Filed under: WoW Insider Business

At the end of days, the first sign shall appear in the heavens. Justice shall fall upon the world of men.

At midnight tonight, Diablo III launches in North America. Other regions aren't far behind (or ahead, as the case may be). The number of World of Warcraft players who will be playing Diablo tonight is astronomical; more than one million Annual Pass subscribers will be receiving the game, and countless more will be purchasing Diablo III on its own simply because it's a good game.

The Real ID and BattleTag systems have brought these games' audiences closer together than they have ever been. With all of that in mind, we here at WoW Insider feel that we would be doing our readers a disservice if we didn't provide content that will help all of you ease yourselves into your brand new game. For the next two days, you're going to see a number of Diablo-related articles and guides here on our site mixed in with our usual WoW stuff. In the long term, we plan to continue to cover major general Blizzard news from all of its games as we've always done (see our recent Blizzard All-Stars news), and the next 48 hours or so will be a little bit heavier on it than you may be used to seeing. We hope that you'll enjoy what we have to offer.

However, if you're the sort of person who has absolutely no interest in Diablo, if the mere mention of the game makes you sick to your stomach and you don't want to see anything on our site but World of Warcraft, we have a solution for you. For the next two days, all of our World of Warcraft content will be tagged "not-diablo." To filter out all of our Diablo content, just go to this link here for the next couple of days for content that's 100% Diablo-free. Treat that as our front page for awhile. Come Wednesday, though, make sure to come back to our real front page -- we won't use that tag forever, just during this Diablo blitz.

If you have any feedback on our Diablo III coverage throughout the day, please feel free to email me your thoughts at alex@wowinsider.com. Did you like what you saw? Is there something we could have done better? I won't be able to respond to everyone, but I assure you that every email sent will be read.

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Evil has returned! 1.2 million WoW players are getting Diablo III for free thanks to the Annual Pass. You can get prepared for the evil with WoW Insider's launch coverage. From the lore of Diablo, to the important blue posts and the basics of Diablo gameplay, we'll get you on the inside track for the return of evil.

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Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

There are only two weeks left until yours truly packs up and moves cross-country from Boston to California. But not just anywhere in California -- Los Angeles. Hollywood! The next time you see me, I'll be a star! Why? Because I've been watching Mel Kane's Getting Your Kids into Commercials nonstop. I think I finally have all the know-how it takes to be a showbiz kid!

Do you look at your child as a financial burden? Then you're doing it wrong. It's time to take that toddler and monetize him through the magic world of commercial acting!

Don't know where to start? Well, no worries -- Mel Kane's Getting Your Kids into Commercials is here to help. Mel will teach you all the key aspects of being a showbiz parent: how to punish your child when they mess up their lines, how to punish your child when they miss their mark, and how to punish your child when they look bored and clearly don't want to be there acting. And most importantly, Mel will teach you how severely to punish your kids when they don't read that week's WRUP. (Very severely! WRUP is totes important!)

So, that's that. While you get your kids browbeat into shape, the rest of us will be here What aRe yoU Playing our hearts out to avoid the wrath of our own showbiz parents. This week's bonus question: With the recent announcement that cross-realm zones are coming to Mists of Pandaria, I've been in a very nostalgic mode. So, I want to know: What's your favorite low-level zone?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Here's a question, ladies and gents: What's your favorite TV show? Are you a fan of the recently renewed Fringe? Perhaps you're more the American Horror Story type? Maybe you British blokes care for Coronation Street, Blue Peter, or The Chase? (Look at the American pretending he knows stuff about British culture -- isn't that cute?)

Surely none of you said your favorite show was TMZ, even though that's an actual show that really exists on TV in real life. Apparently, someone thought it would be a great idea to take a celebrity gossip site and turn it into an awful TV show. (P.S.: I am so sorry for sharing the above clip with you.) But that's not the only terrible idea floating out there on television -- after all, someone is turning that I Can Haz Cheezeburger nonsense into a TV show, too.

So, that got me thinking -- if any website out there can wind up being a poorly rated TV show, why not ours? Why can't there be a show that revolves around our wacky escapades? We literally could not be worse than TMZ. Never mind that it's a bad idea to put folks like Mike Sacco and Mat McCurley on TV. I'm ready to be famous. Not like I-write-for-the-internet famous, but B-list reality show famous. It's time.

