To prepare for our New Season of Tournaments, the Blizzard Community Team is happy to announce this Map Creation Contest, adding winning maps into the Tournament Pool of Maps for our Tournaments. Each map will be judged by the Blizzard Development Team in terms of polish...

Frost on October 11th, 2008
With the day's panels and tournaments coming to an end, BlizzCon 2008's closing ceremonies are about to begin, featuring the comedy of Patton Oswalt, the thunderous death-knight metal of Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain, and the symphonic majesty of Video Games Live, who are returning to the convention this year with new arrangements of music from Blizzard Entertainment games.

We'd like to thank everyone who helped make BlizzCon 2008 possible, including comedians Jay Mohr and Patton Oswalt; Video Games Live; AMD, Dell, DIRECTV, Intel, and our other partners and sponsors; and, most of all, the community of gamers whose support and dedication are what this show is all about. We hope everyone enjoyed the informative developer panels, the live tournaments and contests, and the hands-on gaming BlizzCon had to offer.

While the convention might be coming to an end, there's still more to come at BlizzCon.com. Keep your eyes on the site for more photos and other post-show coverage.
Frost on October 10th, 2008
The first day of BlizzCon has drawn to a close, with Jay Mohr hosting another awesomely epic evening of contests, costumes, dances, and /silly one-liners. We'll have photos, results, and more from the contests soon -- but in the meantime, here are some of the day's highlights.
Frost on October 10th, 2008
At Friday's developer panels, attendees got an in-depth look at Diablo III's wizard class, heard some big news about StarCraft II's single-player campaign, and got a chance to ask game designers, artists, and programmers all their burning questions. If you couldn't make it to any of the panels, here's a quick recap of what you missed.
Frost on October 10th, 2008
At the Diablo III Class Design panel, game director Jay Wilson went into more detail about the game's third playable class, the wizard. A wielder of the elements and a master manipulator of time, the wizard combats the hordes of the Burning Hells by hurling environment-shattering lightning bolts, channeling explosive arcane energies, and creating pockets of space outside the normal flow of time.

To find out more, check out the video introduction or visit the brand-new wizard information page to read the latest excerpt from the journal of Abd al-Hazir and see some of the wizard's powers in action.
Frost on October 10th, 2008
BlizzCon is officially underway! Gamers from around the world have come to Anaheim to join us for this two-day celebration of Blizzard Entertainment games and the passionate communities of players surrounding them. We'll be updating BlizzCon.com regularly throughout the show with news and photos from the floor, as well as from the various contests, developer panels, and other events we've planned. We'll also be broadcasting streaming video of the 2008 StarCraft Invitational and other tournaments -- so be sure to check back often over the next couple of days.
Nebu on October 8th, 2008
If you're attending BlizzCon 2008 and are bringing a camera along, we want to see your pictures. Send your best photos of the event, particularly from Friday's contests, to blizzconweb@blizzard.com. We'll collect the finest of your submissions and post them on the site for all to see. Take a look at last year's BlizzCon photo gallery to get a sense of what we're looking for.
Nebu on October 8th, 2008
The streaming trial client, which allows trial users fast access to the trial version of World of Warcraft, will be temporarily unavailable while we prepare for our next major content update, "Echoes of Doom." Trial users can continue playing World of Warcraft by downloading the full trial client here: [PC] [MAC]. Streaming trials will be brought back online within a few days of Echoes of Doom's release, and we will provide further updates as they become available. Please visit our Technical Support forum for additional information. You can upgrade your account to a full version at any time. Just purchase and install the retail version of the game (available at most software and video game retailers), then enter the provided Authentication Key at our online Account Management service to upgrade your account. After you upgrade you will still be able to play the character you create during this trial. For details about the trial version client, refer to our Trial Account FAQ.
Nebu on October 8th, 2008
When the fierce gaming competition gets underway on the tournament stages at BlizzCon, you'll be able to follow the action at home -- right on your computer screen. On October 10 and 11, we'll be providing streaming video coverage of select tournaments live from the convention floor. Whether you prefer the coordinated team play of World of Warcraft's Arena, the meticulous hero management of Warcraft III, or the fast-paced space battles of StarCraft, you're sure to find something to cheer about. Stay tuned to BlizzCon.com for the live stream on the first day of the show.
Frost on October 8th, 2008
Video Games Live and Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain will both return to Anaheim this Saturday to re-rock the Anaheim Convention Center during the BlizzCon 2008 closing ceremony. Recently upgraded from Level 70 at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational in Paris this past June, Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain's performance will conclude their "On and On, South of Northrend!" world tour. The Video Games Live performance will feature music from each Blizzard game universe, and new Blizzard music will be debuted as well.

