Massively

IGN Pro League technology purchased by Blizzard

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Legal, Miscellaneous

Do you like eSports? Blizzard Entertainment clearly does, as the company has just purchased the technology and assets of IGN Pro League. Several employees came along with the acquisition, including former IPL general manager David Ting. The hard assets will be used to promote various events centering around Blizzard's online games, while the staff members are joining Blizzard's internal eSports teams according to initial reports.

Needless to say, this marks the end of IPL's competitive gaming coverage, which has in the past included games such as League of Legends and StarCraft II. The brand does not go with these employees or assets, meaning that last weekend's $100,000 Shootmania launch event was the final broadcast for the IPL. It remains to be seen what will be launched from the expanded Blizzard team, but representatives from the company were quite clear in stating that this is a move meant to promote the company's online and eSports presence.

IGN Pro League technology purchased by Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: GDC edition, March 25 - 31, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, The Stream Team

This week a sizable chunk of the gaming industry descends on downtown San Francisco for the annual Game Developers Convention. And yes, Massively will be there cornering every dev that gets in our sights, convincing them all to answer as many of our burning questions as possible before someone finds and rescues them!

I was even thinking how neat it would be to add these little tête-à-têtes to the Massively TV line up. Alas, I was thwarted; something about "evidence." Ah well, there are still plenty of live shows scheduled and a plethora of reruns to fill out your week while waiting on the GDC news.

If you have any burning questions about your favorite games, add them to the comments below and we'll see how many we can get answers for. And don't miss our two bonus polls at the end.

Continue reading The Stream Team: GDC edition, March 25 - 31, 2013

The Stream Team: GDC edition, March 25 - 31, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Squandered Daylight Saving edition, March 18 - 24, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, The Stream Team

It's strange, but every year around this time, someone sneaks into my room and manages to snatch an hour away from me, right from under my nose! Sometimes I stay up extra late trying to catch the thief, but he always eludes me. One of these days I am going to nab the scoundrel who pilfers precious time. I want that hour back; I need all of them I can get.

But I guess I have to make do now. My hour is probably being sold from the back of some truck in a dark alley to some desperate fellow as we speak anyway. What? You say it is banked, and I'll get it back? Well if it's in a bank, I expect it returned with interest. I want at least a 5% return on that time, compounded daily, when it's returned. That's right -- you take my time to invest, so you better be paying me the dividends! Wouldn't you agree? Weigh in with your opinion on Daylight Saving Time after the break.

Speaking of investing time, we've got a good place for that right here: Massively TV! Just drop in an hour or two at a time and you can withdraw laughter as needed. The Stream Team has plenty of live opportunities for your investment needs, or you can peruse the reruns section at your leisure. Invest as much or as little as you want, but remember: The more you do, the greater your return.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Squandered Daylight Saving edition, March 18 - 24, 2013

The Stream Team: Squandered Daylight Saving edition, March 18 - 24, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Pot o' gold edition, March 11 - 17, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

It's a magical time: Throughout this week there will be sightings of leprechauns, lucky shamrocks will sprout up everywhere, and folks will be chasing rainbows hoping to find a special treasure. It's also the time I can say "blarney" without everyone looking at me askance! Yup, Saint Paddy's is right around the corner, the day that capstones a week when untold masses find their inner-Irish self. Those brave enough to admit they've adopted the traditions of this time can stand up and be counted in the poll at the end.

Need more to do while awaiting Sunday's revelry and pinch-a-thon? Why not watch a smorgasbord of tomfoolery on Massively TV. You can join your favorite Stream Team hosts in chat or even in game and be a part the trouble they get themselves into! Just check the schedule for the when and the where. You can also catch previous shows at your own convenience and laugh at the crazy antics displayed (and trust us, they are plenty crazy). It's all waiting for you after the break!

