Eurogamer MMO's resident goblin commander Oli Welsh reported live from the opening ceremony of Blizzard's annual shindig in Anaheim, which brought us news of the fifth Diablo III class and PVP plans, and a pre-order plan for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
Our live coverage of this event has finished.
Some animated art from WOW, Diablo and StarCraft. WOW lead environment artist Gary Platner is welcoming the crowd and making some housekeeping announcements.
– Oli Welsh
Now we're doing 'appropriate audience reactions'. He's just told the crowd of thousands in here to go crazy. Ear-splitting noise. Now: CEO Mike Morhaime. No beard this year.
– Oli Welsh
This is a special year for Blizzard: two launches, 5 years of WOW, 10 years since Diablo II, 12 million WOW players. That would sell out Disneyland 5 months straight, says Mike.
– Oli Welsh
Next Feb will be Blizzard's 20th anniversary. "Back then there were only three great Star Wars films in existence. Now... Oh."
– Oli Welsh
We're going to see Blizzard DotA, StarJeweled, Left2Die and more StarCraft II custom mods which will be released this year for free.
– Oli Welsh
There's an awkward pause and Mike does Horde and Alliance war cries. PowerPoint hitch then.
– Oli Welsh
They're going to auction some actual WOW server hardware. Oh and Arthas has been killed 489,000 times in Lich King.
– Oli Welsh
Blizzard is releasing two games this year for the first time since 1998. "I guess it's a double rainbow year for us. What does it mean?"
– Oli Welsh
The SCII launch trailer was the number one video on YouTube for a week. "That means for just one glorious week, Terran Marines kicked Justin Bieber's ass."
– Oli Welsh
Highlights reel of the last year, including last year's BlizzCon and the SCII launch.
– Oli Welsh
Hyperactive footage of the first big Korean SCII tournaments. Thousands rejoce. They actually do.
– Oli Welsh
Two great SC players including the out-of-retirement FruitDealer will be conducting an exhibition match tonight.
– Oli Welsh
Jay Mohr's back to host the hilarious costume contest tonight - his bemusement is a joy to behold - and Tenacious D's performance tomorrow gets bigged up.
– Oli Welsh
"Some of the band's content will not be appropriate for every age group. In fact it won't be appropriate for most age groups."
– Oli Welsh
For the first time you'll be able to pre-order WOW Cataclysm direct from Blizzard, download in advance and play as soon as they turn servers on on December 7th.
– Oli Welsh
Chris Metzen's here in a pimp hoodie to present a major update on Diablo III.
– Oli Welsh
More crowd-baiting warmup cheers.
– Oli Welsh
"I hear passion. I hear identity." Dead people? No?
– Oli Welsh
Metzen looks like he's struggling a bit, complaining about having cotton mouth, but whenever he starts shouting it picks up.
– Tom Bramwell
Now he's going to try a four-letter word on us to test our reaction. "GEEK".
– Oli Welsh
"This word is power. This word is identity. This is our word."
– Oli Welsh
Geek is... A slide of Transformers. A D20 die. Conan. (Metzen does quite a good Arnie.)
– Oli Welsh
Captain America. Samurai Shodown 2. Thundercats. The crowd screams HOOO.
– Oli Welsh
Geek is... Luke Skywalker. Joust. Action Man. The Matrix. Spider-Man. DOOM.
– Oli Welsh
The crowd's lapping this up.
– Oli Welsh
Geek is... Ripley in Alien. Thor. The Dark Knight Returns. Battlestar Galactica.
– Oli Welsh
EverQuest. "None of us and none of this would be without EQ. Respect must be paid." Fair dos.
– Oli Welsh
AD&D. The Borg. Lord of the Rings. "Geek is watching your kids watching Star Wars for the first time and wondering if it will transform their imaginations the way it did yours."
– Oli Welsh
Is this guy going for President or something? Let's see the game.
– Oli Welsh
Running massive online worlds can feel like big business sometimes, but he's here to remind us it's about imagination. VOTE BLIZZARD
– Oli Welsh
It's time to find out who the final player class will be in Diablo III. Movie time. An armoured, hooded lady.
– Oli Welsh
Two crossbows. The hunter!
– Oli Welsh
Magical grenades, explosive ranged and melee attacks in gameplay.
– Oli Welsh
The fifth and final player class for Diablo III is the Demon Hunter!
– Oli Welsh
"I stand alone, and if they keep coming, I'll keep killing."
– Oli Welsh
That's not all from Diablo III. Now: PVP battle arenas.
– Oli Welsh
Deathmatch, team battle modes.
– Oli Welsh
PVP and the Demon Hunter are playable on the show floor.
– Oli Welsh
We're going to wrap things up with the Cataclysm launch trailer - with a special sonic intro.
– Oli Welsh
Lights down. Deafening grinding, crunching and crashing sounds. Flashes of light.
– Oli Welsh
PAIN. AGONY. See the sunny side, Deathwing old boy.
– Oli Welsh
The trailer's stunning but you've seen it before and my thumbs are about to go into spasm.
– Oli Welsh
The crowd cheers dutifully but it's been a bit flat, to be honest.
– Oli Welsh
Still the Demon Hunter looks sweet as.
– Oli Welsh
I'm going to get stuck into Diablo III gameplay and talks. This year's BlizzCon is all about the action RPG and the devil will doubtless be in the details.