WoW Insider

Warcraft movie will not be directed by Sam Raimi

Olivia Grace — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Crave Online has managed to speak with the proposed World of Warcraft Movie director Sam Raimi at Comic-Con 2012, and they have confirmed that the proposed director, Sam Raimi, will not be taking the reins of the Warcraft movie.

Raimi said to Crave that when he took the role directing his current film, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Blizzard had to move on and find another person to fill the director's shoes. Sam Raimi is quoted as saying:

Actually, they don't have me directing World of Warcraft anymore because when I took the Oz job, they had to move on to another director. They had to start making it.

This, it seems, moves us from a position of knowing only one thing for sure about the Warcraft movie to knowing nothing at all. We thought we knew who was directing it, and we don't. We might, however, like to glean from Raimi's comments that the Warcraft movie's creation is under way, but that would be speculative at best.

Crave wasn't able to find any reports that Blizzard has been in contact with other directors, nor could we here at WoW Insider. We can certainly be encouraged by the idea that the movie's creation is in process, but we really are being kept very much in the dark. However, with much of Blizzard's WoW energy currently being channeled into the ever more imminent release of Mists of Pandaria, it doesn't seem unreasonable or surprising that the movie might have been put on something of a back burner for now.

Warcraft movie will not be directed by Sam Raimi originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Vivendi plans to sell Activision Blizzard

Robin Torres — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Rumors

Bloomberg reports that Vivendi is looking to sell its 61 percent holding in Activision Blizzard, according to "a person with knowledge of the situation." If they are unable to find a purchaser for the entire $8.1 billion stake, they will attempt to sell part of it on the open market.

Again, this is just a rumor, but the CEO of the French Company just quit this week during a board meeting, reportedly due to a disagreement about selling off the huge telecommunication and media company's assets. The Wall Street Journal reports that "people familiar with the matter" claim that the board is considering splitting up Vivendi outright.

Until the rumor is confirmed and the success of the sale or spinoff is resolved, we will not know the fate of Blizzard or World of Warcraft. Those who say ~~the sale of Blizzard to~~ the merger of Blizzard and Activision brought down the quality of the game may laud the situation, while others will add this to the many reasons they claim that WoW is doomed. But speculation is just that, and we'll keep an eye out for actual facts as they happen.

Rumor: Vivendi plans to sell Activision Blizzard originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Monopoly: World of Warcraft game to be unveiled next week

Fox Van Allen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Rumors

Anyone familiar with board games could tell you that there are about 100,000 different versions of Monopoly out there. There's an officially licensed The Wizard of Oz Monopoly. There's a Powerpuff Girls Monopoly. And a Looney Tunes Monopoly. Even the lousy IP-cash-in movie effort Cars 2 has its own version of Monopoly. So it would only stand to reason that World of Warcraft would get its own version of Monopoly eventually, right?

Right.

According to BlizzPlanet, an officially licensed World of Warcraft Monopoly will be unveiled at next week's Toy Fair 2012 in New York City. There really aren't any details as of yet, just that the board game will be showcased. Presumably, though, there will be a lot of customization involved, right down to the playing tokens.

Perhaps even more exciting than Monopoly (a game I am incapable of losing, FYI) is the companion Blizzard tie-in, Risk: StarCraft. Supposedly, the playing pieces for that game will include StarCraft II units. That's all sorts of awesome.

Update: BlizzPlanet has removed its references to these games in its Toy fair 2012 posting, so it's possible USAopoly was not prepared to announce these products yet.

Official Monopoly: World of Warcraft game to be unveiled next week originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumored "mass layoffs" at Blizzard never happened

Fox Van Allen — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Rumors

Yesterday, a handful of gaming news sites reported that a senior designer working on the new Titan MMO had gotten laid off by Blizzard Entertainment. In the hours that followed, the internet began conducting an "investigation" via Facebook that revealed tens, if not hundreds of Blizzard employees were just laid off.