Continue reading The Stream Team: Pot o' gold edition, March 11 - 17, 2013

The Stream Team: Pot o' gold edition, March 11 - 17, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Cult fever edition, March 4 - 10, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

It can strike out of nowhere: that random line or twenty from one of the movie greats just rockets out of your mouth. But I'm not talking about some box office smash. Oh no, I'm talking about the truly defining films of our culture -- the cult classics! With their quirkiness, their courage to stretch beyond the boundaries of the industry, and of course those sensationally memorable lines, these films embedded themselves in our psyches and helped shape our social environment.

Wouldn't it be great to have been at the dawning of these bits of history? Well why not be at the start of a budding cult classic? While there are no guarantees, there's certainly a possibility that one of Massively TV's shows will rise up and join the hallowed annals of cult status. You never know, so why deny yourself the opportunity and live with regret?

Check out this week's Stream Team schedule after the cut and be a part of history in the making, all while enjoying the crazy commentary of your favorites hosts as they show off new betas and old standbys alike. Then vote for your favorite movie to MMO conversion in our poll at the end.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Cult fever edition, March 4 - 10, 2013

The Stream Team: Cult fever edition, March 4 - 10, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Out of the frying pan edition, February 25 - March 3, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

And into the fire! Or water, as the case may be.

Have you ever had one of those days when every time you finally extricated yourself from one mess, you just landed smack dab in the middle of another, managing to climb out of a water trap only to have your celebration cut short by falling right into a sheer-sided pit? And all after getting lost in foliage on a mountainside? Well, if you ever do have a day like that, hunker down and watch some Stream Team adventures on Massively TV. Then you can laugh at the misfortunes of your favorite streamers and forget about whatever craziness awaits you in the world at large.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Out of the frying pan edition, February 25 - March 3, 2013

The Stream Team: Out of the frying pan edition, February 25 - March 3, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft Universe prologue goes live on Battle.net

Matt Daniel — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, News Items, Miscellaneous

It's been quite a while since we heard anything about ambitious StarCraft II mod StarCraft Universe, which endeavored to turn the real-time-strategy titan into a full-fledged MMO. Well, it turns out that today the creators of the mod have launched the game's single-player prologue, which has been designed to introduce players to the story and teach them how to play.

For those of you wondering why a mod aiming to recreate the MMO experience is launching with only single-player content, the devs state in the YouTube description of the game's trailer that they "need to release this project slowly to ensure all of [the] core systems work properly." So in a way, this could be thought of StarCraft Universe's open beta where players can play around and help the developers iron out the kinks before the multiplayer content launches. To get a look at this ambitious mod in action, skip on past the cut to check out the game's latest trailer. If you wanna go straight to playing it yourself, though, all you have to do is search for "Universe" in StarCraft II's arcade.

Continue reading StarCraft Universe prologue goes live on Battle.net

StarCraft Universe prologue goes live on Battle.net originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: On the road again edition, February 4 - 10, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

Oh I can certainly wait to get on the road again. Or in my case, the tarmac. Tarmac squatting is not on the top of my list of vacationing highlights.

Yes folks, I am out and about, traveling to and fro, which means that my gaming time is severely curtailed. The agony! Thankfully, I have my trusty laptop and Massively TV to quell my withdrawal symptoms. A daily dose of my favorite games hosted by The Stream Team will help me get through the rough week ahead. A little banter in the chat room, a little watching the livestreamers fall, sprint, and charge to their deaths in a variety of pixeled worlds... yeah, that will definitely brighten things and tide me over!

Continue reading The Stream Team: On the road again edition, February 4 - 10, 2013

The Stream Team: On the road again edition, February 4 - 10, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Touring the Art of Blizzard at Gallery Nucleus

Jasmine Hruschak — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Horror, Galleries, Culture, Events (Real-World), Launches, Lore, MMO Industry, News Items, Events (Massively's Coverage), Promotions, Diablo III

Earlier this month, Blizzard celebrated the release of its newly published book The Art of Blizzard by opening the doors to a new art exhibition in Alhambra, California.

