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Blizzard's schedule for Comic-Con 2012
Are you headed to the magic, the wonder, the majesty of Comic-Con 2012? The San Diego Comic-Con has evolved into something far more than just comics -- it's now about all kinds of geek entertainment, including video games. While Blizzard won't have a booth at Comic-Con, they'll still have a presence and even a panel for attendees. If you're lucky enough to be headed to geek mecca this weekend, take some time to check out the following. Blizzard Entertainment product showcase Thursday, July 12 Room 6BCF If you've never been to this panel, it's worth attending. While the panel doesn't discuss game development or release dates, it does talk about the other side of Blizzard's products -- the comics, books, action figures, toys and other material they release in conjunction with their games. There is a Q&A at the end of the panel, which will include Chris Metzen and be moderated by Kat Hunter. Add it to your schedule if you're wondering what's going on in the world of Blizzard merchandise! Blizzard Entertainment autograph signings Insight Editions Booth #1035 Want to get your favorite Blizzard stuff autographed? Here's your chance. Friday morning from 10-11:30 a.m., you'll find Micky Neilson, Flint Dille and Matt Burns happily scrawling their signature for you, and from 4-5 p.m. on Friday, Chris Metzen and Samwise Didier will be signing. The Insight Editions booth will also have a sneak peek at the upcoming The Art of Blizzard book, so stopping by is advised! Christie Golden autograph signings Christie Golden has written a ton for Blizzard, and if you've got one of her books, getting it signed is a great idea. Christie will be at the Cryptozoic Store on Thursday between 7-8 p.m. and at the Mysterious Galaxy booth, #1119, from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday. Please note that the Cryptozoic Store is not at the convention, but it's a just a few blocks away; the address is 411 Market Street, downtown. Having gone to Comic-Con a few years, I can tell you that the best way to make sure you get into a panel or an autograph section is to get there early. I can't stress this enough. If you have something to sign, make sure it's not buried in a backpack -- and it's helpful to put a bookmark in the page you want signed, too, if you're bringing a book! Blizzard also has a host of licensing partners showing off all kinds of products from sculptures to books to the WoW TCG. Check out the full post on the official website for more information.
PlanetSide 2 will be playable on Friday at SDCC
If you're making the trek out to California for the San Diego Comic-Con, you probably already know about most of what to expect. But the team behind PlanetSide 2 just surprised any fans en route to the convention with the announcement that PS2 will be playable on Friday. From noon until 9:00 p.m. PDT, players can try out the current build of the game, chat with the development team, and even pick up a special set of Empire-themed dog tags. Some fans can't make the trek out to San Diego for the game, of course. These fans have to look forward to the game's upcoming beta test, but there's good news on that front as well. Matt Higby has clarified via Twitter that the beta will occur sometime before the end of July, meaning that beta testers will get to start in on the game very soon. So even if you can't make it out to the convention, you won't be deprived of the game too much longer. [Thanks to Dengar and Scott for the tips!]
Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms releases its first trailer
We know a little bit about the game, but up until now, nothing has actually been seen of the upcoming Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms. But the wait is now over, as a trailer for the browser-based game has been unveiled to show off some of what players can expect when the game finally goes live. And if you're hoping for the opportunity to cross swords with rival houses in a massive political battle... well, that does seem to be on the plate. There's admittedly not too much that can be displayed via a trailer running under a minute long. But the trailer does show off the graphics and some hints of the combat, which looks to be very much a matter of skill. Check out the full trailer just past the break, and keep your eyes open for more information as the game ramps up for more reveals at San Diego Comic-Con. [Update: George R.R. Martin himself has also posted the video and the original press release. He notes that he'll be at SDCC checking out the game at the Dark Horse booth.]
