User:VonDoomhammer/sandbox

HISTORY...?

In 1996, Blizzard acquired Condor Games, which had been working on the game Diablo for Blizzard at the time. Condor was renamed Blizzard North, and has since developed hit games Diablo, Diablo II, and its expansion pack Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. Blizzard North was located in San Mateo, California; the company originated in Redwood City, California.

Blizzard launched their online gaming service Battle.net in January 1997 with the release of their action-RPG Diablo. In 2002, Blizzard was able to reacquire rights for three of its earlier Silicon & Synapse titles from Interplay Entertainment and re-release them under Game Boy Advance.{{cite interview

| last = Morhaime

| first = Mike

| subject = The Making of The Lost Vikings

| subject-link =

| interviewer = Blizzard Insider

| title = Blizzard Insider

| type =

| url = http://www.blizzard.com/us/insider/011/lostvikings.html

| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20030211022815/http://www.blizzard.com/insider/011/lostvikings.shtml

| archivedate=February 11, 2003

| format = url

| program = Blizzard Insider

| date = November 22, 2002

| accessdate =June 23, 2007

}} In 2004, Blizzard opened European offices in the Paris suburb of Vélizy, Yvelines, France, responsible for the European in-game support of World of Warcraft. On November 23, 2004, Blizzard released World of Warcraft, its MMORPG offering. On May 16, 2005, Blizzard announced the acquisition of Swingin' Ape Studios, a video game developer which had been developing StarCraft: Ghost. The company was then merged into Blizzard's other teams after StarCraft: Ghost was 'postponed indefinitely'. On August 1, 2005, Blizzard announced the consolidation of Blizzard North into the headquarters at 131 Theory in UC Irvine's University Research Park in Irvine, California. In 2008, Blizzard moved their headquarters to 16215 Alton Parkway in Irvine, California.

World of Warcraft was the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994.This excludes expansion packs and the cancelled Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans. Blizzard announced World of Warcraft on September 2, 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.games-fusion.net/press/content/blizzard_entertainment_announc.php|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071103122615/http://www.games-fusion.net/press/content/blizzard_entertainment_announc.php|archivedate=November 3, 2007|title=Blizzard Entertainment announces World of Warcraft}} The game was released on November 23, 2004, on the 10th anniversary of the Warcraft franchise.

The first expansion set of the game, The Burning Crusade, was released on January 16, 2007.{{cite web|title=World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Shatters Day-1 Sales Record|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|url=http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/070123.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080321220958/http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/070123.html|archivedate=March 21, 2008|date=January 23, 2008}} The second expansion set, Wrath of the Lich King, was released on November 13, 2008.{{cite web|title=World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Shatters Day-1 Sales Record|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|url=http://www.cpugamer.com/news/wrath-of-the-lich-shatters-day-1-sales-record|date=November 20, 2008|accessdate=November 20, 2008}} The third expansion set, Cataclysm{{Cite news|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24943|title=BlizzCon 09: Blizzard Officially Unveils WoW Expansion, Cataclysm|last=Chris|first=Remo|date=August 21, 2009|publisher=Gamasutra.com|accessdate=August 21, 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/08/blizzcon-2009-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm/|title=Cataclysm Expansion Will Rock World of Warcraft, Blizzard Says|last=John|first=Tracey|date=August 21, 2009|publisher=Wired|accessdate=August 21, 2009}} entered into closed beta testing in late June 2010 and was released to the public on December 7, 2010.{{cite web| first=Jessica| last=Citizen |title=WoW: Cataclysm closed beta kicks off |url=http://www.gamepron.com/news/2010/06/30/wow-cataclysm-closed-beta-kicks-off/ |publisher=GamePron |date=June 30, 2010 |accessdate=June 30, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/press/pressreleases.html?100630|title=Blizzard Entertainment Begins Closed Beta Test for World of Warcraft®: Cataclysm™}}

