StarCraft II Newsfeed http://www.starcraft2.com/ The Official Site for StarCraft II en-us Tue, 16 Sept 2008 10:00:00 PST StarCraft2.com http://www.starcraft2.com/images/layout/rsslogo.gif http://www.starcraft2.com/ StarCraft II LEGOs and Cakes 6.26.09 Blizzard Check out a new batch of amazing LEGO recreations of StarCraft II units from Pepa_Quin, featuring the terran Hellion, protoss Zealots, and more. Now that you’ve whetted your appetite for player creations, try imagining how StarCraft II could taste. Surely some zerg delights could be sweet and crunchy if made into a cake? See what some player chefs have been up to with the latest StarCraft II cake creations. StarCraft Comic #2 Sneak Peek 6.24.09 Blizzard The War Pigs' quest to find and assassinate Jim Raynor begins in earnest. But before they can get anywhere fast, they first have to wrest their ship, the General Lee, from the hands of cutthroat pirates. Plus, just who is Cole Hickson? And what dark secrets from his past and present does he harbor? On sale June 24. Check out the preview pages.

If you like what you see, you can visit WildStorm for more information, locate a comic store today, or subscribe to the series directly. New StarCraft II Battle Report Available Now 6.22.09 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/battlereports/3.xml We have just released the third installment of our StarCraft II Battle Reports, a series of videos created for the official website in order to give you a closer look at the fast-paced, intense, and exciting-to-watch multiplayer matches of StarCraft II. In this latest battle report, you'll see two of Blizzard Entertainment's best players go head-to-head as the zerg and protoss while our commentators, StarCraft II lead designer Dustin Browder and eSports team member Robert Simpson, dissect and analyze the on-screen action for you.

Check out Battle Report 3 now!

StarCraft II Q&A Batch 52 6.12.09 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=17779588788&sid=3000 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 52 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Global Creative Writing Winners 6.5.09 Blizzard The first Blizzard Entertainment global creative writing contest has been judged and the winning entries chosen. After poring over nearly 17 million words, our judges have decided on one grand prize winner and seven runners-up. Take a moment to enjoy the ideas and creative stories of all the winning entries.

The grand prize winner will visit the company headquarters to meet and eat with the Blizzard Entertainment creative writing staff, and will receive a Frostmourne sword. The seven runners-up will be sent signed copies of the Diablo Archive, Warcraft Archive, StarCraft Archive, and Warcraft War of the Ancients Archive.

 Second Batch of BlizzCon Tickets Sold Out 5.30.09 Blizzard The second batch of tickets for BlizzCon 2009 has now been sold out. If you weren’t able to get tickets this year, keep in mind that coverage of the gaming festival will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and Internet stream. In the meantime, keep an eye on the BlizzCon website for updates on panels, exhibits, events, and more. We look forward to meeting some of you at the show! BlizzCon Tickets on Sale May 30 at 10 a.m. PDT 5.28.09 Blizzard If you were unable to purchase BlizzCon tickets during the first round of ticket sales, we just wanted to remind you that our second batch of BlizzCon 2009 tickets will be going on sale Saturday, May 30. Ticket sales are again scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, so be sure to visit the ticket sales page then for a chance to get yours.

BlizzCon 2009 will take place August 21 and 22 at the Anaheim Convention Center, and tickets cost $125 each. For those unable to attend the show, in-depth coverage of BlizzCon will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and Internet stream. For more information about the convention and the DIRECTV BlizzCon packages, check out the official BlizzCon site.

 StarCraft Comic #1 Sneak Peek 5.27.09 Blizzard Join the WarPigs, a disbanded team of outlaws reunited by their former captain for one last job: the assassination of Jim Raynor. WildStorm's explosive foray into the world of StarCraft begins with this new ongoing series, on sale now! Check out the preview pages.

If you like what you see, you can visit WildStorm for more information, locate a comic store today, or subscribe to the series directly. StarCraft II Q&A Batch 51 5.27.09 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=17367809543&postId=173662574250&sid=3000#0 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 51 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. StarCraft Comic Contest Winners 5.26.09 Blizzard Congratulations to the winners of May's "Vespene Laughs" Comic Contest -- and thanks to everyone for all of the humorous and creative entries we received.

To enter the current month’s contest, simply create your own original comic based on StarCraft universe, and submit your comic by June 15. The funniest and most creative will win some great prizes, including StarCraft II beta keys for the month’s best comic. Check out the official rules for more information, and keep coming back for more Vespene Laughs!

Media Update 5.26.09 Blizzard We have added a new video showing unit death animations to the Developer's Corner. First Batch of BlizzCon Tickets Sold Out 5.16.09 Frost The initial allotment of tickets for BlizzCon 2009 has now been sold out. If you weren’t able to get tickets this time, you’ll have a second chance on Saturday, May 30, as another batch will go on sale then. Coverage of the gaming festival will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and Internet stream. BlizzCon Tickets on Sale Tomorrow [Updated] 5.15.09 Frost UPDATE: Tickets are scheduled to go on sale specifically at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, Saturday, May 16.