While you're waiting for good ol' Fox to make his TV debut, why don't you WRUP with us? This week's bonus question: What kind of parties have you been to ... er, I mean, what are you doing in the MoP beta right now?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Whoa ho ho, ladies and gentlemen. Did you know that Blizzard has two betas going on at the same time, right now, while you read this? It's a Blizzard Beta Bountiful Bonus Weekend, with Diablo III's mega stress test and public beta arriving to destroy Blizzard's servers, as well as another 400,000 invites to the Mists of Pandaria beta, rounding out the Annual Pass holders still not with beta access.

We're playing all sorts of games around here this weekend, but the real question remains: What is your absolute least favorite ability currently in the game? What ability in WoW is just so offensive to you, so gut-wrenchingly awful, that you can't fight the disgusted scoffs that accompany the mere mention of it?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

I don't care if it's slated to be 72 degrees and sunny tomorrow here in Boston -- this weekend is going to be terrible. Why, you ask? Because this weekend isn't a PAX East weekend. Mat McCurley isn't crashing on my couch, eating pizza and doing nerd stuff. And the staff of WoW Insider isn't entertaining a crowd of people during a live show. That's the real downer.

Mat worked feverishly to entertain the hell out of an estimated 300 PAX convention-goers last Saturday. Thankfully, he had the foresight to video record the whole thing. You can only watch 10 minutes of it, but they're the only visually important minutes anyway. You should watch it, even if only for the fact that the stunningly handsome Fox Van Allen is in the mix. (Check out the full audio podcast.)

Anyway, though this weekend is sure to be less interesting than the last, we still need to WRUP. Today's bonus question: What's your favorite independent video game?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

PAX East has been a phenomenal time so far. We've met lots of fans, stood in a bunch of lines, and have been having a generally positive time. That's what I've been up to, anyway. How about you and our intrepid WoW Insider staff? Playing beta? Running raids? What are you guys playing this weekend? Remember, come see our panel.

This week's bonus: PAX East is now. Give me a Monday morning headline for after the show -- what's that big news going to be?

If you can find Alex, Mat, or Fox walking around the convention floor at PAX East this weekend, be sure to say hi, and you could get a code for an in-game companion pet. All you need to do is tell them you want it -- maybe sweeten the deal by saying how cool WoW Insider is -- and it's yours!

Alex, Mat, and Fox will be giving these out on Friday and Saturday, so the sooner you find them, the better chance you'll have at some sweet loot. Supplies are limited.

Oh, and there's this WoW Insider Panel on Saturday at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Wyvern Theater, where we're giving away just about everything under the sun. Actually, including the sun. Yup.

The above picture is of Fox and Michelle Morrow after Fox was denied several hugs at a taping of The Price is Right. I'm not sure if he'll be wearing his Price is Right name tag or not at PAX East, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is. Hit the break for pictures of what Mat looks like. I've also thrown in a picture of Sacco for good measure, even though he doesn't have any codes to give away. (/chuckle)

Heading into Boston for PAX East? Well then, welcome -- you're visiting Fox Van Allen's hometown. Be sure to wipe your feet first. And pay no mind to that dude on the bicycle making the siren noise -- he's just part of the ambiance.

If this is your first time at PAX East -- or really, your first time in Boston -- you might be a little bit overwhelmed by this fair city I call home. But don't be! Boston is one of the nicest, cleanest cities in the United States (no, seriously). It's also one of the safest. If you're spending every waking hour at the convention hall, you're seriously missing out.

Hey, remember that time when you guys were like, "Hey WoW Insider, when are you getting a new comment system?" And then we were like, "We're totally getting one real soon!" And then three years later, we were still using the same awful comment system that nobody ever liked? Yeah ...

Well, guess what? We're getting a new comment system! Like, right now. This very second. Enjoy.

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Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Ah, the weekend! That magical time of the week when all you cool cats get out there on your choppers and ride.

But more importantly for our purposes here at WoW Insider, the weekend means it's time to WRUP. That's when we check in with our WoW Insider writers to see what it is that they're doing this weekend. This week's bonus question: When Mists of Pandaria Pet Battles launch, who's going to be your go-to pet?

Well, certainly you all have read the news -- the Mists of Pandaria beta is open. And you're probably not in it. I mean, after all, if you were, wouldn't you be spending your time this evening playing it instead of reading this nonsense?