With more than 10 million monthly subscriptions in October 2010,{{cite web|url=http://pulse2.com/2010/10/11/world-of-warcraft-hits-12-million-subscribers|title=World of Warcraft Hits 12 Million Subscribers}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/world-of-warcraft-hits-the-12-million-subscribers-mark|title=World of Warcraft hits the 12-million-subscribers mark|author=Ryan Fleming}} World of Warcraft is currently the world's most-subscribed MMORPG,"[http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart1.html MMOG Active Subscriptions 21.0]", MMOGCHART.COM, June 29, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://gigaom.com/2007/06/13/top-ten-most-popular-mmos/|title=GigaOM Top 10 Most Popular MMOs}} and holds the Guinness World Record for the most popular MMORPG by subscribers.{{Cite book|last=Glenday|first=Craig|title=Guinness World Records 2009|editor=Craig Glenday|publisher=Random House, Inc.|year=2009|edition=paperback|series=GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS|page=241|isbn=0-553-59256-4, 9780553592566|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHYt0RNSDfgC&q=most+popular+MMORPG&pg=PA269|accessdate=September 18, 2009|quote=Most popular MMORPG game(sic) In terms of the number of online subscribers, World of Warcraft is the most popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), with 10 million subscribers as of January 2008.}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/6081496/Video-Backstage-at-BlizzCon-2009.html|title=Video: Backstage at BlizzCon 2009:Thousands of World of Warcraft fans descend on southern California for Blizzard's epic gaming convention|last=Williams|first=Becky|date=August 24, 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |quote=Set in the fantasy world of Azeroth it currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most popular MMORPG, which probably accounts for why Blizzard is the most bankable games publisher in the world.|accessdate=September 18, 2009 }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a158552/guinness-announces-gaming-world-records.html|title=Guinness announces gaming world records|last=Langshaw|first=Mark|date=June 6, 2009|publisher=Digital Spy Limited|accessdate=September 18, 2009|quote=Blizzard’s Mike Morhaime and Paul Sams were handed awards for World Of Warcraft and Starcraft, which won Most Popular MMORPG and Best Selling PC Strategy Game respectively.}}{{cite web|quote=World of Warcraft is the most popular MMORPG in the world with nearly 12 million subscribers around the world.|url=http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/pc_gaming.aspx|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080405020338/http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/pc_gaming.aspx|archivedate=April 5, 2008|title=Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition – Records – PC Gaming}} In April 2008, World of Warcraft was estimated to hold 62 percent of the MMORPG subscription market.{{cite web|title=MMOG Subscriptions Market Share April 2008|publisher=mmogchart.com, Bruce Sterling Woodcock|url=http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart7.html|date=April 1, 2008|accessdate=September 24, 2008}} In 2008, Blizzard was honored at the 59th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards for the creation of World of Warcraft. Mike Morhaime accepted the award.

As the website Gamasutra in February 2012 writes, Blizzard Entertainment will lay off around 600 employees "in order to address the changing needs of our company", as the Blizzard CEO and co-founder Mike Morhaime in a statement said.[http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/163398/Blizzard_cuts_600_employees_in_organizational_shift.php Blizzard cuts 600 employees in organizational shift], Gamasutra, retrieved 2012-03-01.

Blizzard has a location in Austin, Tx.

Currently, Will Pwn 4 Food has one main franchise in the gaming industry: Dodgebots.

Notable unreleased titles include Dodgebots, which was cancelled on May 22, 1998, Shattered Kneecaps, and Dodgebots: Wii Fit Classics, which was "Postponed indefinitely" on March 24, 2006 after being in development hell for much of its lifespan, and whose current status is in question. The company also has a history of declining to set release dates, choosing to instead take as much time as needed, generally saying a given product is "done when it's done."{{Cite news

|author=GamePro Staff

|url = http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/79448/gamepro-q-a-blizzards-jeff-kaplan-on-the-burning-crusade/

|title = GamePro Q&A: Blizzard's Jeff Kaplan on The Burning Crusade

|publisher=GamePro

|date = August 29, 2006

|accessdate =September 30, 2006

|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090114012421/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/79448/gamepro-q-a-blizzards-jeff-kaplan-on-the-burning-crusade/|archivedate=2009-01-14}}

Pax Imperia II was originally announced as a title to be published by Blizzard. Blizzard eventually dropped Pax Imperia II, though, when it decided it might be in conflict with their other space strategy project, today known as StarCraft. THQ eventually contracted with Heliotrope and released the game in 1997 as Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain.

