<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>WOW Insider</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com</link><description>WOW Insider</description><image><url>http://www.wowinsider.com/media/feedlogo.gif</url><title>WOW Insider</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com</link></image><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.</copyright><generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title>Wrath Beta keys sent out to BlizzCon and WWI code holders</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/22/wrath-beta-keys-sent-out-to-blizzcon-and-wwi-code-holders/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/22/wrath-beta-keys-sent-out-to-blizzcon-and-wwi-code-holders/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/22/wrath-beta-keys-sent-out-to-blizzcon-and-wwi-code-holders/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/" rel="tag">Worldwide Invitational</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/07/zach_enter_game_key_beta.jpg" /><br /></div>
Numerous reports are coming in that the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/blizzcon-2007-beta-codes-will-be-used-for-wrath/">Wrath Beta keys</a> are making their way to players now. Attendees of last year's BlizzCon in Anaheim, California, and the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/worldwide-invitational/">Worldwide Invitational</a> in Paris, France, received a card with a code for a "future Blizzard title" as part of their goody bags. Wryxian confirmed <a href="http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=5061876400&amp;pageNo=1&amp;sid=1#0">over at the official forums</a> that the said title was <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em></a> and urged everyone to <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/misc/beta-signup.html">register their codes</a> immediately. Players who do so will be prompted to enter the codes from the cards as well as their e-mail address, as Beta access information is sent through e-mail.<br /><br />Reader Phi mentions that it doesn't matter when the codes were claimed. She registered her code right after BlizzCon last year while her boyfriend registered only yesterday after Blizzard's announcement, and both received their keys today. If you're one of the lucky few who attended either Blizzard event or managed to snag a beta code through other channels like eBay, registering the code should see you receiving invites in the mail. WoW Insider's <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/bloggers/elizabeth-harper/">Elizabeth Harper</a>, who attended both, received two invites to the Beta eight minutes apart from each other. The official e-mail from prompts players to follow the step-by-step instructions over at <a href="https://beta.worldofwarcraft.com/expansion/">Blizzard's official Beta page</a>. Thanks to everyone who tipped this in!<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/22/wrath-beta-keys-sent-out-to-blizzcon-and-wwi-code-holders/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1264293/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/22/wrath-beta-keys-sent-out-to-blizzcon-and-wwi-code-holders/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Beta</category><category>Blizzcon</category><category>Invites</category><category>Keys</category><category>Worldwide-Invitational</category><category>Wrath</category><category>Wrath-Beta</category><category>Wrath-of-the-Lich-King</category><category>Wryxian</category><category>WWI</category><dc:creator>Zach Yonzon</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>World of Warcraft, and lack of it, at E3</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/world-of-warcraft-and-lack-of-it-at-e3/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/world-of-warcraft-and-lack-of-it-at-e3/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/world-of-warcraft-and-lack-of-it-at-e3/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/" rel="tag">Worldwide Invitational</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/07/activisionpresser.jpg"  alt="" />I was lucky enough to go to E3 this year with the Joystiq crew last week, and while I had planned to <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/14/wow-insider-is-at-e3-this-week/">cover some stories about <em>WoW</em></a> for you guys, the biggest story I came back with was: that there was no story.  I didn't hear or see <em>World of Warcraft</em> mentioned once.  When Blizzard said they were <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/02/activision-blizzard-ditches-e3-and-the-esa/">not showing at E3</a>, they meant it -- I didn't even hear a competitor mention their name.<br /><br />There was <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/joystiq-live-at-activisions-non-e3-press-conference/">one mention of Blizzard</a> at the Activision press conference on Tuesday.  Mike Griffith name-dropped Blizzard once just to say the merger had happened, but there was nothing at all about <em>World of Warcraft</em> or any of Blizzard's properties.  And I had planned to try out the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/08/3d-touch-interface-for-wow-due-later-this-year/">Novint Falcon controller with <em>WoW</em></a>.  I did try it out, and it is an interesting, if expensive, PC game controller, but Novint told me they didn't have it working in a form they wanted to show off with <em>World of Warcraft</em> yet.<br /><br />Kind of strange that the biggest game in the world didn't get a single mention at the biggest game show in the world, but then again, it's not that weird when you consider that E3 has scaled way down by magnitudes from past years. Companies aren't as interested in the event when there are many, many other ways to market and show off their games to journalists, and considering that Blizzard has invested heavily in <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/01/the-tuesday-morning-post-post-wwi-edition/">not one</a> but <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/">two giant events</a> of their own this year, it's no wonder they don't want to spend any money at E3.  Shame that we couldn't bring you more <em>WoW</em> coverage from LA last week, but we'll be <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/">back there in October</a>, and there'll be plenty of news to report then.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/world-of-warcraft-and-lack-of-it-at-e3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1262374/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/world-of-warcraft-and-lack-of-it-at-e3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>activision-blizzard</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>companies</category><category>e3</category><category>events</category><category>falcon</category><category>merger</category><category>promotional</category><category>social-conventions</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>BlizzCon 2007 Beta codes will be used for Wrath</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/blizzcon-2007-beta-codes-will-be-used-for-wrath/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/blizzcon-2007-beta-codes-will-be-used-for-wrath/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/blizzcon-2007-beta-codes-will-be-used-for-wrath/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/07/blizzcon2007.jpg" />EU CM Wryxian has good news for everyone who attended BlizzCon last year (or just <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/11/08/how-to-get-a-loot-card-for-yourself/">bought the beta key cards</a> off of eBay): the codes given out last year <a href="http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=5061876400&amp;pageNo=1&amp;sid=1#0">will be used</a> for the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/wrath-beta"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em> beta</a>. Wryx says if you've got a code, <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/misc/beta-signup.html">register it immediately</a>, and then do what everyone else is doing -- wait for the beta email to show up.<br /><br />To tell the truth, I'm a little disappointed. I've got a beta key from BlizzCon, but I've already <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/19/wrath-of-the-lich-king-beta-faq/">signed up for the <em>Wrath </em>beta</a> through the usual channels. Of course, we still don't know how this works -- maybe those with a key will be given access before those who just <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/03/beta-selection-is-random-no-emails-yet/">signed up randomly</a>, but it sure seems like everybody will get in eventually. Which means that even if you didn't get a key at BlizzCon, you'll still get into the beta anyway. I thought that Blizzard would have treated those who came out to their event a little better (and, at the very least, been a lot clearer about how registration for the beta is working -- are they making it up as they go along?).