Just in case Saturday, May 16 isn’t circled on your calendar, here’s a quick reminder that BlizzCon tickets will be going on sale tomorrow. After our gnomish engineers here in Southern California get to work and finish making the final preparations late Saturday morning, they’ll activate the ticket-purchase process at 10 a.m. Pacific Time and BlizzCon tickets will officially go on sale. If you are unable to purchase tickets tomorrow, a second batch of tickets will go on sale May 30. And for those unable to attend the show, in-depth coverage of BlizzCon will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and Internet stream.

BlizzCon 2009 will take place August 21 and 22 at the Anaheim Convention Center, and tickets cost $125 each. For further information about the convention, check out the official BlizzCon site, and keep an eye on the ticket sales page tomorrow for the chance to get yours. StarCraft II Beta Test Opt-in 5.6.09 Blizzard The StarCraft II beta-test period is coming in the months ahead! If you'd like a chance to participate, now's the time to let us know. Simply go to the "Beta Profile Settings" page in Battle.net account management to go through the new beta opt-in process and upload a snapshot of your system specs. During this process, you'll also have the opportunity to opt in to future betas for other Blizzard Entertainment games. Please note that even if you've opted in to our betas previously, you'll need to complete this new process and upload your current system specs to have a chance to be invited.

For more information, see the FAQ -- or create a Battle.net account to opt in now. If you have an unused beta code from BlizzCon 2008 or WWI 2008, visit this site to enter your code. BlizzCon Tickets On Sale May 16 5.5.09 Blizzard Tickets to this year's BlizzCon gaming convention, being held on August 21 and 22 in Anaheim, California, will go on sale worldwide on Saturday, May 16 for $125 each, with a second block of tickets going on sale Saturday, May 30. For those unable to attend, DIRECTV will once again be televising BlizzCon in high definition as a Pay Per View event, featuring coverage from the show floor, exclusive interviews, demos, and more. In addition, for the first time, players around the world will be able to watch the DIRECTV BlizzCon event as a Pay Per View Internet stream. Check out the press release for further details, and head over to www.blizzcon.com on May 16 or May 30 to buy your tickets. StarCraft II Fan Site Q&A #3 5.4.09 Blizzard Our third Fan Site Q&A with sc2pod.com is up! Learn more about art updates, details on the Void Ray, and more here. StarCraft Comic Subscription Now Live 5.4.09 Blizzard
The new StarCraft ongoing comic series by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio hit shelves May 27, and to celebrate, www.subscribeDCstarcraft.com has launched, offering twelve-issue subscriptions at nearly eleven dollars off of the cover price.

For more information on the comic series, visit Wildstorm or locate a comic store today.

StarCraft Comic Contest Winners 4.29.09 Blizzard Congratulations to the winners of April's "Vespene Laughs" Comic Contest -- and thanks to everyone for all of the humorous, high-quality entries we received. To enter the current month's contest, simply submit your StarCraft-themed comic by May 15. The funniest and most creative will win some great prizes, including StarCraft II beta keys for the month's best comic. Check out the official rules for more information, and keep coming back for more Vespene Laughs!

New Fan Art 4.22.09 Nebu http://www.blizzard.com/us/inblizz/fanart/ The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with 4 new pieces of StarCraft artwork. New StarCraft II Battle Report Available Now 4.16.09 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/battlereports/2.xml We have just released the second installment of our StarCraft II Battle Reports, a series of videos created for the official website in order to give you a closer look at the fast-paced, intense, and exciting-to-watch multiplayer matches of StarCraft II. In this latest battle report, you'll see two of Blizzard Entertainment's best players go head-to-head as the zerg and terrans while our commentators, StarCraft II lead designer Dustin Browder and eSports team member Robert Simpson, dissect and analyze the on-screen action for you.

Check out Battle Report 2 now!

Blizzard Theme Park Contest Winners 4.13.09 Blizzard For our recent contest, we challenged artists and designers to dream up the ultimate Blizzard Entertainment theme park, complete with the wildest rides and most inventive attractions they could conceive. Big congrats go out to Christina Marie DeLong for her detailed, grand-prize-winning depiction of Blizzard World, featuring such attractions as a terran combat simulator, a Diablo-themed petting zoo, and a thrilling flight around Outland's Netherwing Ledge. Congratulations to our other prize winners too, for designing the best individual StarCraft, Warcraft, or Diablo-themed rides or areas. Check out the winning parks below, along with several creative honorable mentions -- and thanks to everyone who entered!


