More Worldwide Invitational Developer Panel Videos Online!

01/08/08

We have just published three more videos from some of the developer panels at the 2008 Worldwide Invitational. Check out our Videos page to watch Blizzard developers discuss the art of the StarCraft universe, the design behind Diablo, and listen to answers to many questions attendees had about World of Warcraft.

Dance and Costume Contests Video

29/07/08

We're happy to be able to share with you a short video which shows the highlights of the costume and dance contests from the Worldwide Invitational. If you want to find out whose moves wowed the crowd, or which costume was voted the most awesome, check out the full video of the contest highlights.

WWI Developer Panel Videos Online!

28/07/08

We have just published videos from some of the developer panels at the 2008 Worldwide Invitational. Check out our Videos page to watch Blizzard developers discuss the evolving design process behind StarCraft II, the world lore and environment of Diablo III, and the present and future of the classes in World of Warcraft.

We will be adding more panels so check back often!

Invitational Highlights Video

21/07/08

If you missed the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, or if you were there and you want to relive the highlights, we have an awesome 6 minute video recap of the event, showing elements from the various panels, contests and displays available during the event.

You can see this recap video, and our other coverage videos on the official Invitational website. And there are more to come!

Contests: Winner Entries Published

09/07/08

At the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational we held several contests. Now it's time to reveal some of the winning entries! On our contest winner page you can view the winning submissions of the fan art contest and the machinima movie and TV ad contests! Additionally, we have provided the best fan arts as high-res pictures for download. Check them out now!

Worldwide Invitational Tournament Replays

08/07/08

If you missed any of the tournaments at the 2008 Worldwide Invitational now is your chance to get a piece of the action. The Tournaments page of the official Worldwide Invitational site now features a ‘playback’ option which will allow you to watch the match of your choice. Just click on the green ‘play’ arrow to witness the devastation and destruction wrought by the world’s best StarCraft, Warcraft III and World of Warcraft Arena players. Enjoy the carnage!

Worldwide Invitational In-Game Pet Redemption

03/07/08

The code for the in-game World of Warcraft pet that was provided in the goodie bag at the 2008 Worldwide Invitational will be usable at our Pet Redemption Webpage after patch 2.4.3 is released in the near future.

After you have received the in-game code from this webpage, the Alliance will travel to Stormwind and the Horde to Undercity to visit a new NPC where you will be able to claim the in-game pet. The pet itself will be a miniature version of the Archangel Tyrael of Diablo 2 fame who will travel with you on all your grand adventures in Azeroth! We will also keep you updated in our forums.

The Worldwide Invitational Is Over – For Now

01/07/08

The weekend of June 28th and 29th saw the 2008 Blizzard Worldwide Invitational come to Paris, France – the first major Blizzard event to be held in Europe. Visitors from all over the world attended to participate in the developer panel discussions and various community contests, to meet and chat with the developers and to be treated to the announcement of Diablo III. The atmosphere at the event was filled with energy and enthusiasm as visitors had the chance to play the newest versions of StarCraft II, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, and to sample the activities and events hosted by our partners.

Throughout the event, attendees could watch the Worldwide Invitational tournaments and see the strategies and tactics favored by some of the world’s best RTS players. Visitors could also watch the top-ranking World of Warcraft Arena teams from all over the world duke it out for the first place position. Nihilum held a live raid on-stage where those not quite ready to take on Kil’jaeden could watch as one of the world’s top raiding guilds tried to put an end to the general of the Burning Legion.

The event closed on Sunday night with a concert featuring themes from Blizzard games performed by Video Games Live. The concert opened with Blizzard’s own Level 70 Elite Tauren Chieftains who, leveling up throughout their performance, managed to ding 80! Grats, guys! When the lights finally went down on the event, the crowds seemed to be glad to have come to Paris and to be looking forward to BlizzCon in Anaheim this October.

If you want to know more about the event, check out our coverage page and have a look at the picture gallery!

The 2008 Worldwide Invitational Is Ending!

29/06/08

Today was the last day of the Worldwide Invitational in Paris, France. The day began with a panel led by Blizzard artists Samwise Didier and Dave Berggren where they discussed the distinctive "Blizzard" style of art and graphics (in StarCraft). Also taking place this morning were the Diablo Lore and Art panel that helped players get a feel for the history that has occured since the end of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction and the World of Warcraft: Anatomy of Raids panel where players got an inside view of how the dungeons of Northrend will be constructed. The afternoon brought us to a panel discussion with World of Warcraft developers concerning the PvP system and another panel touching on the Denizens of Diablo.

