A what grenade? Are you serious?? WoW, what has science doooooooone?

[via YouTube]

We all know that Diablo 3 isn’t coming out for at least another year.  But that doesn’t Gamestop in trying to snag up some early pre-orders. Right now, on their website, you can pre-order Diablo 3 with no incentives.  Well, except for the thought that you theoretically own a copy of it.

[via Gamestop]

We all saw this coming. The next step in Blizzards’ plot to take over the world, or at least your salary. Blizzard micro-transactions using their new Battle.net platform.  Today Blizzard has added 2 new items to their online store for World of Warcraft players.  Two new in-game pets.  A mini Kel’Thuzad and Pandaren Monk for $10 each.

Some people are acting like this micro-transaction thing is new to WoW when in fact, it’s not.  It’s just presented in a different way.  Instead of going through the official World of Warcraft site, it goes through Battle.net.  Blizzard already has a bunch of paid for services like server transfer, name changing, sex changes, race changes and faction changes.

Are any of our readers planning on buying one or both of these new in-game pets? Or are you one of those than can resist these two new cute vanity items.

This video was what most people at WoWcon– erm.. Blizzcon were waiting for.  The confirmation of all the rampant rumors about the word “Cataclysm.”  At Blizzcon, everyone was treated to the debut trailer by Blizzard’s cinematics team.

If you’re a WoW fan and not drooling over this, well. Then you’re not really a WoW fan. Enjoy the video. And clean yourself up when you’re done watching it.

blah blah they copied Windows Live blah blah it will be impossible to play SC2/D3 without an Internet connection (even single player). Blizzard says they want to make the game more immersive, I say they want to crack down on piracy and don’t care if it dicks players on laptops with intermittent wireless access (namely, people like me). Keep it classy, Blizzard.

I remember when this intro was the greatest and most realistic graphics I have ever seen on a computer.  It sucked though that my 25Mhz computer (with TURBO button on!) couldn’t handle this intro.  So, I had to watch it at my neighbors house.  Boy was I jealous.

When I finally got a computer that could run Warcraft 2, I immediately started playing and fell in love with my first RTS game.  I also remember my first days of Battle.net.  They consisted of a 28.8Kbps modem over the Prodigy ISP, my dads cell phone, and my friend from middle school.  We played 2v2 matches until our bedtimes. Boy did my dad get mad and ground me off the computer when he noticed his cell phone bill the month after.

See, my friend from middle school had it good.  He already had 2 phone lines.  One for his computer, the other for regular phone calls.  I didn’t.  So, I used my dads cell phone as my walkie-talkie or VoIP as we would call it today. I would be yelling out:

“He’s spotted me!”
“Do you need help?”
“GO GO GO!”

At that time, my dad didn’t know what I was yelling about. But I was a good boy and wasn’t doing drugs. So, he let me play my computer games.  this is the game that got me into the Blizzard franchise.  It was like my gateway Blizzpill.  Cause right after that was Starcraft, Starcraft: Brood Wars, Diablo, Diablo 2, Warcraft 3, Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, then finally, the World of Warcraft.

Thank you Blizzard for making such great games.  I can’t wait to cover Blizzcon Friday.

Blizzcon 2009 is just days away! If you’re too cheap to buy the internet stream or can’t watch it while at work.  Join us here for a liveblog from Anaheim, CA.

Blizzcon 2009 Opening Ceremony – [Liveblog]

Blizzcon 2009 Costume Contest – [Liveblog]

You can also join us on our adventure at Blizzcon and pretend you’re there.  We’ll be going to the pre-parties, talking to fans and just posting up random stuff.

PixelatedGeek’s Blizzcon 2009 Adventue – [Liveblog]

Contrary to what WoW.com is spectulating, SoundBlaster.com has released a press release that they will be demoing their first World of Warcraft headset.  They will have both an Alliance version and a Horde version.  SoundBlaster isn’t confirming anything about a Catclysm expansion.  Just their headsets.  That is all.

Full press release after the break.

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So, here is the deal. We have one extra ticket for Blizzcon. But we are also a man short for our coverage team. We are looking for someone who loves everything about Blizzard. We don’t want to go so far to say you’d go under their desks for them, but just a general gamer type love. This person will also have his/her own video or digital camera. A plus would be if you’re good on-camera and good with interviewing random or famous people.

If you can make it to the show and can help us out, we’ll give you.

• 1 Blizzcon Pass
• Everything that the Blizzcon Pass comes with
• Free Hotel stay with Jamie and I

To contact us, use the contact form on the right side of this page.

We are looking for:

• extroverted personality
• knowledge of Blizzard/blizzard games
• If possible, a video of you showing off your personality

2 new videos from Blizzard’s Starcraft 2 have just surfaced.  The video above is their latest cinematic trailer that shows the struggle between a Protoss and Zerg.  The video below is clips from the single player campaign.  Both videos will surely make any Starcraft fanboy or Korean mouth water. (more…)