[Blizzard World 1.2 MB]
[Warcraft 1.1 MB]
[StarCraft 700K]
[Diablo 953K]
April Fools! 4.2.09 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/terran/terratron.xml We hope you enjoyed our April Fools' Day events. If you missed them, check out this year's jokes: The Blizzard Entertainment Joke Team will see you again next year. Just kidding -- we're always around waiting to pounce. StarCraft Comic Contest Winners 3.23.09 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=15859175763&sid=3000 Congratulations to this month's winners of Vespene Laughs, our StarCraft comic contest. After relaunching the contest with StarCraft II beta keys as prizes, we saw a huge influx of comics, and it was hard to choose from among all the quality entries. We'll be picking a new batch of winners every month, so to take part, just send us your creative, funny comics related to the StarCraft universe – the current contest period closes on April 15. For more information on the contest, please check out the official rules.

StarCraft II Q&A Batch 50 3.19.09 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=15859175763&sid=3000 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 50 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Echoes of War: The Music of Blizzard Entertainment Now Available 2.24.09 Nebu http://www.echoes-of-war.com The Eminence Symphony Orchestra has just released Echoes of War: The Music of Blizzard Entertainment, a comprehensive arrangement album of music from Blizzard Entertainment's franchises, including pieces from the unreleased StarCraft II and Diablo III. The album comes on two CDs, and is available in both a standard edition and a special Legendary Edition packed with bonus materials. Visit the official Echoes of War website to hear samples, learn more, and order your copy today. Media Update 2.24.09 Frost We have added two new wallpapers featuring Kerrigan, Zeratul, and Jim Raynor to the downloads section. Blizzard Theme Park Art Contest 2.24.09 Frost hat would you do if you could design the Blizzard Entertainment theme park of your dreams? Here's your chance to show us! We're inviting you to illustrate your own original Blizzard Entertainment theme park, complete with rides and attractions based on the Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft universes. The most creative and fantastic designs will receive prizes including StarCraft II beta keys, a chance to have their entry displayed at BlizzCon 2009, and more. For more information, head to the contest page or read the official rules. Q&A Batch 49 2.18.09 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=15211803043&postId=151628867227&sid=3000#0 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 49 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums.

Win StarCraft II Beta Keys in Our Comic Contest 2.17.09 Blizzard We received tons of funny, creative, and original comics from players all around the world in our original Vespene Laughs contest. This month, we're relaunching the contest with a brand-new prize: two beta keys allowing access to the upcoming StarCraft II beta test.

To enter this month's contest, simply create your own original comic based on StarCraft universe, and send us your entry by March 15. We'll select the most amusing and creative entries to win some cool StarCraft stuff, including StarCraft II beta keys and StarCraft-themed T-shirts, hats, and posters. For more information or to see the complete prize list, check out the official rules.

StarCraft Comic Contest Winners 2.12.09 Blizzard Congratulations to the winners of our monthly StarCraft "Vespene Laughs" Comic Contest! We'd like to thank everyone who participated -- we received many hilarious and creative comics from all around the world, and picking the winners wasn't easy. Check out November's, December's and January's winning entries here.

To enter the monthly comic contest, simply submit your StarCraft-themed entry by the 15th of the month. Check out the official rules for more information – and keep coming back for more Vespene Laughs in the future. StarCraft II Fansite Kit Update 1.27.09 Blizzard We've just released an update to the StarCraft II Fansite kit including new art, new avatars, and much, much more. If you're interested in building your own StarCraft II fansite, look no further! Q&A Batch 48 1.22.09 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=13593921191&sid=3000 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 48 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Vote for Your Favorite StarCraft II Dark Templar 1.7.09 Blizzard The protoss dark templar has always been one of the StarCraft community's favorite units -- now, the community has a chance to participate directly in the dark templar design process for StarCraft II! Over the course of the next month, players will vote to decide which dark templar tribe will be represented in StarCraft II multiplayer matches. Click here to see the options or head to the forums to cast a vote for your favorite.

We have also added one new piece of artwork and four new screenshots. Media Update #2 12.19.08 Blizzard We have added a new wallpaper featuring Kerrigan to the downloads section. We have also added three new screenshots. Introducing StarCraft II Battle Reports 12.18.08 Blizzard In order to give you a closer look at the fast-paced, intense, and exciting-to-watch multiplayer matches of StarCraft II, we're creating a series of videos for the official website. In the first of our StarCraft II Battle Reports, you'll see two of Blizzard Entertainment's best players go head-to-head as the protoss and terrans while our commentators, StarCraft II lead designer Dustin Browder and eSports team member Robert Simpson, dissect and analyze the on-screen action for you.

Check out Battle Report 1 now! StarCraft Comic Contest Winners 12.8.08 Blizzard Congratulations to the winners of our first two monthly StarCraft "Vespene Laughs" Comic Contests for the months of September and October! We'd like to thank everyone who participated -- we received many hilarious and creative comics from all around the world, and picking the winners wasn't easy. Check out September's and October's winning entries here.