Finally, the day comes to an end with the closing ceremony featuring a concert given by the Video Games Live orchestra. The crowd will be warmed up by an energetic performance from Blizzard's very own Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next event and would like to thank all our guests for attending and all our viewers for checking out the website during the event! Thanks and hope to see you again soon!

Check out our coverage page and the image gallery to learn more about the event!

Tournament Winners Announced

29/06/08

Over the last two days we have been treated to a spectacular display of skill and speed as world champion players of StarCraft, Warcraft III, and the World of Warcraft Arena, have gathered here to compete.

From beginning to end, these tournaments have provided excitement and surprises for players and spectators alike, and we are now proud to announce the winners of each category.

StarCraft winners

• Winner: ByungGu Song "Stork"
• Runner-up: BoSung Yum "Seashield"
• Third Place: JaeYoon Ma "sAviOr"

Warcraft winners

• Winner: JaeHo Jang "Moon"
• Runner-up: June Park "Lyn"
• Third Place: Manuel Schenkhuizen "Grubby"

World of Warcraft winners

• First Place: Council of Mages
• Second Place: Improved clicks
• Third Place: SK-US

Check out our brackets page for a more detailed tournament overview!

Day One of the Worldwide Invitational

28/06/08

Day One of the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational just ended and what a day it was! Thousands of enthusiastic players stormed the halls of the Paris Expo Center to join Blizzard in the celebration of its game universes and witness some live tournament action. Check out our coverage page for recaps of the various developer panels and visit our picture gallery for some impressions of the event! The event will continue tomorrow - take a look at our live stream here.

Worldwide Invitational 2008 Photo Gallery

28/06/08

We have just added a photo gallery recapping memorable moments from the Worldwide Invitational event in Paris! Take a moment to check it out.

Worldwide Invitational Tournament Brackets

28/06/08

You can follow the winners and losers of the Warcraft III and StarCraft tournaments at the Worldwide Invitational by checking out our Brackets page. This page is updated frequently so keep an eye on it to keep up to date!

Diablo III Unveiled!

28/06/08

Twenty years have passed since the cataclysmic events of Diablo II. Mephisto, Diablo, and Baal have been defeated, but the Worldstone, which once shielded the world of Sanctuary from the forces of both the High Heavens and the Burning Hells, has been destroyed, and evil once again stirs in Tristram....

Following the unveiling of Diablo III today at the Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, we've launched the game's official website, with information about the places, characters, monsters, and adventures awaiting you upon your return to the world of Sanctuary. Some of the site's highlights include:

• The cinematic teaser trailer shown at the 2008 Worldwide Invitational
• A 20-minute gameplay demo video
• More than 60 screenshots and pieces of concept art
• Deckard Cain's journal, narrated by Deckard Cain himself -- stay a while and listen!
• And much, much more

Visit the new Diablo III website now to learn more about the game, and make sure to check out the official FAQ and the announcement press release.

Worldwide Invitational 2008 Opens

28/06/08

It has been exciting here in Paris at Porte de Versailles for the opening of the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational. Expectant gamers queued up in anticipation of the event’s opening at 8am, and flooded into the convention hall to experience all of the amazing things on offer. With playable versions of StarCraft II and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, displays and activities, people were kept busy until the Opening Ceremony commenced.

Anthony Kavanagh and China opened the event and introduced Blizzard Europe’s Managing Director, Fred Menou, who welcomed everyone to the Invitational before passing the floor to Mike Morhaime, Blizzard’s CEO and cofounder. The rumours which have been flying for the last few weeks were finally put to rest when Mike announced Blizzard’s latest project, Diablo III, to a chorus of cheers. With a stunning trailer and a gameplay demo walkthrough by Lead Producer Jay Wilson, our appetite was truly whet for this latest installment of the Diablo universe. Thankfully we’ll have the next couple of days to attend panels about Diablo III in order to get a little more information about this exciting new development.

It looks like being an exciting two days, and we’ll be bringing you coverage of the panels and tournaments in order to keep you up to date with events at the Worldwide Invitational.

Worldwide Invitational Live Streams Available

26/06/08

As the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational approaches, we are excited to announce that the Opening Ceremony (starting at 11:45, Central European Summer Time on Saturday, June 28th), the various tournaments, and the Closing Ceremony featuring Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain and Video Games Live concerts will be streamed live during the event on the official Worldwide Invitational website.