<br /><br />But on the other hand, the open registration just means more people will get into the beta, and I don't have a problem with that -- the more the merrier. As always, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/18/what-blizzard-can-learn-from-the-ghost-wolf-debacle/">the problem with Blizzard is communication</a> -- it's fine if they want to keep which beta these WWI or BlizzCon keys are for a secret, but when the beta registration actually starts, they should make a plan, stick with it, and let all of us would-be beta testers in on what it is.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=5061876400&amp;pageNo=1&amp;sid=1#0>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/blizzcon-2007-beta-codes-will-be-used-for-wrath/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1262347/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/21/blizzcon-2007-beta-codes-will-be-used-for-wrath/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>beta</category><category>blizzard</category><category>communications</category><category>eu</category><category>keys</category><category>opt-in</category><category>registration</category><category>wrath</category><category>wrath-beta</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><category>wryxian</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Video Games Live to release CD</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/11/video-games-live-to-release-cd/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/11/video-games-live-to-release-cd/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/11/video-games-live-to-release-cd/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/fan-stuff/" rel="tag">Fan stuff</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/" rel="tag">Worldwide Invitational</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/07/pack_image.jpg"  alt="" />Record company EMI Classics has announced the release of <a href="http://www.emiclassics.com/releasedetails.php?rid=46083&amp;nobuy=1"><em>Video Games Live Volume One</em></a>, a recording of the famous traveling orchestra (led by friend of WoW Insider <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Tallarico">Tommy Tallarico</a>) that plays videogame music, including that of the <em>Warcraft</em>, <em>Starcraft</em> and <em>Diablo</em> series.  <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/01/wow-moviewatch-video-games-live/">You may have seen the group</a> last year at BlizzCon, this year at WWI, or (likely) this year again at BlizzCon, and they got rave reviews every time they played.<br /><br />The recording was conducted by Tallarico, recorded at Abbey Road, and features the Slovak National Orchestra, <a href="http://www.cefc.org.uk/">The Crouch End Festival Chorus</a>, and "the videogame pianist," <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn2zLTQ0yaI">Martin Leung</a>.  The CD will have eleven tracks (full tracklist after the jump), and will feature music from a slew of terrific videogame soundtracks, including our own <em>Warcraft</em> series (and<span style="font-style: italic;"> Civ IV</span>, which is probably the best music I've ever heard in a videogame, ever).  EMI plans to release the CD in America on July 24th, and in Europe and the rest of the world on August 20th.  It should be available for digital download right now in the UK, and an iTunes exclusive release will be available on the 20th.<br /><br />Sounds like an amazing recording -- fans of Video Games Live will certainly enjoy it.  You can see the full tracklist below.<p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/11/video-games-live-to-release-cd/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Video Games Live to release CD</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.emiclassics.com/releasedetails.php?rid=46083&amp;nobuy=1>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/11/video-games-live-to-release-cd/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1252931/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/11/video-games-live-to-release-cd/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>blizzcon</category><category>civ-iv</category><category>emi</category><category>emi-classics</category><category>halo</category><category>itunes</category><category>music</category><category>tommy-tallarico</category><category>tweet-this</category><category>video-games-live</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wwi</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>BlizzCon tickets still not on sale</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/09/blizzcon-tickets-still-not-on-sale/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/09/blizzcon-tickets-still-not-on-sale/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/09/blizzcon-tickets-still-not-on-sale/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a></p><p><a href="http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=7736887918&amp;pageNo=1&amp;sid=1#7" style=""><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/07/danielw_blizzconlogo.jpg" /></a>With the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/">Worldwide Invitational</a> fast fading into memory, everyone's thoughts are starting to turn in earnest to the upcoming <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/">BlizzCon 2008</a>, happening October 10th and 11th in Anaheim. One of the number one questions: <a href="http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=7736887918&amp;sid=1">Where can I get tickets?</a> So far, <a href="http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=7736887918&amp;pageNo=1&amp;sid=1#7">Netheara can only tell us</a> that they'll let us know, but there's no ETA as of yet. </p>
<p>Still, if we're looking at last year's BlizzCon, Blizzard actually has another month before they need to put tickets out to keep pace. In 2007, BlizzCon was held during the first week of August, and tickets went on sale <a href="http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=109913461">June 12th</a>. That means there was a little under 2 months between the time the first tickets went on sale and the time the event happened. If they follow the same basic timeline this year, we can expect tickets sometime in mid-August. </p>
<p>Then again, tickets for the Worldwide Invitational Paris <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/20/blizzard-worldwide-invitational-2008-tickets-on-sale-today/">went on sale on March 20th</a>, around 3 months before the Invitational itself. In that case, Blizzard would need to start selling tickets within the next few days to keep pace. In that case, perhaps it's a bit futile to try to predict the exact date that we can expect BlizzCon ticket sales. <br /><br />Either way, keep your browser tuned here, we'll be sure to let you know the minute tickets are available. </p>
<p> </p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=7736887918&amp;pageNo=1&amp;sid=1#7>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/09/blizzcon-tickets-still-not-on-sale/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1250628/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/07/09/blizzcon-tickets-still-not-on-sale/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>anaheim</category><category>blizzcon-2008</category><category>blizzcon2008</category><category>nethaera</category><category>october</category><category>ticket-sales</category><category>tickets</category><dc:creator>Daniel Whitcomb</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>WoW Rookie: What's the buzz?</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wow-rookie-whats-the-buzz/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wow-rookie-whats-the-buzz/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wow-rookie-whats-the-buzz/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-rookie/" rel="tag">WoW Rookie</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/rumors/" rel="tag">Rumors</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/" rel="tag">Worldwide Invitational</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/md-buzz.jpg" alt="" />WoW Rookie is brought to our readers to help our newest players get acclimated to the game. Make sure you <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tips/">send a note</a> to WoW Insider if you have suggestions for what new players need to know.