Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Blizzard 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[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[Starcraft Universe alpha gameplay video released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/starcraft-universe-alpha-gameplay-video-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/starcraft-universe-alpha-gameplay-video-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/starcraft-universe-alpha-gameplay-video-released/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What if the year's most noteworthy MMO release wasn't a mega-budget corporate themepark but a crazy-detailed mod produced by a tiny team of fans? A lot of gamers out there would love to see a StarCraft-flavored MMORPG, and modder Ryan Winzen is in the process of making that dream a reality with StarCraft Universe, a total conversion for Blizzard's StarCraft II that turns the strategy title into a full-blown massively multiplayer experience.

Eurogamer has published a four-minute video of the mod in action, and viewers will get a good look at the alpha-state UI, combat, and a glimpse of character creation before the clip is done. As to the legalities involved, we reported earlier this year on Winzen's amicable accord with Blizzard, and though the gaming giant invoked its right to block the distribution of videos promoting the mod, it allowed development on the project to continue.

MassivelyStarcraft Universe alpha gameplay video released originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-videoblizzardfan-projectsgameplaymodmodsryan-winzensci-fistarcraftstarcraft-iistarcraft-universetotal-conversiontrailerworld-of-starcraftMon, 18 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: From the shadows, I come]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/behind-the-mask-from-the-shadows-i-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/behind-the-mask-from-the-shadows-i-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/behind-the-mask-from-the-shadows-i-come/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There have been a lot of updates to Champions Online recently. The dev team has really focused on putting out small bits of content at a rapid pace, including a new costume pack, the Light Speed travel power, and two big updates to the Darkness and Gadgeteering frameworks.

The Void, the first of CO's premium archetypes, basks in the twilight and wields the power of darkness. She came with a big update to the Darkness framework as a whole, and we'll cover all the changes to her sexy powers this week in Behind the Mask.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: From the shadows, I come

MassivelyBehind the Mask: From the shadows, I come originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdark-templardarknessdarkness-frameworkfeaturedmy-life-for-aiurprotossprotoss-dark-templarprotoss-stalkerstalkerstarcraft-iithe-voidvoidvoid-archetypeThu, 10 Mar 2011 17:00:00 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[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[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[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.

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Blizzcast episode 4 is out, and it's chock full of the interesting discussion you've come to enjoy from the Blizzard crew. This episode includes some fantastic interviews on a variety of wide-ranging topics from the music of World of Warcraft's Sunwell Plateau to designing the various in-game professions, and caps off with a bunch of reader-submitted dev-answered questions -- and some tasty Starcraft II information!

If you're curious about the things going on behind the scenes at Blizzard (you know, beyond frantically trying to fix the online store so people can pick up Blizzcon tickets) then be sure to check out Blizzcast #4! Or for those of you who aren't into podcasts (or who just don't have the ability to listen in right now) be sure to check out their handy transcription of the podcast, available now for your lunch-hour reading pleasure.

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!

MassivelyNew Blizzcast: Professions, progression and patches, oh my originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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