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TGS 08: Hands-on with Demon's Souls (PS3)


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"Nothing but a playerʼs decision and a tactics of using various weapons are important than anything that you really need to think to play." This line, taken from the official Demon's Souls site blurb, should make you feel as scared and confused as I felt when I got my hands on the game. My first thought, "ouch," remains scrawled at the top of my notes and, sadly, it's all downhill from there.

Gallery: Demons Souls

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The best of WoW Insider: October 7-14, 2008


Warcraft fans are pretty much all just as happy as that kid above (ok, well maybe not that happy). But there's lots of reasons to cheer -- BlizzCon took place in Anaheim, California this past weekend, patch 3.0.2 hit the live realms today, and next month, Wrath of the Lich King, the second WoW expansion, sees release. And throughout everything that's happening, WoW Insider has you covered -- here's our biggest stories from this weekend's convention and today's patch release.

BlizzCon 2008

Patch 3.0.2: Echoes of Doom

Blizzard omits some class changes from WoW 'Echoes of Doom' patch


Shortly after our earlier post on the release of World of Warcraft patch 3.0.2 "Echoes of Doom" went up, we started receiving tips that the patch notes we linked to were inaccurate. Turns out they are ... because, as our friends at WoW Insider report, Blizzard yanked a number of major class changes prior to its release.

In the run-up to next month's Wrath of the Lich King launch, Blizzard is evidently making changes to the game's balance on what seems to be a second-by-second basis, with the developer stating that patch 3.0.2 was balanced at level 80 with all of the intended changes but ... not so much at 70. Rather than make things messier, it went with what worked.

Blizzard says that all players should get the (for now) shelved changes by the time WotLK launches on Nov. 13. It also expects there to be numerous hot fixes at that point, asking its fans to hold strong during this (hopefully brief) period of hectic pre-launch scuttering about.

[Via WoW Insider]

BlizzCon 2008: In-depth Diablo 3 hands-on


When we weren't taking photos, sitting in Starcraft 2 panels, or watching the closing ceremonies at BlizzCon, all of our available free time was devoted to Diablo 3. It was the first thing we played within minutes of the grand opening, and the game they had to pry us away from when the doors closed. Yes, it's just that good. Plus, we still have two character classes that haven't been revealed yet, so who knows what else this has in store for us.

We were happy just to be able to return to the world of Diablo after seven years since the Lord of Destruction expansion set was on store shelves, and it was worth the wait. Find out everything we could during our exhaustive hands-on after the break, and be sure to check out the galleries below that show off in-game screens and concept art. Plus we're sticking that gameplay footage in again, because it's the only way we can enjoy Diablo until there's a beta, or some sort of miracle occurs.

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World of Warcraft 'Echoes of Doom' patch out today

Today, Blizzard will be releasing World of Warcraft patch 3.0.2, also known as "Echoes of Doom," the first major update since March's "Fury of the Sunwell" patch. "Echoes" marks the introduction of the Achievements System, sure to push the game into an even higher echelon of addiction. Expect also new locations, arenas, spells, talents, abilities, a barbershop, an in-game calendar and a new profession, Inscription.

Our MMO-obsessed (or "MMObsessed") friends at WoW Insider have the full patch notes and an archive of extensive coverage. The "Echoes of Doom" patch should be returning your calls around 2:00PM PT (or 5:00PM ET). In case you missed it (and then, of course, we must ask how?), check out Joystiq and WoW Insider's coverage of this past weekend's BlizzCon.

BlizzCon 2008: Rob Pardo talks Battle.Net monetizing


Not everyone was thrilled with the weekend news that Blizzard is looking to monetize Battle.Net in some way. So we made that one of the first questions we asked Blizzard VP Rob Pardo. The good news is, they're not going to make Diablo III subscription based. Find out everyone he told us after the break.

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BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III lore & art panel


Story guru Leonard Boyarsky and background artist Chris Donnelson spoke at yesterday's Diablo III Lore & Art panel just before the closing BlizzCon eremonies, and they detailed how the background of the previous two Diablo games will tie into this one. Check out the highlights after the break, and find out how the gameplay has been changed to emphasize the story and art in this title, and what's been happening in the 20 in-game years since the events of Diablo II.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Art & Lore

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BlizzCon 2008: WoW Wrath of the Lich King new gameplay and images


If you've been playing the Wrath of the Lich King beta, then this stuff isn't new to you. However, it sure is pretty. All those lush environments, just waiting to be riddled with the corpses of the vanquished. Straight to you from BlizzCon comes the video above, and the gallery below.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

BlizzCon 2008: The costume and dance contest

One day of BlizzCon is already behind us, and with it came the announcement of the Wizard class for Diablo III, the fact that Starcraft II is going to be a trilogy, and the truism that World of Warcraft players really love their costume and dance contests.