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This has been an exciting week for <em style="">World of Warcraft</em> news and rumors.<span style=""> </span>Blizzard has been hosting two major events Blizzcon and the World Wide Invitational.<span style=""> </span>These events are a hotbed of information about <em style="">WoW</em> and other Blizzard Entertainment games.<span style=""> </span>Here at WoW Insider we work hard to keep you on top of all of the latest developments in our beloved game.<span style=""> </span>I'm sure you were aware, but this past weekend saw <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/">Blizzard's World Wide Invitational in Paris, France</a>.<span style=""> </span>Let's take a look at the kinds of information that we receive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We did not get the piece of information that I was most hoping for: A<a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/09/forum-post-of-the-day-wrath-release-dates/"> release date for <em style="">Wrath of the Lich King</em></a>.<span style=""> </span>Not even a beta date.<span style=""> </span>Now there are a number of websites that have pre-order dates for Wrath, but none of them can be trusted as an actual estimation.<span style=""> </span>We will get our new expansion "when it's ready."<span style=""> </span>Blizzard is the only trustworthy source of this information.<span style=""> </span>We will get that bit of information out as soon as it's available from the source.</p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wow-rookie-whats-the-buzz/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>WoW Rookie: What's the buzz?</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wow-rookie-whats-the-buzz/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1241529/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wow-rookie-whats-the-buzz/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>death-knights</category><category>information</category><category>leak</category><category>official-foum</category><category>release-date</category><category>rumor-mill</category><category>tidbits</category><category>wrath</category><category>wwi</category><category>wwi-paris</category><category>wwi08</category><category>wwi2008</category><category>wwii</category><dc:creator>Amanda Dean</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Where's the Wrath cinematic?</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wheres-the-wrath-cinematic/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wheres-the-wrath-cinematic/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wheres-the-wrath-cinematic/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/burning-crusade/" rel="tag">Burning Crusade</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/npcs/" rel="tag">NPCs</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/" rel="tag">Worldwide Invitational</a></p><img align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/03/danielw_arthasmovietrailer.jpg" alt="" />So it's Monday now, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/">the Worldwide Invitational</a> in Paris is officially over, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/28/blizzard-unveils-diablo-3/"><em>Diablo 3</em> has been announced</a> and we've got tons of new info about <em><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king">Wrath of the Lich King</a></em> -- but where's the cinematic?  We know <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/11/16/cinematic-for-wrath-still-to-come-in-case-you-were-worried/">the <em>Wrath</em> cinematic</a> is coming, but there was no sign of it at all at the WWI.<br /><br />Then again, if you look at the timeframes, it's still a little soon -- the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/10/blizzard-cinematic-artists-nominated-for-ves-awards/">acclaimed</a> <em>Burning Crusade</em> cinematic actually dropped on <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/12/14/wow-moviewatch-the-burning-crusade-opening-cinematic/">the Spike Videogame Awards</a> in December of 2006 (just a month before BC was actually released in January of 2007), so since there's still some time until the <em>Wrath</em> release, there will still be some time until the cine shows.<br /><br />In fact, it's looking more and more like <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon">BlizzCon 2008</a> might be the place to see it.  With a rumored release date of sometime in November, Blizzard's big convention in October would probably be the perfect place to show off the next, undoubtedly beautiful chapter in the fall (and <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/19/predicting-the-wotlk-cinematic/">maybe even redemption?</a>) of Arthas Menethil.  Plus maybe they'll put a Gnome in there this time around.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wheres-the-wrath-cinematic/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1241327/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/30/wheres-the-wrath-cinematic/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>arthas</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>cinematic</category><category>convention</category><category>premiere</category><category>spike</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Blizzard's splash screen changes for June 26th</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/26/splash-screen-changes-for-june-26th/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/26/splash-screen-changes-for-june-26th/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/26/splash-screen-changes-for-june-26th/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/rumors/" rel="tag">Rumors</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/" rel="tag">Worldwide Invitational</a></p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/884129/"><img alt="Is that a face I see in this ice? " hspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/ice4225.jpg" align="right" vspace="4" border="1" /></a>The saga of <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/24/blizzards-icy-splash-screen-changes-as-diablo-3-and-wotlk-specu/">the icy splash screen</a> continues, as <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/884129/">the newest splash screen</a> has just gone live on <a href="http://www.blizzard.com/us/splash.html">Blizzard's sites</a> under the file name ice4.jpg. This time, the ice has cracked away even further, revealing more of the night sky, and what looks to be a face coalescing from the ice flecks and vapor in the middle of the picture. The identity of the face isn't clear, although <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/bloggers/alex-ziebart/">Alex</a> thinks it may be a <a href="http://www.battle.net/scc/protoss/units/archon.shtml">Protoss Archon</a>. We've also received <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/884156/">this very intriguing picture</a> from tipster Pact, which shows the face overlaid with a picture of Diablo from the <em>Diablo 2</em> box. Of course, it's worth noting that it could simply be <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/">Arthas' eyes</a> as well, peering out from his helmet. <br /></p>
<p>As expected, a new rune has appeared as well, bringing the tally to four. This rune, located to the lower right of the cracking ice, looks like nothing so much as a miniature solar system model -- perhaps related to <a href="http://www.starcraft2.com/images/artwork/ss78.jpg">this model seen during April Fool's</a>? <a href="http://diablofans.com/">Diablofans.com</a> has suggested it may be a top-down view of an <a href="http://www.battle.net/war3/images/human/units/units-arcanesanctum.gif">Arcane Sanctum</a> from <em>Warcraft 3</em> and <em>WoW</em> (You can see one at the <a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Sanctum_of_the_Stars">Scryer's base in Shadowmoon</a>) as well. <br /></p>
<p>As also expected, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/884130/">a new piece of the strange purple monster</a> has appeared as well. It appears to be the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/884128/">hindquarters of the beast.</a> So far, I'm still sticking to my belief that it's some sort of purple penguin. This file was named 16.jpg, which, if we follow the alphabet conversion method we've been using for previous pieces, gives us the letter "P." "Powd" is the best I can get out of that. Does that mean this picture is that of a new mascot named "Powder the penguin"? As usual, you can see all of these graphics in our <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/">splash screen speculation gallery</a>, which is constantly being updated with new speculation and analysis as <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/wwi08/">the WWI draws nearer</a>. </p>
