Blizzard Wants to Read Your Creative Writing

News
By Marcus Yam
published

Some of you surely spend enough time in Blizzard Entertainment’s worlds to experience them even in your dreams. Now it’s time to put some of that obsession to good use.

Blizzard is now running a global writing contest, calling for the best fan fiction that its loyal followers can conjure up.

As detailed by Blizzard on its official contest page, “Whether you conjure stories in your free time or write for a living, you’re encouraged to participate. This contest is open to entrants from around the world, and will be judged by Blizzard Entertainment’s own writers and masters of lore.”

“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.”

In addition to getting to visit Blizzard HQ, the grand prize winner will also receive an impressive looking Frostmourne sword.

Seven runners-up will receive prize packages consisting of signed copies of the Diablo Archive, Warcraft Archive, StarCraft Archive, and the Warcraft War of the Ancients Archive.

See the contest page here, and the full contest rules here. Please feel free to post your own samples of Blizzard fanfic in our comments section -- it doesn’t even have to be remotely close to 3,000 words. Good luck!

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
12 Comments Comment from the forums
  • gwellin
    How about something like this:

    I'm level 1 and I talk to (insert name of someone) who wants me to kill 10 (insert name of creature) for him. I kill them and then I repeat it 10000 more times by changing the (names) and now I'm level 80.

    Reply
  • Blessedman
    SP did that already.

    It's a shame they don't have some sort of resource page to go along with this creative writing contest. Something to keep history in line within the stories that might be crafted.
    Reply
  • grieve
    I logged in, hit start in WoWglider... the rest is automated history.
    Reply
  • grieve
    OH OH... chapter two...

    After 1.5 straight years of gliding, Endless nights of Automation, blizzard finally clued in that my account had all characters maxed and an endless supply of cash.

    The End.


    Stay tuned for my next botting exploits.
    Reply
  • tenor77
    My guess is this is research to see how warped they've made their gamers.

    My prediction. Very.
    Reply
  • jhansonxi
    I think they're looking for storylines for future games or add-ons. They must be short on creative writers. It's a common problem with game companies - good story and bad graphics or great graphics in a pointless and plotless world. Compare Quake with The Seal of Nehahra.
    Reply
  • brendano257
    LOL....they just can't afford writers anymore....so why not get all their fans hyped up on WoWcrack to write for them, all the while finding out how obsessed they really are =D
    Reply
  • brendano257
    I forgot to mention..."loyal followers" are very different from addicts who need the next dose.
    Reply
  • Flameout
    i miss the good ol days wen the original designers of diablo were at blizzard. dont care much for warcraft or blizzard

    i wonder if they wil screw up d3
    Reply
  • NuclearShadow
    There is nothing more worthless than fan fiction. Also guess the % of them will be cross overs? " Kerrigan's Zerg forces come upon the Lich King's undead... and then the unthinkable happens.... OMG Zerg Rush KEKEKEKEKE" And those will be the "good" ones capable of winning...
    Reply