open up additional space in the convention center, more people should be able to attend versus last year's numbers. Also, considering Blizz's love of announcing big things at events, perhaps we'll get some news on this new MMO they're working on. Now, if they can fix the issues with the failoc that cropped up last year, this should be an interesting event for all those who love Blizzard games.

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!

MassivelyBlizzCon 2009 announced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconbreakingdiablo-3new-mmostarcraft-2world-of-warcraftwowTue, 17 Feb 2009 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard humbly denies keeping PC gaming alive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/blizzard-humbly-denies-keeping-pc-gaming-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/blizzard-humbly-denies-keeping-pc-gaming-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/blizzard-humbly-denies-keeping-pc-gaming-alive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


In a recent interview with PC Retail, Blizzard's COO Paul Sams gives us a look into the present and future state of the company after the launch of the record-breaking Wrath of the Lich King expansion for World of Warcraft. Sams touches on the work Blizzard is doing between Starcraft II, Diablo III and their upcoming "unannounced" MMO, still in the works.

What we found most interesting about this interview was Sams' view on PC gaming, discouraging that water-cooler rumor that MMOs (namely WoW) are keeping PC gaming alive in this troubled market. He points out that their support of games like Starcraft II and Diablo III shows that they believe in the longevity of PC gaming across the board. "I think that there's always going to be a very big place for PCs - they are multi-use devices." Sams stated. "Consoles are brilliant, but at this stage are not multi-use devices, or at least not compared to a PC."

[Via WoWInsider]

MassivelyBlizzard humbly denies keeping PC gaming alive originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddiablo-3diablo-iiipaul-samspc-gamingpc-retailstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 05 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzcast #5 takes care of post-Worldwide Invitational 2008 business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/blizzcast-5-takes-care-of-post-worldwide-invitational-2008-busi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The latest Blizzcast is live! This fifth outing is the post-Worldwide Invitational episode. The bulk of its running time is dedicated to Diablo 3. If you're interested in that pseudo-MMO, action-RPG goodness, then there is a ton of information in there. Diablo 3 Community Manager Bashiok interviews Lead Designer Jay Wilson about the game. It's detailed stuff (e.g., several minutes dedicated to Blizzard's reasons for abandoning the grid-like inventory management of the earlier Diablo games), so Blizzard fans should check it out.

Of course, here at Massively we have a special interest in World of Warcraft. We're sad to report that Blizzcast #5 is a little light on WoW or Wrath of the Lich King discussion. Community Manager Nethaera participates in the first half of the podcast, and she talks a little bit about WotLK, but she mostly shares in the post-Diablo 3 announcement glee.
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!

MassivelyBlizzcast #5 takes care of post-Worldwide Invitational 2008 business originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bashiokblizzardblizzcastdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiiexpansionjay-wilsonnethaerapodcaststarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingwwi08Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Frank Pearce: WoW has made a StarCraft MMO 'difficult']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/frank-pearce-wow-has-made-a-starcraft-mmo-difficult/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/frank-pearce-wow-has-made-a-starcraft-mmo-difficult/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/frank-pearce-wow-has-made-a-starcraft-mmo-difficult/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce recently spoke to VideoGamer.com about the possibility of a StarCraft MMO. In that exchange of words, it was revealed that Frank thought of the whole idea as an overwhelming thought. He cites the journey of working on World of Warcraft as a long an arduous one and that bringing about the same amount of content and quality for StarCraft would be, "A little scary."

While we know that some kind of MMO is in Blizzard's future, it sounds like if Frank had his way it wouldn't be StarCraft. However, by his own admission it's not entirely up to him as he adds, "When the StarCraft 2 team is done with StarCraft 2, a factor is what they want to work on next, because the development teams plays a big role in deciding what they're going to do." So once again, we really can't be sure of anything with Blizzard's next MMO. It could be something entirely new, or it could be one of their previous IPs. All we do know is that if it is StarCraft, Blizzard's Frank Pearce is probably going to consider an extended vacation. Something like one or nine years.

MassivelyFrank Pearce: WoW has made a StarCraft MMO 'difficult' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardfrank-pearcemmostarcraftstarcraft-2videogamerworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 22 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard to Activision: we choose you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/blizzard-to-activision-we-choose-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/blizzard-to-activision-we-choose-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/blizzard-to-activision-we-choose-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We don't know if anybody has told you, but Blizzard is actually kind of a big deal. Not many companies can hold the attention of their target audience for an entire week with naught but a series of cryptic splash pages. They're such a big deal, in fact, that when it came time for Vivendi to choose a partner for their big merger, Blizzard's preference for Activision was instrumental in their ultimate decision. That is, if Blizzard COO Paul Sams is to be believed.

It was no secret that Blizzard was the real prize in the merger, having pulled in approximately $1.2 billion for Vivendi in 2007 alone. With the twin juggernauts of Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 looming on the horizon, and their "next-gen MMO" project still lurking in the shadows, it seems clear that Sams' comments are anything but idle boasting. According to Sams, the leverage they have in this arrangement is what is going to allow them to preserve their existing management structure that has proved so spectacularly successful. I think that's something we can all get behind.

MassivelyBlizzard to Activision: we choose you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzarddiablo-3interviewmergerpaul-samsstarcraft-2vivendivivendi-gamesworld-of-warcraftMon, 30 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's Blizzard's next big thing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/the-daily-grind-whats-blizzards-next-big-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/the-daily-grind-whats-blizzards-next-big-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/the-daily-grind-whats-blizzards-next-big-thing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Now that Blizzard's finally announced Diablo 3, ending a feverish period of second guessing and rampant speculation, one thing is clear: Despite how you may feel about the big reveal, the specter of Diablo 3 can finally be laid to rest. Waiting in the wings, however, is ... what?