To enter the monthly comic contest, simply submit your StarCraft-themed entry by the last day of the month. Check out the official rules for more information -- and keep coming back for more Vespene Laughs in the future. Q&A Batch 47 12.17.08 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=13593921191&sid=3000 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 47 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Media Update 12.8.08 Blizzard We have added three new pieces of artwork and three new screenshots. Wrath of the Lich King Soundtrack on iTunes 11.17.08 Blizzard The Blizzard iTunes page has been updated to include the official World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Soundtrack. The iTunes edition of the soundtrack contains a total of 21 tracks, including three exclusives -- "Path of the Lifewarden," "Shadow Web Caverns," and "Obsidian Sanctum" -- different from the three exclusive tracks found on the Collector's Edition soundtrack CD. Individual tracks are available on iTunes for 99 cents each, or you can buy the entire album at once for $9.99. Click here to check out the soundtrack on iTunes, or head to the Blizzard iTunes page for more information -- and while you're there, check out the other Blizzard musical offerings, including soundtracks to Diablo II, StarCraft, and World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. Q&A Batch 46 11.17.08 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=12662133120&sid=3000 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 46 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Wrath of the Lich King Is Here! 11.12.08 Blizzard For years, the heroes of the Alliance and Horde have fought against the evils in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, against the demons of the Burning Legion in Outland, and against each other -- all the while unaware that a threat more dangerous than any they had yet encountered was preparing to make its move in the icy continent of Northrend. Now the Lich King, Arthas Menethil, has emerged from Icecrown Citadel to claim the world as his own. Heroes of the Alliance and Horde gather in Northrend to make a stand against the malevolent being that dares to declare himself Azeroth's one true king... and seeks to scour all life from the world.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King is now live and available at a store near you -- you can check out the press release here. Featuring a massive new continent, the brand-new death knight Hero class, unique dungeons, an open-world PvP zone with siege vehicles and destructible buildings, and hundreds of brand-new quests, Wrath of the Lich King provides a huge variety of content for solo and group players. The expansion is available in both a standard and Collector's Edition; find out more about the latter in our Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition Preview. To learn more about what awaits you in Northrend, visit our Wrath of the Lich King Features Page and check out the primer to get you started.

During installation of the expansion, you'll be able to upgrade the World of Warcraft account you play to allow access to Wrath of the Lich King. You can click here to upgrade as well. Q&A Batch 45 10.28.08 Nebu http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=12065327279 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 45 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. StarCraft Downloads for Your Phone 10.27.08 Blizzard

The war between the terran, protoss, and zerg continues on a smaller scale with our new StarCraft-themed wallpapers and ringtones for your phone. We've just launched a new service in the United States that lets you download content related to your favorite Blizzard Entertainment games to supported mobile phones. Currently, these wallpapers and ringtones are available through carriers AT&T, Cellular One, Sprint, and Verizon; support for T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile is coming soon.

Over 65 pieces of content are currently available, including wallpapers of the Queen of Blades and other StarCraft characters, game logos, and more. Visit the new Mobile Ringtones and Wallpapers page for more information -- and while you're there, be sure to check out our World of Warcraft and Diablo mobile content, too.

StarCraft II FAQ Update 10.14.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/faq.xml#trilogy

We've updated the StarCraft II FAQ with new information from BlizzCon 2008, including details about the StarCraft II Trilogy and the terran single-player campaign. You can check out the FAQ here or on the official forums.

 Pro Gamer Charity Auction 10.08.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/

In collaboration between TeamLiquid.net and the CJ Entus progaming team in Korea, TeamLiquid will be hosting the first progamer charity auction. They have four CJ Entus shirts, autographed by the titans of StarCraft: Much, Iris, Xellos, and Savior. This is your once in a lifetime chance to own some official progaming wear autographed by your favorite player.

The proceeds of this auction will go to 'Child's Play'. Since 2003, more than 100,000 gamers have raised over 2 million dollars to buy toys and games for children in hospitals around the world. You can help make a difference today.

Check out Teamliquid.net for more information on the auction, and links on where to bid.

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=79902

Warcraft and StarCraft Manga Art Submissions 10.6.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/

Calling all artists!

Are you a Warcraft or StarCraft player? Do you love manga? Ever dream of bringing these rich worlds and wonderful characters to life with the stroke of your pencil? Well, now's your opportunity to show the world your artistic skills and possibly become the artist of an upcoming Warcraft or StarCraft manga.

TOKYOPOP is now accepting and reviewing portfolios from talented individuals interested in becoming the next big manga artist. We're looking for super-talented manga artists who not only know the Warcraft or StarCraft universes, but can handle an intense and very demanding production schedule. Our goal is to deliver truly awesome manga, and to achieve this we need artists who can give readers an exciting and authentic Warcraft or StarCraft manga experience.