But still, for those of us who are beta free, you cannot give up hope -- for, you see, you have the power. You have ... crystals! Look at them longingly. Hold them close to your face. Now hold them slightly away from your face. Now have someone look at you from a different angle. Do you feel the power? Are you surrounded by glowing light? You'll find that crystals power truth!

I'm pretty confident that the secret to getting in this MoP beta hinges on proper crystal usage, so don't give up hope if you're not in yet. Just spend several hours a day holding and hoisting crystals. And while you're waiting for the power (that you already have, mind you -- you have the power), you can tell us what you're playing this weekend. And finally, you can answer our bonus question: If you could have any in-game ability to use in real life, what would it be?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Oh my God, you guys.

You're forgiven if you don't know the ins and outs of our relationship with Blizzard. But right now, Editor-in-Chief Alex Ziebart and The Queue superstar Mike Sacco are in Irvine, California. They're getting a special insider look at the Mists of Pandaria expansion from Blizzard itself.

But here's the problem: Though we have a ridiculous amount of unbelievably amazing information, we're not actually allowed to share it with you yet. We're under a press embargo. It's driving us crazy.

So in the interest of maintaining our relationship with Blizzard, we're going to spoil every other thing we can that isn't Mists of Pandaria. So -- spoiler alert! Today's WRUP combines the fun of telling everyone what you're playing with the fun of ruining stuff for other people.

This past Wednesday, I got to spend the day with Michele Morrow in Los Angeles. For those who don't know, she's not just a WoW-lebrity aiming to be cast as Lady Sylvanas in the upcoming WoW movie. She's and honest to goodness real celeb, having appeared in a number of horror movies and on TV.

With yours truly in Hollywood, I figured it was time to do as the locals do -- both Michele and I headed to CBS Television City to try our luck at landing a starring role on daytime TV via The Price is Right. There was lots of waiting involved, but the payoff was pretty cool. We got front row seats and plenty of camera time. (You're welcome, America.)

But enough about dinette sets, cars, and the thrill of Plinko -- that episode won't air until March 29. We need to live in the now. And living in the now means it's time to roll up our sleeves and WRUP like we've never WRUPed before.

So, ladies, gents, and misshapen gnomes -- what in the heck are you playing this weekend?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Dumb. Creepy. Lame. Stupid. Life-ruining.

These are all words to describe Bloodthistle. (Conveniently enough, they also describe Tyler Caraway.) Bloodthistle is all the rage amongst inner city blood elf youth. A cheap, quick buff that makes your magic stronger.

But it comes at a price. Bloodthistle withdrawal. Not only does it slash your intellect, but it's the number one cause of terrible public service announcements starring Brandon Tartikoff.

If a Thistlehead tries to get you hooked, get a teacher! Or just tell them: you're not a chicken -- they're a turkey. That line will burn. That line will burn them so bad.

You know why you don't need the thistlejuice? Because you've got a pretty sweet natural high right here in WRUP. Hearing what your favorite WoW Insider writers are up to this weekend is an unrivaled head rush. And seeing them answer this week's bonus question, where I ask them to tell me how the story for World of Warcraft is going to end? Pure nirvana.

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

At my age, there's nothing I treasure more than spending time with my grandkids. But my overactive bladder has ... other ideas. It used to stop me in my tracks. Now, thanks to my little secret -- WRUP -- I can get back out there and start enjoying life again. What a terrific National Secretaries' Day gift!

And making eggs? What a hassle! First you need to get water! Then you need to turn on the stove, risking severe burns and structure fires! Isn't there an easier way? Now, there is -- WRUP! What aRe yoU Playing uses space-age technology to make cooking eggs a breeze. Makes a great graduation gift.

This commemorative WRUP is struck in 24-karat gold. You and your family can cherish the memory of what your favorite WoW Insider writers were playing on Feb. 11 and 12, 2012. What a great way to teach your children video gaming history. One or two WRUPs is not enough -- you're going to want to buy three, five, 10, or more. Because once this WRUP is minted, it will never be minted again. Makes a great Arbor Day gift!

If there's one company that's mastered the art of the promotional tie-in better than us here at WoW Insider, it's Blizzard. There are promotional WoW drinking cups. There are shirts. Plushies. And soon, there is even going to be a World of Warcraft Monopoly game. It left us asking the question: What's next?

So in addition to the usual What are you playing? question, that's precisely what I asked our columnists: What promotional tie-in will Blizzard come up with next?