There's only one problem with the information said investigation dredged up: It's not true. There are no massive layoffs at Blizzard. So says Blizzard itself, via Community Manager Bashiok:

mass layoffs at blizz

Hey guys, out of respect for their privacy, we don't discuss individual employees, but the speculation circulating about 'massive layoffs at Blizzard' is just a rumor.

source

Fellow Community Manager Zarhym confirmed the lack of layoffs on his own personal Twitter account, saying that there's "tons of speculation based on false evidence." He went on to explain that the vast majority of people rumored to have been laid off showed up to work today.

So rest assured: The sky is not falling. Blizzard employees still have their jobs. Project Titan has not been cancelled. Ghostcrawler is still in the building. And despite what you may have heard from Mr. Feeney's grocer, Cory and Topanga are not adopting a 14-year-old Chinese boy.

Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!

Rumored "mass layoffs" at Blizzard never happened originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tom Chilton suggests Mists of Pandaria "wildly overhyped"

Anne Stickney — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Rumors

Maybe Mists of Pandaria isn't quite as likely as we all thought. IGN PC had a chat with Game Director Tom Chilton about the rumors of the upcoming expansion, as well as the upcoming patch 4.3 and the possibility of WoW moving to a free-to-play model.

Chiming in on the subject of transmogrification was Art Director Chris Robinson, who explained a little about the details behind the feature and its restrictions. Robinson clarified that protecting class integrity was an important factor in both armor design and the upcoming transmogrification feature: "When you see those demon wings you know 'Okay that's a warlock,' you know you can apply that to his tier twenty-one armor but it's still a warlock."

So what about free-to-play? Chilton confirms that it's "definitely a possibility," but for those of you looking for an immediate free-to-play version of WoW, you're going to have to wait. Chilton clarified that the change would be a dramatic departure from Blizzard's current business model, and it would take quite a bit of convincing to switch models.

As to the subject of Pandaren ...

Speculation swirled recently regarding Blizzard's decision to trademark "Mists of Pandaria," as many thought it may indicate the name of the next World of Warcraft expansion. Pandaria, in Warcraft lore, refers to the home of the Pandaren, basically humanoid war pandas you may remember making an appearance as neutral heroes in Warcraft III. Chilton said the speculation was, "wildly overhyped." He added, "if you look at traditionally how we've handled that race it's been in those secondary products because we haven't realized it in the world. Most of the time when we do anything panda-related it's going to be a comic book or a figurine or something like that."

Comic books, figurines, or a new expansion? Time and undoubtedly BlizzCon will tell. Check out the full article over at IGN PC.

Tom Chilton suggests Mists of Pandaria "wildly overhyped" originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX East 2011: Will World of Warcraft ever go free-to-play?

Fox Van Allen — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Rumors

It seems that every new MMORPG wants to bill itself as a "WoW killer." From Lord of the Rings Online to Age of Conan to (most recently) RIFT, everyone wants a piece of the most popular subscription-based MMORPG of all time.

To date, World of Warcraft has weathered the competition. Its subscriber numbers have reached an all-time high (now over 12 million), with its latest Cataclysm expansion selling nearly 5 million copies in the first month alone. The game should remain popular and successful for years to come. Still, even Blizzard admits: It can't stay on top forever.

So what happens when the game starts losing a significant amount of its subscriber base? If what happened to Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online is any clue, World of Warcraft might move to a free-to-play model. Since switching to free-to-play, both of Turbine's games added subscribers and increased revenues.

This past weekend, I sat in on the free-to-play MMO panel held at the PAX East 2011 conference in Boston. Afterward, I caught up with Robert Ferrari, VP of Publishing and Business Development for Sanrio Digital (Hello Kitty Online), to discuss WoW. We discussed the free-to-play industry and whether or not World of Warcraft could eventually find a place in it.

"WoW has to be looking at a free-to-play model currently," Ferrari theorized.

Continue reading PAX East 2011: Will World of Warcraft ever go free-to-play?

