Oh god, MMO-Champion got hacked

Update – Huh, yeah, you had a message pointing to http://www.agoragames.com/ while the site was down. They're the very awesome and comprehensive techs in charge of MMO-Champion, the site was perfectly safe. The site database was also safe and none of your passwords are compromised here, it's really just a few JS files changed, and worst case scenario you are very unlucky and got a spyware that won't affect your WoW account.

I'm just very serious when it comes to security and had no plan to hide the problem. (Even if I'm probably overreacting)

Oh god, MMO-Champion got hacked
Yay! It finally happened! MMO-Champion got hacked! But don't worry too much, the title is mostly here to scare you and make sure you will read the rest. The site got indirectly affected by a very nasty virus called Gumblar, the site is cached in various ways and it means that most users are potentially safe but I strongly suggest that you read the entire post.

Gumblar, AKA Troj/JSRedir-R, is a botnet driven virus which attacks both websites and normal computers. Sounds scary, and to anyone who owns their own website it is, but to anyone else it's mostly harmless.

How does it work?
The virus is split into two parts. There's a javascript version, which infects websites, and the actual virus itself which infects computers. Whenever a browser executes the javascript on a website, it runs a Java applet and (through a Java exploit or two) installs the virus onto your computer. The virus, once warm and snug on a computer, looks for any FTP details you may have stored (In dreamweaver, filezilla, pretty much any FTP application) and makes a copy of them.

For every FTP it manages to get, it attempts to make a connection and then infects the website with the javascript. It does this by opening .js/.html/.php files and attaching a unique version of itself to a position inside the file, usually at the end. This new code is unique per website, not per file, so removing it isn't as daunting as it sounds.

In addition to spreading itself to every website it can get its claws on, the virus also reprises its role as a traditional Trojan and attempts to install other spyware onto your computer, including redirecting popular websites (such as Google) to its own unsafe alternative.

How do I know if I have it? How do I get rid of it?
Most modern anti-viruses should pick up the Gumblar virus. Personally I'd suggest downloading and installing Malwarebytes and doing a complete system scan. Make absolute sure your anti-virus is up to date before scanning, and make sure it's on a full/intensive scan, take no risks with a quick sweep.

For webmasters, there's a lovely tool called Unmask Parasites for checking if your website is safe or not. However, if you suspect you may have been infected but this tool returns nothing, you may be best suited to manually look through the files. Open up a few random .js files, and look at the end for a line or two of code that you don't recognise. Open up some .html files for a <script> tag that shouldn't be there. If you find it, take your website down immediately and start removing it. If you have backups, make sure they're clean and restore them. Otherwise, you can manually fix the files. Automated tools do not work so well for this as it's unique code for every website.

As always, it is recommended you change any private details (such as passwords) after you have confirmed you are safe. While World of Warcraft/Battlenet accounts are not affected by this virus, it is still strongly advised you change your password for it regardless.

My epics are safe?
Gumblar is a botnet driven virus, which means the infection process is entirely automated by other infected machines, no human intervention. As it was not designed to look for World of Warcraft details, it is not particularly interested in looking for them. This doesn't mean you can slack and use this as an excuse to never change your password though. It's always a good time to change your password!

Technical details
For more details about Gumblar, see this Wikipedia article or this Unmask Parasites article. For a technical summary of Gumblar, there's a nice article on iss.net about it.

AVR Mod Broken in 3.3.5, SSOTD, Fan Arts

AVR Mod Broken in 3.3.5

Quote from: Bashiok (Source)
This is a notice that we’re making changes in 3.3.5 in attempts to break the ability for the AVR (Augmented Virtual Reality) mod to continue functioning. For those unaware, this mod allows players to draw in the 3D space of the game world, which can then be shared with others who are also using the mod. In some cases this manifests itself through drawing/tagging/defacing the game world, but more popularly is used to give visual guides for dungeon and raid encounters.