Starcraft 2 is in process, so it's extremely unlikely that Blizzard would dilute that audience by announcing a Starcraft MMO. Ditto with a Diablo MMO, and we don't even know what its release date might be. World of Warcraft has Wrath of the Lich King coming (probably) next year. Can we assume that the next announcement will concern their "next-gen MMO"? Is that project the oft-mentioned "Hydra"? With two active fantasy titles and one science fiction game, what could the next big thing possibly be?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's Blizzard's next big thing? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddiablo-3hydranext-gen-mmospeculationstarcraft-2tdgthe-daily-grindwrath-of-the-lich-kingSun, 29 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Additional tickets made available for Blizzard's WWI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/additional-tickets-made-available-for-blizzards-wwi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/additional-tickets-made-available-for-blizzards-wwi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/additional-tickets-made-available-for-blizzards-wwi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you thought you missed your chance to attend the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, we have some good news for you. Blizzard has just announced additional tickets for this event, available next week on the WWI website.

The event will be held in Europe, at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre in Paris, France, on the 28th and 29th of June. This convention will feature a variety of events including panels and discussions held by Blizzard employees, costume contests, machinima contests, eSports tournaments and more. Despite all of this, possibly the most exciting part will be the chance for attendees to get some hands-on play time with Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II. Be sure to check out the complete event FAQ and more information on purchasing your tickets at the official website.

MassivelyAdditional tickets made available for Blizzard's WWI originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentstarcraft-2ticketsworld-of-warcraftworldwide-invitationalwowSun, 25 May 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard wins the prank wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/blizzard-wins-the-prank-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/blizzard-wins-the-prank-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/blizzard-wins-the-prank-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Well, what else would you expect from the company that brought you murlocs? April Fool's day is in full effect in Blizzardlandia, and World of Warcraft isn't the only game to get the treatment, but it's a good place to start!

Molten Core: for consoles
Heavily trading on fond gamer memories of Atari's Adventure, Blizzard brings us the console version of its popular 40-player raid dungeon Molten Core. The game's site features screenshots alongside concept art, and a trailer, even, with an 8-bit, pixelated version of the company's logo. We won't spoil the show for you, but the best bullet point for the game has to be 'Has sound'. Check it out and wait for your chance to pre-order!

Continue reading Blizzard wins the prank wars

MassivelyBlizzard wins the prank wars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-bitactivisionadventureapril-fools-08ataribardblizzardforsakenfrostmourneghostsguitar-herokorhalmolten-coreprankrock-bandscvstarcraft-2tauren-marineworld-of-starcraftworld-of-warcraftwrath-of-the-lich-kingzerglingTue, 01 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard studio tour makes jaws detach from faces]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/18/blizzard-studio-tour-makes-jaws-detach-from-faces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/18/blizzard-studio-tour-makes-jaws-detach-from-faces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/18/blizzard-studio-tour-makes-jaws-detach-from-faces/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're the type of person who enjoys seeing something that will make your jaw drop and head shake simultaneously, then by all means watch the above video. Not only does Blizzard have an insanely huge looking 24/7 gym and cafeteria, they are also in possession of a museum o' Blizzard paraphernalia that would make even the most devout fans blush. We're talking every award, game, merchandise or odd piece of cool Blizzard history here -- even every iteration of the 'Make Love, Not Warcraft' South Park episode's script.

If that weren't enough, at the end of the video we're told that a giant 21-foot statue -- modeled after what we're pretty sure is a mounted WoW character -- will be built in the main courtyard. We're at a loss for words here, so until they build the thing and put it on video we're just going to have to use our imaginations.

We can't wait to see what kind of love Starcraft II gets when it's put into this museum of all things Blizzard related. Maybe a life-sized screeching animatronic Zergling?

MassivelyBlizzard studio tour makes jaws detach from faces originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-studiossouth-parkstarcraftstarcraft-2wowTue, 18 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Activision Blizzard vs Electronic Arts, battle of the MMO titans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/the-digital-continuum-activision-blizzard-vs-electronic-arts-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/the-digital-continuum-activision-blizzard-vs-electronic-arts-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/15/the-digital-continuum-activision-blizzard-vs-electronic-arts-b/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


To most of us, the recent Activision/Vivendi merger that created Activision Blizzard is the gaming industry equivalent of a beef burrito filled with chocolate pudding. They're both pretty good on their own, but why in the hell would anyone think to put them together? I imagine these burritos are fed to all employees in an effort to fuel their creativity; or kill them as an example. The truth (which is way more boring) is that companies do things like this to better fund the development of titles as a larger entity. The cost of making Blizzard's next game is probably so immense that you need a nonsensical chocolate filled beef burrito just to finance the thing.

ActiBlizzVision (That mash-up is growing on me) isn't the first major company to come to this realization either. Both Mythic (now EA Mythic) and Bioware -- creators of Mass Effect, Jade Empire and KOTOR -- have climbed aboard the Electronic Arts train in the hopes to better reach their destination, retail city. Warhammer Online is quite well into development and will be the first new fighter to the ring with a release sometime next year. EA Mythic will be torturing themselves (in a good way?) the next six months to get their game in fighting shape for that eventual big brawl with World of Warcraft. It's just unavoidable, you can't enter the MMO market with the intellectual property that WoW is essentially inspired from and not get tied up by the wrist with a knife in your hand.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Activision Blizzard vs Electronic Arts, battle of the MMO titans

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Activision Blizzard vs Electronic Arts, battle of the MMO titans originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardage-of-conanaocbiowareblizzardccpeaea-mythicelectronic-artseve-onlinefeaturedjoystiqfeaturesstar-trek-onlinestarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iistoworld-of-darknessworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 15 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST