This summer, we're teaming up with Mtn Dew to offer World of Warcraft-themed Game Fuel in stores across the US. To celebrate, the Game Fuel website is giving away a prize every 15 minutes, beginning today and running until August 20. The prizes include Alienware computers, Razer peripherals, and more. For a chance to win, just visit the site, earn tokens, and then enter them in the sweepstakes of your choice. A 14-day free trial of World of Warcraft is also available through the site -- perfect for anyone in your life who hasn't gotten a taste of the game yet. Check out the FAQ, read the official rules, or head over to the Game Fuel website to register and start bidding on your favorite prizes. And keep an eye out for bottles of World of Warcraft Mtn Dew Game Fuel to show up in stores near you beginning next week.

If you were unable to purchase BlizzCon tickets during the first round of ticket sales, we just wanted to remind you that our second batch of BlizzCon 2009 tickets will be going on sale Saturday, May 30. Ticket sales are again scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, so be sure to visit the ticket sales page then for a chance to get yours.

BlizzCon 2009 will take place August 21 and 22 at the Anaheim Convention Center, and tickets cost $125 each. For those unable to attend the show, in-depth coverage of BlizzCon will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and Internet stream. For more information about the convention and the DIRECTV BlizzCon packages, check out the official BlizzCon site.

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with 3 new artwork from World of Warcraft.

Congratulations to the winners of May's "Vespene Laughs" Comic Contest -- and thanks to everyone for all of the humorous and creative entries we received.

To enter the current month’s contest, simply create your own original comic based on StarCraft universe, and submit your comic by June 15. The funniest and most creative will win some great prizes, including StarCraft II beta keys for the month’s best comic. Check out the official rules for more information, and keep coming back for more Vespene Laughs!

The Diablo 3 Bestiary now features not one, not two, but five new creatures from the realm of Sanctuary: the Fallen Ones.

The fallen ones are a unique breed of true demonic origin, one of the few that I've been able to conclusively verify through sources other than the ancient Vizjerei tomes in my possession. (How I came by said tomes will, of necessity, remain my secret.)

Check out the Fallen Ones now!

We've also expanded the media galleries with new artwork and several new screenshots.

Since its release, Echoes of War: The Music of Blizzard Entertainment has proven very popular, and the Eminence Symphony Orchestra has announced that a new re-issue of the 2-disc standard edition will be made available this spring. The album features 15 unique arrangements, with several pieces coming from the yet-to-be-released StarCraft II and Diablo III. Ninety minutes of music are featured in all, with bonus tracks arranged by special guests including the critically-acclaimed composer Kow Otani. The new standard edition package, showcasing a redesigned cover art piece, will be available in retail outlets on June 16 for $24.95, but players can pre-order it for $19.95 plus shipping. The Legendary Edition is also available for $49.95, and comes with a bonus documentary DVD, nine art cards, and a bonus 32-page booklet. Visit the official Echoes of War website to hear samples, learn more, and order your copy today.

The initial allotment of tickets for BlizzCon 2009 has now been sold out. If you weren’t able to get tickets this time, you’ll have a second chance on Saturday, May 30, as another batch will go on sale then. Coverage of the gaming festival will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and Internet stream.

It's that time of year again -- With a prize pool of over $360,000 worldwide, Realm Championships are the destination of choice for World of Warcraft Trading Card Game and Miniatures Game players on May 16 and 17. Prizes include Spectral Tiger Loot cards, $2,500 travel vouchers, electronics (such as iPod Touches and PlayStation 3s), and a host of other goodies. If you haven’t qualified for the Realm Championships, there are plenty of prizes available in the Realm Open, which is open to all comers. For more information and the location of a Realm Championship near you, visit the Organized Play info page.

Want to do your part to protect Azeroth from interstellar invasion? Everyone who attends BlizzCon 2009 or purchases the BlizzCon Pay Per View event via DIRECTV will be joined by a new World of Warcraft in-game companion, Grunty the murloc marine. This tiny terror is fully armored and comes equipped with a gauss rifle, which he’ll occasionally fire into the air to make sure no invisible spacecraft are swooping in to attack.

BlizzCon 2009 takes place on August 21-22 in the Anaheim Convention Center. Tickets go on sale on Saturday, May 16, with a second allotment to be released on May 30. For further details, check out the recent press release and the official website.

The StarCraft II beta-test period is coming in the months ahead! If you'd like a chance to participate, now's the time to let us know. Simply go to the "Beta Profile Settings" page in Battle.net account management to go through the new beta opt-in process and upload a snapshot of your system specs. During this process, you'll also have the opportunity to opt in to future betas for other Blizzard Entertainment games. Please note that even if you've opted in to our betas previously, you'll need to complete this new process and upload your current system specs to have a chance to be invited.

For more information, see the FAQ -- or create a Battle.net account to opt in now. If you have an unused beta code from BlizzCon 2008 or WWI 2008, visit this site to enter your code.