We require that all portfolios have 5-8 sequential samples (preferably featuring Warcraft or StarCraft characters), as well as 5-8 character sketches/turnarounds featuring Warcraft or StarCraft characters. TOKYOPOP is a manga publisher, so your art should fit well within the manga art style.

Send your best portfolio submissions to:
Warcraft/StarCraft Art
c/o TOKYOPOP
5900 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Alternatively, email 5 to 8 sequential pages and character sketches to warcraftmanga@tokyopop.com. Black & white art should be grayscale at 150-300 DPI. Black & white art can be just pencils, inks and/or tones. If you're sending inked work, please include scans of the pencils. If you're sending toned work, please include samples of the un-toned inks (and scans of the pencils.) Color art should be RGB at 300 DPI. All files should be no larger than 8.5" x 11" and saved as jpegs."

Please note that all art submitted is non-returnable, so do not send originals. Remember to include your name and contact info (email and/or phone number) within the portfolio. Additionally, if you are attending BlizzCon 2008 (Oct. 10-11), please stop by the TOKYOPOP booth at the following times for portfolio reviews:

10/10/08 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
10/11/08 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

So get those samples drawn and show us your stuff!

 Community Tournaments at BlizzCon 9.29.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/

Want to get in on some competitive gaming while you're at BlizzCon? We're hosting several community competitions at this year's convention, including the first-ever StarCraft II Community Tournament. Other events include Defense of the Ancients (based on Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne) and World of Warcraft Battlegrounds tournaments. BlizzCon attendees can sign up in advance here or enter on site during show hours at the community tournament area.

First Round of Comic Contest Entries Ends in One Week 9.26.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/

There's only one week left to enter the first round of our StarCraft "Vespene Laughs" Comic Contest. Send us your StarCraft-themed comics and we'll choose the funniest or most interesting to be showcased on a special gallery page. Remember, we're looking for the best StarCraft humor out there. You can submit comics created in any medium; just make sure they're relevant to StarCraft II, original, and make us laugh.

For the first month, our winner will receive an Blizzard Entertainment-branded 8GB iPod nano, a copy of StarCraft: The Board Game, a StarCraft Battle Chest, a shirt, and a copy of the StarCraft cinematics DVD. Two runners-up will also receive prize packages. See the official rules page or enter here.

BlizzCon Tournament Brackets and player Profiles 9.25.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/

The brackets for the StarCraft, Warcraft III, and World of Warcraft Arena tournaments at BlizzCon are now live. These brackets show the starting matches and also provide some information about the contestants who will be competing in this year's BlizzCon tournaments. We will be updating these brackets during BlizzCon, so make sure to check back to see the latest tournament results and replays.

Check out the brackets here: StarCraft, Warcraft III, World of Warcraft Arena Tournament

Get DIRECTV, Watch BlizzCon Free 9.19.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/

DIRECTV's BlizzCon package features over 16 hours of live HD coverage of the event, including exclusive interviews and commentary. New DIRECTV subscribers in the US who sign up for DIRECTV by September 30 through www.blizzard.directv.com or 800-728-9375 will receive the BlizzCon pay per view package for free, while existing DIRECTV customers will be able to order it for $39.95 beginning on September 28. The package also includes the BlizzCon-exclusive World of Warcraft in-game polar bear mount. For full details head over to the BlizzCon site.

BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing -- Sold Out 9.16.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/contests/ All of the tickets available in the BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing are now sold out. Ticketholders should keep an eye on the official BlizzCon site for the latest information on panels, contests, and other events at the show, which takes place Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. BlizzCon 2008 Online and Live Contest Submissions 9.5.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/contests/

We are now accepting entries for our BlizzCon online contests, including our Diorama, Motivational Poster, and Movie contests. Whether you have tickets to BlizzCon or not, your application is welcome. Simply fill out the Submission form and be prepared to demonstrate your creative talents! For more contest information visit our BlizzCon Contests page.

For those BlizzCon attendees looking to show off graceful dance moves, fill the convention center halls with laughs, or come dressed as your favorite Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo characters, the Submission form for all applicants is now available! For more contest information visit our BlizzCon Contests page.

Q&A Batch 44 9.5.08 Nebu http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=1752651&s=new&#new We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 44 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. DIRECTV BlizzCon Package Availability 9.4.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/dtv/?rhtml=y

DIRECTV has just announced further details for their pay per view package of BlizzCon coverage, and that the special promotion offering it free with a new subscription is now open. New DIRECTV subscribers in the US who sign up for DIRECTV by September 30 through www.blizzard.directv.com or 800-728-9375 will receive the package for free, while existing DIRECTV customers will be able to order it for $39.95 beginning on September 28. For full details, check out the official announcement, or head over to the BlizzCon site.