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that they will be producing a Warcraft live-action movie. The movie will be financed and produced by Legendary Pictures and Atlas Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://www.blizzard.com/press/060509.shtml|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060526064526/http://www.blizzard.com/press/060509.shtml|archivedate=May 26, 2006|title=Blizzard Entertainment – Press Release|accessdate=August 31, 2006|date=May 9, 2006}}

On July 6, 2010, Blizzard announced that they were changing the way their forums worked to require that users identify themselves with their real name.http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=25626109041&sid=3000&pageNo=1{{cite web|url=http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/07/06/official-forum-changes-real-life-names-to-be-displayed|title=Official forum changes, real life names to be displayed}} The reaction from the community was overwhelmingly negative with multiple game magazines calling the change "foolhardy"{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/254846/news/fans-rage-over-blizzard-forum-plans/|title=Fans rage over Blizzard forum plans}} and an "Epic Fail".[http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/07/07/why-blizzard%E2%80%99s-new-forum-plan-is-an-epic-fail Why Blizzard’s new forum plan is an epic fail]. PC Gamer (2010-07-07). Retrieved on July 8, 2011. It resulted in a significant user response on the Blizzard forums, including one thread on the issue reaching over 11,000 replies.{{Cite news| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10543100 |work=BBC News | title=Row over gamers' true identities | date=July 7, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/07/blizzard-post-about-starcraft-2-use-your-real-name.ars|title=Blizzard: post about StarCraft 2? Use your real name|author=Ben Kuchera}}{{cite web|url=http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/07/06/blizzards-responses-on-the-real-id-situation|title=Blizzard's responses on the Real ID situation}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalsomething.com/news/2990.html|title=Blizzard's Real ID Removes Anonymity From Their Forums}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/blizzard-forums-to-require-real-names|title=Blizzard forums to require real names|website=Eurogamer }} This included personal details of a Blizzard employee who gave his real name "to show it wasn't a big deal".{{cite web|url=http://consumerist.com/2010/07/you-want-your-real-name-publicly-associated-with-your-world-of-warcraft-account-right.html|title=You Want Your Real Name Publicly Associated With Your World Of Warcraft Account, Right?}} Shortly after revealing his real name, forum users posted personal information including his phone number, picture, age, and home address.

Some technology media outlets suggested that displaying real names through Real ID is a good idea and would benefit both Battle.net and the Blizzard community.[http://www.kombo.com/article.php?artid=15106]{{dead link|date=February 2011}} But others were worried that Blizzard were opening their fans up to real-life dangers such as stalking, harassment, and employment issues, since a simple Google search by your employer will reveal your online activities.{{cite web|url=http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/55728/Is-Blizzards-Real-ID-Safe-Or-A-Playground-For-Sexual-Deviants|title=Is Blizzard's Real ID Safe, Or A Playground For Sexual Deviants?}}[http://www.geekingoutabout.com/2010/07/06/21st-century-digital-redacted/ Geeking Out About… » 21st Century Digital REDACTED]. Geekingoutabout.com (2010-07-06). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.techeye.net/security/blizzard-forces-users-to-show-real-names|title=Blizzard forces users to show real names}}

Blizzard initially responded to some of the concerns by saying that the changes would not be retroactive to previous posts, that parents could set up the system so that minors cannot post, and that posting to the forums is optional.{{cite web|last=Holisky |first=Adam |url=http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/07/06/blizzards-responses-on-the-real-id-situation/ |title=Blizzard's responses on the Real ID situation |publisher=Wow.com |accessdate=July 8, 2010}} However, due to the huge negative response, Blizzard President Michael Morhaime issued a statement rescinding the plan to use real names on Blizzard's forums for the time being.[http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?sid=1&topicId=25968987278 World of Warcraft – English (NA) Forums -> Regarding real names in forums]. Forums.worldofwarcraft.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

Apart from the negative side effects of Real ID relating to privacy, the new addition boasts new features for current Blizzard titles. For instance, real names for friends, cross-realm and cross-game chat, rich presence and broadcasts are included with the Real ID system.{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20007841-1.html?tag=mncol;txt|title=Warcraft Gamers to get Real ID, Dong Ngo}}

Real names for friends: Your Real ID friends will appear under their real-life names on your friends list. This means that when you're chatting, communicating in-game, or viewing a character's profile, you will be able to retrieve the players account name as opposed to the character name. This saves the hassle of remembering multiple character names of your friends in order to communicate.

Cross-realm and cross-game chat: With Real ID, friends can chat cross-realm and cross-faction in World of Warcraft. Prior to Real ID this was not possible as players needed to be on the same server and same faction in order to communicate. Furthermore, cross game chat was not available to players playing different Blizzard titles. This is no longer the case as Real ID allows players to chat across different Blizzard games like Starcraft 2 to Diablo 3 to World of Warcraft.

Rich Presence: This feature will allow you to track and monitor what your friends are playing in real time. This means when you open your friends list you will be able to view the current game your friend might be playing.