We’re making this change for two reasons. The invasive nature of a mod altering and/or interacting with the game world (virtually or directly) is not intended and not something we will allow. World of Warcraft UI addons are never intended to interact with the game world itself. This is mirrored in our stance and restriction of model and texture alterations. The second reason is that it removes too much player reaction and decision-making while facing dungeon and raid encounters. While some other mods also work to this end, we find that AVR and the act of visualizing strategy within the game world simply goes beyond what we’re willing to allow.

The change we’re making in attempts to break the functionality is light in its touch and approach. When blocking any functionality we run the risk of affecting other mods, but we’ve targeted the changes as carefully as possible. If we find that the AVR mod (or any mod attempting to replicate its functions) are usable after 3.3.5 we will take further, more drastic steps.

If you do not remember what AVR is, here is a small reminder.

Totem of Wrath Changes
This isn't a lot of information but it's the most we can get these days!

Quote from: Ghostcrawler (Source)
It is 100 yards. The new implementation isn't a totem, but an effect that radiates from an existing totem.

Cataclysm Screenshot of the Day – Vashj'ir
A new screenshot of Vashj'ir has been added to the Screenshot of the Day Gallery.

Concept Art
Two very early concept art (= Before Warcraft 3) of the Taurens and Night Elves have been released on the official site.

Fan Art
6 new Fan Arts have been added to the Fan Art Gallery.


Halion Video, Blue posts, SSOTD

Ruby Sanctum PTR – Halion Kill Video
EF BIE EI (EU – Dalvengyr) released a video of their kill of Halion on the PTRs. Don't forget that US PTR testing is tonight!

Cataclysm Screenshot of the Day
A new screenshot has been added to the Screenshot of the Day Gallery.

Blue posts

Quote from Blizzard staff
Female Worgen hair styles
They will have hair styles to choose from. The model is still a work in-progress and the pictures provided to our fan sites show her with no hair style. (Source)

Larger health pools / AOE Damage in boss fights
The first part is definitely a goal. The second part has been taken out of context a bit. I was saying that I was sure we would still have *some* fights with raid-wide AoE damage because that mechanic is one way to make healing feel different from encounter to encounter. But it is not a design to have persistent damage auras as part of every encounter. It's also not a design goal to have crowd control part of every encounter, but overall we expect you'll be doing more CC (and therefore less group tanking) than in Wrath. (Source)

Is Remote AH an ingame advantage?
First off, no correlation can be made here between the idea of releasing a Remote Auction House feature and that of releasing epic equipment for sale. The ground is still quite firm on that slope.

Second, a player who has more time in a week to play the game than you has an advantage over you by this same standard. Someone that has an hour or more a day to use the Auction House than you do has an advantage, and they're not even charged extra for it. The Remote Auction House provides no in-game functionality that isn't already available to every single player as often as they can or want to use it. The only difference now is that, for an additional monthly fee, players can use the Auction House in a remote fashion without having to log into the game client.

I'm not sure how many time Blizzard has to say they won't sell gear before people will believe them.
It's a legitimate concern. I'd share it if I weren't confident about our commitment to our players and our ultimate goal of creating epic games with incredible support and bonus features. Some players fear this happening so much though, that they almost wait for it to happen. With nearly any announcement we make about additional features or flavor items which have a cost associated, this is then seen as a sign of the slippery slope, no matter how large the leap to an adequate assertion may be.

Our core philosophy has not changed and we feel we're being very reasonable about the products and premium services we're offering. They allow us to maintain a strong company, afford and maintain state-of-the-art tools and hardware, keep some of the most talented staff in the gaming industry around, and continue making great games. Smiley (Source)

Female Worgen Preview Pictures

Update – Added PTR Schedule at the end of the post

Female Worgen Preview Pictures
Blizzard just released a couple of screenshots of the … female worgen! That's not really what I asked for my birthday (yes, it is!) but I guess that works.

Important – These models are a work in progress and they might not reflect the final appearance of female worgens in game.


US PTR Testing Schedule
The US PTR is testing again tomorrow.

Quote from: Daelo (Source)
Now that the 3.3.5 patch is available for PTR testing, we wanted to have a round of focus testing for Ruby Sanctum. Only normal mode will be available, with Heroic testing to occur at a later date.