Blizzard Soundtracks Now On iTunes 9.4.08 Blizzard http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewRoom?fcId=289744203&id=1

If you enjoy the music from Blizzard Entertainment games and have ever thought about ordering the soundtracks, doing so just got more convenient. Six soundtrack albums have just been added to a new Blizzard hub page within the iTunes music store, and are available for purchase and download. The StarCraft, Diablo II, Warcraft III, World of Warcraft, and The Burning Crusade soundtracks are all there, as is the Taverns of Azeroth album, which had been exclusively sold at BlizzCon 2007. The Diablo III Overture is also available as a single, and has been chosen as a Discovery Download, making it free to download until next Tuesday. For more information, check out the official announcement, or head over to the Blizzard iTunes page.

Vespene Laughs: A Blizzard ComicCraft Series 9.2.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/contests/comic-rules.xml

Send us your StarCraft-themed comics and we'll choose the funniest or most interesting to be showcased on a special gallery page. Remember, we're looking for the best StarCraft humor out there. You can submit comics created in any medium, just make sure they're relevant to StarCraft II, original, and make us laugh.

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

 BlizzCon Ticket Drawing Winners Selected 8.27.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon The winners of the BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing have been chosen. We've sent emails to 1,500 randomly selected eligible Blizzard Account holders containing instructions for purchasing up to two tickets to the show. For your security, please note that in this email we are not asking winners to email us credit card information directly, nor are we asking winners to call Blizzard for any reason.

If we still have tickets remaining after this initial round, we will select more winners from the original opt-in pool. We will make an announcement on our websites once all tickets available have been sold. For more information, refer to the BlizzCon Ticket Drawing FAQ. BlizzCon Ticket Drawing Opt-In Period Ends 8.25.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon The opt-in period for the BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing is now over. We will be randomly selecting winners within the next few days and will announce when selections have been made on our websites. If you are chosen, you will receive an email from Blizzard containing information about how to purchase up to two tickets to BlizzCon 2008. If you haven't done so already, please go to Blizzard Account Management and update your contact information. For more details, see the FAQ. BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing Opt-In Begins 8.20.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon The BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing opt-in is now live. People with eligible Blizzard Accounts who wish to enter the drawing can now do so by logging in to Blizzard Account Management. The opt-in period will last until 11:59 p.m. PDT on Sunday, August 24. After it ends, we will select 1,500 people from the opt-in pool and offer them a chance to purchase up to two tickets to BlizzCon 2008.

This is a random drawing -- everyone with an eligible Blizzard Account who opts in any time during the opt-in period will have the same chance to win. Please make sure your Blizzard Account contact information (email and phone number) is up to date. For more information, including eligibility requirements, click here or read the FAQ. BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing Update 8.19.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon As discussed last week, we're preparing a drawing to offer 3,000 more BlizzCon 2008 tickets for sale. We're finalizing the process now, and you'll be able to enter the drawing beginning Wednesday morning -- in the meantime, here is an overview of how the drawing will work:
Please note that a Blizzard Account is an account created for the Blizzard Online Store -- as opposed to an account created for a Blizzard game, such as World of Warcraft. If you have any questions regarding Blizzard Accounts, please read our Blizzard Account FAQ.

We will announce when the drawing opt-in period begins on our website soon. For more information, please refer to our BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing FAQ. Q&A Batch 43 8.18.08 Nebu http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=1673055&s=new&#new We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 43 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. BlizzCon 2008 Ticket Drawing Update 8.15.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon We recently announced that we will be offering 3,000 more BlizzCon 2008 tickets for sale via a drawing. Soon, eligible Blizzard Account holders who created accounts prior to 9:00 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 will be able to opt in for a chance to purchase up to two tickets to the show. We're aware that many players are waiting for this drawing, and we appreciate your continued patience as we finalize the details. We'll have more information to share here and on our other websites early next week.

Please note that a Blizzard Account is an account created for the Blizzard Online Store -- as opposed to an account created for a Blizzard game, such as World of Warcraft. If you have any questions regarding Blizzard Accounts, please read our Blizzard Account FAQ. Statement from Mike Morhaime 8.13.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon Blizzard Gamers,

On behalf of everyone at Blizzard, I want to apologize for the challenges and frustrations you experienced while trying to purchase BlizzCon tickets on Monday and Tuesday. BlizzCon is about the positive experiences you all have had with Blizzard games. As a result of this week's events, the excitement that many of you felt about the show has turned into dissatisfaction and disappointment.

