The Wall Street Journal isn't immune to journalism blunders and oopsie-doos. I'm not trolling, I swear! We have our share of those from time to time. Thankfully, our loyal members and visitors forgive us. Of course, others burn us alive in the comments [sighs].
The Wall Street Journal admitted they made a mistake in the recent Technology article published last July 16th.
In this article that was spread worldwide through every major gaming network press, The Wall Street Journal reported that Activision Blizzard had invested 0 million to develop StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
Flip-flop! Turns out Activision Blizzard did never disclose the development costs of StarCraft II. Activision Blizzard was referring to the development costs of World of Warcraft, not StarCraft II's.
Some Activision Blizzard investors probably got a high blood pressure reaction after the mistaken news. However, according to VGChartz, sales of Starcraft II may have increased up to a total of 684,000 pre-orders, and by estimates a growth to up to 750,000 by July 27th.
It would be interesting to learn how the Wall Street Journal's blunder helped the growth of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty pre-orders, if at all, considering how much traffic and attention the news got throughout the global online press. One thing is for certain, that StarCraft II Ghosts of the Past trailer made a lot of fans wild-hungered and thrilled to get their hands on the game to experience the epic storyline of its single player campaign.
So, it’s been said that while Moviewatch is riveting, blood-elf-loving fun, we’ve not had a whole lot to say in this column about Cataclysm. The feedback is that WoW machinima is awesome and all, but after two years of the gloomy blue and black of Northrend, it’d be nice to get a video tour of the new stuff in beta. Okay. We can do that.
Allow me to present to you Muffin’s presentation of Beta Cataclysm: Kalimdor. The video is on two parts on YouTube because of its extreme length and thorough examination of the landscape. If all the screenshots and glorious news hasn’t sold you on how incredible Blizzard’s artwork is, kick back and let Muffin take you for a ride.
Make sure to check out both parts.
Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at machinima@wow.com.
It’s been several days since Daniel Stahl took over the Star Trek Online Executive Producer position, and the STO fans are already eager to see what this means for their game.
We’re going to find out from the man himself, thanks to the STOked video podcast — they’ll be releasing the very first interview with Daniel Stahl today. Episode 41 will feature his plans for the future of the game and his thoughts on fan reactions to his new position. The video will also include general STO news and a community feedback feature.
The newest episode of STOked can be found on the official site.
Yesterday, Medievaldragon posted a news item about the final unlock at the Dominion Propaganda site, and today, the boss onboard StarCraft: IncGamers, Leord, did a thorough analysis of what’s happening on the screen during the trailer’s runtime. Beware, the text may contain MASSIVE SPOILERS, so don’t open if you don’t want to be disappointed afterwards!
Head on to StarCraft 2 Trailer Spoilers and read on! Blog
Every so often I get tired of the self-seriousness that infests some of (OK, most of) the other work I do here and get the urge to write something purely for fun. After our series on evil achievements and the relentless misery of School of Hard Knocks, I’d like to spend some time on achievements that are nothing but an absolute joy from beginning to end.
This week we continue our series on World of Warcraft‘s most entertaining achievements. Again, this isn’t really a list of WoW‘s “best” achievements — I think the term’s too vague to be of any real use — but I wanted to spotlight some of Blizzard’s funniest, most compelling and most thought-provoking work. This is what we’ve done so far:
Lieutenant, take the helm! It’s time for another edition of Captain’s Log, our regular foray into the farthest reaches of Star Trek Online. The big bombshell of the week — no, not that one — has left your humble captain with a serious case of the vapors, so allow me a moment to collect myself.
I thought we’d briefly discuss Zinkievich’s departure before moving on Stahl’s recent video interview with the STOked podcast crew, where he dropped some delicious hints about future content and provided insight into his mindset as STO’s head honcho.
Blizzard Entertainment will be showcasing World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty at Gamescom 2010 through August 19-22 in Cologne, Germany. You may find them at booth Halle 6, B21 & B31.