Everything related to this zone is implemented for this test, please note any issues with the trash creatures and sub-bosses, loot, achievements, and quests.

US Testing Schedule:
Thursday, May 20 starting at 19:00 EDT.

We plan to allow testing for an extended period. However since this is the Test Realm, unforeseen issues could delay or cancel testing at any time.

Introducing the Remote Auction House

Introducing the Remote Auction House
The Remote Auction House is now available on iPhone and from any computer with a web browser. I have to admit that I'm a little scared of how the system could be abused but I'll assume that Blizzard is full of smart people who added protections against that.

When the beta test is over, it will cost $2,99/month to buy and sell from the Auction House remotely.

iPhone Remote AH

Web Remote AH

Features

Quote from: Blizzard (Source)
Free Features

  • Browse the Auction House
  • Get real-time notifications when your auctions sell or expire
  • Get real-time notifications when you win auctions or when you are outbid
  • View your characters' current gold
  • View the status of your auctions and search for similar auctions
  • View the items you can sell in your bags, bank, and mailbox
  • View the status of auctions you are bidding on
  • View the items you've sold in the Auction House
  • View your expired auctions
  • View the status of auctions you created
  • View your successful auctions

Subscription Features

  • Bid on auctions
  • Buy out auctions
  • Create auctions from items in your bags, bank, and mailbox
  • Collect gold from successful auctions
  • Collect gold from unsuccessful bids
  • Collect all outstanding gold with a single click
  • Cancel your auctions
  • Relist items for sale from your expired auctions

Auction House Beta Test

Quote from: Bashiok (Source)
The World of Warcraft Remote Auction House beta test is now open for business! The Remote Auction House is a new service in development that lets players access the World of Warcraft Auction House from the Armory website (http://us.wowarmory.com/auctionhouse/) or the Mobile Armory app for iPhone and iPod touch (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=321057000&mt=8). Players can browse their characters’ local Auction Houses with the same search functionality available in the game, as well as see the real-time status of each of their current bids and auctions.

As we’d mentioned previously, certain features of the Remote Auction House will be premium-based. Once the beta test is complete and the Remote Auction House is live, players will be able to subscribe to a new service called World of Warcraft Remote (http://us.wowarmory.com/wow-remote.xml), which will allow them to buy items; post items for sale from a character’s bags, bank, or mailbox; collect gold from their bids and auctions; and more. During the beta test, players can try out these features for free, and each World of Warcraft account will be able to perform up to 25 transactions per day. (Please note this limit will be increased at launch.)

The list of realms eligible to participate in the beta test is displayed below. If your realm is not on this list, please check again soon, as we plan to eventually open the beta test to all realms.

Anub'arak
Blackwater Raiders
Bladefist
Cenarion Circle
Cenarius
Darrowmere
Echo Isles
Fenris
Hyjal
Korialstraaz
Lightbringer
Maiev
Misha
Ravenholdt
Shu'halo
Sisters of Elune
The Forgotten Coast
Uther
Vashj
Winterhoof

For more information on the Remote Auction House, refer to the FAQ (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/REMOTE). We hope you enjoy trying out this new service, and we look forward to hearing your feedback in the thread below.

Remote Auction House FAQ

Quote from: Blizzard (Source)
What is the World of Warcraft Remote Auction House beta test?
The Remote Auction House is a new feature, currently undergoing beta testing, that allows players to log in to the Armory and browse any Auction House that the characters on their World of Warcraft account have access to. Once beta testing is complete and the Remote Auction House is live, players who subscribe to an upcoming service called World of Warcraft Remote will also be able to bid on or buy out existing auctions; post items for sale from their bags, bank, and mailbox; and collect gold that they earn in auctions or that is returned as a result of being outbid, all through the web or their compatible mobile device. During the beta-testing period, players will be able to try out and test all of these features, including premium features such as making bids and posting auctions, without a subscription to World of Warcraft Remote.