Due to these circumstances, we've reevaluated our convention hall space and come up with some solutions that will allow us to offer 3,000 more tickets for sale. We know this will not be enough to satisfy the very high level of demand for tickets this year, but we want to ensure that BlizzCon remains a great experience for those of you who are able to attend. To avoid the issues many of you faced this week, we'll be selling these 3,000 via a lottery. We'll post further details once our plans are finalized. Please note that the lottery will only be open to those with an active Blizzard Account as of 9:00 PM PDT on August 12, the time that the “Sold Out” notice was posted.

I, and everyone else at Blizzard, share the frustration and disappointment that many of you have expressed as a result of this process. We'll do what it takes to avoid this type of situation in the future.

Sincerely,
Mike Morhaime BlizzCon 2008 Tickets Sold Out 8.12.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon Tickets to BlizzCon 2008 are now sold out. We'd like to thank everyone once again for their overwhelming interest in this year's show. If you were unable to secure tickets, please keep in mind that DIRECTV will be broadcasting BlizzCon live from the Anaheim Convention Center on October 10 and 11. In the meantime, keep an eye on the BlizzCon 2008 website for updates on panels, exhibits, events, and more. We look forward to meeting some of you at the show! New Fan Art 7.31.08 Nebu http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=331934 The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with new pieces of StarCraft artwork. Lego Battlecruiser Operational 7.31.08 Nebu http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=331934 Check out this amazing homemade StarCraft creation--a terran battlecruiser constructed entirely out of Legos. A Lego SCV, barracks, and factory with add-on are also featured. New Planet Bio Added - Mar Sara 7.24.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/planets/marsara.xml We have added a new planet bio, Mar Sara. We have also added two new pieces of artwork and six new screenshots. Q&A Batch 41 7.16.08 Nebu http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?ForumName=sc2-general&ThreadID=1567764 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 41 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Character Biography: Zeratul 7.3.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/heroes/zeratul.xml Learn more about StarCraft II's main characters and their complex intertwining stories in the character biography of Zeratul, the second installment of our StarCraft II character biography series. We have also added one new piece of artwork and five new screenshots. New Planet Bio Added - Char 6.17.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/planets/char.xml We have added a new planet bio, Char. We have also added two new pieces of artwork and one new screenshot. New Unit Added - Baneling 5.23.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/zerg/baneling.xml We have added a new zerg unit, the baneling. We have also added four new pieces of artwork and seven new screenshots. Q&A Batch 36 4.24.08 Frost http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?ForumName=sc2-general&ThreadID=1059524 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 36 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. I <3 SC Community Contests! 4.17.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/us/inblizz/contests/ilovesc/ There are two weeks left for you to submit your picture in the official I <3 SC contest and we have another goodie for you! Several fansites have also started their very own contests. Join the professional gamers from Meet Your Makers in their "I <3 SC" contest and win a MYM mousepad and teamshirt! The "I <3 SC Continued" contest from StarCraft-Source.com offers Battlechests as additional prizes and get your questions answered with the contest StarCraft Legacy has set up. For our Czech friends, you should head over to StarCraftCz to submit your picture! Further contests can be found on inStarcraft.de (German), StarCraft-Source.de (German), JudgeHype (French), Starcraft-esp.com (Spanish), and Starfeeder.com. The Story So Far... Part 2: The Brood War 4.16.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/storysofar2.xml The storyline of StarCraft II takes place four years after the events of StarCraft: Brood War. We have prepared a two-part overview called The Story So Far, an opportunity for you to get up to speed with the characters, settings, and developments that lead up to StarCraft II. Read about Kerrigan's treachery as the Queen of Blades, Samir Duran's hybrid experiments, and the final events leading up to StarCraft II in The Story So Far... Part 2: The Brood War. April Fools! 4.2.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/terran/taurenmarine.xml We hope you enjoyed our April Fools' Day events. If you missed them, check out this year's jokes: The Blizzard Entertainment Joke Team™ will see you again next year. Just kidding - we're always around waiting to pounce. "I <3 SC" Contest 3.31.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/us/inblizz/contests/ilovesc/ The tenth anniversary of StarCraft's release is fast approaching, and to mark the occasion, we'll be assembling a mosaic of pictures sent in by players from around the world, all featuring a special "I <3 SC" logo. 50 T-shirts are up for grabs, so check out the contest page for full details or to take part. StarCraft Celebrates its Ten-Year Anniversary 3.31.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/10-years-starcraft.html We're celebrating the ten-year anniversary of StarCraft by taking a look at the game that left an indelible mark on the real-time strategy genre, became a cornerstone Blizzard Entertainment franchise, and enthralled millions around the world with its compelling gameplay and rich universe. StarCraft II Zerg Trailer Available 3.18.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/movies.xml We've just released a high-quality version of the StarCraft II zerg trailer that was shown to the press last week. Watch as the Swarm steps back into the light for the first time since the events of the Brood War, and catch a first glimpse at the zerg's frightful evolution. Check out the trailer now! StarCraft II: Zerg Revealed 3.10.08 Blizzard http://starcraft2.com/features/zerg/index.xml The StarCraft II website has just been updated with new information about the zerg, the game's third playable race. You can now learn more about the nightmarish hydralisks and the agile and dangerous mutalisks, and can also catch up on the recent history of the Swarm. Also make sure to check out the newly added screenshots, concept art, and unit videos included in this first look at the zerg. BlizzCast Episode 2 2.28.08 Blizzard http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/index.xml The second episode of BlizzCast is now up, and we've doubled its length since the debut. This episode kicks off with a story interview, and moves on to a discussion of some of the changes to Magtheridon's Lair in the Sunwell Isle patch. Lastly, we're also adding a new community questions and answers section to cover some of the topics that are on your mind. Listen to the show now, or check out the transcript to see all the featured artwork. BlizzCast Winners Selected! 2.19.08 Blizzard http://us.blizzard.com/wwi08/ The winners have been selected from the many thousands of thoughtful feedback emails we have gotten from the first episode of BlizzCast. Due to popular demand from the community's feedback, we are also pleased to announce that our second BlizzCast episode will be more than twice as long as the first! Congratulations to the winners below in winning a set of G51 Logitech 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers and a StarCraft II hat.
  • Andrew from Minnesota
  • Anri from Lightning's Blade
  • Steven from New Jersey
  • Ron from New York
  • Patrick from Washington
  • Gimil on Bonechewer
  • Erendrake on Tichondrius
  • Carey S. from Georgia
  • Codi from California
  • Duntoro on Feathermoon
 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational! 2.11.08 Blizzard http://us.blizzard.com/wwi08/ This year's Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational is coming to the Porte de Versailles Exposition Center in Paris, France on June 28-29. Top StarCraft, Warcraft III, and World of Warcraft players will duke it out for supremacy and cash prizes in eSports tournaments, and all attendees will be able to enjoy discussion panels, signings, musical performances, and more. In addition, StarCraft II and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King will be playable by everyone on the show floor.