The closing-night ceremony will take place in Hall C of the Anaheim Convention Center at 5:30 PM. For those attending BlizzCon, be sure to arrive early, as seating will be first come, first served. Ganking fellow attendees to steal their seats is strictly forbidden and generally frowned upon. Generally.

Both acts will also be included as part of DIRECTV's live BlizzCon HD pay per view package. See the BlizzCon DIRECTV Pay Per View page to learn more.
Nebu on October 7th, 2008
We've just brought our brand-new Battle.net forums online. The new forums bring a host of new features and stability, as well as helpful tools for us to better moderate and organize posts. They're available right now -- to access them, visit: http://forums.battle.net.

The forum login requirements remain the same. In order to post you will need an account created by a Battle.net supported game and a CD-key.

If you're still looking for some posts or information from the old forums, we've left them up at the original address (http://www.battle.net/forums.shtml). The old forums aren't open for posting, but if you'd like to copy a thread or back up some information, they'll remain available until Monday, October 13.

The benefits of implementing these new forums are numerous, and we hope you're as excited as we are to see this step toward the continued growth and support of our Battle.net community.
Nebu on October 7th, 2008
The Royal Photographic Society of Azeroth is renewing its competition in celebration of Halloween. In a longstanding Blizzard Entertainment tradition, this year we're proud to announce our sixth annual pumpkin-carving contest.

Between 12:00 a.m. PDT on October 8 and 11:59 p.m. PDT on October 28, the RPSA will be accepting submissions for the pumpkin contest. The shutterbugs who submit the most outstanding photos of their work will have their pictures proudly displayed on WorldofWarcraft.com and Blizzard.com on Halloween. In addition, the five most interesting, original, and well-carved pumpkin designs will be recognized for their merits with a Logitech G51 Surround Sound Speaker System designed specifically for gamers. Special thanks go out to Logitech for these prizes!

Pumpkin submission tips: If you want to view some past pumpkin-carving contest winners, you can see them here: [2003], [ 2004], [ 2005], [ 2006], [ 2007]. Check out the contest page for additional details, including the official rules and submission form. Good luck!
Frost on October 6th, 2008
BlizzCon 2008 begins this Friday, October 10, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. The show will feature two days of gaming, contests, developer Q&A panels, tournaments, and more, in addition to live entertainment by comedian Patton Oswalt, all-Blizzard metal band Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain, and Video Games Live. Our recruiting team will be there, too, so if you're interested in a career at Blizzard Entertainment, bring along your resume, demo reel, art portfolio, or business card. See our media alert for more details -- and keep an eye on www.BlizzCon.com for live updates throughout the show.
Nebu on October 6th, 2008
The submission window for all BlizzCon 2008 contests has now closed. We thank everyone again for all of your entries and look forward to a great night of contests at BlizzCon!
Nebu on October 6th, 2008
The map pools for the BlizzCon StarCraft Invitational and Warcraft III global finals have been determined, and are listed below. The Warcraft III map pool includes the four winning maps from the Warcraft III Melee Map Contest. Each player will be able to eliminate two maps prior to each match and then select a map they wish to play on to determine the map order. Check out the BlizzCon Tournaments website for more details.

StarCraft: Warcraft III:
Blaze on October 2nd, 2008
The Diablo 3 Bestiary now features a new creature from the realm of Sanctuary: the ferocious scavenger.

I had indeed seen scavengers: small, burrowing creatures that feed upon carrion. Unlike most animals of this type, however, they are extremely aggressive and will not hesitate to attack those unfortunate enough to encounter them. Scavengers have powerful legs which they use for swift springing attacks, striking at vulnerable faces and throats.
Check out the scavenger entry now!

We've also expanded the media galleries with four new pieces of artwork and seven new screenshots.
Nebu on September 30th, 2008
The submission window for the BlizzCon 2008 /Silly, Dance, and Costume contests has now closed. We thank everyone again for all of your entries!

