activision-blizzard posts

In-game ad spending to reach over $1 billion by 2014

by Kyle Horner May 26th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Business models, Economy, News items

In a future where unfathomably large sums of money are spent trying to get you to buy things, only one man can make a difference. We haven't found that man, so until he shows up we're going to buy a new Dell and maybe some Pepsi. We don't know why this urge has struck us -- maybe it has something to do with all those ads we just saw in [INSERT LATEST ACTIVISIONBLIZZARD TITLE HERE].

We know not what fate awaits us in this future, but since everyone will be too busy buying stuff it probably doesn't matter. It's not like the machines will rise up or anything, right?

Source

Tags: activision-blizzard, advertising, billion, dell, in-game-advertising, pepsi, screen-digest, terminator

First official confirmation that new Blizzard MMO is original IP

by Kyle Horner May 13th 2009 at 12:15AM

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items

While we've had reason to believe that Blizzard's next MMO would be a new IP, but this marks the first occasion that we've had some kind of official confirmation of our speculation.

In a post on the official World of Warcraft forums, Blizzard community manager Zarhym came out and said the new MMO was in fact an original IP, saying, "We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it's a shell of a game thus far. We've already stated it'll be a brand new franchise, which means the lore, art, and game play are being developed entirely from scratch. It's an overwhelming process, but a process through which we excel. Our track record supports this." While it's no press release or big event reveal, this is certainly the closest we've come to someone officially with Blizzard saying that, yes, it's not a previously created franchise.

So now that speculation on whether or not it's a new IP is over, we can begin to speculate on what genre this new IP will be! Science fiction, steampunk, cyberpunk or another fantasy setting? It's hard to say, although our hopes go for something decidedly not fantasy since Blizzard has already spent plenty of energy in those genres up to this point.

Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, blizzard-mmo, breaking, cyberpunk, diablo, fantasy, sci-fi, starcraft, steampunk, unannounced-mmo, world-of-warcraft, wow

GDC09: A candid interview with Age of Conan's game director

by Kyle Horner Mar 30th 2009 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, News items, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage

Last week at GDC 2009 was exceptionally busy, but that didn't stop us from talking with Age of Conan's game director Craig Morrison and discussing what went wrong with the game at launch and what's been done since to improve upon it.

You're in for a treat, we think.

After the jump, you'll also find discussion on free trails for this year, the DX10 client, successful MMOs and upcoming content philosopy for Age of Conan. It's a bounty of information even King Conan would be proud to see!

Gallery: Age of Conan Gallery

Tags: activision-blizzard, age-of-conan, aoc, blizzard, craig-morrison, featured, funcom, gdc, gdc-2009, joystiqfeatures, world-of-warcraft, wow

World of Warcraft dual-spec requirements massaged for your enjoyment

by Kyle Horner Mar 21st 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Patches, News items

When dual talent specializations were revealed in the upcoming World of Warcraft 3.1 patch, Blizzard had some pretty stringent rules in place. Players had to be level 80 to access the ability and also needed to be near a Lexicon of Power (found in various capital cities) to even switch specializations. But Eurogamer as discovered that things have changed!

Now, the required level is 40 and training costs 1000 gold -- which is easy for someone to do if they've got a character in Northrend. Also, players can proceed to switch talents anywhere they like, so long as they're not in battle, a PvP Arena or Battleground. The talent switch will take 5 seconds and reset class resources to zero. In addition to these changes, a one-click equipment manager will also been added to streamline switching from one build to another.

Source

Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, dual-spec, dual-specs, eurogamer, northrend, world-of-warcraft, wow, wow-patch-3.1

Blizzard wants to see your creative writing skills, offers amazing prizes

by Kyle Horner Mar 16th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Contests, Lore, News items

Have you ever completed a series of quests in World of Warcraft and thought, "I could've come up with a better story than that." before continuing to play the game for several days on end? Well, now you can prove it! Blizzard is holding a creative writing contest, and any of its franchises are up for use.

If you'd like to enter, Blizzard is looking for a 3,000 to 10,000 word story (set in the Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo universes) written in English and given to them by April 12th. Do that and the grand prize of visiting Blizzard Entertainment headquarters, meeting the writers and staff and subsequently begging for a job could be yours for the taking.

And even if you don't make the grand prize, seven runners-up will get whole prize packages containing signed copies of the Warcraft Archive, Diablo Archive, StarCraft Archive, and the Warcraft War of the Ancients Archive. Think of the geek cred that would pull in! That, or a whole lot of eBay cash money.

[via Big Download]

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!

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Tags: activision-blizzard, big-download, blizzard, contest, diablo, starcraft, warcraft, world-of-warcraft, wow

Massively speaks at length with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck

by Kyle Horner Mar 16th 2009 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Jumpgate Evolution, New titles, News items, Massively Interviews

With its June launch looming just a few months away, we spoke with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck. Within this interview you can find information on topics such as digital distribution, beta, hardcore mode and plenty more.

