Sorry everyone for the slow updating, but it's Christmas time and I haven't been home in a week. I finally found time to sneak on the internet here on vacation, so here's an update from everything happening in the past week.

Nick Carpenter Interview
Nick Carpenter, Blizzard's Warcraft III cinematics director has been interviewed over at Gamespy. The interview is one part of a five part feature explaining cinematics and movies of games. It's an interesting read, I suggest you check it out. (The Blizzard cinematics department has been interviewed recently several times, check back through past news posts to view them all.)

Another Top 10 Award
That's right, Warcraft III has scored a place on yet another Top 10 list on the net. This one, Wired's new Vaporware: Missing Inaction list, features both games, hardware, and OS's. Warcraft III placed number 6 on the list, one of only four games to make the list.

The Greatest Games of 2001
Once again, Warcraft III scores it's face on another anticipated games list for 2001. This time, the list being hosted over at PCGamer's web site. Warcraft III is the game for Day 3 of the feature. It comes with a couple of short paragraphs and a 5 question interview with the game's producer, Rob Pardo. Also, there is another new screenshot to go along with the whole thing, it's worth a look!

Gamespot Preview
Lastly, I'm a little late on this, but if you haven't seen or read it already, I suggest taking a look at it. It has some new information on the Night Elves and some new screenshots.

That's it (I hope), Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

Sites are becoming a little more interested in Warcraft III as we move closer to it's release and farther away from Diablo II's. Anyways, a couple of articles worth reading have shown their faces on the net over the past couple of days:

Gaming Unlimited Interview
Gaming Unlimited has interviewed Bill Roper recently. Their new interview does have a few new facts about the game. Bill Roper pointed out that there is likely to be formation in Wacraft III, Warcraft III will have the same multiplayer options as Diablo II, and that there will be a closed beta test, but he and the rest of Blizzard is still unsure about an open beta.

Gamespot Most Aniticipated Games
Gamespot has asked it's editors to name some of their upcoming, most anticipated games. Of course, to nobody's surprise, Warcraft III made the list. They are also asking viewers to vote on their favorite games, so head on over here and show your support for Warcraft III. Which as of me posting this, had the lead with 24%.

Customer Support Hell
Gamespy has written up a new article that's well worth a read. It explains what most people could experience when attempting to contact a companies customer support. Blizzard was used as an example for this one. The editor of the article had misplaced his Play CD, and was wondering how to get another one. Read on to see how things go down hill from here!

Chris Metzen Interview
Lastly, WarcraftIII.net has posted an interview with Blizzard Creative Director Chris Metzen on the soon to be released ebook Warcraft: Of Blood and Honor. It's a pretty good interview, and provides a great look at the upcoming story. Go check it out here.

One of the best games of all time has hit it's five year birthday as of yesterday. The game, since its release in December of 1995, remains a still popular game today. An average of over 50,000 games are still played online at Battle.net everyday. Since it's release five years ago, it has received numerous Strategy Game of the Year, Game of the Year, Best Multiplayer Game and Hall of Fame awards. It is still considered one of the best games of all time by many gamers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WARCRAFT II!

Source: Battle.net

Daily Radar has published yet another new preview of Warcraft 3. As with most new previews, this one doesn't include any new information, although it does have 2 new screenshots. Read it here.

Daily Radar has interviewed two people from the Blizzard cinmatics group. Matt Samia, the director of the cinematics group, is currently working on finishing up the Diablo II Expansion Set movies. And Nick Carpenter, the acting director for the Warcraft III cinematics, is working on more in-game movies and previews. Here is a snip of the article, a question towards Nick Carpenter and Warcraft III:

DR: Is Warcraft III going to have the same scope of cinematics as Diablo II?

NC: We don't know just yet. We haven't gotten everything planned out yet; we're sort of just going to let the cards fall where they fall. I'm not really shooting for any particular amount of minutes.

A new preview has come online, this one also from another French site Gamekult. It once again runs over the information many other previews have had, but does come with one new screenshot and a nice Warcraft III timeline. Infoceptor has caught some of the first slight story changes for Warcraft III. Most of the story changes from the Warcraft I and II story are made for the accommodation of the Night Elves. An example, the Sageras spirit managed to corrupt Aegwynn's child. Read the translation of the article here.

Also, Computer Games Online has scored a new screenshot, featuring the Orcs and Night Elves on land together. Check this one out here.

Xgamers have posted an article one what they think could be the next big rts game. Warcraft 3 was one of the games they had listed as a possibility. See what they thought about it all over here.

That's right, the program has returned and is better than ever. There are some great maps out there that maybe you don't know about, and this is the point of this program. Unlike the last time we used this program, the viewers of this site will get to decide which maps will win weekly! There are three simple ways to cast your vote for your favorite map. First, you can post feedback to this message with your vote (please, I ask only votes be posted in the feedback, and not useless talk people like to write). Second, you can head on over to our forum, and post your vote there (every week there should be a message posted in the forum by me, asking for your votes). And third, you can email me your votes as well.

Now, down to the rules of this program. I will tally the votes every week, there will be one multi player and one single player map winner every week. When you vote, you should select one single player map and one multi player map to vote on. Also, make sure you are voting on maps that are listed in our Warcraft II Authorized Maps Section. And last but not least, only one vote per person.

The maps of the week will be posted on every Saturday. Beginning after I post the maps, all new votes will count towards the next week. I now officially start the Warcraft.org Map of the Week Program! (This means you can now vote)

Joystick.fr has posted a new Warcraft III preview with two brand new screenshots. If you happen to be able to speak French, go read it here. Or, if your like the rest of us, WarcraftIII.net has graciously translated the preview to English here.The two new shots are great. They show off many of the new Night Elven units in bueatiful terrain. In both the shots we can see many heroes and units of different types, including great shots of the Treant and the Priestess of the Moon flying on her owl.

To start things off, War3.com has posted two new issues of their comic The Battle Rages On. Issues 4 and 5, the two new ones are great! (5 is awesome) Check them out today.

Also, coming from the forums, GFrazier tells us all why there is no Warcraft III forum yet in this post:

We don't typically put up a forum for a new game until Beta Time. Usually the Warroom works as that forum until the official one goes up.

Tweak3D has recently rated their top 10 most addictive games of all time. The Warcraft Series (including Warcraft and Warcraft II) has ranked at number 5. Read from the start of the article here, or skip to Warcraft's page here. All of Blizzard's game series ranked in the article, with Diablo coming in at number 8, and Starcraft one behind Warcraft at number 6. Source: Infoceptor

A recent forum post has indicated that Ted Park, also known as Warblade, a long time staffer of Blizzard, has accepted the job of Game Interface & Website Designer. Already a Website Designer, we will now get to see his work within Warcraft III.

Also, with the filling of this job position, Blizzard has posted yet another job opening on their site. This time they are in need of a Web Designer. If you've ever dreamed of working for Blizzard (who hasn't?), and are great with web designing and the many programming languages behind it, head over here and read more.
Source: Infoceptor

Two new screenshots have been added to the official Warcraft III Page! These shots reveal more to us about the recently announced fifth and final race of the game, the Night Elves. Go check them out. Also, if you haven't picked up the Warcraft III edition of Computer Games Magazine yet, this picture will give you a little peek at it.