Blizzard is focused on releasing two titles next year: "StarCraft 2" and "World of WarCraft: Cataclysm." Unfortunately for action RPG fans, "Diablo 3" is not in the cards. In an interview with Techland, Blizzard executive VP of game design, Rob Pardo, said, "I think it’s safe to say that, yeah, ['Diablo 3'] is not going to be out next year."

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BlizzCon may decide to move out of Anaheim for 2010, but then again it might not, and no matter what you've read anywhere Blizzard definitely isn't confirming that the show has been moved to Las Vegas. At least that's quick summary of speculation on the Internet today following a listing for the show at the Las Vegas Convention Center that has since been taken down.

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Blizzard's unrevealed release date for "Diablo 3" may not show up on the calendar until after 2010, along with other releases, including "StarCraft 2" expansion packs and an unnamed MMO. The expansion pack news may not surprise anyone, as the "StarCraft 2" beta launch was just pushed into 2010, but the "Diablo" faithful are probably going to have a long new year ahead.

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"StarCraft 2" peeped out of development for a few gamers at the Russian games expo IgroMir, and many others hoped to see a public beta test for the game by the end of 2009. Blizzard confirmed, however, that such release isn't likely to appear until 2010, as the first chapter of the game, titled "Wings of Liberty" has been pushed up to next Spring.

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You won't need to level up and hunt down a mount to get an animal companion in Blizzard Entertainment's latest in-game business venture. The newly opened "World of Warcraft" Pet Store accepts real money for critters and even includes a charitable angle tied to its $10 price tags.

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NetEase, the company responsible for operating "World of Warcraft" in China found itself staring at a rejection notice this week from the country's China’s General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), and the consequences could range from penalties to halting the addition of any new accounts.

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Speaking with MTV News, director Sam Raimi dropped some interesting info regarding his upcoming "WarCraft" movie, saying that the screenwriting process has just begun:

"We want to be really faithful to the game...to the Horde and the Alliance and the mythology that takes place in the game, and the archetypes that the game presents. I think we would try and find touchstones within the game to make it accurate and true and choose one or some of the lands that are portrayed in the game with as much accuracy and authenticity as possible.

"But we would have our writer, Robert Rodat, really craft an original story within that world that feels like a 'World of WarCraft' adventure. Only obviously it's very different 'cause it's expanded and translated into the world of a motion picture."

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Blizzard Entertainment may have charged $125 at the door for its 20,000 attendees this year at BlizzCon in Anaheim, but even that price point may not be enough to make the show alone profitable for the company. The event became a merchandise mover and brought in pay-per-view revenue through DirecTV in 2009, but the company admits that the show isn't profitable by itself.

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"World of Warcraft" became a virtual online empire of subscription revenue for Blizzard, and the company doesn't want to rock that boat when they release their next MMO. That leaves them with a formidable challenge to create a new type of game that won't compete directly for cash and time from current "WoW" players.

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I'll happily admit that of all of Blizzard's current projects, "Diablo 3" is my most anticipated so far. Having played "WoW" for a year and quit with a fair amount of withdrawl, I have no interest in returning to Azeroth. And, well, I'm too slow (both in the mind and body) for "StarCraft 2." So that just leaves "Diablo 3." Unfortunately for me, and many others, it's "Diablo 3" which will probably see the longest wait.

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