And if that somehow doesn't sate your thirst for information, then check out our previous interviews with Hermann, which contain all sorts of additional, informative goodies.

Gallery: Jumpgate Evolution Gallery

Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, codemasters, digital-distribution, featured, hardcore-mode, hermann-peterscheck, jge, jumpgate, jumpgate-evolution, license, license-system, netdevil, steam, valve, world-of-warcraft, wow

Co-Chairman of Activision Blizzard cashes in stock for $20 million

by Joe Blancato Mar 14th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Real life, MMO industry

Just in time for Activision Blizzard's earnings report, Co-Chairman Brian Kelly liquidated 2 million shares of his stock in the company on March 12, earning over $20 million in the process.

The move has caused some speculation that the trade spells bad news for the company's forthcoming report. Given that ~~Rock Band~~ Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft haven't showed signs of slowing even during the recession, it's a safe guess that the report won't trigger a massive sell-off. Kelly was the only director-level employee reported by the SEC to have traded large volumes of his stock, so it's unlikely his stock trade is related to Activision Blizzard's performance. When 30 percent of the board of directors begins selling off their assets, it'll be time to panic.

Source

Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, economy, financial, mmo-industry, stock-trading, world-of-warcraft, wow

The Daily Grind: Do you have a springtime MMO?

by Kyle Horner Mar 7th 2009 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Spring is nearly here, and that means new videogame releases are bound to decline over the coming months until summer arrives with nary a release in sight. For us MMO gamers, though, what it generally means is we look for a particular game to pack away -- like geeky summertime squirrels!

Some of us stick with what's working, whether it's World of Warcraft or EVE Online. Others patiently await new exciting releases like Champions Online, Jumpgate Evolution and Free Realms. And then there are those who take a break and play the non-MMO games coming out during spring, only to return to their favorite MMO of choice once the well runs dry elsewhere.

We sometimes wonder what non-MMO gamers do in the summer. Maybe they go outside and burn up in a violent burst of pale ash, victims of our local star's death rays.

Tags: activision-blizzard, atari, blizzard, ccp, champions-online, codemasters, cryptic, eve-online, free-realms, jumpgate-evolution, netdevil, soe, spring, the-daily-grind, world-of-warcraft, wow

Activision Blizzard appoints new European Senior VP

by Shawn Schuster Mar 2nd 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, real-world, MMO industry

From French coffee to plastic instruments and Azeroth? That's the leap Thibaud de Saint-Quentin is making as Activision Blizzard's newly appointed Senior Vice President and Managing Director of European Publishing. Thibaud de Saint-Quentin (we just like saying that in full) will be joining the company officially on March 9th and will be based out of AB's European headquarters in Stockley Park, UK.

Mr. de Saint-Quentin has spent his managing career at Kraft Foods and has held the positions of Marketing Director in France for their Beverages (coffee) Division, Vice President Strategy and Business Development for cheese and grocery categories across Europe, Managing Director of Benelux and Vice President and Area Director for the UK and Ireland. Mr. de Saint-Quentin holds a master's degree from the Ecole Superiere des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) in Paris. We have no idea what any of that means, but everything just sounds better in French, wouldn't you agree?

Source

Tags: activision-blizzard, european, kraft-foods, senior-vp, world-of-warcraft, wow

World of Warcraft guild leader wins Oscar (no, really)

by Kyle Horner Feb 23rd 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, News items

Apparently last night was an Oscars evening. Didn't you know? Well, we sure didn't -- but that's besides the point. As it turns out, one particular winner in the visual effects category was Steve Preeg, who's also a guild leader in World of Warcraft. Now it'd be one thing to say he played the game, but to be the leader of an active guild means he plays the game.

In fact WoW Insider was informed via one of Preeg's guildies that he's not only a guild leader in the game, but that he plays a Combat Rogue with 450 (that'd be maxed) Enchanting and Inscription and runs a progression guild that's downed almost everything the game has to offer.

We can't turn down this chance to offer props to Mr. Preeg on his epic loot drop last night. That blue is most assuredly sitting somewhere prominent at his home, likely somewhere close to where he plays World of Warcraft -- at least when he's not making award winning feature films. Is this guy some kind of machine or what?

[via WoW Insider]

Source

Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, combat-rogue, enchanting, inscription, oscars, rogue, steve-preeg, world-of-warcraft, wow

World of Warcraft series 5 figures come with love

by Kyle Horner Feb 18th 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Culture, News items

Series 5 of the DC line of World of Warcraft figures are being beamed about the internet, and WoW Insider has a lovely gallery of them for your viewing perusal. The new figures are all quite nice, but our personal favorite has got to be Rottingham. Why? Well for starters, he's got a nice "come hither" stare... a lovely set of... teeth. Okay he's pretty ugly, but in a cute and lovable sort of way that makes everyone want to hug him, but ultimately decide not to for fear of contracting some deadly virus.