It is unknown if Blizzard will make a reveal of Diablo III info, considering Diablo III was officially announced in Europe. The thought is the last Class might be unveiled at BlizzCon in October, but there could be room for some pre-Blizzcon teasers at Gamescom.
Find out more about the show and how to get there here Blog
The latest Cataclysmscreenshot from Blizzard is shown above. Explosions! The goblins need more explosions!
If you’ve missed any of the previous Cataclysm screenshots of the day or you want to see a high-res version of today’s image, check out the gallery below.
The Star TrekOnline team has gone through some shakeups recently, not to mention a touch of controversy regarding the most recent addition to the game’s microtransaction store. But the newest Ask Cryptic should buy them a little bit of good will, considering that they’ve announced the upgraded ships for Vice Admirals — specifically, a Galaxy-class that can separate, an Intrepid-class with ablative armor, and a Defiant–class with a cloaking device. It’s the sort of stuff that any fan of the series would be hard-pressed not to grin about.
Most of the other questions are equally concerned with the upcoming Season 2, which promises to bring in the Federation Diplomatic Corps as well as the ancient enemies of the klingons, the fek’ihri. The latter hasn’t been seen or mentioned prior, which suggests that there might be some very interesting story explanation for why the race has been absent if they share an old rivalry. Take a look at the full list of questions for more bits and pieces on Star Trek Online‘s future, up to and including Facebook integration. (Optional integration, that is. No one’s about to start up the mess of the week again.)
The days are now in the single digits between gamers and the release of StarCraft II. While Blizzard’s long awaited sci-fi RTS game will have a “worldwide” release next Tuesday, July 27, in both retail stores and later that day via download it looks like one country that won’t get the game on launch day is Japan.
Kotaku reports that while several Asian nations are getting the game on July 27 (including, obviously, South Korea) Blizzard has told them there are there no current plans to release StarCraft II in Japan. That isn’t a huge shock as Japan is not a huge PC game market.
However the title isn’t coming out in China on July 27 either which is a huge PC game market. Big Download contacted Blizzard’s PR rep for comment. The official response? “We do plan to release StarCraft II in China but don’t have further details to share with you about that right now, other than it’s not happening on July 27.”
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Deathwing is pretty prepared to unmake you and your world, as evidenced in this set of daramined Deathwing encounter clips. While fairly innocuous, the clips could still be construed as spoilers, so listen at your own risk.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com’s Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW’s third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it’s all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.
In the midst of a thread rather unhappy with some of the answers from the most recent Ask Cryptic outing, Stahl chimed in about Star Trek Online going free-to-play. Stahl mentions that he could easily see Cryptic’s game adopting a similarly hybrid model, with the option for a subscription as well as the option to pay as you play. While he stops far from saying that it’s in the plan, he does say the success enjoyed by Turbine is well worth taking note. Alternative subscription plans are gaining momentum, and with gamers complaining about the C-Store prices combined with a subscription fee, the idea might not be so far-fetched after all.
Festering Strike *New* – An instant attack that deals 150% weapon damage plus 840.54 and increases the duration of your Blood Plague, Frost Fever, and Chains of Ice effects on the target by up to 6 sec. / 5 yd range, Instant
Runic Empowerment *New* is now baseline – When you use your Death Coil, Frost Strike, or Rune Strike ability, you have a 45% chance to activate a random fully depleted rune. /
Chains of Ice now reduces movement speed by 60% for 8 sec. (Down from 95% + 10% movement each sec over 10 seconds)
Chill of the Grave now has a chance to generate 5/10 Runic Power. (Up from 2.5/5)
Ebon Plaguebringer is now a 2 ranks talent (Down from 3) and now increases damage taken from Disease by 15/30%. (Old – 10/20/30%)
Dirge now has a chance to generate 5/10 Runic Power. (Up from 2.5/5)
Virulence now increases your chance to hit with spells by 2/4/6%. (Up from 1/2/3%)
Blood
Crimson Scourge is now a 2 rank talent. Increases damage dealt by Blood Boil by 20/40% (Down from 15/30/45%) and 50%/100% chance to proc. (Up from 33/67/100%)
Earth and Moon – Your Wrath and Starfire spells have a 100% chance to apply the Earth and Moon effect, which increases spell damage taken by 2/5% for 12 sec. Also increases your spell damage by 2/4%.
