Pre-Loading Cataclysm (and Cinematics) Without Purchase

You still have to buy the Cataclysm expansion to play but you can download 700 mg early by following this procedure. http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/want-to-preload-cataclysm-without-pre-ordering-heres-how/

UPDATE:  Blizzard says the Cataclysm and other expansion pack cinematics will be downloaded to current customers with patches.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/blizzard-clarifies-cinematic-download-for-digital-customers/

UPDATE # 2:  When Cataclysm comes out, it will launch at midnight Pacific time for everyone.
http://kotaku.com/5679434/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-goes-live-the-same-time-for-everybody

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Blizzard About to Sue Korean TV Companies

Blizzard and Korean cable companies are fighting over control of Starcraft match broadcasts and how much is to be paid to show them.
http://kotaku.com/5676092/starcraft-legal-tussle-over-tv-rights-brewing

UPDATE: The PR war starts as Blizzard prepares to sue the Korean e-sports league as well as its former television partners. (Dec. 2010)  Thanks for the tip, Kotaku.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2010/12/133_77381.html

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Rumors of a Bungie MMO

With Activision now publishing future Bungie titles, it should be no surprise that rumors of a Bungie Halo MMO should start circulating.  I did find Kotick's quote surprising, however, since I was unaware that Blizzard had any customer service.
http://www.massively.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/

Bungie has announced that Halo Reach is their last Halo game and they want to go in other directions.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/100/1007095p1.html

I doubt that a Halo MMO is in the cards, although I imagine Activision would love to have one. I believe that Battle.net has been set up as the first step in a plan to capture the console game crowd.
http://kotaku.com/5676270/consider-the-possibility-of-activision-games-running-on-battlenet

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Login Server and BlizzCon Shipping Issues

There were login server issues last night, with many people unable to log in.  Battle.net was taken down for maintenance to fix the problem.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/login-server-issues-this-evening/

In an unrelated issue, there's been a blue posting on the forums that pre-sale items from BlizzCon have run into a two week shipping delay.   Everything that was ordered before the Oct. 22-23 convention should ship by November 3.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/bashiok-announces-blizzcon-pre-sale-shipping-delays/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com