mike morhaime
News
Battle.net Revamp “Similar To Xbox Live”
11:20AM Michael McWhertor | You can partly blame Battle.net for the delay of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty into 2010, but based on the capabilities that Activision Blizzard execs are promising for the service, it’s clear Blizzard has their work cut out for them. More »
News
ActiBlizz Confirms Tony Hawk, Bond For 2010, Dances Around Diablo
7:40AM Stephen Totilo | Activision Blizzard execs listed a bunch of new games for 2010 during a conference call today but declined to be anything other than cagey on the topic of Diablo III. More »
AoC And WAR Players Flocking Back To Azeroth
2:20AM Mike Fahey | Each of the seven or so times I’ve canceled my World of Warcraft subscription over the past few years, I’ve found it curious that they ask your reason for leaving. What could they possibly do with said information? Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime answered my question for me during yesterday’s earnings conference call to investors, during which he put the information to good use. “To date, 68 percent of the players who listed Age of Conan as their reason for cancellation, and 46 percent of players who listed Warhammer as their reason for cancellation have reactivated their subscriptions to World of Warcraft.” More »
China Getting StarCraft II, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
2:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Blizzard is rolling out a bunch of its MMOs in China. Striking a joint venture with NetEase.com affiliate Shanghai EaseNet Network Technology Limited, Blizzard will be introducing StarCraft II, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, and Battle.net platform. Says Blizzard’s CEO Mike Morhaime: NetEase has been a leader in the Chinese game market, and we look forward to working with them to deliver high-quality entertainment to Chinese gamers. This partnership is a sign of our continued commitment to our players in China and to the local industry. The licence will be on a three-year term and have a mutual one-year renewal period. Full details in the release after the jump. More »Blizzard Worldwide Invitational: Diablo III In-Depth
4:15AM Kotaku US Edition | by Lesley Smith Blizzard Entertainment President Mike Morhaime formally announced Diablo III during the WWI’s opening ceremony this morning, not that this will come as a surprise to anyone with the Diablo III forums already active on the official Blizzard site and rumours running rampant for nearly a fortnight. After recapping on the success of the previous Invitational held in Korea, Morhaime premiered a trailer and then demoed a level playing as a Barbarian and a Witch Doctor, showcasing some of the improvements over the original game as well as giving attendees a hint at what they can expect from the final product. This includes a new UI in place of the potion belt and the ability to play the game just by using a mouse. Similarly the health system has been augmented by God of War and Devil May Cry style red globes which replenish not just the health of the character but also those near by. More »
News
Morhaime Enters AIAS Hall Of Fame
3:20AM Mike Fahey | Morhaime FTW! The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences adds another name to its list of game industry luminaries today as it announces the induction of Blizzard co-founder, president, and CEO Mike Morhaime into its Hall of Fame. Morhaime is being honoured for his contributions to the MMO space with World of Warcraft, as well as the success of the Diablo, Warcraft, and Starcraft franchises. Where’s the Lost Vikings love, AIAS? “This is a great honor, and I’m proud to receive it,” said Morhaime. “The success that Blizzard Entertainment has had over the years would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of players around the world, and the passion and dedication of our employees, so I thank all of them for contributing to this achievement.” Morhaime is in excellent company, as previous inductees include Will Wright, John Carmack, Sega’s Yu Suzuki, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Danielle Bunten Berry. BioWare CEO Dr. Ray Muzka will present the honour at the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards on February 7th. More »