Visit our live stream page now to ensure you have all the necessary software installed on your computer.

If you can’t be there in person, don’t miss out on this chance to witness exciting tournament competition, live Blizzard-themed music, and more!

We will also be offering live coverage throughout the event, including news reports, articles, and live updates on the tournaments. Visit the website for more information!

Worldwide Invitational: Nihilum To Raid Sunwell Plateau

25/06/08

We are pleased to announce that visitors of the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational will be able to witness members of the well-known European raiding guild Nihilum enter the Sunwell Plateau and fight some of the most dangerous enemies in the World of Warcraft. Nihilum, best known for their world-first defeats of many World of Warcraft bosses, will be present with three players and one shoutcaster on both days of the Worldwide Invitational. Check out our website to read more!

Pro-Gamers revealed

25/06/08

As the event’s name suggests, the invitational tournaments are one of the major attractions of the Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational. Once again, some of the world's best and most renowned players will gather to compete for honor, glory and over $100,000 USD in cash prizes. Our competitive Warcraft, StarCraft and World of Warcraft Arena tournaments are spread over both days of the 2008 Worldwide Invitational, with the finals taking place on Sunday.

On our website you can see an overview of the professional players taking part in our invitational tournaments.

Extended Deadline for the Dance and Costume Contests!

20/06/08

We are extending the deadline for submissions for the Dance and Costume contests! You now have until the end of Wednesday, June 25th to sign up!

Check out the contest information page to learn more.

Extended Deadline for the Machinima Contests!

19/06/08

We are extending the deadline for submissions for the Movie and TV advertisement contests! Movie-makers have until the end of Sunday, June 22nd to get their submissions to us!

Check out the contest information page to learn more.

WWI Dance and Costume Contest Sign Ups Open Now!

16/06/08

So you want to show off your skills to the world by participating in one of the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational contests? From Monday June 16th until June 20th, you can register to participate in the Dance and Costume contests that will take place at the Worldwide Invitational on June 28th. Just head over to the Contest Registration webform and let us know you'll be joining in! Also, if you would like to get advice or opinions on your costume, of if you simply want to show off your work in progress, don't hesitate to share your creation with the community in this thread.

Also, we are extending the deadline for submissions for the Fan Art and Machinima contests! Artists and movie-makers have until the end of Wednesday, June 18th to get their submissions to us! Check out the contest information page to learn more!

Worldwide Invitational Contests Start Today!

10/06/08

So you want to show off your skills to the world by participating in one of the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational contests? From Tuesday 10th June and onwards, you will be able to submit your creations via our contest registration web forms for the Machinima (movie and TV ad) and Fan Art contests. Registration is only open until 17th of June, so be sure to submit your entry in time!

For the dance and costume contests, registration will be open from June 16th until June 20th. If you would like to get advice or opinions on your costume, of if you simply want to show off your work in progress, don't hesitate to share your creation with the community in this thread.

Worldwide Invitational 2008: Careers At Blizzard!

03/06/08

Members of our staffing team will be present at the Worldwide Invitational 2008. Don't miss your chance to discuss jobs at Blizzard and visit our recruitment booth!

At Blizzard Entertainment Europe, you will work with some of the most creative and talented people in the industry, working together to create the best games in the world. If you share our goals, and have the skills, we want to hear from you! Blizzard Entertainment Europe was founded in 2003 and is a constantly growing company. With a current staff of more than 700 employees comprising 24 nationalities, you will work in a highly multicultural and dynamic environment.

A relocation package will be provided for any successful candidate. Blizzard will assist with all the administrative tasks for you to get settled in a foreign country, such as registering for social security, opening a bank account, finding a flat, and setting up amenities.

Don't forget to bring your CV to the event! A list of all current opportunities in the European offices (Velizy, France and Cork, Ireland) can be found here: http://www.blizzard.co.uk/jobs/index.shtml

2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets: Sold Out

30/05/08

All available tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational are now sold out! Taking place over Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of June at the Porte de Versailles Convention Centre in Paris, France, the 2008 Worldwide Invitational looks set to be another exciting Blizzard Entertainment gaming event. Be sure to check the 2008 Worldwide Invitational website often for updates on the panels, showcased content, and other news on what to expect, as well as live coverage during the event!

