Project Lore

Hey all you writers out there - Blizzard's got a deal for you that may be hard to pass up. The makers of WoW announced this week the company's first global writing contest. I'm looking at all you roleplayers and lovers of Blizzard's intricate lore. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, here's a chance to have some fun with the storylines that we've gotten to know in-game. The grand prize winner gets a trip to Blizzard headquarters in Irvine, Calif. (just south of L.A.), where you'll meet (and apparently eat with) the staff behind the lore that we all love. And the lasting prize is your very own RL Frostmourne sword (valued at $429), for whenever you feel like you need a bit of power eternal. Seven runners up also will be chosen to receive signed copies of the Warcraft Archive, Warcraft War of the Ancients Archive, Diablo Archive and StarCraft Archive. Here's what Blizzard posted:

To enter, submit a 3,000 to 10,000 word story written in English and set in the Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo universe by April 12 and earn your chance to visit the Blizzard Entertainment headquarters and meet the writers and staff behind the lore seen in the games and books.

The official contest rules are pretty straight-forward. You've got to be of legal age in your country of residence, and although it's called a "global" contest, it is limited to residents of 22 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, most of Europe and parts of Asia. Oh, and apparently if you live in North Dakota, Vermont, Connecticut or Maryland or Quebec, you're ineligible. So you'll have some competition. But that's part of the fun of it! You'll also have to sign a release, make sure your work is original, etc. Now for those of you who are looking for a more lasting prize, check out Blizzard's job openings page. Last I checked, there was an opening for a writer for StarCraft II. For anyone who's more interested in other aspects of game making, there also are several openings for WoW and Diablo III. The exciting part of looking at the page is seeing what kind of work they're doing. Included in the listings under the WoW tab is a position for a Dungeon Artist. More dungeons, anyone? But back to the topic at hand. I'm thinking of giving this contest a try. Any other takers?

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