The exhibit, hosted by the local Gallery Nucleus, kicked off with a well-attended Saturday night reception that drew in visitors more accustomed to Fel Reavers than fine art. Attendees covered the full range of demographics, wearing anything from Horde hoodies to shiny stilettos (since people in costume were let in for free, it's important to note that we're referring to the shoes, not the daggers).

Massively and our sister site WoW Insider were on hand to take in the spectacle. So what did we see?

Gallery: The Art of Blizzard exhibition and book launch party

Continue reading Touring the Art of Blizzard at Gallery Nucleus

Touring the Art of Blizzard at Gallery Nucleus originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Change is good edition, January 21 - 27, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

Change is good. Especially when it's lots of change... like in the $100 bill variety. Of course, I'm talking coinage there, not alterations in life. When life changes too much, it can really throw us for a loop. Though come to think of it, is that such a bad thing? Watching your favorite Stream Team members doing loopty loops would be pretty dang entertaining!

A few things in my life have been on the path to change lately -- some abrupt, some gradual. Even here at Massively we've had recent changes (new streamer and cool behind-the-scenes programming goodies FTW!). And Massively TV is all about change, bringing you new shows to enjoy each week! In that light, I'm willing to accept that the whole change-is-good mantra isn't all bad.

Want to experience a bit of change yourself? Then check out your favorite games played by your favorite streamers after the cut, and be sure to let us know who you'd like to see team up for more two-hour blocks of Massively mayhem.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Change is good edition, January 21 - 27, 2013

The Stream Team: Change is good edition, January 21 - 27, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Over the cliff edition, January 14 - 20, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

You went right over the edge at full tilt, like a speeding locomotive with dreams of flying. Oh, you knew it was coming. You knew it was bound to happen, most likely sooner than later. You already envisioned that plunge over the cliff.

What? No, not that cliff. For shame, trying to bring politics on the hallowed ground of The Stream Team. I was talking about your favorite Massively TV hosts veering off the path and plummeting (at times to their deaths) into the depths below, just as I did it this past week in the Icy Keep! We like to say it is on purpose, but... yeah.

Have you seen your favorite livestreamers pull a "whoops" or Leeroy Jenkins lately? If not, you'd better join in this week to catch all the new blunders. And you certainly don't want to miss out on the special treats -- an all new Massively livestreamer and a game of pin the quote on the streamer!

Continue reading The Stream Team: Over the cliff edition, January 14 - 20, 2013

The Stream Team: Over the cliff edition, January 14 - 20, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Broken resolutions edition, January 7 - 13, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

It was bound to happen. And we totally understand -- really. We've all been there, so there are no judgments coming from us. Besides, you might have even made it longer this year than last. Perhaps this could be one of those times when we say it's the thought that counts. After all, those pesky resolutions seem made to be broken, don't they?

I'm actually not doing too badly, relatively speaking. Luckily, some of my resolutions revolve around The Stream Team, so I have maintained my record on those. Experience crazy technical glitches? Check! Got that one rolling early on. Watch more Massively TV each week? Pfft, bring on something hard to do! Oh, here's one -- team up with another livestreamer for two hours of amusing antics? Well, you'll just have to check past the cut to see whether I succeeded at that one. And while you are there, let us know how long your resolutions held out.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Broken resolutions edition, January 7 - 13, 2013

The Stream Team: Broken resolutions edition, January 7 - 13, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: Countdown edition, December 31, 2012 - January 6, 2013

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

It's the final countdown. Do do do do. Do do do do do... Admit it, you were just singing along too, weren't you? That's OK -- I wasn't listening. Or recording. Promise! If your sparkling rendition becomes an overnight sensation on YouTube, it will be purely a coincidence.

Seriously, how is this year over already? This is it. The clock has nearly finished ticking down on 2012. In fact, before this week is out, we will leave the year behind us. It was a fairly good one, and I will give it a fond farewell. But then it is on to a brand-spanking new year.