Broadcasts: Allows players to broadcast a short status message for your friends to see. This means a player can make his or her status busy, available, etc. In additon, a player can send out short messages to update any change of plans which can be viewed by all friends.

{{Main|Warden (software)}}

Blizzard has made use of a special form of software known as the 'Warden Client'. The Warden client is known to be used with Blizzard's Online Games such as Diablo and World of Warcraft, and the Terms of Service contain a clause consenting to the Warden software's RAM scans while a Blizzard game is running.[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html WoW -> Legal -> Terms of Use]. Worldofwarcraft.com (December 9, 2010). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

The Warden client scans a small portion of the code segment of running processes in order to determine whether any third-party programs are running. The goal of this is to detect and address players who may be attempting to run unsigned code or third party programs in the game. This determination of third party programs is made by hashing the scanned strings and comparing the hashed value to a list of hashes assumed to correspond to banned third party programs.[http://web.archive.org/web/*hh_/www.rootkit.com/blog.php?newsid=358 rootkit.com]{{dead link|date=July 2011}} The Warden's reliability in correctly discerning legitimate versus illegitimate actions was called into question when a large scale incident happened when many Linux users were banned after an update to Warden caused it to incorrectly detect Cedega as a cheat program.[http://web.archive.org/web/20080216041937/http://www.linuxlookup.com/2006/nov/15/linux_users_banned_from_world_of_warcraft Linux Users Banned From World of Warcraft? | Linuxlookup]. Web.archive.org (February 16, 2008). Retrieved on July 8, 2011. Blizzard issued a statement claiming they had correctly identified and restored all accounts and credited them with 20 days play.[http://web.archive.org/web/20080803095822/http://www.linuxlookup.com/2006/nov/22/blizzard_unbans_linux_world_of_warcraft_players Blizzard Unbans Linux World of Warcraft Players | Linuxlookup]. Web.archive.org (August 3, 2008). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

Warden scans all processes running on a computer, not just the World of Warcraft game, and could possibly run across what would be considered private information and other personally identifiable information. It is because of these peripheral scans that Warden has been accused of being spyware and has run afoul of controversy among privacy advocates.Guttridge, Luke. (November 8, 2005) [http://play.tm/news/6837/wow-s-warden-stirs-controversy/ WoW's Warden stirs controversy – news – play]. Play.tm. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.[http://www.antispywarecoalition.org/documents/definitions.htm Definitions and Supporting Documents]. Antispywarecoalition.org. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.[http://news.mmosite.com/content/2006-11-26/20061126193343858.shtml Look! what is Blizzard doing on your pc? – MMOsite News Center]. News.mmosite.com (November 27, 2006). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

In 1998 Blizzard Entertainment Donald P. Driscoll, an Albany, California attorney filed the suit on behalf of Intervention, Inc., a California consumer group filed a class action lawsuit filed against them for "unlawful business practices" for the action of collecting data from a user's computer without their permission.[http://attrition.org/errata/company/blizzard01.html Errata: Blizzard Entertainment]. Attrition.org. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.{{cite news| url=http://articles.cnn.com/1998-05-04/tech/9805_04_privacy_piracy_1_privacy-initiative-antipiracy-feature-starcraft?_s=PM:TECH | work=CNN | title=The 10 best video games of 2010 | date=December 29, 2010}}

{{Main|Stratagus}}

On June 20, 2003, Blizzard issued a cease and desist letter to the developers of an open source clone of the Warcraft engine called FreeCraft, claiming trademark infringement. This hobby project had the same gameplay and characters as Warcraft II, but came with different graphics and music.

As well as a similar name, FreeCraft enabled gamers to use Warcraft II graphics, provided they had the Warcraft II CD. The programmers of the clone shut down their site without challenge. Soon after that the developers regrouped to continue the work by the name of Stratagus.[http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2004/07/15/stratagus.html Howard Wen, ''Stratagus: Open Source Strategy Games'' linuxdevcenter.com July 15, 2004]. Linuxdevcenter.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