PAX East 2011: Will World of Warcraft ever go free-to-play? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The truth about datamined WoW data

Matthew Rossi — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items, Rumors, Cataclysm

Right now I'm playing World of Warcraft as more of a pinch hitter than I am used to, in part because I also do things like make the calls for our raids and help plan out raid times. In essence, I find myself a guild officer in a guild just getting off the ground, so I don't have the luxury of gearing for only one role. I have to be ready to tank or DPS based on what's needed. This isn't a problem, exactly. But it means I find myself having to really pay attention to what either role demands at a moment's notice, and so the patch 4.0.6 changes are constantly on my mind.

As such, I found this forum thread interesting not for what it contains but in what it reveals about how people use datamined information. The original post is based on information that is datamined, and as such, is not always fully in line with what is intended. In this particular case, as Zarhym points out, the Heroic Strike changes aren't new but are the same HS changes we've seen in every version of 4.0.6 that have been discussed to date.

Datamining can be an awesome tool, to be sure. I've salivated over weapon models and reacted with consternation to class changes over and over again in the past, just like everyone else. I still remember sitting at my computer trying to will Ulduar into existence; got a heck of a nosebleed.

But please, when dealing with datamined information, you have to keep in mind that it often (purely due to the limitations of the process) comes up short or deals with information that may have no bearing on what ends up in the live game. So when you see a tooltip change or hear about an ability going up or down in power based on it, it's best to wait and see a confirmation of the change from Blizzard before you panic. Datamined changes can be a good heads up, but they're not to be considered the same as officially released information.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from leveling up a new goblin or worgen to breaking news and strategies on endgame play.

The truth about datamined WoW data originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patch 4.0.3a, The Shattering, likely hitting live servers tomorrow

Daniel Whitcomb — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Realm Status, News items, Rumors, Cataclysm

With the announcement of extended downtime for tomorrow already out, the buzz has begun in earnest. We know that The Shattering, the patch that will change Azeroth forever, is coming either this week or the next, and an extended downtime would be the perfect time to patch it in.

The Shattering patch will include all the old-world changes coming with Cataclysm, including changes to the Loremaster and Explorer achievements to match, the removal of Zul'Gurub, a reduction in the amount of experience required to level from 70 to 80, and the addition of all of the new race/class combinations. Worgen and goblins will still have to wait for Cataclysm itself, of course. If you don't plan to do any raiding or dailies in Northrend in the next couple weeks on any of your characters, you may also want to move your character to Stormwind or Orgrimmar before the servers go down, as rumor has it that the portals in Dalaran are going away with this patch.

If all this change is getting you confused and dismayed, never fear! We here at WoW Insider will be with you every step of the way. Just stay with us for all the latest news and handy guides you need to survive in the brave new world of Cataclysm.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.

Patch 4.0.3a, The Shattering, likely hitting live servers tomorrow originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Blizzard employees' real life names will not appear on the Real ID forums [Updated]

Adam Holisky — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Recently a few forum goers have posted that they've been in touch with Blizzard phone representatives and have heard from them that Blizzard employee's real-life names will actually not be appearing on the new Real ID forums.

So here's what we know:

Bashiok / Drysc posted his real life name yesterday and had his privacy violated by people posting maps to his house, his parents' names and (potentially incorrect) cell phone numbers.
We have seen multiple reports of WoW players who have called up Blizzard's support line and spoken with representatives who've told them blues will no longer be using their real names in the new forums.
Josh, a Blizzard phone rep, said that Blizzard employees "cannot risk having their personal lives compromised by in-game issues."
Blizzard blue representative Rygarius locked, but did not delete nor deny, a thread on this.
WoW.com has emailed PR contacts within Blizzard for comment, and has not heard anything back.

So there you have it. It's a pretty solid rumor at this point. The known facts speak for themselves.

Update: Wryxian is referring people back to the original blue post language about the change. However, we're still hearing from phone bank representatives that Blizzard has changed its mind about blue posters.

Update #2: According to Nethaera, they're going to stick with their original plan and have blue posters use their real names. As to why other parts of Blizzard are saying something different (WoW.com has verified what other parts of Blizzard has said), it appears they're having some internal communication issues.