ThinkGeek's Mark VII Sonic Screwdriver universal remote pleases Whovians in time for Comic-Con
Ever wished you too could make use of the awesome powers that lie within Dr. Matt Smith's Mark VII Sonic Screwdriver? Well, it's still not exactly a reality in the way of the space-bred handyman's gadget seen on Doctor Who, but ThinkGeek and The Wand Company have you covered if an IR-packing replica universal remote sounds good enough. This BBC-licensed Mark VII remote handles up to 39 commands that are all controlled using 13 different motion gestures. Of course, if controlling the likes of TV and AV devices in an extraterrestrial fashion just isn't your thing, there's always ThinkGeek's Sonic Screwdriver flashlight, right? There's no word on price just yet, but San Diego Comic-Con attendees can try it out first-hand at the BBC America Booth (#3629) starting July 12. The Mark VII remote is set to go sale for $99 at ThinkGeek's website on August 31st, so for now we'll direct you to the press release after the break. Update: Video demo added after the break. [Thanks, Alan]
The Avengers Initiative Second Screen app goes live on iTunes in time for Comic-Con
As promised, Marvel and Disney have delivered The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App for iPhone and iPad ahead of Marvel's The Avengers Blu-ray release September 25th. While much of the content will be released over time between now and then, it already has some character profiles and animated special effects deconstructions for users to paw through, as well as an Item 47 game for Comic-Con attendees. There's a list of features after the break, or you can hit iTunes for the free app right now -- if you prefer a Flash experience for PCs or other devices, it should be available at MarvelSecondScreen.com (currently redirecting to the Marvel site) once it goes live.
Marvel Heroes outlined in debut dev diary
Gazillion Entertainment's President and COO, David Brevik, used Marvel Heroes' first dev diary to tout some features of the upcoming free-to-play title. Marvel Heroes claims to combine Diablo-esque action with an MMO world stocked with Marvel personalities and locations. Players will be able to choose from the best characters that Marvel has to offer, which Brevik pointed out means that characters will have backstories and relationships with other characters which will make them that much more engaging. These familiar heroes will be running through well-known Marvel environments, but Brevik says that there is an element of randomness that will keep the spirit of adventure and discovery alive. The game comes with all the best parts of the Marvel universe: Multiple suits for characters allow players to choose between iconic looks, the story itself is being shaped by comic book legend Brian Michael Bendis, and motion comics illustrated by Marvel artists bring the story to life. If you're the type that needs to see to believe, there's good news: Marvel Heroes will be playable at the Marvel Booth (#2329) at Comic-Con International: San Diego. According to a Gazillion press release, fans in attendance will be able to play as one of four Marvel heroes and wade into Mutant Town to face off against Magneto. Marvel will be holding other events during the con, with plans for contests, giveaways, and a games panel where new Marvel Heroes characters and content will be revealed. To hear the big man himself, head below the drop to check out the dev diary video.
Game of Thrones MMO announces full name, upcoming trailer
The upcoming MMO by Bigpoint now has a full name: Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms. Producer Max Pfaff is relieved to have this major step out of the way: "Selecting a game's title can be quite an arduous process, especially in the free-to-play space where games must be easily discoverable by players around the world. By selecting Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms, we're confident that we've chosen an identifiable name that will resonate with the global community of diehard Thrones fans." The project, which is being developed with HBO's cooperation, is set to make its grand entrance at this year's Comic-Con. It's there that the studio will show an exclusive game trailer, which promises to show the Seven Kingdoms' visual aesthetic and gameplay. If you haven't already, definitely check out our interview with Bigpoint about Seven Kingdoms from this year's GDC! [Source: Bigpoint press release]
The last Catwoman Riddler trophy is exclusively at Comic-Con
You might think you've collected all of Catwoman's Riddler trophies in Arkham City, but you're wrong! It turns out the Riddler has crafted one more puzzle, hiding one last trophy at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con. There's only one way to unlock these 8-pound, LED-lit replicas, and that's to put down a $100 pre-order at the TriForce booth. Granted, that's not really much of a riddle, but there's certainly an element of challenge associated with opening your wallet.Only 100 of these puppies (kittens?) will be manufactured and, to make them even rarer, Comic-Con will be the only opportunity to place a pre-order. The full price to throw one of these real trophies onto the pile of digital trophies you've already collected? $400. Me-yow.Check out a high-resolution image of the trophy in the gallery below.%Gallery-158600%
Trade in your real currency for toy currency today!
Earlier today, the European Battle.net community site announced the release of both the latest set of collectible World of Warcraft action figures and a brand new collection of Alliance- and Horde-themed coins. ... Wait a second, haven't we seen those coins before? Oh. Yeah. We did. We saw them at Comic-Con in 2009. I'm going to cut Blizzard a break on this one and assume it doesn't control DC Direct's production and distribution facilities. So ... DC, this one's for you. Holy crap, guys. Almost three years ago! Three! Well, anyway, if you're looking to spend your hard-earned coins on different coins that aren't worth as much as the ones you started with, you can purchase them on the North American Blizzard Store for $49.99 USD per set or on the European Blizzard Store for £56.95.