Nature’s Majesty – Increases the critical strike chance of your Wrath, Starfire, Starfall, Nourish and Healing Touch spells by 2/4%.
Feral
Primal Fury has an additional effect – your critical strikes from Cat Form abilities that add combo points have a 50/100% chance to add an additional combo point.
Master Shapeshifter – Grants an effect which lasts while the Druid is within the respective shapeshift form. Bear Form – Increases physical damage by 2%. Cat Form – Increases critical strike chance by 2%. Moonkin Form – Increases spell damage by 2%. Tree of Life/Caster Form – Increases healing by 2%. /
Focus Magic now is a Tier 4 talent. Down from Tier 6.
Incanter’s Absorption now is a Tier 4 Talent. Down from Tier 5. Additional effect – In addition, when your Mana Shield is destroyed, all enemies within 6 yards are knocked back 12 yards.
Arcane Concentration is now a 3-rank talents (Up from 2) and now has a 3/6/10% chance to proc.
Torment the Weak is now a Tier 5 talent. Up from Tier 1. Now only boosts the damage of Arcane damage spells.
Nether Vortex *New* – Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 50/100% chance to apply the Slow spell to any target it damages if no target is currently affected by Slow.
Fire
Flamestrike now has a 40 yards range. Up from 35 yards.
Scorch now has a 40 yards range. Up from 35 yards.
Pyroblast now has a 40 yards range. Up from 35 yards.
Fire Blast now has a 30 yards range. Up from 20 yards.
Fireball now has a 40 yards range. Up from 35 yards.
Living Bomb now has a 40 yards range. Up from 35 yards.
Blazing Speed now is a Tier 2 Talent. Down from Tier 3.
Burning Soul now is a Tier 1 talent. Down from Tier 2.
Divine Protection now reduces all damage taken by 20% for 10 sec. (Down from 50% for 12 sec) Cooldown lowered from 5 min to 1 min. Spells restrictions (Divine Shield/Divine Protection/Hand of Protection/Avenging Wrath) removed.
Devotion Aura is now trained at level 18, down from level 22.
Hammer of the Righteous now causes 160% weapon damage as holy damage. (Old – 3 times your main hand damage per second as Holy damage.)
Shield of the Templar has been revamped – Reduces the cooldown of Avenger’s Shield by 2/4 sec, Guardian of Ancient Kings by 10/20 min, and increases the amount absorbed by your Sacred Shield by 10/20%.
Holy Shield now Holy Shield – Consumes Holy Power to grant 5% block per stack of Holy Power and deals 97.8 Holy damage for every attack blocked. Lasts 15 sec. / 10% of base mana, Instant cast
Sacred Duty has been revamped – Increases the critical strike chance of your Hammer of the Righteous by 5/10%. In addition, your Hammer of the Righteous critical strikes have a 50/100% chance of making your next Judgement a critical strike. /
Grand Crusader – When your Crusader Strike deals damage, it has a 10/20% chance of refreshing the cooldown on your next Holy Wrath.
Ardent Defender is now a Tier 7 talent (Up from Tier 4). Cooldown increased from 2 to 3 min.
Communion *New* – Your Judgement grants the Replenishment effect to up to 10 party or raid members mana regeneration equal to 1% of their maximum mana per 5 sec for 15 sec.
Elemental Mastery no longer shares a cooldown with Nature’s Swiftness and now also increases your Fire, Frost, and Nature damage by 15% for the duration of the spell.
Enhancement
Shamanistic Rage reduces the mana cost of your skills, totems, and offensive spells by 90 for 15 sec.