Rumor: Blizzard employees' real life names will not appear on the Real ID forums [Updated] originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam Raimi discusses Warcraft movie

Dawn Moore — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, Rumors, Warcraft Movie

Sam Raimi revealed quite a bit of information about his work on the Warcraft movie in a recent video interview with Collider.com at the Saturn Awards.

Many promising things were said during the interview, but some points of interest include:

Raimi and scriptwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot) are working on a treatment for the film. So far they've written a 40-page document.
Raimi is playing WoW to get a feel for the game world. He has a level 72 character.
Legendary Pictures (Batman Begins, Inception) is excited about the project and Legendary Pictures founder and producer, Thomas Tull is a big fan of the game.
The movie will be set entirely in the Warcraft universe. No video game component will exist in the film. (Thank Elune.)

Raimi also addressed where he is at with the Oz prequel, a project he signed onto last week. Raimi is now currently signed on to direct both films, and though he does not provide any confirmation on which film he will direct first, in the interview he seems much more invested in the Warcraft film at the moment. He says in the interview, "well, right now, I'm not really committed to Oz. We're going to have to wait and see how that all goes, but I did read it. I love the script. I think it's a great project. It's something I'd like to become involved with."

For the highlights from the interview, hit the jump.

Continue reading Sam Raimi discusses Warcraft movie

Sam Raimi discusses Warcraft movie originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Operation Echo Isles: Transcripts and details

Gregg Reece — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Events, Lore, Rumors, Cataclysm

WARNING: This post is chock full of spoilers. Spoilers like you would not believe. If you'd like to be surprised about anything involving the Echo Isles and what is contained within, I wouldn't recommend continuing onward. If, however, you are clamoring for more information, read on!

There is a lot of great information about upcoming world events in the current patch 3.3.3 PTR. We've already posted about some of the story inside the Ruby Sanctum as well as what is being referred to as "Operation Gnomeregan". However, the trolls have their own operation underway in trying to take back the Echo Isles from the evil hex master Zalazane. There are lots and lots of spoilers about the quest line and the story behind it. Please note that this is just an assembly of transcripts from all of the sound files put in what appears to be a proper order.

Dere be some dark voodoo inside. Do ye have what it takes?

Continue reading Operation Echo Isles: Transcripts and details

Operation Echo Isles: Transcripts and details originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Cataclysm precursors found in Patch 3.3.3 PTR files

Daniel Whitcomb — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items, Rumors

While we haven't heard much new Cataclysm news lately, the Patch 3.3.3 PTR files have provided some pretty tantalizing hints as to what may be to come, including some new models associated with the Twilight's Hammer cult.

First off, we have a series of portals. These portals are topped by a crystal that looks very similar to the wind stones of Silithus, and in fact, each portal and crystal seems specifically marked to summon a specific element. There's also a bloodstained sacrificial altar and a couple of banners, all of these have a very specific dragon-like motif.

The Twilight's Hammer has already been confirmed to be working with Deathwing in Cataclysm, and since they're an elemental doomsday cult dedicated to bringing about the return of the Old Gods, busting Deathwing out of prison is right up their alley. We should probably expect to see these models in game relatively soon, and probably as part of a plot by the Twilight's Hammer to summon Deathwing back into the world -- a plot which will, of course, eventually succeed.

Stayed tuned for more coverage of Patch 3.3.3 and the Cataclysm opening event as it develops!

Gallery: Cataclysm models and doodads

More Cataclysm precursors found in Patch 3.3.3 PTR files originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raimi tackling another movie before Warcraft

Eliah Hecht — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors, Warcraft Movie

You remember the Warcraft movie, right? A couple weeks ago, we learned that Spiderman 4 had melted down, and director Sam Raimi, and the entire cast, are being swapped out while the Marvel Empire reboots the franchise. The link here is that Mr. Raimi is also the one who's directing the Warcraft film for Legendary Pictures.