It is at this time that many folks make resolutions to enhance their lives. What better way to enhance life than by adding more The Stream Team hilarity? I shall join in this time-honored tradition and commit to immerse myself in as much Massively TV as possible, starting with all of the great shows this week. Or was it that I will avoid being committed... either way, it will make for some great entertainment. So why don't you join us in filling 2013 with gaming goodness? And be sure to drop us a note about your favorite New Year's traditions in the comments!

Continue reading The Stream Team: Countdown edition, December 31, 2012 - January 6, 2013

The Stream Team: Countdown edition, December 31, 2012 - January 6, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: October 15 - 21, 2012

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

What's worse than a surprise monster troll invasion? Missing watching a surprise monster troll invasion happen to your favorite Stream Team host! It may not happen today. It may not happen tomorrow. In fact, you never know when or where or even to whom it might happen, but it just might happen! Heavens to Betsy: It could be that one has already happened.

Don't take chances; don't risk missing such an iconic moment. Be sure to watch Massively TV this week to catch all of the action, commentary, and surprises that live gaming can bring. And check any missed livestreams from last week. Those trolls could be anywhere! They could even be hiding in the poll at the end of this column...

Continue reading The Stream Team: October 15 - 21, 2012

The Stream Team: October 15 - 21, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: October 8 - 14, 2012

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

Awareness. Social, self, spatial -- whatever your flavor of awareness, it's a useful trait. And if livestreamers have got it, great. If not, well then Massively TV is just that much more amusing! Didn't notice that boss mob standing at your heels? Chuckles ensue. Was that actually a cliff two steps back? A good belly laugh commences. Yes sir, these things and more have transpired while all eyes were watching.

Don't miss out on the fun! Tune in this week to watch The Stream Team members as they brave a variety of worlds, or watch the classic episodes of yester-streams, so you can see for yourself how well the Massively livestreamers exhibit awareness. But what about you readers? How does your awareness measure up? You could test yourself with the basketball clip, or you can keep reading and take Massively's own awareness pop quiz at the end!

Continue reading The Stream Team: October 8 - 14, 2012

The Stream Team: October 8 - 14, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stream Team: October 1 - 7, 2012

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Guides, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

Ahh, October! A month of changes: the leaves, the clocks, the infamous fall line up... wait, don't change that dial!

You may notice that a new show has taken over MV Guide's time slot. Was that a gasp? There's no need to worry; Massively TV isn't going anywhere! All your favorite livestreaming info is still included here in this new weekly adventure. And that's not all! On top of the who, what, and where, you get not one, not two, but three action-packed sections highlighting livestream goodness, all rolled into just one weekly show!

So welcome to the pilot episode of The Stream Team! Grab some snacks, settle in, and check out this week's adventures (and the special guest star section) after the break.

Continue reading The Stream Team: October 1 - 7, 2012

The Stream Team: October 1 - 7, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mists of Pandaria opening cinematic will premiere at Gamescom 2012

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Betas, Fantasy, Expansions, MMO Industry, News Items

Folks attending Gamescom 2012 in Cologne, Germany, will be the first to feast their eyes on the opening cinematic for World of Warcraft's next expansion, Mists of Pandaria.

Blizzard will also be showcasing the game itself as well as Diablo III and StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Players can check out the games and also meet members of the development team. If you happen to be at the convention, be sure to check out the company's booth in Halle 6.1 (B21) at the Koelnmesse.

Mists of Pandaria opening cinematic will premiere at Gamescom 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Korea forces Blizzard to give Diablo III refunds

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, Legal, Diablo III

After investigating numerous complaints that Blizzard wasn't granting refunds to dissatisfied South Korean Diablo III players, the government there demanded that the studio do so anyway. The South Korean consumer protection law ensures a refund if there's a problem with the product that isn't related to the customer.

Many South Korean players were angered due to massive server crashes and high latency while playing Diablo III. The Wall Street Journal reports that 66% of Diablo III online traffic in Asia comes from the country.