World of Warcraft Community Tournament Announced

29/05/08

At the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, all attendees will have the opportunity to witness some of the world’s top StarCraft, Warcraft III and World of Warcraft Arena players compete in exciting matches. In addition to these professional gaming matches, community player tournaments will allow you to show your skills for fun and glory – and some amazing tournament prizes. Read more on how to compete with other members of the community in Blizzard's upcoming World of Warcraft tournaments and use your skills to come out on top! Check out the Community tournaments page for more information!

2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets On Sale Now

29/05/08

Tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational convention and tournament gaming event are now available again on the Worldwide Invitational website.

This year's Blizzard Worldwide Invitational will take place in Paris, France, at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre on the 28th and 29th of June. Tickets are priced at €70 / £55 for the two-day event, which will feature hands-on play with the latest versions of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II, competitive eSport and casual player tournaments, costume, dance, fan art and machinima contests, live concerts, and much, much more...

The 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational is open to attendees of ages 4 years and above. Please note that any attendee under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a consenting parent, guardian or responsible adult of 18 years or above to attend

Don't miss your chance to experience two days of Blizzard-themed fun in one of Europe's greatest cities! Have a look at our event website and the FAQ for more information and get your ticket now!

2008 Worldwide Invitational: Ticket Sales, Concerts, and More

28/05/08

We have big news for everyone looking forward to the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational in June. Additional tickets are going on sale, attendees will be able to enjoy two live concerts during the closing ceremony and a renowned comic book artist will be on hand to sign his work. Read on:

• Additional ticket sales for the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational will begin tomorrow, Thursday, May 29th, at 6:00 AM Pacific Time. If you haven’t yet purchased tickets for the event, follow the “Ticket Sales” link on the official Worldwide Invitational website. There will only be a limited number of additional tickets available, so don’t delay in buying yours if you plan to attend.
• The renowned video game music orchestra, Video Games Live, and Blizzard Entertainment’s own in-house band, Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain, have announced that they’ll be performing live on stage during the closing ceremony on Sunday, June 29th. Read our full press release for more information.
• For those following the World of Warcraft comic series, designer and artist Ludovic Lullabi will be present for signings at the booth of the French World of Warcraft comic publisher, Soleil.

This year’s Blizzard Worldwide Invitational will be held here in Europe, at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre in Paris, France, on the 28th and 29th of June. Both days of the event will feature a variety of activities including hands-on play with the latest versions of Blizzard Entertainment games, developer discussions and presentations, competitive and casual tournaments, contests, and more.

Tickets are priced at 70 € / £55 for the two-day event and can be purchased by credit or debit card. The Blizzard Worldwide Invitational is open to attendees of ages 4 years and above. Please note that any attendee under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a consenting parent, guardian or responsible adult of 18 years or above to attend.

Don't miss your chance to experience two days of Blizzard-themed fun in one of Europe's greatest cities!

Announcing The Worldwide Invitational Contests!

23/05/08

We will hold four different contests before and during the 2008 Worldwide Invitational: the machinima, fan art, costume and dance contests! You will now find information about all of them on our dedicated contest information page, including detailed rules, participation instructions, and prize lists!

Don't miss out on the chance to show your talent to the world and win great prizes!

2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets: Sold Out!

26/03/08

All available tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational are now sold out! Taking place over Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of June at the Porte de Versailles Convention Centre in Paris, France, the 2008 Worldwide Invitational looks set to be another exciting Blizzard Entertainment gaming event. Be sure to check the 2008 Worldwide Invitational website often for ticketholder updates, the latest news on the tournaments, panels, and showcased content, and other news on what to expect at the event!

2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets On Sale Now

20/03/08

Tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational convention and tournament gaming event are now available on the Worldwide Invitational website at http://www.blizzard.com/wwi08/.

This year's Blizzard Worldwide Invitational will take place in Paris, France, at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre on the 28th and 29th of June. Tickets are priced at €70 / £55 for the two-day event, which will feature hands-on play with the latest versions of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II, competitive eSport and casual player tournaments, costume, dance and machinima contests, and much, much more...

Please note the event is open to attendees of ages 4 years and above. Due to the nature of some content at the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult (of 18 years and above).

Have a look at our event website and the FAQ for more information and get your ticket now!

New Page - Past Blizzard Events

18/03/08

Last year, Blizzard gamers from all over the world gathered to attend BlizzCon in Anaheim, California, and the Worldwide Invitational 2007 in Seoul, Korea. Now we are looking forward to sharing another exciting event with all of you at the first Blizzard convention to be held in Europe!

We added a new page to our 2008 Worldwide Invitational information website telling you more about past Blizzard events. Make sure to check out the BlizzCon 2007 Highlights video!

