Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures have announced that Sam Raimi has signed on to direct a movie based on Blizzrd's Warcraft universe. It's Warcraft, so this isn't just limited to that insanely popular MMO we've all encountered at one point or another.

It looks like Blizzard is stirring the pot again for some juicy developments behind the scenes. As some of us probably know, they're currently working on a couple games right now (StarCraft II, Diablo III, etc.). If these two new job postings are any indication though, they're now planning to jumpstart development on an entirely new - and unannounced! - game. With details scarce at the moment, it could be anything right now: a new IP, a new MMO, or maybe a console RTS?

 

We'll have to source WoWInsider on this one, since the original WoW Forums thread has been deleted. Anyway, Elizabeth Harper reports that WoW Forums poster Alorn asked when we'll be able to see a preview of the next expansion - since it has been reported that StarCraft, Diablo Series">Blizzard plans yearly expansions, after all, and we've had previews of Burning Crusade really, really early.

It is reported that Nethaera responded that Blizzard is yet to claim that they'll be producing yearly expansions, instead, Blizzard "wanted to try" to do so. Cue the sound of tire screeching, folks. Harper notes that just last August, Blizzard COO Paul Sams said this to GamesIndustry.biz: "Starting with The Burning Crusade, every year thereafter we plan on bringing out a new expansion set - so every 12 months."

Okay, let this serve as a lesson that when it comes to Blizzard, "we plan" isn't the same as "we will", and just like StarCraft: Ghost, we'll just have to be satisfied with "when it's ready."

Unless of course they really did intend to release an expansion next year, and Nethaera made a boo-boo with her response, and consequently got instructed to delete the thread. But that's just us, getting ahead of ourselves.

Maressa Hecht Orzack had her share of addiction to computer games, specifically Solitaire - the card game built into millions of desktop and laptop computers. After overcoming her addiction, she now helps other "addicts" to break the habit as an assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and director of the Computer Addiction Study Center at McLean Hospital in Belmont.

According to Orzack, games like The Sims, Everquest, or the hugely popular World of Warcraft draw millions of fans to wander into the massive online worlds that the games offer. Most of these gamers wander too far and can't seem to find their way out.

Blizzard claims to have more than 6.5 million active WoW subscriptions worldwide. As such, it is one of the most popular MMORPG in the world. Some WoW players admit that their addiction to the game has had negative effects on their family, social life, and even their relationship with co-workers. Hence, the term "World of Warcrack" entered the the gaming lingo.

US Air Force Staff Sergeant Joseph Hitchcock, of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, shared his addiction experience on World of Warcraft. Due to his addiction to various computer games, his present wife divorced him in 2003. He started dating again but it didn't work out because he would prefer playing WoW than being with his girlfriend. Three months later, he and his wife reconciled and are now expecting a baby.

Blizzard Interactive's chief operating officer, Paul Sams, reacted upon hearing his company product likened to a mind-altering drug. He said that they utilize moderation techniques like when a player logs out of the game for a long time, he will receive an experience bonus, making the fantasy character a little stronger everytime the player takes a few hours off. There is also the parental control feature that limits kids' playtime online to one hour a night.

As for you gamers, we all know that too much of something is not always good. Gamers are advised not to confuse their real self with their game characters. Unlike our real self, these characters only need a potion or something to revive their health. Also, put in mind that we have a life separate from these games, and in focusing too much in these games, we may be putting our health, our social relationship with others at risk. Parents are likewise advised to monitor their children's gaming habits and be able to set a limit to their gaming time so they would be able to focus on other important things like their studies.