How do I browse the Remote Auction House via the web?
After you log in and designate a primary character, click on the Browse Auctions tab, and then enter the search term in the field. You can narrow your search using the filters and options, which are similar to those available in the game. To switch between the character’s faction-specific auction house and the realm’s neutral auction house, click the faction symbol in the upper-right corner of the interface. A World of Warcraft Remote subscription will not be required to browse the Auction House in this fashion; however, please note that after the beta test concludes, you will need to subscribe to World of Warcraft Remote in order to bid on or buy out items from the results window.

How do I create auctions?
From the Create Auctions tab, select the item you wish to sell from the list on the left side of the screen. You can sell any transferable item (excluding account-bound items) from your bags, bank, or mailbox. Once selected, you can set a starting price, a buyout price, the quantity you wish to sell, and the number of stacks (to create multiple auctions for that item). Please note that after the beta test concludes, you will need a subscription to World of Warcraft Remote in order to create auctions.

How can I collect gold from successful auctions and unsuccessful bids?
To collect gold from a successful auction, click the My Auctions tab, and then click the Claim Gold button next to the successful auction, or the Claim All Gold button to claim the gold from all successful auctions. The gold will be removed from your mailbox and given to your character. You can also reclaim gold from unsuccessful bids on the My Bids tab. Please note that after the beta test concludes and the live service launches, you will need a subscription to World of Warcraft Remote to use these features.

How will I subscribe to World of Warcraft Remote?
Subscriptions to World of Warcraft Remote are not yet available; we’ll have more information about how to subscribe after the Remote Auction House beta test concludes. In the meantime, you can visit the World of Warcraft Remote FAQ for more information.

Is there a limit to the number of transactions (purchases and sales) I can make?
Yes. In order to help prevent abuse of this service, there will be a system in place to limit the total number of Auction House transactions (including bids, buyouts, and creating auctions) that a single World of Warcraft account can perform through World of Warcraft Remote each day. For the purposes of the beta test, the limit is set to 25 transactions per day per World of Warcraft account. When the Remote Auction House beta test ends and the live World of Warcraft Remote service launches, we plan to increase the limit to 200 transactions per day (with a World of Warcraft Remote subscription), thoug…

Ruby Sanctum PTR Testing (Updated)

Update #4 – Cleaned up the post.

Ruby Sanctum PTR Testing
The testing of the Ruby Sanctum has come to an end. A couple of guilds defeated Halion and a recap (and videos) will be available soon. For the time being you can always check the old preview and the updated loot table below.

25-Man Loot Table

lvl Type Spec Slot Item
271 Plate Melee.DPS Feet Apocalypse’s Advance
271 Plate Spell Feet Foreshadow Steps
271 Plate Tanking Feet Treads of Impending Resurrection
271 Mail Spell Waist Split Shape Belt
271 Leather Spell Wrist Phaseshifter’s Bracers
271 Cloth Spell Back Cloak of Burning Dusk
271 Neck Melee.DPS Neck Penumbra Pendant
271 Finger Phys.DPS Finger Signet of Twilight
271 Finger Spell MP5 Finger Ring of Phased Regeneration
271 Trinket Phys.DPS Trinket Sharpened Twilight Scale
271 Trinket Tanking Trinket Petrified Twilight Scale
271 Trinket Spell DPS Trinket Charred Twilight Scale
271 Trinket Healing Trinket Glowing Twilight Scale

10-Man Loot Table

lvl Type Spec Slot Item
258 Plate Melee.DPS Wrist Bracers of the Heir
258 Leather Phys.DPS Chest Gloaming Sark
258 Leather Spell Hands Changeling Gloves
258 Cloth Spell Hit Waist Misbegotten Belt
258 Cloak Spell MP5 Back Abduction’s Cover
258 Finger Melee.DPS Finger Zarithrian’s Offering

BlizzCon 2010 Tickets on Sale June 2 and June 5

BlizzCon 2010 Tickets on Sale June 2 and June 5

Quote from: Blizzard (Source)
IRVINE, Calif., May 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that tickets for its fifth BlizzCon(R) gaming convention will go on sale in two batches on Wednesday, June 2 and Saturday, June 5, 2010. BlizzCon is a celebration of the global player communities surrounding Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft(R), Diablo(R), and StarCraft(R) game universes. The event will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on October 22 and 23. Live coverage of the event will be available as a DIRECTV(R) Pay Per View package and as a multi-channel Internet stream, allowing viewers online to switch between coverage of multiple panels and activities during the show.