We hope these highlights from last year will give you an impression of the atmosphere at Blizzard events, and we’re sure the 2008 Worldwide Invitational will be just as memorable. We look forward to seeing you at the show!

2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets On Sale 20th March!

17/03/08

Tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational convention and tournament gaming event will be available from Thursday, 20th of March on the Worldwide Invitational website at http://us.blizzard.com/wwi08/.

In addition to invitational tournaments featuring top eSports competitors playing for a total of $100,000 in prizes, the Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational will also host casual tournaments for attendees, costume and dance contests, live musical performances, and more. All attendees will also receive a goody bag of Blizzard Entertainment items including a beta key for an upcoming Blizzard Entertainment game and an exclusive World of Warcraft in-game pet.

Click here to read the full media alert or get more information.

2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets On Sale Next Week!

14/03/08

We’re pleased to announce that tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational will be available next week on the Worldwide Invitational website.

This year’s Worldwide Invitational will be held here in Europe, at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre in Paris, France, on the 28th and 29th of June. Both days of the event will feature a variety of activities including hands-on play with the latest versions of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II! You’ll also have the chance to meet Blizzard executives and developers in discussion panels and signing sessions, participate in community tournaments, dance, costume and machinima contests, watch top eSports competitors from around the world play in exciting invitational tournaments and much more! Tickets are priced at 70 € / £55 for the two-day event and can be purchased by credit or debit card.

Please note that you must be 16 years or above to attend the Worldwide Invitational, unless accompanied by a consenting parent, guardian or responsible adult of 18 years or above.

Overview of Worldwide Invitational activities

07/03/08

To give you an insight into what will be taking place at the Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational 2008, we’ve compiled a list of some of the attractions awaiting you. Please note that this list is not complete – we will be unveiling more exciting news in the coming days and weeks! Over the weekend of June 28th and 29th, we will offer you more than 12 hours each day of activities and live on-stage entertainment, including:

• Discussion panels with Blizzard developers: Members from the development teams of Blizzard games including World of Warcraft and StarCraft II will be sharing all their latest news in public presentations, as well as taking your questions.
• Artist and developer signings: Various artists and developers from your favorite Blizzard games will be on-hand to sign your game boxes, books, or exclusive Blizzard merchandise available in the goodie bag that you receive when entering the event!
• Hands-on play with the latest builds of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II: Be among the first to try out all the newest features of our upcoming World of Warcraft expansion and the long-awaited sequel to StarCraft at the Worldwide Invitational!
• A silent auction: Submit a hidden bid for the chance to win exclusive Blizzard-themed items for your personal collection.
• Dance, Costume and Machinima contests: The Worldwide Invitational will offer you the chance to show your talent and enthusiasm by competing in a variety of contests. Dress up as your favorite character from any of the Blizzard game universes, bring that night elf dance to live perfection, or show your skills in creating machinima to the world. You’ll be able to find more details on the contests and instructions on how to sign up for them on this website in the future.
• Loot! In addition to the goody bag that every attendee will receive, there will also be a variety of souvenirs, including exclusive commemorative 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational items, available in the Blizzard store and as contest prizes.
• Tournaments: The 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational will feature exciting eSport invitational tournaments, drawing top Warcraft III, StarCraft and World of Warcraft Arena players from around the world. In addition to these professional gaming matches, community player tournaments will allow you show your skills for fun and glory – and some exclusive tournament prizes.
• Live musical performances and much, much more...

Have a look at our event info page for regular updates and pictorial impressions from prior Blizzard events!

2008 Worldwide Invitational Announced

11/02/08

The fourth Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational is coming to Europe! The event will be held at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Center, Paris, France, over the 28th and 29th of June 2008. Open to gamers from around the world, the Worldwide Invitational will feature a wide variety of activities, including:

• Discussion panels with Blizzard Entertainment developers
• Artist and developer signings
• Professional eSport tournaments and casual tournaments for attendees
• Hands-on play with World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II
• Merchandise and other products based on the Blizzard Entertainment game universes
• Silent auction
• Musical performances
• And more...

To attend the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, you must purchase tickets in advance here on the Worldwide Invitational website. Tickets are limited and will go on sale in the next few weeks on a first-come, first-served basis until they are sold out, though Blizzard Entertainment reserves the right to sell additional tickets in the future. There will be a five-ticket limit per household. Further details on purchasing tickets will follow in the weeks ahead.