On December 5, 2008, Blizzard issued a cease and desist letter to many administrators of high population World of Warcraft private servers (essentially slightly altered hosting servers of the actual World of Warcraft game, that players do not have to pay for). Blizzard used the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to influence many private servers to fully shut down and cease to exist.[http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/blizzard-legal-targets-private-servers/ Blizzard legal targets private servers] (Accessed Oct. 12, 2009) In 2008 a private server by the name of ChaosCrusade was served with a DMCA notification.{{cite web| url=http://newenthusiast.com/blizzard-hitting-wow-pirates-20081205248 | title=ChaosCrusade DMCA Notice | publisher=[http://www.newenthusiast.com New Enthusiast] | date=December 5, 2008 | accessdate=June 5, 2011}}

On August 14, 2007, Beijing University Founder Electronics Co., Ltd. sued Blizzard Entertainment Limited for copyright infringement claiming 100 million yuan in damages. The lawsuit alleged the Chinese edition of World of Warcraft reproduced a number of Chinese typefaces made by Founder Electronics without permission.[http://www.foundertype.com/EN/news/20078151110301.html Founder prosecuting Blizzard online game World of Warcraft Tort Claiming 100 million yuan]. Foundertype.com (August 14, 2007). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

{{Main|Glider (bot)}}

On July 14, 2008, the U.S. District of Arizona ruled on the case MDY Industries, LLC v. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. The Court found that MDY was liable for copyright infringement since users of its Glider bot program were breaking the End User License Agreement and Terms of Use for World of Warcraft. MDY Industries appealed the judgment of the district court, and a judgment was delivered by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 14, 2010, in which the summary judgment against MDY for contributory copyright infringement was reversed.http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/09-15932/920101214/http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/view_subpage.php?pk_id=0000011049 Nevertheless, they ruled that the bot violated the DMCA and the case was sent back to the district court for review in light of this decision.{{cite news|url=http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/mixed-ninth-circuit-ruling-mdy-v-blizzard-wow|title=A Mixed Ninth Circuit Ruling in MDY v. Blizzard: WoW Buyers Are Not Owners – But Glider Users Are Not Copyright Infringers Legal Analysis|date=2010-12-14|author=Corynne McSherry}}{{cite web|first=Fred|last=von Lohmann|url=http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/09/you-bought-it-you-own-it-mdy-v-blizzard-appealed|authorlink=Fred von Lohmann|title=You Bought It, You Own It: MDY v. Blizzard Appealed|publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation|date=2009-09-25|accessdate=2009-10-08}}

Shortly after Valve Corporation filed its trademark for "Dota" to secure the franchising rights for Dota 2, DotA-Allstars, LLC, run by former contributors to the games's predecessor, Defense of the Ancients, filed an opposing trademark in August 2010.{{cite web | last = Augustine | first = Josh | url = http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/08/17/riot-games-dev-counter-files-dota-trademark/ | title = Riot Games' dev counter-files "DotA" trademark | date = 2010-08-17 | accessdate = 2011-08-19 | publisher = PC Gamer }} DotA All-Stars, LLC was sold to Blizzard Entertainment in 2011. After the opposition was overruled in Valve's favor, Blizzard filed an opposition against Valve in November 2011, citing their license agreement with developers, as well as their ownership of DotA-Allstars, LLC.{{cite web | last = Plunkett | first = Luke | url = http://kotaku.com/5883938/blizzard-is-suing-valve | title = Blizzard and Valve go to War Over DOTA Name | date = 2012-02-10 | publisher = Kotaku }} Blizzard conceded their case in May of 2012, however, giving Valve undisputed commercial rights to Dota, while Blizzard would rename their StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm mod "Blizzard All-stars".{{cite web | last = Reilly | first = Jim | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/11/valve-blizzard-reach-dota-trademark-agreement.aspx | title = Valve, Blizzard Reach DOTA Trademark Agreement | date = 2012-05-11 | accessdate = 2012-05-23 | publisher = Game Informer }}

Blizzard released its revamped Battle.net service in 2009. This service allows people who have purchased Blizzard products (StarCraft, StarCraft II, Diablo II, and Warcraft III, as well as their expansions) to download digital copies of games they have purchased, without needing any physical media. In the future, it will store a player's "Blizzard Level" (similar to a Gamerscore).[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/01/blizzard-accounts-achievements/ MTV Multiplayer » Blizzard Plans To Track Gamer Achievements Across ‘WoW,’ ‘Starcraft’ And ‘Diablo’]. Multiplayerblog.mtv.com (August 1, 2008). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

On November 11, 2009, Blizzard required all World of Warcraft accounts to switch over to Battle.net Accounts. This transition now means that all current Blizzard titles can be accessed, downloaded, and played with a singular Battle.net login.[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/index.xml World of Warcraft]. World of Warcraft. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.