<p><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/">June 2008 splash screen speculation</a></strong></p><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/879399/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/ice1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="The first splash screen" title="The first splash screen" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/879400/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/ice2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="The second splash screen" title="The second splash screen" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/879395/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="04.jpg -- the first piece of the puzzle" title="04.jpg -- the first piece of the puzzle" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/879396/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/15_thumbnail.jpg" alt="15.jpg -- the second puzzle piece. " title="15.jpg -- the second puzzle piece. " /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/june-2008-splash-screen-speculation/879409/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/diablo3le2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Does this picture hide some Hell? " title="Does this picture hide some Hell? " /></a></div></p>
<p>There's more analysis to come after the break.</p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/26/splash-screen-changes-for-june-26th/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Blizzard's splash screen changes for June 26th</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/26/splash-screen-changes-for-june-26th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1237059/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/26/splash-screen-changes-for-june-26th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>16</category><category>16.jpg</category><category>akilae</category><category>art</category><category>battle.net</category><category>blizzard-splash-screen</category><category>cold</category><category>css</category><category>d</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>diabloii.net</category><category>dpow</category><category>hel</category><category>ice4</category><category>ice4.jpg</category><category>ice5</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>master-css-file</category><category>o</category><category>p</category><category>paris-gdc</category><category>penguin</category><category>powd</category><category>powder</category><category>powder-the-penguin</category><category>protoss</category><category>rob-pardo</category><category>runes</category><category>shael</category><category>splash</category><category>splash-screen</category><category>starcraft-2</category><category>tweet-this</category><category>w</category><category>worldwide-invitational</category><category>wwi</category><category>wwi08</category><dc:creator>Daniel Whitcomb</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:55:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Leaked WWI schedule hints at Diablo 3 announcement?</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/23/leaked-wwi-schedule-hints-at-diablo-3-announcement/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/23/leaked-wwi-schedule-hints-at-diablo-3-announcement/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/23/leaked-wwi-schedule-hints-at-diablo-3-announcement/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/rumors/" rel="tag">Rumors</a></p><div align="center"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/02/zz7cbde091.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
<a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/23/more-signs-of-cold-on-official-sites/">Ice on the official site</a> or otherwise, I'm still holding out hope that we'll see <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/01/diablo3-com-acquired-by-blizzard/">a <em>Diablo</em>-related announcement</a> at WWI (and not a <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em></a> beta/release announcement, as many are guessing).  And here's a little more fuel for the speculation fire: DiabloII.net says they've <a href="http://www.diabloii.net/n/666591/wwi-schedule-a-new-game-announced">received the official schedule</a> for the event in Paris this coming weekend, and right after the main presentation, they say that Blizzard has planned a press conference. And basically, their argument is that you don't plan a press conference to announce an open beta of an expansion we've known about for almost a year -- you hold a press conference for a new <em>Diablo</em> game.<br /><br />We should also note, though people have noticed this before, that Sunday, June 29th, is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diablo_II">the eighth anniversary of the release of <em>Diablo II</em></a>, so this weekend has a lot of hack-and-slash-related significance as is.  Of course, we won't know until WWI actually kicks off in Paris on Saturday -- WoW Insider will, of course, have correspondents on the scene to let you know exactly what Blizzard announces when they do.<br /><br />And even if we don't get <em>D3</em> this weekend, there's always <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/">BlizzCon</a>.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://blizzplanet.com/news/2458/">Blizzplanet</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.diabloii.net/n/666591/wwi-schedule-a-new-game-announced>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/23/leaked-wwi-schedule-hints-at-diablo-3-announcement/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1234273/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/23/leaked-wwi-schedule-hints-at-diablo-3-announcement/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>announcement</category><category>blizzard</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diabloii.net</category><category>rumors</category><category>schedule</category><category>speculation</category><category>starcraft</category><category>worldwide-invitational</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><category>wwi</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Worldwide Invitational 2008 contest signups begin</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/10/worldwide-invitational-2008-contest-signups-begin/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/10/worldwide-invitational-2008-contest-signups-begin/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/10/worldwide-invitational-2008-contest-signups-begin/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/fan-stuff/" rel="tag">Fan stuff</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/worldwide-invitational/" rel="tag">Worldwide Invitational</a></p><center><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/06/danielw_wwi081.jpg" alt="http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/contest.xml" /></center>
<p>The date of the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/wwi08/">World Wide Invitational</a> in Paris creeps ever closer and closer. Of course, the biggest thing we're looking forward to is all the new <em>WotLK </em>information courtesy of the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/11/wwi-2008-announced-no-wrath-before-july/">playable <em>WotLK</em> demos</a> and <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/22/blizzard-worldwide-invitational-now-featuring-live-qanda-panels-w/">Developer panels</a>, but the <a href="http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/contest.xml">contests</a> should be pretty fun too. If you're planning to enter one of them, the signups are beginning. </p>
<p>Submissions for the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/17/blizzard-eu-announces-wwi08-fan-art-contest/">fan art</a> and <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/14/wwi08-machinima-contest/">machinima</a> contests are being accepted <a href="http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/contest.xml">via web form</a> from now until June 17th, so that leaves you a little under one more week to finalize your submission. As for the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/24/worldwide-invitiational-now-with-dancing/">dance</a> and <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/21/wwi-costume-contest-announced/">costume</a> contests, registration will be open from June 16th to June 20th. </p>
