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Quest for Pandaria concludes with part 4
The fourth and final installment of Sarah Pine's novella Quest for Pandaria was released yesterday on the official site. Part four of Chen and Li Li's journey takes them to the open seas, where they encounter a massive storm, and a tense face off between two ships, one Alliance and one Horde. While this is Chen and Li Li's adventure, the fourth part of this tale does a lot to highlight the feelings and tensions between the two factions in a meaningful way. And it also does a lot to clear up timelines. At the end of the tale, Chen and Li Li have witnessed the clearing of the mists surrounding the continent of Pandaria. This places the mist-clearing event somewhere just before the attack on Theramore Isle depicted in both scenario and the novel Tides of War. Unfortunately, the tale did little to clarify what exactly made the mists part in the first place ... which means this may be one of those important plot points we'll explore later in the expansion. Quest for Pandaria served as a an excellent introduction to Mists of Pandaria, and a wonderful bridge between the graphic novel Pearl of Pandaria and the new expansion. Part four is full of emotional moments and characters that you really don't want to miss. You can read part four, or the story in its entirety, in the Expanded Universe section of the official website.
Quest for Pandaria part 3 now available
You know, of all the things I mourned about Cataclysm, I think highest on the list would have to be the fate of the tol'vir. Despite being a fascinating race in their own right, one that was absolutely ripe for potential, their story was overshadowed by yet another jaunt with Harrison Jones. It was disappointing, particularly because the end of the tol'vir story arc was so open-ended. What happened after the war was completed? What of the tol'vir now? Quest for Pandaria attempts to answer a few of those questions in its latest installment as Chen Stormstout and his niece Li Li continue their search for the lost continent. Upon heading to the sandy deserts of Uldum, both Chen and Li Li come face to face with the aftermath of the tol'vir war -- and deal with the consequences of the fallout in their own way. It's another small glimpse of the elusive tol'vir race, this time illustrated through the eyes of complete strangers to tol'vir society. And it's also another well placed step towards rounding out Chen's character. I love Chen Stormstout, and I love the direction they're taking him. This is the third chapter to the four-part story written by Sarah Pine, and I think it's my favorite so far. You can take a look at the chapter in its entirety in the Expanded Universe section of Blizzard's official website.
Blizzard short story Quest for Pandaria now available
Part one of Quest for Pandaria, the newest addition to Blizzard's online collection of short stories, has been released on the official website. The events in Quests for Pandaria take place directly after the graphic novel Pearl of Pandaria. While Pearl of Pandaria's release date is still slated for the 25 of this month according to Amazon, some have been reporting that the graphic novel is already available in bookstores. As for Quest for Pandaria, the story continues where Pearl left off with Li Li Stormstout and her Uncle Chen safely home on Shen-zin Su. But while Uncle Chen seems to be happy and even content with his return to the island, Li Li finds herself growing more and more restless and discontent. Will her thirst for adventure lead to lands long thought lost? Or will she find herself dragged back home against her wishes? Today's release was just the first section of the four-part story, so some answers will have to wait. But it's a compelling tale that's beautifully written by Sarah Pine, author of Garrosh Hellscream: Heart of War, and the 2008 Global Writing Contest winner In the Shadow of the Sun. Please note that Quest for Pandaria does contain plot elements from Pearl of Pandaria. If you're planning on picking up the graphic novel, you may want to hold off on this short story until you've read the book. You can find Quest for Pandaria, along with all of Blizzard's other short stories, in the Expanded Universe section of the official website.
Global Writing Contest 2011 winning entries released
Remember last year's Global Writing Contest? After months of deliberation, Blizzard carefully chose and announced several winners, leaving the stories to be posted at a later date. That date is today, apparently, as the grand prize-winning story The Exit has now been posted on the official site, along with excerpts from several of the runners-up. The Global Writing Contest was a chance for players to put pen to paper and craft a story set in any of the universes Blizzard has created. The winning story, The Exit, is a StarCraft tale, while the posted finalist excerpts are all set in the Warcraft universe. At the moment, we have yet to see any hint of a Global Writing Contest for this year. Hopefully, this won't be the last we see of the Global Writing Contest, since it was a beloved addition to Blizzard's usual round of contests and giveaways. That said, the finalists and grand prize-winning stories from last year are all well worth the read. Congratulations to all the winners! To read The Exit as well as the excerpts from the other finalists, check out the full post on the official site.
Blizzard announces 2011 Global Writing Contest winners
Did you try your hand at the penning some Blizzard prose this year? Blizzard just released the list of winners from this year's Global Writing Contest, including one grand prize winner, seven finalists and a host of honorable mentions. The grand prize winner this year is The Exit by Danny McAleese, who will receive a trip to Blizzard's headquarters to meet and eat with Blizzard's writing staff, as well as a ton of signed novels and a Doomhammer by Epic Weapons. The seven finalists will also receive a collection of signed novels to call their own. The winning entry, as well as excerpts from all seven finalists, will be posted on the Blizzard website soon. Congratulations to all the winners and recipients of honorable mentions! Check after the break for the grand prize winner and finalists, and for a full list of winners, check out the official announcement on Blizzard's website.
2011 Global Writing Contest deadline reminder
Attention, writers! Those of you who are working on entries for this year's Global Writing Contest may want to step up the pace. The deadline for the 2011 Global Writing Contest is Oct. 15 -- a little over a week away. Remember, stories must be between 2,500 to 7,500 words and set in the Warcraft, Diablo or StarCraft universes. This year's prizes include a trip to Blizzard headquarters and a meeting with the Blizzard writing staff for the grand prize winner, as well as a ton of signed books from all three Blizzard universes and a replica of the Doomhammer. Good luck to all who enter, and don't forget to check out our interviews with last year's winners, too!
