World of Warcraft is still the #1 MMO around the world, Modern Warfare 3 sold like freaking hotcakes and oh yeah — kids love Skylanders. See? Not really that surprising that they’re still printing money. Here’s a short recap of what was covered in their conference call today.

• Call of Duty Elite has over seven million subscribers.
• World of Warcraft has actually lost subscribers — going from 10.3 million to 10.2 million. Not a big loss, but one nonetheless.
• Speaking of WoW, we’ll get more information on the Mists of Pandaria expansion on March 19.
• A new Call of Duty is on the way (how not surprising!) with an Elite 2.0 to match.
• Diablo III is still coming this year — probably in Q2, if a slide from the publisher is to be believed (I think it is). That might not qualify as “early 2012″ to some people, so those people may think of it as a delay. In any case, we’re getting closer and closer to looting like mad — and WoW subscribers who took part in the Annual Pass program announced at BlizzCon 2011 are one step closer to a free copy of the game. (By the way, over one million people took part in that program.)
• Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure was the #1 kids’ title for the calendar year of 2011.
• A collection of all content available to current Call of Duty Elite members is on the way for Xbox 360. Really, you were probably better off just buying into Elite, but we won’t judge.

Not too much surprising stuff here. Are you looking forward to anything from Activision?

This is exciting for WoW fans, as well as a promise fulfillment from Blizzard that they were going to work on improving the timing of the release of furute WoW content. With Wrath of the Lich King there was definitely a stale period where the endgame content did become routine and not fun for the players who were hardcore raiders. Even for a non-raider for me I slowly started getting bored near the end.

I’ll be interested to see what comes out of this press tour and what other details we may get regarding the expansion.

You can read about my thoughts on what I got to play of the expansion at Blizzcon last year here.

Today Blizzard announced that they plan to hold a new major eSports event: the 2012 Battle.net World Championship Event. It is slated to take place in late 2012 in Asia and will feature some of the top pro-gamers in the world. eSport enthusiasts and players plus Blizzard gamers will be invited to attend this event and watch some of the top players compete for prizes and glory.

“We’re excited to be showcasing Blizzard eSports on a truly global stage this year. We’re also heavily focused on getting Diablo III, Mists of Pandaria, and Heart of the Swarm into players’ hands as soon as possible. In light of our jam-packed schedule, we’ve decided to hold the next BlizzCon in 2013.”

Yep you read correctly, the next Blizzcon will not be held this year but will instead happen in 2013. I do think that a major eSports event run by Blizzard is a great step in advancing eSports more. But I do know that there will definitely be some fans who will be sad Blizzcon isn’t happening this year.

More news regarding details for the Battle.net World Championship as well as Blizzcon 2013 is said to be coming in the months ahead!

1. Get one character to level 85. I’m so close on this one that I can taste it. Ariadne up there (she’s been race-changed and name-changed in the past month because I was just tired of being a Worgen), as of December 30, sits at level 84. That means one to go before I hit the big one — and level cap. Can I do it? Absolutely, especially with the friends and guildies I have (that I didn’t really have at the time of making said resolution) who are willing to help me out by queuing for random dungeons and giving me advice.

Of course, I have tonight (Friday) and Saturday night. But Saturday gets a little more difficult when you factor in the holiday — how much leveling can I do on New Year’s Eve, before midnight? I might not actually make it, but I can definitely say I gave it a good shot. Perhaps not my best, since there were weeks where I didn’t play at all, thanks to school, but at least a genuine shot. At the very least, I didn’t give up.

2. Don’t start any more alts until I have a level 85 toon. Well, I obviously messed this one up, given that I started two new characters, both very recently. Resolution (and Ariadne), please forgive me for wanting to explore the worlds of the Shaman and Death Knight classes. They were fun, too.

So, what’s on the menu this year? It’s pretty simple, really.

I want to punch Deathwing in the face. Yep, that simple. Well, okay, in a sentence — yeah, it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot to it if you don’t know the game. But in reality, that means I have a lot to do. What will follow for me for the next year will be a merry-go-round of gear collecting, equipped item level raising, and begging people to go on old content raids with me (pleeaaaaaaase? Pandas can wait, right?). It’ll all culminate in an eventual trip to Dragon Soul, once I’m geared enough and deemed ready.