<p>Remember, some of the contests are only open to certain European countries, so check the rules to make sure you're eligible -- and remember, if you're not, you may be eligible for the contests at <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/">Blizzcon 2008</a> instead. Good luck with your entries, and we'll see you in <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/23/le-map-du-blizzard/">Paris</a>! </p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/contest.xml>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/10/worldwide-invitational-2008-contest-signups-begin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1221420/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/06/10/worldwide-invitational-2008-contest-signups-begin/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>2008</category><category>blizzard-worldwide-invitational-2008</category><category>blizzcon-2008</category><category>contest</category><category>contests</category><category>costume</category><category>dancing</category><category>developer-panels</category><category>europe</category><category>fan-art</category><category>machinima</category><category>paris</category><category>playable-wotlk</category><category>worldwide-invitational</category><category>worldwide-invitational-2008</category><category>wotlk</category><category>wotlk-demo</category><category>wwi</category><category>wwi08</category><dc:creator>Daniel Whitcomb</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>L70ETC, Video Games Live will both perform at WWI</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/28/l70etc-video-games-live-will-both-perform-at-wwi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/28/l70etc-video-games-live-will-both-perform-at-wwi/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/28/l70etc-video-games-live-will-both-perform-at-wwi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/machinima/" rel="tag">Machinima</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/fan-stuff/" rel="tag">Fan stuff</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/05/70etctec.jpg"  alt="" />Just in case you were worried about whether or not you'd see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe6Yt1-PMbk">Level 70 Elite Tauren Chieftain</a> live at Blizzard's upcoming <a href="http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/">Worldwide Invitational event</a> in Paris, worry no more -- they'll be there.  Both L70ETC and the <a href="http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?s=home">Video Games Live</a> orchestra <a href="http://www.blizzard.co.uk/press/080528.shtml">will be performing</a> at WWI, just as they did <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/06/l70etc-live-at-blizzcon/">last year at BlizzCon '07</a>.<br /><br />Should be a great show on both counts.  Does make us wonder, though, what Blizzard is planning for BlizzCon this year -- a repeat of last year's performance would be nice and all (and we have no doubt that no matter who else plays, L70ETC will definitely have to be there, considering that they're made up of Blizzard employees), but maybe we'll get some new blood in the mix?  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Wy7gRGgeA">Jonathan Coulton</a> is definitely a name that springs to mind -- even if he's not specifically a Blizzard guy, his music is very familiar to <em>WoW</em> fans of all levels.<br /><br />Who else could they hire?  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STLj4ln6sGM">Nyhm</a>?  <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/20/interview-with-felicia-day-from-the-guild/">Felicia Day</a> to host?  As fun as Jay Mohr was, seems like after all the taunting last time, he just might be trouble to get again -- Blizzard might as well choose someone that <em>WoW</em> fans want to see.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.blizzard.co.uk/press/080528.shtml>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/28/l70etc-video-games-live-will-both-perform-at-wwi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1208084/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/28/l70etc-video-games-live-will-both-perform-at-wwi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>concert</category><category>felicia-day</category><category>jonathan-coulton</category><category>L70ETC</category><category>nyhm</category><category>performance</category><category>video-games-live</category><category>worldwide-invitational</category><category>wwi</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>What will we find at BlizzCon?</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/16/what-will-we-find-at-blizzcon/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/16/what-will-we-find-at-blizzcon/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/16/what-will-we-find-at-blizzcon/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/odds-and-ends/" rel="tag">Odds and ends</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a></p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/05/img_4588.jpg" />BlizzCon was announced</a> on Monday, and ever since, there's been a question bouncing around the back of my mind: just what is it for? Blizzard doesn't just host an event because they love us or because they feel like it -- they host events to release news. WWI last year was where <em>Starcraft II</em> was announced, and <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em></a> got announced at the previous BlizzCon.<br /><br />We do know that we're expecting <em>Wrath</em> <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/14/vivendi-earning-statement-hints-wotlk-to-be-released-in-second-h/">in "the second half" of the year</a>, and whatever we see at BlizzCon could depend on when that releases. If <em>Wrath</em> appears in August (before BlizzCon in October), we might be seeing the announcement of <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/01/22/breakfast-topic-the-next-expansion/">the next expansion</a> (probably the Maelstrom or the Emerald Dream, or both) in Anaheim: Blizzard has said that they want to release them faster, and there'd be no time like BlizzCon to get an announcement out. If <em>Wrath</em> doesn't show up until November or December, though, Blizzard could use their convention to announce brand new features we haven't heard about yet -- maybe <a href="http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=6440916743&amp;sid=1">another Hero class</a>?<br /><br />Of course, we could be grinding the wrong quest mobs entirely -- remember that BlizzCon is about Blizzard, not just <em>World of Warcraft</em>, so anything they announce might have nothing at all to do with their MMO. <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/01/diablo3-com-acquired-by-blizzard/"><em>Diablo 3</em></a>, anyone? Or maybe they do just want to hang out with their fans and get some good press before the big release. We won't know for sure until they open the doors at the convention center in October.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=6440916743&amp;sid=1>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/16/what-will-we-find-at-blizzcon/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1197008/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/16/what-will-we-find-at-blizzcon/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>announcement</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>emerald-dream</category><category>expansion</category><category>hero-class</category><category>maelstrom</category><category>speculation</category><category>tweet-this</category><category>wrath</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2008 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Breakfast Topic: Convention chaos</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/14/breakfast-topic-convention-chaos/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/14/breakfast-topic-convention-chaos/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/14/breakfast-topic-convention-chaos/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/fan-stuff/" rel="tag">Fan stuff</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-social-conventions/" rel="tag">WoW Social Conventions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/breakfast-topics/" rel="tag">Breakfast topics</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/05/1008148300_a79dc6dad0.jpg"  alt="" />We are just about to hit full steam on the convention season, and Blizzard isn't taking any time off this year.  Not only did we hear about <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/">BlizzCon on Monday</a>, but we already knew that <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/11/wwi-2008-announced-no-wrath-before-july/">WWI was going to happen in Paris</a>, and then learned that Rob Pardo would be <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/13/rob-pardo-to-keynote-at-the-paris-game-developers-conference/">visiting the Paris GDC</a>.  