Nintendo 3DS SlidePad coming to the US under the name Circle Pad Pro?
Last month, Nintendo quietly unveiled the SlidePad -- a battery-powered "extended slide pad" for the 3DS, slated to hit the Japanese market on December 10th. At the time, there was no indication that the add-on would be coming to North America anytime soon, but according to Capcom, it's on its way. Speaking at New York Comic Con last week, Capcom's Ryan McDougall confirmed that the attachment will indeed arrive Stateside by February 7th, alongside the company's new 3DS game, "Resident Evil: Revelations." It's not clear whether the add-on will arrive for other games released before February, but it may very well have a different name by the time it does. According to Siliconera, Nintendo has already filed a Japanese trademark for the name Circle Pad Pro, which could be the moniker we'll be seeing in the West. Nintendo, it should be noted, has yet to confirm any of this, nor has it mentioned anything about US pricing, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear more.
Funcom talks The Secret World at NYCC
MMORPG.com's got the details on Funcom's appearance at last weekend's New York City Comic Con. Ragnar Tornquist and Dag Scheve were on hand to hype The Secret World, and the duo was the main attraction on a panel that fielded fan questions and showed off some new gameplay footage. Several of the questions from the audience related to The Secret World's progression mechanics, and Tornquist stated that despite the fact that the game has no levels, there will be plenty of activities for grind aficionados. The term horizontal progression was mentioned, as were various skills and gear (the latter of which serves as a gate between different bits of the game's content). Check out the rest of the recap, along with a video embed, at MMORPG.com.
The Old Republic playable at New York Comic Con
Mark October 13th through the 16th on your calendars, Star Wars: The Old Republic faithful, especially if you'll be anywhere in the vicinity of New York City. BioWare's Hutt-sized Star Wars MMO will be hogging the spotlight at this year's New York Comic Con, and you'll have a couple of opportunities to get some hands-on time with the highly anticipated sci-fi title. The Alderaan and Huttball warzones will be playable at SWTOR's booth, while a few of the developers will be featured on three separate panels over the course of the event. If you like a little alcohol with your Star Wars, you'll also want to make note of a dev-hosted meet-and-greet at District 36 on Wednesday, October 12th. All the details are available at the official site, so what are you waiting for?
Trion Worlds treks to NYCC with a trio of games
Trion Worlds has three gaming worlds up its sleeve right now, and it aims to talk about all of them at this year's New York Comic Con. In fact, the company has announced that several of its developers will participate in a panel "to discuss the future of [its] online gaming portfolio." RIFT junkies can look forward to a chat with Design Producer Hal Hanlin and Lore Lead Morgan Lockhart about the studio's upcoming plans for the fantasy MMO, while MMORTS fans will get their PvE and PvP on with Senior Producer Chris Lena from End of Nations. And attendees looking for their shooter fix won't be left out: Rob Hill, Senior Producer for Defiance, will be on hand to cover the MMOFPS and its integration with the Syfy show. The panel takes places on Friday, October 14th, from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. EDT in room 1A24. Tickets for the con are still available on the official NYCC website. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
Jaina Proudmoore working book title: Tides of War
We have learned from author Christie Golden's Facebook page that the working title of her newest World of Warcraft novel, which will focus on earth-shattering changes for fan favorite Jaina Proudmoore, could be titled Tides of War. Since Jaina's heritage and background (her father being Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, leader of Kul Tiras) is that of Kul Tiras, the island nation of seafaring humans, this title makes sense, especially if it heralds the return of the nation of Kul Tiras back to World of Warcraft. Christie posts: "Okay, starting on Tides of War, the Jaina (Proudmoore!) book. Am thinking if I work this right... I won't have to work weekends this time. Woot!" There is a lot of speculation going on about the next expansion, including the filing of a trademark for Mists of Pandaria, as well as Chris Metzen revealing the earth-shattering Jaina book at Comic Con last month. While Tides of War is admittedly a working title, it signals a strong naval theme that links up well with an island expansion, the island of Pandaria, and a generally water-y world we're looking at. This is all still speculation, of course.