For much more information on the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, check out the press release and visit the official website. We look forward to seeing you there, but if you're unable to make it out to Paris in June, we'll be providing live coverage on the official website throughout the weekend of the event. Q&A Batch 29 2.8.08 Nebu http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=428054&p=1&#post428054 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 29 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Q&A Batch 28 2.4.08 Nebu http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=367521&p=1&#post367521 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 28 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Character Biography: Jim Raynor 1.28.08 Blizzard http://www.starcraft2.com/features/heroes/raynor.xml Jim Raynor was a Confederate marshal on Mar Sara at the time of the first zerg incursions on that world. Despite bravely fighting the alien aggressors and saving many lives, he was arrested by Confederacy forces on the pretext of destroying Confederate property at Backwater Station. When he was subsequently liberated by Arcturus Mengsk's Sons of Korhal, an anti-Confederate revolutionary group, Raynor chose to fight alongside them...

Learn more about StarCraft II's main characters and their complex intertwining stories in the character biography of Jim Raynor, the first installment of our StarCraft II character biography series. Q&A Batch 27 1.28.08 Nebu http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=283143&p=1&#post283143 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 27 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Introducing BlizzCast 1.18.08 Blizzard http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/ Join our Community Team as they go behind the scenes to experience the world of Blizzard game development in the first installment of our new Blizzard podcast, BlizzCast.

In each episode we'll be interviewing your favorite Blizzard developers and staff, giving you a glimpse of what it's like to make the games you love.

To kick off our BlizzCast series, we've decided to begin where every great Blizzard idea begins, at the concept level. Joining us, we have Samwise Didier, our Art Director and concept artist for many of the popular Blizzard characters you've grown to love, such as the Pandaren, Fel Orcs, Dark Templars, Zerglings, and many more. We'll be chatting with Samwise on how he came up with the characters he did, as well as what it is like to work on both the Warcraft and StarCraft franchises.

Check out the new BlizzCast page here. Community Spotlight #1 1.18.08 Blizzard http://www.fftcomics.com/main Love StarCraft? Love comics that make you chuckle? Check out this up-and-coming fan site making a fun and artistic contribution to the community. Food For Thought Comics is devoted to weekly fan-made StarCraft comics. Q&A Batch 25 1.18.08 Blizzard http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=248554&p=1&#post248554 We recently answered a number of questions from the community regarding StarCraft II. Check out part 25 of the Q&A, along with the StarCraft II Q&A archive in the Battle.net forums. Interview with author Christie Golden 1.18.08 Blizzard http://www.blizzplanet.com/content/732/ StarCraft: The Dark Templar is a new trilogy of novels set in the StarCraft universe. The trilogy chronicles some of the events between StarCraft: Brood War and StarCraft II. Blizzplanet recently interviewed author Christie Golden, asking questions submitted by the community about the details of the second novel in the trilogy, Shadow Hunters.