I guess some of this gets easier with the very recent addition of the Raid Finder to the game, essentially putting the endgame in “easy mode,” but…I want to avoid that. I want to, if at all possible, go with the people who kept me in the game in the first place — awesome guildies.

Yeah, I know. I’m getting sappy. But they’re the people I want to learn from, so it really only makes sense.

So — one goal, many steps. I’m emotionally-invested. I’m ready to go, 2012.

I just have to finish up 2011 first.

Black Friday sales are starting to come in and Blizzard wrote us with a huge deal for people that have always wanted to try StarCraft II. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is going to be $29.99 which is 50% off the retail price. This is also a good opportunity for StarCraft II fans to purchase the game to give to a friend. The details are at the Blizzard Store. You only have until November 28th to cash in on this Black Friday deal!

Get hooked before StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

When you sign up for the 12-month Annual Pass plan (and you can do that right here), you not only get a free copy of Diablo III, but you also get an awesome mount based on Diablo III‘s Tyrael’s Charger as well as guaranteed access to the beta of Mists of Pandaria, the fifth expansion of World of Warcraft.

The mount features some pretty awesome wings, right? And I can’t even pretend that it’s the big deal anymore. The free copy of Diablo III is. And it’s apparently a limited-time deal, probably only because the new game is launching early next year.

We still don’t have timing for Diablo III‘s release, or even that of the Pandaria beta, but…it’s Blizzard Time. “Soon” is sufficient, right?

The Annual Pass can either be billed at $14.99 a month, or on your billing plan of choice. Keep in mind that this offer isn’t available to new accounts — you have to have registered a full copy of World of Warcraft before October 18, 2011.

Blizzard’s provided a full FAQ here. One item of note: If you don’t complete your full year of WoW, it looks like you don’t get to keep the copy of Diablo. So…just in case you were thinking about ditching the subscription…yeah, don’t.

I’ve already upgraded my subscription — it was pretty easy, and it really only involved switching my current subscription to another type. If you’re going to play for another year, you may as well switch, too. Free stuff!

Do keep in mind that this is subject to change (especially since there hasn’t been an official press release yet).

Friday, Oct. 21

• Opening Ceremony 11am -12pm, Main Stage
• Artists Stage 12pm – 1:15pm, Artists Stage
• Diablo III: Gameplay and Combat Systems 12pm-12:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• StarCraft II Match 1 12pm-1:30pm, StarCraft II Stage
• World of Warcraft 12pm – 1:30pm, Lore Zone

• World of Warcraft Round 1 12pm – 1pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• Blizzard Sound 12:30pm – 2pm, Main Stage
• Diablo III: Skill, Passive, and Rune Systems 1pm – 1:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• World of Warcraft: Round 2 1:15pm – 2:15pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• Artists Stage 1:30pm – 2:45pm, Artists Stage
• StarCraft II Match 2 1:30pm – 3:00pm, StarCraft II Stage
• StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Campaign and Lore Q&A 2pm – 2:45pm, Panel Discussion Stage
• StarCraft II: Map Development 2pm – 2:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• World of Warcraft Class Talent System 2:15pm – 3:15pm, Main Stage
• StarCraft 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Lore Zone
• World of Warcraft Round 3 2:30pm – 3:30pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• Artists Stage 3pm – 4:15pm, Artists Stage
• StarCraft II Match 3 3pm – 4:30pm, StarCraft II Stage
• StarCraft II: Multiplayer and eSports 3pm – 3:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• StarCraft II Multiplayer 3:15pm – 4:15pm, Panel Discussion Stage
• World of Warcraft Dungeons and Raids 3:30pm – 4:30pm, Main Stage
• World of Warcraft Round 4 3:45pm – 4:45pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• World of Warcraft: UI Development 4pm – 4:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• Artists Stage 4:30pm – 5:45pm, Artists Stage
• Diablo III 4:30pm – 5:30pm, Lore Zone
• StarCraft II Match 4 4:30pm – 6:00pm, StarCraft II Stage
• Blizzard Publishing: So What’s The Story? 4:45pm – 5:45pm, Panel Discussion Stage
• Diablo III Gameplay & Auction House 4:45pm – 5:45pm, Main Stage
• World of Warcraft Round 5 5pm-6pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• World of Warcraft: 4.3 Raid and Deathwing 5pm – 5:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• Contests 6pm – 7:30pm, Main Stage
• StarCraft II Match 5 6pm – 7:30pm, StarCraft II Stage
• World of Warcraft Round 6 6:15pm – 7:15pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• StarCraft II Match 6 7:30pm – 9pm, StarCraft II Stage
• World of Warcraft Round 7 7:30pm – 8:30pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• StarCraft II GSL Finals 9pm – 12am, StarCraft II Stage