Blizzard announces 2011 Global Writing Contest
It's that time of year again -- the time when all hopeful writers put fingers to keys and come up with the kind of prose that could win them a trip to Blizzard's headquarters. The 2011 Global Writing Contest is looking for stories from 2,500 to 7,500 words, set in the Warcraft, Diablo or StarCraft universes. This year, the grand prize offers a trip to Blizzard headquarters to meet with the Blizzard writing staff, a host of signed books from Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft, as well as a Doomhammer of your very own. Interested in putting together an entry? Check out the official rules and FAQ at the official site. The deadline this year is Sept. 28 October 15, so getting started sooner rather than later is advised. You can also take a look at last year's winners and runners-up on the official website. While you're at it, why not take a look at our interviews with last year's winners as well? Good luck to all who enter! Correction: The entry deadline for the Global Writing Contest is October 15, as stated in the Official Rules.
Global writing contest winners announced
After what felt like an eternity, Blizzard has finally released the full list of winners of the 2010 global writing contest along with snippets of their submissions. It had previously announced the winners' character names, but we have quite a bit more information now. Raphael Ahad's Silver Hand, Ebon Blade took the grand prize, and you can read the full story on Blizzard's official site. You can also read excerpts of the runners-up, though I wish we could read the full story for those, too. If they were released in an anthology, I would be first in line to pick it up. I'd love read the entirety of stories like In the Blood -- the teaser is just ... well, a tease, I suppose. It's a shame that we may never see them in full.
Blizzard announces 2010 Global Writing Contest winners
The long wait is over for those waiting somewhat impatiently for the results of the 2010 Global Writing Contest! The winners' names were announced by Zarhym this evening. The full winning story, as well as excerpts from each of the finalists, will be posted at a later date. Congratulations to all the winners! Zarhym Though the loss of life and limb was great, the ocular fortitude of our judges allowed them to see the job through: the winners of the 2010 Global Writing Contest have been chosen. Many judges were felled by the 18 million words that made up this year's competition, but whilst their souls are now forfeit to the contest's patron deity, C'Thun, their sacrifices were not in vain. Behold, the victors! Winner: "Silver Hand, Ebon Blade" by Raphael Ahad source Take a look after the break for the rest of the finalists, honorable mentions and the prizes!
2010 Global Writing Contest winners to be announced Oct. 18
Were you one of the many, many people that put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) for the 2010 Global Writing Contest? Good news -- the winners will be announced Oct. 18, according to a blue post by Nethaera. Prizes for the contest include a chance to go have lunch with the Blizzard writing staff, a Frostmourne for your very own, or your very own Blizzard library complete with novels signed by Chris Metzen, the cover artists and Blizzard's writing staff. Nethaera 2010 Global Writing Contest - Announcement of Announcement! During today's daily feeding/washing ritual, the handlers for the 2010 Global Writing Contest judges were able to coax them into revealing - between the constant wailing and gnashing of eyelids - that the list of winners for the 2010 Global Writing Contest will be finished on Monday, October 18th. Until then, you are allowed to slow down your hammering the Refresh button to once every other second. source The official site has more information about the contest and the prizes involved, and while you're at it, you can take a look at last year's winners as well. Good luck to all who entered!
Breakfast Topic: What's your story?
Blizzard has recently announced its short story contest, which has had several of us here at WoW.com pondering what we should enter. The choices themselves are fairly open with StarCraft, Warcraft and Diablo universes to choose from. StarCraft has military, covert ops, high technology, space silithids and galactic conquest. Diablo offers a darker fantasy realm than what we play in WoW, with stories of the occult, demons and undead, and heroes rising from hardship to overcome greater evils. The Warcraft universe itself has a myriad possibilities to borrow, from dinosaurs to steampunk, with the hard honor of the orcs to the nonsensical gadgets of the gnomes. The upcoming Cataclysm also brings forth a lot of story possibilities, as does any time of great change. Races are opening their doors to previously shunned concepts such as night elf mages, while others are rediscovering a lost heritage in the Darkspear tribe's druids. The Lich King's grasp on the world has been beaten back and veterans of the war in Northrend will be returning home to try and resume their previous lives as merchants and farmers. Races like the gnomes and dwarves have had their eyes opened to their origins in titan creation, which could rock the very foundation of their ideals and beliefs. So, I bring the question to you. What's the story you would write? Will you delve into StarCraft and Diablo or stick with WoW?
Blizzard 2010 Global Writing Contest announced
Do you like writing? Well, if you do, and you like the various properties of Blizzard Entertainment (I'm going to have to assume that you do, what with this being a site dedicated to one of them and all), then good news, everybody! I've discovered a contest that will let you write about anything in Azeroth ... or various other worlds as well. Yes, it's the return of the Global Writing Contest. What are the rules, you ask? Well, I'm glad you did. Blizzard Entertainment Global Writing Contest Do you dare test our judges' optic mettle, laying your ideas and dreams beneath their unblinking gaze? If so, submit a 2,500- to 7,500-word short story written in English and set in the Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo universe by July 30, 2010, and earn your chance to visit the Blizzard headquarters and meet the writers and staff behind the lore of Blizzard's games and books. source There's a FAQ with various clarifications and a button to enter at the official site for the contest. Prizes include a chance to go have lunch with the Blizzard writing staff, a Frostmourne of your very own, a Diablo III barbarian diorama, and much, much more, so get on over there and check it out and then start writing.