Captain's Log: Dining with the devs
Captain's Log, Stardate 65075.4... Hello, computer (and players)! Ahhh, the good 'ol developers! You follow them on twitter, you read every one of their forum posts, and you even stalk them in-game. But you know what? Developers are just like us, a fellow human being, right? Wrong! Developers are the key to the future, the hands that create our dreams, the molders that shape our gameplay. Okay, okay -- I'm going a bit overboard, but you have to admit, they are pretty dang cool! Luckily for us Star Trek Online players, the devs that are working on the game, as well as all of the other projects in development at Cryptic, are very transparent. More often that not, they let us know what they are working on and look to the community to see what we think about particular ideas -- we truly get to help influence what makes it into the game. Aside from posting in the forums, many of them also participate with the community by guest starring on podcasts and meeting up with players when they can. As I broke the news to you all last week, I was privileged to host a Dine with the Devs event that coincided with a visit of some of the STO devs to this year's San Diego Comic-Con. While this was not associated with Massively, I figured all of you would like to know what happened and what was said. So, without further ado, it's time to recap the event and fill you all in on the super-secret meeting minutes! Ensign, warp 10! Let's boldly go where most of you were not able to go...
BioWare hopes SWTOR lasts for decades
Those of you worried about The Old Republic's longevity (all three of you) can rest easy according to BioWare. Game director James Ohlen told Comic-Con attendees that the company hopes the game will stand the test of time. "And our goal -- this being an online game that we're hoping is going to last for decades -- we're going to be, obviously, adding more to the galaxy map as the game progresses," he said. Ohlen went on to say that BioWare plans to add lots of content over the game's lifespan. "In 2025, we'll hopefully have 500 worlds," he remarked. Star Wars: The Old Republic officially unveiled its pre-order packages last week, and the game is expected to release before the end of 2011.
Comic-Con video extravaganza continues with Warhammer 40K: Space Marine
Despite being classified as a comic book convention, Comic-Con continues to hemorrhage gaming news, the latest interesting tidbit being this Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine gameplay video. Speaking with Gamespot, THQ's Daniel Isaac outlines how Captain Titus' jump-pack and Thunder Hammer will allow players to effortlessly murder tens of thousands of severely out-classed and under-prepared orcs. Isaac also details the title's class-based multiplayer, which we previewed last week, as well as Space Marine's one-billion possible armor customizations.
Casual Mode returns in Gears of War 3, brings Casual Multiplayer along for the ride
The deluge of news from Comic-Con continues to, uhm, luge, even as the convention's end draws closer and closer. Game Informer reports that Epic's forthcoming Gears of War 3 will continue the series' tradition of offering an aim-assisted Casual Mode for players who aren't well versed in the delicate art of chainsaw sculpting. This time around, new players will also be able to sharpen their skills in their own dedicated multiplayer channels. According to USA Today, players who have played Gears online previously, or participated in the Gears 3 beta will be unable to join Casual multi. That seems like overkill -- the honor system would be enough, in our opinions. After all, the Internet has a long and storied history of shepherding and tenderly caring for its newcomers.
Get roasted alive by dragons in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's Comic-Con trailer
The latest Skyrim trailer from Comic-Con has dissuaded a lot of our fears about the newest entry in The Elder Scrolls series. It's good to know that shambling aimlessly through an endless wilderness will still be a major part of the game, for instance, and that we'll still feel a smug sense of self-satisfaction as we callously off a complete stranger with a skillfully placed arrow from the shadows. It also looks like we're going to spend a large majority of our time being set ablaze by dragons, which may or may not be karmically related to the amount of time we spend shooting arrows out of shadows.
El Shaddai Comic-Con trailer is biblically epic
Despite having been delayed until August 16, angelically-oriented and biblically-based action platformer El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron is still very much alive, kickin' around the Heavens in its designer jeans and gleaming white armor. To prove as much, Ignition Entertainment has released a new cinematic trailer during this year's Comic-Con, which has been stuffed to the rafters with gooey tentacle angels, stained-glass platforming and futuristic motorcycle chases. Still no word on an Amy Grant Collector's Edition, but we'll keep digging.
