Blizzard posts

StarCraft II targeted for first half 2010 release; still no word on beta launch date

by John Callaham Nov 5th 2009 @ 5:45PM

During Activision Blizzard's financial conference call. Blizzard president Mike Morhaime stated that they are currently targeting the long awaited sci-fi RTS sequel StarCraft II to release sometime in the first half of 2010. Previously Blizzard would only admit to a release of the game sometime in the 2010 time period.

While Morhaime stated during the conference call that the development team is working towards the game's beta test launch, he would not confirm any dates on when the beta will actually begin. Last June at E3 the company stated they hoped to have the beta launch during the summer but had to retract that plan when their plans to release StarCraft II changed from their previous fall 2009 date.

Gallery: Starcraft 2

Filed under: RTS, Starcraft II

World of Warcraft slowly enters the world of selling virtual items

by John Callaham Nov 4th 2009 @ 6:00PM

Since its release in 2004, Blizzard's MMO World of Warcraft has stayed on the monthly subscription business model for the most part. While Blizzard does charge its players extra for things like faction or race changes in their characters, they have not gone into the business of selling in-game items for real money as other MMOs have done.

That may finally be changing, however, as Blizzard has now introduced a way to buy in-game pets for your World of Warcraft character via Blizzard's online store. Currently only two pets are available for $10 each; Lil' K.T. and Pandaren Monk (shown to the right) Blizzard has also announced that from now until December 31, half of the proceeds from the purchase of the latter character will go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

[Via Wow.com]

Filed under: MMO, World of Warcraft

All You Need To Know: Diablo III

by James Murff Nov 4th 2009 @ 5:00PM

Games that are coming out soon have a lot of unknowns that the average person might not know. Who is this character inspired by? Is all the talk of volumetric fog or cel-shaded graphics really worthwhile? Do the game mechanics really seem solid, or are they lackluster? In All You Need To Know we provide information to help you fully appreciate what these upcoming games have to offer.

Feed your head after the jump.

Check out our collection of Diablo III related downloads here on Big Download!

Gallery: Diablo III

Continue reading All You Need To Know: Diablo III

Filed under: Features, RPG, Diablo III

World of Warcraft character race change feature now live

by John Callaham Oct 28th 2009 @ 7:30AM

It's been highly anticipated for months but now players in World of Warcraft can have the ultimate change. This week developer Blizzard revealed that players can now change the race of their already existing character while still stayin in their faction (Alliance or Horde for you non-World of Warcraft players . . . all two of you).

The game's offiical web site has an extensive FAQ about the new service which is separate from the developer's faction change service which lets player's change from Alliance to Horde and vice-versa. Like that feature, the race change service isn't free; you will have to pony up $25 for each character race shift. Hey, it's still cheaper than most medical charges in the real world.

Filed under: MMO, World of Warcraft

StarCraft II Battle Report revisits the Lost Temple

by Steven Wong Oct 22nd 2009 @ 6:45PM

In the newest StarCraft II Battle Report, David Kim, one of the StarCraft II team's associate game balance designers faces off against Blizzard's Yeon-Ho Lee in a head-to-head match. This Protoss vs Terran match takes place on the Lost Temple map, a classic StarCraft multiplayer map updated for the sequel.

Download HD StarCraft II Battle Report #4 (557 MB)
Check out all StarCraft II downloads

Gallery: Starcraft 2

Filed under: Downloads, Multiplayer, RTS, Video, Starcraft II

Latest official StarCraft II Q&A trickles out the info

by John Callaham Oct 21st 2009 @ 8:00AM

While all of us wait patiently for Blizzard to light the candle on the StarCraft II beta test (remember when they said it was going to happen last summer? Good times) we check out any info we can get on the upcoming sci-fi RTS game. Recently the game's official forums posted up the latest fan Q&A about the game (the 54th, in fact).

The questions, as usual, get extremely specific (these are die hard StarCraft fans who are asking these questions to Blizzard after all) and deal with issues like Zergling vs. Zealot ratios, being able to dodge an EMP attack in the game and allowing maps and mods for StarCraft II to have their own launcher. Meanwhile we wait for the beta test . . . and wait . . . and wait some more.

Gallery: Starcraft 2

Filed under: RTS, Starcraft II

Wildstorm reveals second monthly World of Warcraft comic

by John Callaham Oct 20th 2009 @ 8:00AM

A while back we mentioned that DC Comics' Wildstorm division was going to end their current World of Warcraft monthly comic book series and then start again with not one but two new series, one for the Alliance faction in Blizzard's hit MMO and the other for the Horde. This week, via Comic Book Resources, we now have more info on both of the new World of Warcraft comic book series.

The all new Horde comic (you can see the cover for the first issue to the right) is written by Doug Murray and drawn by Pop Mhan. The Alliance-based comic retains the original World of Warcraft issue numbering (hence World of Warcraft: Alliance 26). It will be written by Mike Costa and drawn by Neil Googe. Both issues will go on sale in January.

Filed under: Culture, MMO, World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft movie director names its new screenwriter

by John Callaham Oct 12th 2009 @ 6:00PM

You may remember that former game journalist and current big time Hollywood screenwriter Gary Whitta admitted publicly that he had worked on drafts for the upcoming World of Warcraft movie for two years. That ended when Sam Raimi was named as the director of the adaptation of Blizzard's hit MMO game.

Now MTV News is reporting that the new screenwriter has been revealed. According to an interview with Raimi he stated that Robert Rodat, who has credits including Saving Private Ryan, is now writing the script for the adaptation. Raimi also stated the movie will be an original story and not really based on specific World of Warcraft storylines. Raimi is scheduled to begin production of the movie after his work on Spider-Man 4 is completed.

Filed under: Culture, MMO, World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft finally rated in Australia

by John Callaham Oct 9th 2009 @ 11:00AM

You may remember a while ago that the wonky Australian game ratings system allowed MMO titles like World of Warcraft to be sold in stores in that country, even though the ratings system never assigned such games with a rating. Normally such a situation would have banned a game from being sold. Now GameSpot is reporting that has changed for World of Warcraft and its two expansion pack as they have all received an "M" rating with an extra note saying "online content variable."

The game's publisher Blizzard stated that they have been trying to get the game rated in Australia since World of Warcraft's release in 2004 and that "recent changes" in the ratings board have allowed such titles to receive a rating. However the Australian Classification Board isn't talking about those changes, saying only, "The Classification Board has been following developments in online gaming."

Filed under: World of Warcraft

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