As for the refund itself, there are a few stipulations. It currently extends to players who haven't reached level 40. If eligible, the customer has to file for a refund between June 25th and July 3rd. Past that date, Blizzard said that it will offer refunds for any players under level 20 within 14 days of their purchasing the game. The studio is also extending an olive branch to upset gamers by handing out 30-day trials to StarCraft II.

South Korea forces Blizzard to give Diablo III refunds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play Diablo 1 with World of Warcraft models in StarCraft 2

Alex Ziebart — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Video, Miscellaneous, Diablo III

The StarCraft II Arcade feature, a tool intended to help the community highlight quality custom maps and game modes created with the StarCraft modding tools, has recently gone into beta. Coinciding with that beta, Blizzard has launched a contest that requires you to play, rate, and review an Arcade game for a chance to win a Heart of the Swarm beta key.

One of the delightful custom game modes that has become an Arcade chart-topper is an incestuous mix of all of Blizzard's major franchises: It's the first Diablo game ported into StarCraft II using World of Warcraft art assets for the 3-D models. The gameplay doesn't match the original Diablo click-for-click, but the core mechanics and all of the sound files have been carried from one game to the next, including Deckard Cain's signature "stay awhile and listen."

StarCraft II shoutcaster Husky recently featured the game mode on his YouTube channel, and you can watch his 18+ minute preview/review embedded below.

Continue reading Play Diablo 1 with World of Warcraft models in StarCraft 2

Play Diablo 1 with World of Warcraft models in StarCraft 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game Mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Guides, MOBA, League of Legends, The Summoner's Guidebook

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!

The 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.

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Blizzard introduces universal BattleTags to its titles

Matt Daniel — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, News Items, Miscellaneous

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.

Blizzard 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.

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World of Warcraft makes inroads into southeast Asia

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Legal

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.

World 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.

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Yoogames yoinks assets from EVE Online and others, faces retribution

Matt Daniel — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: EVE Online, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Legal, Miscellaneous

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.

Yoogames 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.

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Blizzard quashes speculation about a potential World of StarCraft

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items

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.

Blizzard 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.

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Rise and Shiny recap: 2029 Online

Beau Hindman — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, 2029 Online, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

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

Rise 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.

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Blizzard plays nice with World of StarCraft modder

Jef Reahard — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Legal

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.

Blizzard 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.

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

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Super-hero, Lore, Opinion, Legal, Ask Massively, DC Universe Online

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

Ask 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.

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[Updated] Starcraft MMO modder wins the internet with a job offer from Riot Games

Larry Everett — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Legal

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).]

[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.

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World of StarCraft modders clash with Activision Blizzard

Brendan Drain — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Legal

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.

World 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.

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StarCraft II turned into World of StarCraft by enterprising fan

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, Culture, News Items

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

StarCraft 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.

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G-Star 2010: From the show floor

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, Culture, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, Hands-On, Hands-On (Massively's), Events (Massively's Coverage)

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

G-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.

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

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Dark Age of Camelot, Interviews, The Game Archaeologist

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

The 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.

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BlizzCon sold out; additional conventions cannot be launched

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry

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

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

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

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

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Will Blizzard show their next MMO at BlizzCon 2010?

Kyle Horner — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, News Items, Opinion

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

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

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

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20k BlizzCon tickets gone in eight measly minutes

Kyle Horner — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items

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

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

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

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Don't forget BlizzCon tickets go on sale today

Lesley Smith — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Events (Real-World)

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

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

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

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The9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Business Models, Expansions, MMO Industry, News Items, Legal

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]

The9 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.

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BlizzCon 2009 announced

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:35:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events (Real-World), News Items

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!

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

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Blizzard humbly denies keeping PC gaming alive

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Business Models, Economy, Expansions, Interviews, MMO Industry

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]

Blizzard 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.

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Blizzcast #5 takes care of post-Worldwide Invitational 2008 business

Samuel Axon — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Podcasts, Interviews

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!

Blizzcast #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.

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