The Spiderman fiasco drew rumors that Warcraft was coming that much sooner, since Raimi was now free to work on it. However, news appeared yesterday that his next project is The Shadow, so it looks like we're going to have to be patient a little longer. But hey, we're Blizzard fans, right? We can be patient.

And honestly, I'm still not convinced that a live-action Warcraft movie is a good idea. I mean, I like a lot of Raimi's work, and Legendary Pictures has made some great films, but... I dunno. We'll see.

Raimi tackling another movie before Warcraft originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What we know about the Warcraft movie

Dawn Moore — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Features, BlizzCon, Rumors, Warcraft Movie

Last week, we reported that the Warcraft movie may be on its way. Previously there had been speculation that the film's development would be pushed back, since director Sam Raimi was tied up by problems with Spider-Man 4. Raimi then unexpectedly walked away from Spider-Man 4, citing creative reasons, and it suddenly looked hopeful that he might soon be turning his attention to the Warcraft film.

So now, in preparation for more news on the film, we will be bringing you up to date on what we currently know about the Warcraft movie.

Continue reading What we know about the Warcraft movie

What we know about the Warcraft movie originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Sam Raimi's next project is the Warcraft movie

Adam Holisky — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

According to Ain't It Cool News, Sam Raimi's next project will be the Warcraft movie. This follows on yesterday's announcement that Spider-Man 4 is canceled, and that Raimi is done with the Spider-Man franchise. The Spider-Man movie series is going to undergo a reboot (yes, already) with entirely new cast and crew, which means Raimi is free to work on other projects.

If AICN's sources are correct and Raimi is going to be working on the Warcraft movie next, this is great news for the movie. While it is probably still a few years away from release, the fact that he's focusing on it now is a good indication the project is moving forward in the right direction.

AICN points out that with the success of Avatar the time is ripe for creating immersive virtual worlds, and you'd be hard pressed to find a more immersive world than Warcraft. Although lets all hope that the Warcraft movie doesn't become a cheap rip off of Avatar -- but with Raimi at the helm it's likely in safe hands.

Rumor: Sam Raimi's next project is the Warcraft movie originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spider-Man 4 canceled; Warcraft movie soon?

Dawn Moore — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:39:00 EST

Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Rumors

Sam Raimi will no longer be directing Spider-Man 4, and neither will anyone else for that matter. Sony Pictures announced today that they are canning the current Spider-Man franchise and will be rebooting it in the summer of 2012 with an entirely new director, cast, and crew.

Raimi's decision to withdraw from the project supposedly stems from the summer 2011 release date, and how it would compromise the creative integrity of the film. This all comes after news that complications in the Spider-Man 4 script threatened to delay the film.

For Blizzard fans, this could mean that Raimi is now free to shift his focus to the World of Warcraft movie. However, Mike Fleming of Deadline Hollywood cites an alternative project option to the Azerothian epic, The Given Day, a novel written by Dennis Lehane, author of Shutter Island and Mystic River.

No official announcements from Raimi or Blizzard yet, however Fleming is a very reliable source for rumors in Hollywood.

[Thanks to everyone for the tips!]

Spider-Man 4 canceled; Warcraft movie soon? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard's comments on the in-game Cataclysm earthquakes

Adam Holisky — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items, Rumors, Cataclysm

Blue posters in the official forums have started leaving comments about the earthquakes happening in-game, which as we reported the other day, appear to be linked to in-game mobs that are potentially ushering in the beginning of the Cataclysm world event.

The comments are somewhat cryptic, but that is par for the course with Blizzard. They like to tease -- to hold the carrot in front of you and make you run for it. But the evidence we presented Monday was pretty solid, and it's gained even more traction in the community and around the net; so this is an interesting follow up to it all.

The comments thus far after the break.