Dark Intent *New* – You link yourself with the targeted friendly target, increasing both of your haste by 3%. When you or the linked target gains a critical periodic damage or healing effect, the other gains an increased 3% increased periodic damage and healing lasting for 7 sec. Stacks up to 3 times. Dark Intent lasts for 30 min. / 6% of base mana, 30 yd range, Instant cast
Soul Swap *New* – You instantly deal 167.45 damage, and removing your damage-over-time effects from the target. For 20 sec afterword, the next target you cast Soul Swap on will be afflicted by the damage-over-time effects and suffer 167.45 damage. You cannot Soul Swap to the same target. / 6% of base mana, 30 yd range, Instant cast, 45 sec cooldown
Wrecking Crew now procs from your Mortal Strike critical hits instead of all melee critical hits. 33/66/100% chance to Enrage you.
Lambs to the Slaughter has been revamped – After dealing a Mortal Strike, your next Execute, Overpower or Mortal Stike will cause 10/20/30% more damage.
Bloodsurge now affects Raging Blow instead of Whirlwind.
Meat Cleaver got an additional bonus – Increases the damage done by your Cleave and Whirlwind abilities by 20%, and your Cleaves and Whirlwinds have a 60% chance to increase the damage of your next Cleave or Whirlwind by an additional 10/20%.
Intensify Rage is now a 2 ranks talent Reducing the cooldown of your Bloodrage, Berserker Rage, Recklessness and Death Wish abilities by 10/20%. (Down from 3 Ranks, 11/22/33% Reduction)
Unbridled Wrath has been replaced by Battle Trance – Your Bloodthirst, Mortal Strike and Shield Slam hits have a 5/10/15% chance to make your next special attack consume no rage.
Protection
Damage Shield is now a Tier 4 talent, down from Tier 6. Now causes damage equal to 20/40% of your Strength. (Old – 10/20% of your attack power)
In the next beta build the minimum level for entering and questing in Mount Hyjal and Vashjir will change from level 78 to level 80. All associated creature will have their levels increased to match the new flow.
Additionally, after careful review and consideration we’ve decided to increase the hit point values of level 80+ Cataclysm creatures. The new hit point values are roughly double their previous values.
Level 80 (OLD) – 16400 Level 80 (NEW) – 31000
Players will also now need to be level 80 in order to use the Dungeon Finder System for Throne of Tides and Blackrock Caverns.
The Edge Magazine has posted a lengthy three-page article on the influence of StarCraft on eSports in Korea and worldwide. It’s a very good read, and that’s just the part one! I myself can’t wait to see what can they come up with for the second(and following, if any) part, as this article seems to tell a lot about the current and future position of StarCraft 1 as an eSport game.
Will StarCraft II take over the lead after his older brother, and become the continuation of an unbelievably large legacy, or will it ruin the core concepts and still-evolving strategies of StarCraft I and thus will be abandoned by the professionals?
Read the article and tell us what YOU think about this in the comments!
Every week, Raid Rxwill help you quarterback your healers to victory! Your host, Matt Low, the grand pooh-bah of World of Matticus, is on vacation.
Hello readers! Your favorite Canadian priest is off on some sort of an adventure this week so I’m here to cover for him. (I don’t know the specifics, but I heard something about a Princess Leia metal bikini and twenty boxes of tropical flavored Fruit Roll-Ups. Your guess is as good as mine.) Usually I just handle priest healing over at Spiritual Guidance (thus, don’t be surprised by the heavy priest bias) but I figured I could take a stab at this. I should warn you though: I’m no phlebotomist. I might need to stab you multiple times. No big deal right? I’ve got Flash Heal.
Anyway, when I asked Matt what topic I should cover, he relayed a story to me on how his raid leader refused to start their 25-man ICC because the group had no holy paladin. The raid leader wanted someone who could “heal the tanks.” This forced them to wait 90-minutes for a healadin while available healing priests, shamans, and druids were turned away. Sounds frustrating, yes? Matt suggested I tackle the topic in his place (probably so I can take all the flames), so here I am.
So here’s the situation: you’re putting together a raid and either your normal pally is absent, for some reason (read: debauchery), or you’re in a pug and there are no paladins to be found in ye ol’ trade chat. What do you do? Can your other healers handle the tanks or are you doomed to a wipe fest?
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World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In 
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