Please note that the Movie, Original Song, and Motivational Poster contests closed late last week, and players have until October 3rd to enter our Diorama contest. We're looking forward to plenty more great submissions for this final contest.
Blizzard on September 29th, 2008
Thank you to everyone who reported the growing "tie-hacking" problem in Warcraft III ladder games on Battle.net. We have just released a patch to fix this problem, and we will reset the Warcraft III ladder in January at the beginning of the new tournament season to give all players a fresh start. In addition, we are banning the CD keys of top offenders for damaging the gameplay experience for players who seek fair and fun competitive matches on Battle.net.
Nebu on September 29th, 2008
Want to get in on some competitive gaming while you're at BlizzCon? We're hosting several community competitions at this year's convention, including the first-ever StarCraft II Community Tournament. Other events include Defense of the Ancients (based on Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne) and World of Warcraft Battlegrounds tournaments. BlizzCon attendees can sign up in advance here or enter on site during show hours at the community tournament area.
Nebu on September 25th, 2008
The brackets for the StarCraft, Warcraft III, and World of Warcraft Arena tournaments at BlizzCon are now live. These brackets show the starting matches and also provide some information about the contestants who will be competing in this year's BlizzCon tournaments. We will be updating these brackets during BlizzCon, so make sure to check back to see the latest tournament results and replays.

Check out the brackets here: StarCraft, Warcraft III, World of Warcraft Arena Tournament
Nebu on September 25th, 2008
For anyone interested in experiencing the panels, contests, tournaments, and other highlights of BlizzCon from the comfort of their own home, we'd like to provide a more thorough idea of what to expect from DIRECTV's U.S. pay per view package of live HD event coverage.

Multiple cameras will be travelling the show floor to capture the experience of being at BlizzCon, and the coverage will be anchored from a central broadcast desk. The hosts for the show will be: Celebrity guests Patton Oswalt and Jay Mohr will also be appearing -- Jay is returning to host the live BlizzCon contests, and Patton will be performing a comedy routine during the closing-night ceremony, which will also feature all-Blizzard rock band Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain. In addition, senior Blizzard Entertainment developers such as Rob Pardo, Jay Wilson, Dustin Browder, and Jeff Kaplan will be rotating in and out of the broadcast desk throughout the day to talk about their work and share their thoughts on the convention as it unfolds.

Viewers will also enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Blizzard Entertainment headquarters, get the BlizzCon-exclusive in-game polar bear mount for a World of Warcraft character they play, and be able to download high-resolution cinematic trailers for upcoming games (with an appropriate DVR).

DIRECTV is currently running a special promotion -- available only through the BlizzCon website -- offering the pay per view event free to new customers who sign up for DIRECTV by September 30. Time is running out on this offer, so act quickly.

Beginning this Sunday, September 28, through the end of the convention, current DIRECTV customers will be able to order the package for $39.95. For more information, please visit www.directv.com/blizzcon or call 1-800-728-9375.
Nebu on September 25th, 2008
The submission window for the BlizzCon 2008 Movie, Original Song, and Motivational Poster contests has now closed. We thank everyone for the wide array of creative entries we've seen.

BlizzCon attendees have until September 30th to enter for the /Silly, Dance, and Costume contests, and until October 3rd to submit pictures for the Diorama contest.

We are in the process of reviewing all applications and submissions as we receive them and look forward to seeing more!
Nebu on September 25th, 2008
If you live in Australia but are unable to make it to BlizzCon 2008 in person, Foxtel's Main Event is broadcasting coverage of the conference live on pay-per-view on Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12 beginning at 4 a.m. (AEDT). Main Event will present eight hours of live coverage per day, including main stage presentations, interviews, tournaments, game demos, and more. As a bonus, people who purchase both days of the show will be eligible to receive a gift card redeemable for the BlizzCon-exclusive World of Warcraft in-game polar bear mount. For full details, visit the Main Event site at www.mainevent.com.au, or order Day 1 and Day 2 directly.

We're also looking into the possibility of bringing televised BlizzCon 2008 coverage to other regions of the world -- keep an eye on BlizzCon.com for more.
Nebu on September 23rd, 2008
The replay pack for the 2008 North American Warcraft Finals is now available. Download now to catch all of the intense Warcraft III action you may have missed.
Blaze on September 18th, 2008
The Diablo III Bestiary now features a new creature from the realm of Sanctuary: the terrifying Dune Thresher.