"BlizzCon is a unique opportunity for our players to meet one another, strengthen the friendships they've formed online, and have a great time celebrating a shared passion for gaming together with Blizzard employees," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "For those who can't attend, we're pleased to be providing an unprecedented level of access to the activities and attractions that BlizzCon has to offer."

In addition to serving as a gathering place for the different Blizzard Entertainment gaming communities, BlizzCon will have an array of activities, including discussion panels, competitive and casual tournaments, contests, hands-on playtime with current and upcoming Blizzard Entertainment games, and more.

Tickets to the convention will be priced at $150 USD each and will be available for purchase from the official BlizzCon website at www.blizzcon.com. Tickets will be released in two separate batches on June 2 at 7 p.m. Pacific time and on June 5 at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Those interested in attending BlizzCon can simplify the purchase process by registering a Battle.net account at www.battle.net before ticket sales begin.

The popular DIRECTV(R) BlizzCon Pay Per View event will return in 2010, available to existing DIRECTV customers in the United States for $39.95 USD. The event will again deliver comprehensive live HD coverage from the show floor on each day of the convention, including exclusive interviews, demos, and more.

Gamers around the world will also have the option to purchase the Pay Per View event as a multi-channel Internet stream, also priced at $39.95 USD (pricing may vary by region). For the first time, anyone who purchases the Internet stream will be able to switch freely between multiple channels of coverage dedicated to different areas of BlizzCon, allowing online viewers expanded access to the panels and events they're most interested in. DIRECTV customers who order the televised event will receive this Internet stream at no extra charge, allowing them to watch in the format of their choice. Those who order the event will also receive this year's BlizzCon-exclusive World of Warcraft(R) in-game item (availability may vary by region), to be revealed at a later date. Limited streaming coverage of the BlizzCon opening ceremony and certain BlizzCon tournaments will be available via the Internet for free.

As BlizzCon draws closer, further details about the show, including ordering and programming information for the DIRECTV BlizzCon Pay Per View event and multi-channel Internet stream, will be announced at www.blizzcon.com.

To keep pace with the continued growth of World of Warcraft as well as development on other Blizzard Entertainment games, the company is currently hiring for numerous open positions. More information on available career opportunities can be found at www.blizzard.com/jobs.

Cataclysm Screenshot, Ruby Sanctum, Elitist Armory

Update – ElitistArmory got slightly mmo-champion'd. You might have to wait a while to get your character processed.

The activity on Blizzard's side is fairly restricted these days since most of the activity seems to be on the Alpha forums according to what I hear. I will probably start pushing live the Cataclysm menu and a few other things today (= I might break the site a little) since the NDA lasts longer than I expected and it's probably worth it to do temporary pages.

Also, don't forget that Ruby Sanctum testing is tonight!

Cataclysm Screenshot of the Day
A new screenshot has been added to the official Screenshot of the Day Gallery. Today is another look at Gilneas.

Reminder – Ruby Sanctum PTR Testing Today

Quote from: Daelo (Source)
Now that the 3.3.5 patch is available for PTR testing, we wanted to have a round of focus testing for Ruby Sanctum. Only normal mode will be available, with Heroic testing to occur at a later date.

Everything related to this zone is implemented for this test, please note any issues with the trash creatures and sub-bosses, loot, achievements, and quests.

US Testing Schedule:
Date to be determined

EU Testing Schedule:
Tuesday, May 18 starting at 19:30 CEST.

We plan to allow testing for an extended period. However since this is the Test Realm, unforeseen issues could delay or cancel testing at any time.

Elitist Armory
Today is a slow news day, so here’s a new armory website that popped up! It’s related to an addon I mentioned a few months ago, Elitist Group.