Saturday, Oct. 22

• Diablo III Lore 10am – 11am, Panel Discussion Stage
• StarCraft II Match 7 10am – 11:15am, StarCraft II Stage
• World of Warcraft Live Raid 10am – 11am, Main Stage
• World of Warcraft Round 8 10am – 11am, World of Warcraft Stage
• World of Warcraft 10:30am – 12pm, Lore Zone
• Artists Stage 11am – 12:15pm, Artists Stage
• World of Warcraft: PvP 11am – 11:50am, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• World of Warcraft Art 11:15am – 12:15pm, Panel Discussion Stage
• World of Warcraft Round 9 11:15am – 12:15pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• Diablo III Open Q&A 11:30am – 12:30pm, Main Stage
• StarCraft II Match 8 11:30am – 12:45pm, StarCraft II Stage
• Diablo III: Gear and Items 12pm – 12:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• Artists Stage 12:30pm – 1:45pm, Artists Stage
• StarCraft II – Blizzard DOTA & Mod Tools 12:30pm – 1:30pm, Panel Discussion Stage
• World of Warcraft Semifinals 1 12:30pm – 1:30pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• StarCraft 1pm – 2pm, Lore Zone
• StarCraft II Upper Bracket Finals 1pm – 2:15pm, StarCraft II Stage
• StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm 1pm – 1:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• World of Warcraft Classes/Items/Professions Q&A 1pm – 2pm, Main Stage
• StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Art & Technology 1:45pm – 2:45pm, Panel Discussion Stage
• World of Warcraft Semifinals 2 1:45pm – 2:45pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• Artists Stage 2pm – 3:15pm, Artists Stage
• Diablo III: Lore and Story 2pm – 2:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• StarCraft II Lower Bracket Finals 2:30pm – 3:45pm, StarCraft II Stage
• World of Warcraft Open Q&A 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Main Stage
• Blizzard Cinematics: Diablo II – Making of “Black Soulstone” 3pm – 4pm, Lore Zone
• Diablo III 3pm – 4pm, Lore Zone
• StarCraft II: Race Tactics and Balance 3pm – 3:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• World of Warcraft Consolation Finals 3pm – 4pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• Artists Stage 3:30pm – 4:45pm, Artists Stage
• StarCraft II Grand Finals 4pm – 6pm, StarCraft II Stage
• World of Warcraft: Future Features 4pm – 4:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums
• World of Warcraft Grand Finals 4:15pm – 5:30pm, World of Warcraft Stage
• World of Warcraft Lore and Story Q&A 4:15pm – 5:15pm, Panel Discussion Stage
• World of Warcraft 5pm – 6pm, Lore Zone
• Closing Ceremony 6pm – 9:30pm, Main Stage

Thanks for the tip off WoWInsider!

It’s just Tiffany and Trina this week as they talk Tokyo Game Show, PS Vita’s battery life, gamer girl porn, Stripgamer turning into StripVille, Netflix renting games, The Stanley Parable, investors’ confidence in Nintendo, Diablo III’s talent calculator, DC Universe Online going free-to-play and NHL 12′s female character customization.

Download the show here!

Please leave us feedback on iTunes! You can also leave us a voicemail at (209) 874-6555, and email us at weeklyroundup@gamingangels.com.

New show coming up very, very soon — and this one’s even timely (I know).