Continue reading Blizzard's comments on the in-game Cataclysm earthquakes

Blizzard's comments on the in-game Cataclysm earthquakes originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A chat with Check Six, WoW Arena team

Mike Schramm — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Odds and ends, Interviews, Arena, Rumors

The ~~official~~ Microsoft Sync blog (apparently the blog isn't official -- they fooled me) has posted a video interview (which you can see above) with Check Six, one of the high level World of Warcraft Arena teams showing up in tournaments lately. The video is somewhat tame, but that actually works in its favor -- this high-level Arena play can be complicated and hard to follow, and so simplifying it a little bit actually makes it more palatable. You high level Arena players won't get to hear their opinions on the latest builds or balance tweaks, unfortunately (for that, you can check out our Coliseum column), but the rest of us can at least put some faces to one of these team names floating around, and hear a little bit more about how these guys run these tournaments.

They've been playing together for about two or three months, and they practice quite a bit: together, they do about ten or twelve hours a week, but I'd assume they play outside of the team as well. They say that WoW has a pretty "easy skill cap to reach," but after that, it's a matter of getting the right team members together, because they say teamwork is more important in Arenas than even a game like Counter-Strike ("CS"). And they kind of surprised me with how young they are -- it's a big deal to go running around the world and playing in tournaments when you're probably dealing with school and an early career at the same time. It's not the most well produced Arena interview you'll ever see, but I liked the frank look at the guys and what they're like away from their computers.

A chat with Check Six, WoW Arena team originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft: The Magazine needs a new Editor-in-chief

Mike Schramm — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Virtual selves, Blizzard, Economy, Rumors

A few of our readers (thanks, guys!) spotted this posting popping up on the various job boards recently -- Future US, the company publishing the World of Warcraft magazine that's due out any day now, is apparently seeking a new Editor-in-Chief. Say what? They haven't even released the first issue yet, and they're already seeking a new head honcho? We did a little poking around, and it's true -- Dan Amrich, the man who originally held the position, has moved off already to another gig with Activision (though it seems coincidental that he's going to work for Blizzard's parent company), and Future is stuck seeking a new EIC even before issue one releases.

Does this mean the magazine is in trouble? True, it can't be good for the captain of a ship to move on just as it's heading out to port, but we've heard everything is still on course -- the first issue of the subscription (that quite a few people have already bought) is under Blizzard's scrutiny right now, and the second issue is well underway. Everything we hear still says they're aiming to release it sometime this month, but obviously if we hear anything else, we'll let you know. In the meantime, if you're in San Francisco, have a few years' publishing experience, and know a whole lot about World of Warcraft, we have this job you might want...

World of Warcraft: The Magazine needs a new Editor-in-chief originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumors of WoW TCG's demise greatly exaggerated

Michael Sacco — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff, News items, Rumors

Rumors have been swirling around the Internet this weekend, reporting that the WoW Trading Card Game was ending this year after the release of the upcoming Scourgewar expansion set due to mishandling of marketing by the Upper Deck team. The rumor apparently started at Rawrcast, where it was attributed to a "reliable source".

Apparently not that reliable! Catching wind of the rumor, Upper Deck responded through its Senior Director, Scott Gaeta, saying that not only was the TCG not "over," but that it was steaming along right on schedule. Said Gaeta:

"Plans for future sets have been moving along as normal and we even announced a good chunk of the 2010 product schedule a week ago. Just recently the Upper Deck team was at Blizzard to discuss plans for 2011 and just today we were at Blizzard to get a sneak peak of Icecrown Citadel, to help in the development of the 2010 Raid Deck and Treasure Packs. We have lots of great plans for 2010 and beyond and look forward to another great year for the WOW TCG. Thanks for your enthusiasm and support! "

Good enough for me. Interneterati who heard the rumor attributed the TCG's purported demise to a myriad of culprits, including Blizzard's new microtransactional Pet Store, Activision grand poobah and laser-precise IP exploiter Bobby Kotick, or even the iron tabletop gaming fist of Magic: The Gathering. Of course, none of those ended up being the case.

Me, I'm glad to see that the TCG isn't going away, but let's start seeing some of those cool vanity loot card items attainable through other means, yeah? And the rocket mount an Engineering item.

Rumors of WoW TCG's demise greatly exaggerated originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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