Check out the video of the pants-off dance-off above, hit the links below that for some highlights, and then be sure and crawl through our galleries below for all that we've seen so far. Today brings more panels, more Diablo III news (omg wtf?!), and a closing ceremony featuring Patton Oswalt, Video Games Live, and Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain. We'll be bringing you audio and video, so keep watching.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Costume Contest


Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: The Experience

The incredibly strange and delightful Fallout 3 launch party


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Bethesda is throwing a radiation-hot launch party for Fallout 3 next Saturday in Los Angeles, complete with even more Vault Boy retro graphics. The party features headline music by the Foo Fighters, and it's hosted by Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Odette Yustman, Ben Harper, and it's being co-hosted by the Bethesda / Zenimax board of directors, which includes bigwig producer Jerry Bruckheimer, bigwig CBS president Les Moonves, bigwig MGM president Harry Sloan and and bigwig baseballer Cal Ripken, Jr.

That's an odd mix of folks to kick off this post-apocalyptic video game, but given the current state of the economy, maybe everyone is embracing impending disaster and learning to love the bomb. Joystiq will be on-hand to take photos and collect thoughts about Fallout 3. Plus those frolic-inducing spirits sounds pretty damn goon.

TGS 08: White Knight Chronicles impressions


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White Knight Chronicles
has changed a lot since we played it at Tokyo Game Show last year. Our conclusion at the time was that the game would be a gorgeous JRPG with an intriguing, customizable battle system; an exciting prospect for RPG-starved PS3 owners to be sure. However, after today's White Knight Chronicles presentation, we're sure the game has the potential to be much more than that.

A Level-5 employee introduced us to the game's story: It follows a boy and his search for a kidnapped princess slash love interest after discovering a conveniently hidden set of magic armor ... a tad clichéd (even by Japanese standards). In order to demonstrate the game's sense of enormity and scale we were shown a few concept pieces for the game. While rolling plains and towering castles are par for the course when it comes to JRPGs, it's been a while since we've seen an entire town straddled atop an enormous creature.

We covered the battle system quite extensively at TGS last year. We took the opportunity to space out a little while the developers explained how to link character abilities together into combos, using the palette menu and how Leonard can transform into the eponymous White Knight. Not that we were bored -- the battle system was the only thing that really set White Knight Chronicles apart. Until it was revealed that the game would have a four-player online mode, that is.

Gallery: White Knight Chronicles TGS 2008

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BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Wizard cinematic and new screenshots


Here's the piping-hot new cinematic video for the Wizard class in Diablo III, straight from BlizzCon. This leads us to suspect that each class will get its own cinematic, possibly as they approach the Sanctuary instance near the beginning of the game. There are several Wizard-specific CGI moments and gameplay shots in a sort of "coming up this season on Diablo III" format.

Below you can check out the new gallery of screenshots from Diablo III, featuring new shots of the Wizard, Barbarian, and Witch Doctor. Enjoy the goodies, and keep checking back for more info.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo 3

BlizzCon 2008: The Diablo III Class Panel


Jay Wilson, Julian Love, Wyatt Cheng from Blizzard were the first panel from BlizzCon, which was all about the Diablo III class system, including its tweaks and special effects. Unfortunately, we didn't get any more hints at the other two classes which haven't been announced yet. However, with the Witchdoctor and Wizard being so magic heavy, we're sure they'll add another physical fighter that isn't quite as big as the Barbarian. Head after the break to get the new details on the Skill System, the Rune System, and four of the Wizard's spells that involve blowing things up, and / or melting them.

Gallery: BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Skill Systems Gallery

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Watch: Diablo 3's Wizard

We've always admired that certain finesse -- a commitment to craft, if you will -- about the wizard that's missing from the careless hacks of a barbarian. Well, just see for yourself.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo 3 concept art

Joystiq hands-on: Diablo 3 and the Wizard class


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That's right, Diablo III. We jumped on one of the machines made available to the press, and hacked and blasted away until the intense stares stabbing daggers of "GIVE ME A TURN" forced us back. We'll spend a lot more time with this over the weekend, but for now here's the skinny.

First up was the "Choose Your Class" screen, which made us pee our pants when we first saw it. Six classes! Right?! Well, no. That's a male and a female of each class. The male wizard was ghosted out and nonselectable for some reason, leaving (from left to right) female wizard, female Barbarian, male Barbarian, male Witch Doctor, and female Witch Doctor. The other classes will be revealed (we hope) this weekend, and they seem to look like (we think) an Amazon and an Assassin for the other two unrevealed classes.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo 3

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