Yes folks, the QJ Giveaway spree is well underway! SOE gave us a ton of beta keys so that people can try out their upcoming Free Realms MMORPG, and already, we've been able to roll out the first batch of keys to our lucky QJ.NET readers - congrats guys, you know who you are! More beta keys strung up on our belts and chains, meaning everyone's still more than welcome to join in on the fun! We've even included a full 10-minute dev walkthrough of the game in the full article, just to get you guys started. Have fun!

Electronic Arts and UK-based video game retailer GAME have joined forces to come up with a GAME-exclusive Premium Edition of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 for GBP 44.99 (US$ 87). Collectors and hardcore fans, better start saving up. Hit the full article for details on what the Premium Edition contains.

If you're a prayerful person and an MMORPG player at the same time, you may want to keep up the practice, as Funcom has given potential players of Age of Conan: The Hyborian Adventures something to pray about. Hint: it has something to do with the open beta. More on the power of prayer in the full article after the jump.

If you want to kick start your gaming experience for NetDevil's upcoming MMORPG Jumpgate Evolution, then simply head on over to Codemasters' Connect event which is going to happen soon.

Here, you will get the chance to talk to developers behind the game. Details of this event in the full article.

We've heard quite a lot about Pirates of the Burning Sea, but is it just a mere drop in an ocean of MMORPGs, or something that rises out of the water like a voracious sea monster ready to devour a ship or two? We find out ourselves as we review the official beta tour of the game. Check out the entire story in the full article.

Originally posted on January 21, 2008 at 1:45 PM.

  

The goodie bags handed out at this year's BlizzCon contained a lot of excellent and curious things. One of which is a beta key for an unnamed Blizzard project. Now, World of Warcraft players are currently discussing at the official WoW Forums what exactly these keys are for.

Blizzard forum moderator Nethaera mentioned that it is still undetermined as of now what specific project the beta keys can be used. We should take note that a lot of players used to believe that it is going to be for StarCraft II as it was the only newly announced Blizzard game as of that time.

Now that the Wrath of the Lich King has been revealed, it is also possible and highly probable that the keys are for the new WoW expansion. Regardless if it's for SC II or WoW: WotLK, Nethaera reminded everyone that those who don't have the beta keys shouldn't worry. The blue poster explained:

Please don't forget that the BlizzCon beta keys represent a very small portion of our beta community when it's time for a beta. We take players from various sources when it's time for beta so that as many people as we feel necessary are given the opportunity to help us test.

But guys the question remains: Are the beta keys for StarCraft II or for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King? Or could it be for an entirely new project that hasn't been announced yet? You can tell us what you think through the comment section below.

We know a lot of people (about nine million, give or take a couple of thousand) are waiting for news about the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, the Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK). Well, we know who gets to visit Northrend first: the beta testers.

Blazith from the WoW Europe Forums expressed what you probably are or aren't hoping - which one you are depends on whether or not you were a beta tester for The Burning Crusade. The player hoped that those who tested TBC will be chosen to test WotLK too.

Blizzard poster Aeus came by the said thread and posted a reply, "I haven't heard of or seen a plan yet, but I don't think we'll base the next beta key give aways on the previous ones."

Will we need to go through a number of contests again? That isn't going to be pretty. Anyway, we'll keep a close eye on those WoW: Wrath of the Lich King beta keys when they become available.

If you're looking to get a Beta Slot for Electronic Arts' upcoming Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, then here's your chance. The creator of the Warhammer table-top game, Games Workshop, has announced that they will be providing beta keys to lucky members of the community in their various events.

Your first chance to get an invite is by going to the Games Workshop Hobby Center at Yorkridge Shopping Center, at 1810 York Road, Lutherville, Maryland on September 12 to 16 and attending the Hobby Festival.  50 beta keys will be given away as well some pretty sweet swag that Warhammer aficionados will undoubtedly enjoy.

If you can't make it to that event, don't despair because you'll be getting another chance on October 12 to 14. Head over to the Games Workshop Battle Bunkers in Baltimore, Chicago, Seattle, or Los Angeles for the midnight release of the Warhammer 40k Apocalypse game. Games Workshop has given word that 100 Beta keys will be given away to attendees.

So what are you waiting for? Go over your schedule and clear those dates. Your attendance at these events might net you a Beta Key for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. The rest of us will have to wait till February next year when the game is slated to be released.

It wasn't very long ago that NCsoft announced their Signature Character Contest for Tabula Rasa. The developers essentially asked those who wanted to join to provide a biography of the charming lad in the picture to the right.

The contest's four runners up were: P. Baranay (US), E. Berndt (US), C. Mayr (EU), and D. Moore (EU). These contestants will be getting themselves a closed beta key. Second place went to V. Seese (US) while C. Scarborough(EU) picked up first place.

Both authors will be heading to the Tabula Rasa pre-release party where they will get a chance to rub shoulders with the developers, a closed beta key, a TR Challenge Coin, and a T-Shirt. However, only C. Scarborough's entry will be placed in the game.

Congratulations to all the winners in the competition. If you're interested in reading the stories the authors submitted, it was mentioned that all the finalists' entries will be posted on the Tabula Rasa website in the coming weeks.

Blizzard is upping the ante on its upcoming Blizzcon shindig and it has some killer freebies to be given away to devoted attendees. A murloc suit can be redeemed and given to your favorite characters and a beta key will be standard-issue to everyone to give them a taste of an upcoming Blizzard title. Go ahead, click on the thumbnail for a bigger view.

Blizzcon attendees will have to pay admission fees, but that's not such a big deal if you're really looking to get your fill of Blizzard gear. Everyone who's anyone in the Blizzard fold will be there, so don't miss your chance to be there.

The murloc suit pieces are shown above. Blizzard is still mum on the subject of the game beta, but we have all the right reasons to hope that it's Starcraft 2. We've been waiting for 10 painstaking years for a sequel and we'll devour one immediately when we get our hands on it.