And while Blizzard may not be officially a presence at other cons this summer, their presence is going to be felt for sure -- <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/08/29/wow-at-pax-or-lack-thereof/">PAX</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/08/11/cms-caught-at-gencon/">GenCon</a>, or <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/13/wow-insider-coming-to-dragon-con/">DragonCon</a>, whereever there are gamers together, there is WoW.<br /> <br /> So where are you going to be?  Planning on visiting any cons this year?  I won't say it's hassle-free -- the crowds, lines, and just plain costs of these things tend to make me avoid them, especially right after I've been to visit one.  But then again, every year around this time I start to get excited about maybe going to them again, and while I have no idea what my plans are right now, I can tell you for sure that WoW Insider will have a presence at all kinds of conventions this year.<br /> <br /> What about you?<br /><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/14/breakfast-topic-convention-chaos/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1194953/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/14/breakfast-topic-convention-chaos/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>conventions</category><category>dragoncon</category><category>events</category><category>gamers</category><category>gencon</category><category>social</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Blizzard announces BlizzCon 2008!</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080512005917/en"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/05/welovedeathknights.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Ah, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/10/everything-about-blizzcon-from-wow-insider/">BlizzCon 2007</a>! So many fond memories! We had the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em></a> announcement, developers answering all of our questions, the latest on the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/04/liveblogging-the-blizzcon-movie-panel/"><em>World of Warcraft </em>movie</a>, and (of course) <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/06/l70etc-live-at-blizzcon/">L70ETC</a>! While there doesn't seem to be anything yet on <a href="http://www.blizzard.com/us/">Blizzard's website</a> announcing a BlizzCon 2008, Buisiness Wire has a press release <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080512005917/en">announcing BlizzCon 2008</a> taking place on October 10th and 11th in good old Anaheim California. We've contacted Blizzard to confirm, but in the meantime we're clearing out calendar and making travel arrangements. We hope to see all of you at BlizzCon!<br /><em><br />EDIT: <a href="http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/080512.html">Official announcement</a> released.</em><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/blizzcon-exhibit-hall-first-look/">BlizzCon Exhibit Hall First Look</a></strong></p><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/blizzcon-exhibit-hall-first-look/337250/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/img_1507_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/blizzcon-exhibit-hall-first-look/337249/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/img_1479_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/blizzcon-exhibit-hall-first-look/337248/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/img_1485_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/blizzcon-exhibit-hall-first-look/337245/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/img_1483_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/blizzcon-exhibit-hall-first-look/337244/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/img_1499_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/more-pictures-from-blizzcon/">More Pictures from BlizzCon</a></strong></p><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/more-pictures-from-blizzcon/348996/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/tcg02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/more-pictures-from-blizzcon/348992/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/wow_boardgame01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/more-pictures-from-blizzcon/348991/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/wotlk_demo_stations02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/more-pictures-from-blizzcon/348990/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/wotlk_demo_stations04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/more-pictures-from-blizzcon/348989/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/08/wotlk_demo_stations05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080512005917/en>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1192988/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/12/well-see-you-at-blizzcon-2008/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>blizzcon-2008</category><category>blizzcon08</category><category>tweet-this</category><category>wrath</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><dc:creator>Elizabeth Harper</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 11:55:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Breakfast Topic: How to make WoW work on the silver screen</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/07/breakfast-topic-wow-on-the-silver-screen/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/07/breakfast-topic-wow-on-the-silver-screen/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/07/breakfast-topic-wow-on-the-silver-screen/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/fan-stuff/" rel="tag">Fan stuff</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/back-in-the-day/" rel="tag">Back In The Day</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/05/md-projector.jpg" />I'm really enjoying the Heroes coming in this summer's movie lineup.<span style=""> </span>I absolutely loved Iron Man, I'm stoked about Indiana Jones and the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367882/">Kingdom of the Crystal Skull</a>, and I can't wait <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000288/">Christian Bale's</a> encore Batman performance in <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/">The Dark Knight</a>.</em><span style=""> </span>There's been noise since Blizzcon 2007 that there will be a <em style=""><a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Warcraft_movie">World of Warcraft<span style="font-style: normal;"> movie</span></a></em>.<span style=""> </span>The synopsis on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0803096/">IMDB reads</a>:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em style="">Thrall will be in the movie. It will be told primarily from the Alliance point of view The time of the movie is set about 1 year before World of Warcraft begins. The film is mainly about cultures in conflict. It won't be an adventure movie like LoTR, more of a war film.<o:p></o:p></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But it has little other information about what may be included.<span style=""> </span>One thing we know for sure is that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0093051/">Uwe Boll</a> (of <em style=""><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383222/">BloodRayne</a> </em>infamy) will <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/04/21/blizzard-to-boll-thanks-but-no-thanks/">not be receiving the movie rights</a>. I expect any <em style="">WoW</em> movie to be as abhorrently bad as the as the campy but quaint <em style=""><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190374/">Dungeons and Dragons</a></em> film of 2000.<span style=""> </span>To be successful, a <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place> movie would need to appeal to a larger audience than <em style="">WoW</em> fans.</p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/07/breakfast-topic-wow-on-the-silver-screen/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Breakfast Topic: How to make WoW work on the silver screen</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/07/breakfast-topic-wow-on-the-silver-screen/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1188579/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/07/breakfast-topic-wow-on-the-silver-screen/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>film</category><category>movie</category><category>samuel-l-jackson</category><category>summe-movies</category><category>thrall</category><category>tweet-this</category><category>warcraft-move</category><category>world-of-warcraft-movie</category><category>wow-movie</category><dc:creator>Amanda Dean</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>WoW, Casually: Welfare epics</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/27/wow-casually-welfare-epics/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/27/wow-casually-welfare-epics/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/27/wow-casually-welfare-epics/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-casually/" rel="tag">(Casual) WoW, Casually</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/battlegrounds/" rel="tag">Battlegrounds</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/events/calendar/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/03/wow-casually-mar-28-rlt.