Only sad part of this whole piece of news? These beauties won't be available until October 2009. Pity, that.

Gallery: DC Unlimited WoW Series 5 Action Figures

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!

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Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, dc-direct, dc-unlimted, rottingham, world-of-warcraft, wow, wow-insider

The Digital Continuum: It won't be World of Warcraft 2

by Kyle Horner Feb 14th 2009 at 1:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, MMO industry, Opinion, The Digital Continuum

I love Blizzard, and not just for creating World of Warcraft. I've loved them since they were called Silicon & Synapse and created Rock 'n Roll Racing. But if there's one thing I've learned about the developer, it's that when making games they prefer to improve upon established models more than anything else. That statement may seem to run counter to my title, but stay with me here.

When Jeff Kaplan announced his move to the company's next-gen MMO, I didn't wonder if World of Warcraft would suffer. I also didn't ponder why Blizzard and Jeff made that choice and if it would mean their second massively multiplayer online entry was going to effective be a sequel to their first. All I considered was which MMOs they were going to pluck ideas from this time, and how cleverly they'd could be implemented.

Tags: activision-blizzard, age-of-conan, arenanet, blizzard, featured, funcom, god-of-war-3, guild-wars, jeff-kaplan, joystiqfeatures, ncsoft, protoss, rock-n-roll-racing, street-fighter-iv, tabula-rasa, terran, tigole, world-of-warcraft, wow, wow-2, zerg

Jeff Kaplan leaving World of Warcraft for next-gen Blizzard MMO

by Kyle Horner Feb 12th 2009 at 2:45PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, MMO industry, News items

Big news is coming out of Blizzard today as Jeffrey Kaplan, lead designer on World of Warcraft, is moving onto the company's next-gen MMO full-time. His announcement was made via a personal post on the official forums, and included a promise to both play and stay involved with WoW while leaving the day-to-day responsibilities to Tom Chilton and J. Allen Brack.

Kaplan has definitely been involved with the project before now, but we can't stop from wondering whether this is a sign of development ramping up in a big way for Blizzard's sophomore MMO effort, because you don't move over the main dude working on your biggest property unless it's time to kick it up several notches.

And what does this mean for the next expansion in terms of direction and overall design philosophy? Well, knowing Blizzard we won't see a drop in quality, but with a changing of the guard there's always a chance for new directions to be taken.

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!

Source

Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, breaking, jeff-kaplan, next-gen-mmo, world-of-warcraft, wotlk, wow, wrath-of-the-lich-king

Blizzard rejects E3 a second time, Activision going stag

by Kyle Horner Feb 6th 2009 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items

Look E3, Blizzard has a lot going on in it's life right now. A big project is being finished up, while some others are just getting started. And then there's that whole World of Warcraft thing keeping them rightly busy as well. So unfortunately -- yet again -- there won't be a E3/Blizzard love-in this year. It's not you, it's them -- really!

Sure, sure. Activision Blizzard is going to be there. You remember them, right? They like to put out all those guitar-y games and hey, there's even a new Call of Duty coming eventually too. Who knows, maybe there'll be an FPSMMO announcement this year and you'll just be the bell of the MMO newsphere ball.

Granted, this is assuming Blizzard doesn't announce a new World of Warcraft expansion or, great Brewmasters forbid, their next-gen MMORPG. Either way, we still love you E3 and that's all that really matters. Right? And as for Blizzard, well... There's always Blizzcon -- if you can manage to get a ticket.

Source

Tags: activision-blizzard, blizzard, call-of-duty, e3, esa, joystiq, next-gen-mmo, pandaren, world-of-warcraft, wow

Activision-Blizzard and E3 kiss and make up [UPDATED]

by Shawn Schuster Feb 2nd 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry

When the news was released today concerning E3's redirection to the way things used to be, most fans of the expo were probably pleased. To top it all off, Activision Blizzard has announced their return to the convention, after skipping out on E3 and the ESA last year. Many other gaming companies followed suit, including NCsoft and Turbine, yet they are still seemingly absent from this year's list of exhibitors.

E3 may have learned from its mistakes last year, trying for a toned-down and closed-access event. This year, they promise open attendee registration and media credentialing. The expo is also working to improve their image with a newly redesigned website, and a Facebook and Twitter presence. Does this mean the booth babes will return?

Update: Apparently, it's only Activision going, not Blizzard.

Source

Tags: activision, activision-blizzard, blizzard, e3, esa, world-of-warcraft, wow

Massively Features

Featured Games

Events Calendar

Name	Date
Fallen Earth Launch	Q2 2009
Global Agenda Closed Beta	July 2009
CrimeCraft Launch	Aug 25 2009
Champions Online Launch	Sep 1 2009
Cities XL EU Launch	Sep 3 2009
Aion Launch	Sep 22 2009
Earth Eternal Open Beta	Q3 2009