For the first time ever, show attendees will have the chance to adventure through this epic world and experience the game's deep, immersive gameplay. World of Warcraft will be on display throughout E3, May 22-24, at booth #1200 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
"In setting out to create a massively multiplayer universe, we wanted to give people the opportunity to help redefine a place they remember fondly," stated Mike Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment president and co-founder.
"With World of Warcraft, we are creating an incredibly dynamic online gaming experience complete with endless possibilities to surprise and engross both hardcore Warcraft veterans and novice gamers alike."
The hands-on E3 presentation will show off the world of Azeroth in great detail and feature notable advancements to the dynamic Warcraft universe including two new uncharted regions -- the Deadmines and the Monastery. These diverse new environments will give gamers the ability to quest through mystifying lands filled with countless adventures. Feats of legendary heroism will ensue as the journey continues and players find themselves engaged in action-packed combat.
Additionally, three of the game's many character classes --Warriors, Mages and Shamans -- will be seen for the first time at the show. These new classes will give players the opportunity to customize their experience and use their imagination to create the ultimate, mighty character.
World of Warcraft's fourth race, the Dwarves, will also be revealed at the show. These proud warriors serve as excellent craftsmen and are considered by many to be the hardiest of all the races. They are an ancient race, strong, stocky and well suited for plumbing the depths of the world in search of hordes of treasure.
World of Warcraft takes place four years following the aftermath of Warcraft(R) III: Reign of Chaos(TM), where a great tension has settled over the ravaged world of Azeroth. As the various races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and terrifying, have arisen to plague the world once again. Players must explore the lands of Azeroth, forge fellowships with other players, and build their strength in order to prevail.
Customizable character classes, innovative races and thousands of weapons allow for a truly distinct gameplay experience that will enthrall fans of any genre. A simple and intuitive user interface will allow players of various skill levels to easily join the adventure. The game also features support for advanced graphics hardware, giving the player superlative graphical enhancements, as well as a sophisticated massively multiplayer network architecture capable of supporting thousands of players in a world simultaneously.
Since its debut in 1994, the number-one selling Warcraft series has won industry acclaim and shattered sales records worldwide with nearly 5 million copies sold(a). In 1996, Blizzard followed the well-received Warcraft: Orcs and Humans(TM) with the critically acclaimed Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness(TM), which won multiple Game of the Year awards and is still considered by many critics to be one of the best games ever made. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos will continue the legendary saga in 2002.
Best known for blockbuster hits including the Warcraft(R) series, StarCraft(R), and the Diablo(R) series, Blizzard Entertainment (www.blizzard.com, a division of Vivendi Universal Games) is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry's most critically acclaimed games.
Blizzard's track record includes six number-one selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's free Internet gaming service Battle.net(R) reigns as the largest in the world, with millions of active users.
(a) Based on units shipped.