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div align="left"><em>Each week, Robin Torres writes <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-casually/">WoW, Casually</a> for the player who has 2 hours or less to play at a time.<br /><br /></em>Almost every column, I talk about <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/Welfare-Epics/">Welfare Epics</a> since they are specifically designed for casuals to get their purplez on and I just assume that you all know what I'm talking about. But Dave recently sent in a question asking what they are and I realized that if I didn't write for <em>WoW</em> Insider, I probably wouldn't know either.<br /><br />Though some people say they heard the phrase before this, the first time I heard it was at <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/BlizzCon/">BlizzCon</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Kaplan">Jeff Kaplan</a>, aka Tigole, started off the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/03/liveblogging-blizzcons-dungeons-and-raids-panel/">Dungeons and Raids panel</a> by saying that the panel wasn't for people with their Welfare Epics, but for people who actually earn them. Now, I think he was partially just being funny, but I also think he was speaking up for the Raiders who are upset that all of the work they put into conquering the PvE endgame content is for naught when any casual player can pick up purples that are equal to or better than gear that drops off endgame bosses.<br /></div>
</div><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/27/wow-casually-welfare-epics/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>WoW, Casually: Welfare epics</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/27/wow-casually-welfare-epics/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1145679/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/03/27/wow-casually-welfare-epics/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>arathi-basin</category><category>arena-season-1</category><category>arena-season-4</category><category>casual</category><category>featured</category><category>tigole</category><category>welfare-epics</category><category>wow-casually</category><dc:creator>Robin Torres</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Arcane Brilliance: A squishy year in review</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/16/arcane-brilliance-a-squishy-year-in-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/16/arcane-brilliance-a-squishy-year-in-review/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/16/arcane-brilliance-a-squishy-year-in-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/undead/" rel="tag">Undead</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/mage/" rel="tag">Mage</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/events/" rel="tag">Events</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/burning-crusade/" rel="tag">Burning Crusade</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/arcane-brilliance/" rel="tag">(Mage) Arcane Brilliance</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/inscription/" rel="tag">Inscription</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/arena/" rel="tag">Arena</a></p><p> </p>
<p><em></em></p>
<p align="center"><em><img alt="" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/02/wowscrnshot_021508_212454.jpg" vspace="4" border="1" /></em></p>
<p><em>With so much to look forward to in </em><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/patch-2.4/"><u><font color="#0000ff"><em>patch 2.4</em></font></u></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/"><u><font color="#0000ff"><em>WotLK</em></font></u></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/arcane-brilliance/"><u><font color="#0000ff"><em>Arcane Brilliance</em></font></u></a><em> would like to take one last look back at the road behind, mostly to see if there's a </em><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/rogue/"><u><font color="#0000ff"><em>Rogue</em></font></u></a><em> back there waiting to stab us. It's a little late, perhaps, but here's a look at the year that was, from a </em><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/mage/"><u><font color="#0000ff"><em>Mage's</em></font></u></a><em> perspective.</em></p>
<p>2007 was a splendid year. Someday, when our children's children are grown, we will bore them with stories of 2007, and perhaps refer to it as "back in the day," or "the year I dinged 70," or "the year I learned never to mix chili with microwavable burritos in the hopes that their powers will combine to form 'Chilitos,' the perfect food." Here at Arcane Brilliance, we like to think of it as the "Year of the Mage." We also like to think of 2006 as the "Year of the Mage," and frankly we think of 1902 the same way, so take that in whatever way you wish. Basically we like Mages here, and 2007 was a fun year for those well-versed in wizardry. Not everything was magelicious, though. The highlights--and lowlights--after the jump.</p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/16/arcane-brilliance-a-squishy-year-in-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Arcane Brilliance: A squishy year in review</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/14/arcane-brilliance-a-squishy-year-in-review/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/16/arcane-brilliance-a-squishy-year-in-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1115375/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/02/16/arcane-brilliance-a-squishy-year-in-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>arcane</category><category>arcane-brilliance</category><category>Arena</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>burning-crusade</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>fire</category><category>frost</category><category>holidays</category><category>mage</category><category>patch-2.3</category><category>patch-2.4</category><category>PvP</category><category>raid</category><category>spells</category><category>undead</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>WoW</category><category>wrath</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><category>year-in-review</category><dc:creator>Christian Belt</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Jeff Kaplan reveals how to get to Northrend</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/04/pc-zone-interview-details/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/04/pc-zone-interview-details/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/04/pc-zone-interview-details/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a></p><a href="http://www.mmo-champion.com/index.php"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/01/howling_fjord_art.jpg" />MMO Champion</a>'s got the rest of the details on <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/sites/pczone/">that PC Zone</a> interview <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/03/pc-zone-has-wrath-pvp-teaser-info/">we heard about</a> yesterday-- Jeff Kaplan sat down with the French magazine and gave out some new hints about what we'll see up in Northrend in the <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king"><em>Wrath of the Lich King</em></a> expansion.<br />
<ul>
    <li>As we <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/03/liveblogging-the-blizzcon-expansion-demo-panel/">heard at BlizzCon</a>, Northrend isn't all a snow-covered wasteland-- there are forests (including one full of Furbolgs) and other terrain types to find up there.</li>
    <li>We've also heard this before, but it's worth repeating again: Arthas will play a much bigger part in the day-to-day Northrend than Illidan did-- lots of people, both raiders and casuals, will have a chance to "interact" with him.</li>
    <li>Here's something new-- there will be two entry points, and previously we'd assumed that one would be for Horde and another would be for Alliance. But that's not the case-- instead, each of the zones (the Borean Tundra and the Howling Fjord) will have an entry point for each faction. So there will actually be four ways into the expansion.</li>