Battle net 2.0 is the new platform for matchmaking service for Blizzard games which will offer players a host of additional features. Players will now be able to track their friend's achievements, view match history, avatars, etc. Players will also be able to unlock a wide range of achievements (rewards for completing game content) for Blizzard games. This means players can enjoy new avatars, decals, badges etc, for their accounts.

The service will also allow players to chat simultaneously with players from other Blizzard games. For example, players no longer need to create multiple user names or accounts for most Blizzard products. StarCraft II, Diablo III and World of Warcraft will support the ability for users to cross communicate in game. This means that a player could be in a game of StarCraft II, and he/she may send or receive messages from friends playing World of Warcraft or Diablo III. Moreover, Battle.net 2.0 will track a player’s progress and skill level, and match make them with other players of even skill level. This way, everyone can enjoy the games and will only play against people who are just as good or bad as them. No player will ever feel that they are at a disadvantage. For example, in StarCraft II, a player's skill level is determined based on a modified ELO rating system, known as MMR (Match making Ratio).

Over the years, some former Blizzard employees have moved on and established gaming companies of their own:

• Flagship Studios,{{cite web|url=http://flagshipstudios.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=7&Itemid=29 |title=About Flagship Studios |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071212114426/http://flagshipstudios.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=7&Itemid=29 |archivedate=December 12, 2007}} creators of Hellgate: London, also worked on Mythos.
• ArenaNet,[http://web.archive.org/web/20061206085726/http://www.arenanet.com/games/index.html ArenaNet]. Web.archive.org (December 6, 2006). Retrieved on July 8, 2011. creators of the Guild Wars franchise.
• Ready at Dawn Studios,{{cite web|url=http://www.readyatdawn.com/about.html |title=About Ready At Dawn Studios |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070210074447/http://www.readyatdawn.com/ready.asp |archivedate=February 10, 2007}} creators of Daxter, God of War: Chains of Olympus and an Ōkami port for the Wii.
• Red 5 Studios,[http://red5studios.com/faq/ Red 5 Studios]{{Dead link|date=April 2009}} currently working on Firefall, a free to play game MMOG.
• Castaway Entertainment,[http://web.archive.org/web/20080112065616/http://www.castawayentertainment.com/about.html About Castaway Entertainment]. Web.archive.org (January 12, 2008). Retrieved on July 8, 2011. currently in a state of financial crisis, ceased working on a game similar to the Diablo series, Djinn.
• Click Entertainment,[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_benhaas Click Entertainment]. Eurogamer.net (April 27, 2001). Retrieved on July 8, 2011. creators of Throne of Darkness.
• Carbine Studios,[http://www.carbinestudios.com/news/ Carbine Studios]. Carbine Studios. Retrieved on July 8, 2011. currently working on a massively multiplayer title "WildStar".
• Turpitude Design,{{cite web|url=https://www.cmpevents.com/GDAU08/a.asp?option=G&V=2&CPid=226&Sortby=4a&SPln=H |title=Austin GDC 2008 Speaker List}}{{dead link|date=February 2011}} founded by Stieg Hedlund.
• Hyboreal Games,[http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2005/121505_hyboreal_1.x Hyboreal Games Q&A – Shacknews – video games, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii video game news, previews and downloads]{{dead link|date=July 2011}} founded by Michio Okamura.
• Runic Games,{{cite web

|url=http://www.gamecyte.com/captaining-the-lifeboat-runic-games-max-schaefer-and-travis-baldree

|title=Captaining The Lifeboat: Runic Games' Max Schaefer and Travis Baldree

|publisher=Gamecyte

|author=Sean Hollister

|accessdate=April 11, 2009

|date=August 14, 2008}} founded by Travis Baldree, Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer; creators of Torchlight.

• Undead Labs, founded by Jeff Strain. Currently working on a Zombie MMO for consoles.

{{Portal|Los Angeles|Companies}}

{{Commons category}}

• Blizzard North
• BlizzCon

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{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.blizzard.com/ Blizzard's website]
• [http://www.blizzard.co.uk/ Blizzard UK's website]
• [http://www.battle.net/ Battle.Net website]
• [http://web.archive.org/web/20080802003330/http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/index2.xml 2008 Worldwide Invitational]
• [http://documentarystorm.com/sports-gaming/blizzard-retrospective/ Blizzard Retrospective (documentary)]

{{Vivendi}}

{{Blizzard Entertainment}}

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