As I was preparing to set pen to paper to begin recording my thoughts at the beginning of my epic undertaking to gather the world's knowledge together in one tome, the hand of providence tapped me on the shoulder. The news that a rogue burrower had killed a citizen just outside the city gave me the wonderful opportunity to see firsthand one of the more disturbing creatures we share this world with – the savage dune thresher.
Check out the new entry now!

We've also expanded the media galleries with four new pieces of artwork and four new screenshots.
Nebu on September 16th, 2008
All of the tickets available in the BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing are now sold out. Ticketholders should keep an eye on the official BlizzCon site for the latest information on panels, contests, and other events at the show, which takes place Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
Nebu on September 10th, 2008
Several StarCraft fansites are currently hosting contests for a chance to win tickets to this year's BlizzCon, including: Visit the sites above for more information on their contests, including rules and instructions how to enter.
Blizzard on September 6th, 2008
eSportsTV is bringing the action from the 2008 North American Warcraft Finals to you live from Boston. Watch the video stream on the 2008 World of Warcraft Arena Tournament news page!
Blizzard on September 5th, 2008
We are now accepting entries for our BlizzCon online contests, including our Diorama, Motivational Poster, and Movie contests. Whether you have tickets to BlizzCon or not, your application is welcome. Simply fill out the Submission form and be prepared to demonstrate your creative talents! For more contest information visit our BlizzCon Contests page.

For those BlizzCon attendees looking to show off graceful dance moves, fill the convention center halls with laughs, or come dressed as your favorite Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo characters, the Submission form for all applicants is now available! For more contest information visit our BlizzCon Contests page.
Nebu on September 5th, 2008
We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 44 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums.
Nebu on September 5th, 2008
The 2008 North American Warcraft Final will be taking place this weekend, September 6-7. If you want to see some of the most intense gaming competition ever held on the East Coast and get hands-on with demos of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II, you won't want to miss this event. Admission is free, so come by and check it out if you're in the area. Even if you're not able to attend, you can catch all of the action live online with our direct stream from the venue. Check out our tournament site for more details.
Blizzard on September 4th, 2008
We just added the Diablo Timeline to the Diablo III website. This page provides a chronological background for the history of Sanctuary. If you're interested in learning more about the lore of the Diablo universe, look no further.

We've also expanded the media galleries with four new pieces of artwork and four new screenshots. Take a look!
Blizzard on September 4th, 2008
DIRECTV has just announced further details for their pay per view package of BlizzCon coverage, and that the special promotion offering it free with a new subscription is now open. New DIRECTV subscribers in the US who sign up for DIRECTV by September 30 through www.blizzard.directv.com or 800-728-9375 will receive the package for free, while existing DIRECTV customers will be able to order it for $39.95 beginning on September 28. For full details, check out the official announcement, or head over to the BlizzCon site.
Blizzard on September 4th, 2008
If you enjoy the music from Blizzard Entertainment games and have ever thought about ordering the soundtracks, doing so just got more convenient. Six soundtrack albums have just been added to a new Blizzard hub page within the iTunes music store, and are available for purchase and download. The StarCraft, Diablo II, Warcraft III, World of Warcraft, and The Burning Crusade soundtracks are all there, as is the Taverns of Azeroth album, which had been exclusively sold at BlizzCon 2007. The Diablo III Overture is also available as a single, and has been chosen as a Discovery Download, making it free to download until next Tuesday. For more information, check out the official announcement, or head over to the Blizzard iTunes page.
Nebu on September 3rd, 2008
The 2008 North American and European Warcraft Finals will be taking place this weekend, September 6-7, in Boston, Massachusetts, and Madrid, Spain. These events will feature the top eight qualifiers from the 2008 World of Warcraft Arena and Warcraft III tournaments for their respective regions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to try out demos of Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II on-site. Admission is free, so come by and check it out if you're in the area.

For full details on each event, please visit the tournament page.
Blizzard on September 2nd, 2008
Send us your StarCraft-themed comics and we'll choose the funniest or most interesting to be showcased on a special gallery page. Remember, we're looking for the best StarCraft humor out there. You can submit comics created in any medium, just make sure they're relevant to StarCraft II, original, and make us laugh.

For the first month, our winner will receive an 8GB Blizzard Branded iPod Nano, a copy of the StarCraft board game, a StarCraft Battle Chest, a shirt, and a copy of the StarCraft cinematics DVD. Two runners-up will also receive prize packages. See the official contest page here.
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