Elitist Armory is done by the author of Elitist Group, as with Elitist Group it gives you information on what kind of equipment, gems and enchants a player is using. It also tries to show you information you need, rather than just giving you everything and the kitchen sink.

I’ll be lazy and steal the examples used on the website, Shadow is a perfect profile, while Amarand has multiple item and talent issues.

Powered by
You can add support for tooltips showing Elitist Armory information by using the powered by support, all you have to do is include a little bit of Javascript.

Guild
The guild feature will allow you to quickly see how good and how accurate your raid teams gear is. This guild is probably not going to be killing 25-man heroic Lich King anytime soon!

Equipment, gems and enchants
Items are categorized into their basic types by stats. Items with defense rating are tank items or if they have spell power then it’s a caster item. Players are classified into a tank, caster dps, melee dps or range dps role depending on their talents and profiles are built based on if an item is useful for them. A Hunter would be penalized for wearing items with Spirit, while a Holy Priest would not.

Unlike Elitist Group, it will also warn players who are Jewelcrafters, but don’t have three Dragon’s Eyes socketed, or Blacksmiths who aren’t using their extra sockets. It will even show a players gear for both of their specs if it’s available.

It includes basic searching for item upgrades by their type, such as finding upgrades for Boots of Wintry Endurance.

Dungeon experience
Rather than showing experience by a long list of achievements, you can a simple summarized percent based on the same numbers used in Elitist Group. Dungeon experience is broken down by number of players and by heroic vs normal difficulty. Claiming a character, will let you show your main characters experience if you play a lot of alts.

Ruby Sanctum Quests, World of Gnomecraft, Comics

Ruby Sanctum Questline
A couple of quests will be added to the game to introduce the Ruby Sanctum. If you do not know who are the dragons mentioned in the quest descriptions, you might want to check the Dargonax / Sinestra articles on WoWWiki. These quests have been added to the Ruby Sanctum Info Compilation.

QuestTrouble at Wyrmrest
Objective – Speak with Krasus at Wyrmrest Temple in Dragonblight.
Description
My old friend Krasus sends word of dire happenings at Wyrmrest, in Dragonblight. His missive was brief, but it seems that there has been some sort of attack on the Ruby Sanctum beneath the Temple.

Pressing business here in Dalaran keeps me from attending to the matter personally, but I have heard word of your exploits in the Lich King's Citadel and you are doubtless up to the task — perhaps you could assist Krasus in my stead?

QuestAssault on the Sanctum
Objective – Investigate the Ruby Sanctum beneath Wyrmrest Temple.
Description
<race>, something terrible has transpired within the Ruby Sanctum beneath the Temple. The entry to the Sanctum is in ruins, and its guardians violently slain. We sent scouts to investigate, but they have not returned. I cannot help but fear the worst.

Enter the Ruby Sanctum and discover what has befallen the home of my flight. Once we have more information, we can plan our next steps accordingly.

QuestThe Twilight Destroyer
Objective – Defeat Halion and repel the invasion of the Ruby Sanctum.
RewardsEmblem of Frost x 5
Description
This was no reckless attack, but rather a carefully orchestrated strike against the heart of the Red Dragonflight. Zarithrian, on the bluff over there, is overseeing the assault, but the true leader of this force is a brash and powerful Twilight dragon named Halion. Not since Dargonax has a full-grown spawn of Sinestra's twisted experiments been seen.

Slay him, <name>, and then when the invasion has been fully repelled, report to Krasus regarding all you have seen here.

Machinima – World of Gnomecraft 2.0
World of Gnomecraft 2.0 for a while and I never had the time/always forgot to post it. Also, I've been hiding my love for gnomes from the public for years and it's time for a change!

Comics
Dark Legacy Comic #238 and Teh Gladiators #132 + 133 are out. Also added two comics posted this week on Penny Arcade!


Blue posts, MLG PC Circuit, Fan Arts

Cataclysm Screenshots of the Day
The screenshots of the day for the week-end have been added to the official site.