    <li>Alliance get to choose a battle in the Howling Fjord or a massive stronghold (complete with a brand new faction leader) and a giant steamship</li>
    <li>And Horde either go into the Forsaken's new lands (with new architecture-- <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/03/first-impressions-wrath-of-the-lich-king-and-utgarde-keep/">we saw it at BlizzCon</a>), or into Garrosh Hellscream's (<a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/02/19/know-your-lore-grom-hellscream/">son of Grom</a>) Warsong Fortress.</li>
</ul>
Very exciting. Hearing about four entry points instead of two definitely makes me think that we will be able to avoid the whole <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/01/16/hellfire-peninsula-general-chat-how-i-mine-for-fish/">Hellfire Peninsula lag problem</a> that plagued <em>BC</em>'s release. Keep the WotLK info coming, Blizzard!<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.mmo-champion.com/index.php?topic=3305.0>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/04/pc-zone-interview-details/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1077490/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/04/pc-zone-interview-details/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>alliance</category><category>content</category><category>entry</category><category>expansion</category><category>hellfire-peninsula</category><category>horde</category><category>jeff-kaplan</category><category>northrend</category><category>pc-zone</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Riding around Northrend</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/03/riding-around-northrend/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/03/riding-around-northrend/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/03/riding-around-northrend/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/mounts/" rel="tag">Mounts</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a></p><a href="http://www.gotwarcraft.com/Raid%20Instances/azuregos/azuregos.php"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2008/01/azuregos.jpg"  alt="" /></a>Bornakk plays it super safe on a question of whether there will be new mounts in Northrend (sometimes I think Bornakk is just a script that is programmed to post "There are <a href="http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3773248164&amp;postId=37728687288&amp;sid=1#0">no plans to do that at this time</a>" periodically on the forums), but I can tell you for sure: there will, no doubt, be new mounts found in <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/tag/northrend">Northrend</a>.<br /><br />The question, however, is what they'll be.  We've also heard that Blizzard won't be allowing flying mounts <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/25/blizzard-explains-the-early-wotlk-no-flight-rule/">at least in the early parts of Northrend</a>-- they claim that flying allows players to skip content, and they don't want anyone skipping content.  But we will be able to use them eventually, and considering the steps that Blizzard has taken (in changing <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/09/14/mount-changes-in-1-12-1/">the riding/mount prices</a>), it is almost assured that we'll see a few different mount options come out of Northwind.  We've already <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/03/first-impressions-wrath-of-the-lich-king-and-utgarde-keep/">seen dragons there</a>, and <a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Malygos">the Blue Dragonflight</a> will be there as well, so that points toward another type of dragon (other than Netherdrakes).<br /><br />Of course, there's another type of vehicle we'll be riding around on in Northrend-- <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/03/pc-zone-has-wrath-pvp-teaser-info/#comments">those siege weapons</a>.  It may be that, as Bornakk says, we don't get another riding skill rank to train, but there may be training purchases involved in letting players drive and use siege weapons as well.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=712005518&amp;postId=7119124690&amp;sid=1#0>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/03/riding-around-northrend/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1076632/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/01/03/riding-around-northrend/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>blue-dragonflight</category><category>bornakk</category><category>epic</category><category>flying</category><category>malygos</category><category>mounts</category><category>northrend</category><category>riding</category><category>siege-weapons</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:03:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>WoW Insider's top ten WoW stories of 2007</title><link>http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/12/31/wow-insiders-top-ten-wow-stories-of-2007/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/12/31/wow-insiders-top-ten-wow-stories-of-2007/</guid><comments>http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/12/31/wow-insiders-top-ten-wow-stories-of-2007/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/analysis-opinion/" rel="tag">Analysis / Opinion</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wow-insider-business/" rel="tag">WoW Insider Business</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzard/" rel="tag">Blizzard</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/burning-crusade/" rel="tag">Burning Crusade</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/blizzcon/" rel="tag">BlizzCon</a>, <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/category/wrath-of-the-lich-king/" rel="tag">Wrath of the Lich King</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.wowinsider.com/media/2007/12/screenshot_169.jpg" />We had a gigantic year at WoW Insider-- from January 1st to December 31st, we've posted over 4,500 stories here on this very site, about nearly every facet of the <span style="font-style: italic;">World of Warcraft</span> (and you guys didn't slouch, either-- we had over 150,000 comments on the site in 2007). We've reported on everything from <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/10/15/decorative-wow-soap-bars/">hearthstone soaps</a> to Norweigan mooses, and everything from <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2006/10/03/burning-crusade-arena-pvp/">Arena PvP</a> to <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/11/12/wow-insider-patch-2-3-preview-zulaman/">Zul'Aman</a>. We've posted guides, rumors, insights, jokes, and everything else we could find connected to this game that we all play (<a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/12/13/nonsurprise-wow-was-most-played-pc-game-of-q3/">17 hours a week</a> on average).<br /><br />And seeing as 2007 is just about to end, we figured it would be fun to take a look at the year behind us, and list the top ten stories that we reported on during that time. From comedic to controversial, these ten stories run the gamut, and they also comprise the most important news that happened in the <span style="font-style: italic;">World of Warcraft</span> this year. As a staff, we collected all of the biggest stories of the year, and then rated them from one to ten.<br /><br />So click the link below to finish out this year, and check out WoW Insider's Top Ten WoW Stories of 2007. Before the year ends, let's take a look back at what happened in Azeroth and the culture surrounding it.<p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/12/31/wow-insiders-top-ten-wow-stories-of-2007/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>WoW Insider's top ten WoW stories of 2007</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/12/31/wow-insiders-top-ten-wow-stories-of-2007/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/forward/1073345/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/12/31/wow-insiders-top-ten-wow-stories-of-2007/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>2007-in-review</category><category>2007-year-in-review</category><category>alar</category><category>erp</category><category>ezra</category><category>headless-horseman</category><category>moose</category><category>news</category><category>nihilum</category><category>phoenix-mount</category><category>posts</category><category>roleplaying</category><category>stories</category><category>top-ten</category><category>tseric</category><category>wow-insider</category><dc:creator>Mike Schramm</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>