Lost Isles

Abyssal Maw

Blackrock Caverns

Blasted Lands

Blue posts

Quote from Blizzard staff
Grim Batol
Grim Batol was founded by the Wildhammers. The Wildhammers abandoned their new home after the war with the Dark Irons left the place tainted. The Dragonmaw clan later moved in and attempted to harvest the eggs of Alextrasza for sinister purposes, though they failed to fully satisfy Deathwing. With the four Dragon Aspects confronting both Deathwing and the Dragonmaws, Grim Batol was abandoned. Members of the Red Dragonflight stayed behind to guard its corridors in the Twilight Highlands.

Now popcorn…. YOU. (Source)

Twin Peaks Battleground
That I can't say, but there will be a Twilight Highlands Battleground called Twin Peaks. The Alliance will be working with the Wildhammers in a struggle for land against the Dragonmaws backed by the Horde. (Source)

MLG Announces World of Warcraft as 2010 Pro Circuit Title (From MLGPro.com)
On the heels of another successful season in 2009, Major League Gaming is pleased to announce World of Warcraft is returning to the MLG Pro Circuit. More excitement, more matches, more teams, and more prize money are just a few of the things that will make 2010 a year to remember.

The season kicks off June 4-6 in Columbus, Ohio, where 16 of the top World of Warcraft 3v3 Arena teams from around the globe will be invited to square off. Teams will compete in two groups of eight teams each, in a round robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to a double-elimination Championship Bracket where winners will take home over $15,000 in cash.

Starting with Raleigh, an Online Qualifier will be held prior to each Live Competition. The top four placing teams in this open competition will earn invitations to the following live event. The top two placing teams in the Online Qualifier will also receive hotel accommodations for the following live event. Also beginning in Raleigh, each Regular Season live event will host 16 teams total: the top four teams from previous event, four MLG invited teams, four Online Qualifier placing teams, and four open registration slots available for purchase.

MLG Rank Points will be awarded at each of the three live Regular Season events based on where each team finishes. The season will culminate with the 2010 World of Warcraft Championship. Up to eight teams, determined by MLG Rank Points, will face off for $25,000 in cash and the title of MLG 2010 World of Warcraft Champion.

The MLG Pro Circuit broadcast crew will also be kicking it up a notch this year with the return of the Live Broadcast from each Pro Circuit Live Competition. The all new MLG WoW Primetime Show, as well as many select matches from the Online Qualifiers, will be broadcast live throughout the season at GotFrag.com and MMO-Champion.com. Stay tuned to MLGPro.com and GotFrag.com for more information on the season and broadcast schedules.

Players, this is your chance to bring your game to the ultimate battleground and join the ranks of professional gamers on the Major League Gaming Pro Circuit. If you’re interested in competing at MLG Columbus, please e-mail rmoore@mlgpro.com. Fans, prepare yourself for more matches and excitement than you can imagine delivered live, directly to your living room. World of Warcraft's 2010 Season on the MLG Pro Circuit is almost here. Get ready.

2010 World of Warcraft Details
3 – Regular Season Live Competitions

  • 16 team 3v3 World of Warcraft Arena
  • $15,750 in cash prizes per Regular Season event
  • First Regular Season Live Event June 4th-6th, 2010 Columbus, Ohio
  • Live broadcasts with expert play by play and color commentary

Championship Live Event

  • 8 top ranked teams qualify based on Regular Season points
  • $25,000 in cash prizes for Championship event
  • Live broadcasts with expert play by play and color commentary

Multiple Online Qualifiers and Tournaments

  • Multiple open Online Qualifiers
  • Ladders and tournaments throughout the year
  • More prizes
  • Live broadcasts with expert play by play and color commentary

Fan Arts
5 new awesome Fan Arts have been added to the Blizzard Fan Art Section.


Concept Art
2 early concept arts of World of Warcraft have been added to the official site.

The MMO Report
It's time for your weekly MMO Report, with a slight update because I screwed up the beginning of their show, oops.

First off, we have to let you all know that the first story in this week's MMO Report has an update. Right after we shot this episode Blizzard asked MMO-Champion.com to take down all the images and information they had up about Cataclysm. We apologize, but still heartily recommend checking their site out.