BlizzCon is almost upon us -- this weekend, thousands will descend on Anaheim to celebrate Blizzard and its games, and Blizzard developers will share their wisdom with us about Wrath of the Lich King, Diablo 3, and Starcraft II. And WoW Insider will be there: if you're going, make sure to come by our big reader meetup on Thursday night at The Lost Bar, and if you're not going, stay tuned to the site all weekend long for live-on-the-scene coverage.

News

• Raids rebalanced for patch 3.0.2
  Even Burning Crusade raids are getting a facelift, considering how much is changing in the upcoming expansion.
• Patch 3.0.2 release date revealed (probably)
  Set your calendars for October 14th -- that's when you'll get to try out all the new talents and skills.
• BlizzCon schedule and interactive map
  Blizzard announces what's going down at their third BlizzCon event in Anaheim, CA.
• Blizzard wins $6 million in court case against Glider
  The botting company loses big time in the ongoing lawsuit.
• Tigole confirms dual specs are still in the works
  Players are still begging for a way to switch specs more easily, and we might just get it.

Features

• Tips for new Death Knights from a fellow melee, part 1
  Trying out the new Death Knight class? Here's a quick review on how to stab things.
• Don't Panic: Paladin changes in beta build 9014
  Pally developments in the latest Wrath of the Lich King beta build.
• Ask a Beta Tester: Soundtracks, trinkets and travel
  One of our beta testers answers all your questions about what's going down in the beta version of Northrend.
• Tenacious D discovered Northrend first
  Think the frozen wastes came from the mind of Chris Metzen? There's a secret to be told.
• Spiritual Guidance: Everything you ever wanted to know about raid healing at level 80
  And then some -- our priest blogger Matticus lays down the facts on what's up in the Wrath raids.

For quite a while, it was a virtual tie between it and xkcd's Flash Games, but in the end Penny Arcade's homage to Mega Man 9 A Trick of Retrospective took top honors in this week's webcomic wrapup. As one commenter quipped, the fourth panel -- the one with all the screaming and angry swearing at the TV -- is conspicuously absent.

Second place went to xkcd, while third went to the other homage to Mega Man 9, Digital Unrest's Return to Form. Thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week.

Animal Crossing is a one-hit-wonder. You might like it and play it forever, hate it and avoid it completely, or think it was catchy and then just get tired of the tune. Animal Crossing: City Folk does little to change our perception. This is Animal Crossing, again; go fishing, pull weeds, repeat. Some love it, some hate it, and some just want something new.

From what we saw at the Nintendo Media Summit, the city is just another place to go. Instead of Tom Nook's shop in your own town, you can buy from an upscale store. Instead of waiting for the fortune teller to visit, you can see her in the city. A few minor additions include a city-based auction house and theater where you see shows.

The rest of the updates seem equally subtle. You can play with your Mii face. Up to four players can meet in one of their towns or the city. Gamer can talk over the WiiSpeak microphone (sold separately). You can type messages by plugging in any USB HID keyboard. Otherwise, it's Animal Crossing again.

My friends, I appreciate your support, but it is now, after much deliberation and discussion, that this Weekly Webcomic Wrapup pick its running mate. With the Japanese Hardware Sales, I have with me a popular public figure with experience and foreign policy credentials. Should it accept the nomination, together, we will win this election ... for Supreme King and Queen of the Internets.

I've already picked my cabinet. Since I like playing favorites, please vote for the best after the break.

Flash Games (xkcd)
A Trick of Retrospective (Penny Arcade)
A Braid Knot (Dueling Analogs)
geek sign lesson (Sidescroller)
Dear Cousin (Castle Vidcons)
Runway Wreck (2P Start)
Return to Form (Digital Unrest)
The Hype Machine (Monday Night Crew)

Tucked away in the dark, at the far back of E for All is a fair-sized Gears of War 2 booth with many stations showing off the Horde mode, and handing out COG tags. However, these are fairly normal sized tags, about the size of a dollar coin. So what's up with this image of a giant COG that looks like it could serve as Sauron's ring?

We asked one of the community managers at the GoW2 booth, and he said, "Wait... did you see this image recently? A huge COG tag that's thick and made out of metal? Yeah, there's a big announcement about that coming out. I can't say anything about it really, but keep watching the website all weekend. And no, it's not something you can buy. It's made of metal, is thick, and weighs about two pounds."

Is Epic hiding these in the world somewhere, and there's a contest to find them? Are they items you can win based on your in-game performance like those rings they added to Madden? Is it just a huge paperweight? We'll keep watching the site, which yesterday put up a blurb about COGs. How convenient. What do you think it is?

[Via JoystickWidow]

E for All remains the ghostly and distant third cousin of the previous mammoth version of E3 that's open to the public, and it takes place inside the carcass of that fearsome beast, the Los Angeles Convention Center. While we misjudged the time and arrived two hours early, that gives us plenty of time to peruse the schedule and pick our poison.

So far the highlights include:

• A treadmill race across Azeroth
• Meet and greet with Billy Mitchell
• Samples of Gamer Grub, snacks developed for gamers
• Hands-on with Ubisoft's Far Cry 2, Tom Clancy's End War, Shaun White Snowboarding, and Activision's Guitar Hero World Tour
• Putting our butt in a Boom Chair
  
• And the... Los Angeles Unified School District? "Participating students will obtain a deeper understanding of video games and how they can be incorporated into their future careers from speakers – including Fatal1ty – who will describe their experience with video games and ways to break into the industry." Run kids, run.

Or, as SCEA producer Taku Imasaki puts it on the PlayStation Blog, "NEW CARS!!" He's very excited. Wouldn't you be too, if a free update to Polyphony Digital's Real But Not Real Enough To Crumple Up Your Ferrari Driving Simulator enabled three new rides and a host of gameplay tweaks?

When you next load up Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, you'll be able to download the "GT by Citroen" concept car (pictured), the Ferrari California and the Lotus Evora. Gameplay enhancements introduced by the update include alterations to the penalty system, race difficulty levels, wireless controller responsiveness, sound volume balance and Drift Trial races, which will now feature a rolling start.

A word of caution, however: "Rankings, arcade time trial times, drift trial records, as well as vehicle-specific quick tune settings and custom key layouts will all be reset with the new update. Replay data created before the second update will no longer be viewable after this update." That's the price of Prologue progress, we suppose.

This week's PSN update brings some nice demos for those PlayStation owners who truly shun all things Xbox 360. The BioShock and Eternal Sonata test drives are now available, along with snippets of NBA 2k9 and Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. In addition, The PixelJunk Eden soundtrack can be purchased for $3, and there's an NBA Live 365 add-on for NBA LIVE 09. The full list of this week's update is after the break.

Would you kindly head over to PS3 Fanboy to find out what's in this week's European PSN update?

Look, you gotta understand, not everyone gets into a private party. But a public one? Man, you gotta have some bad luck -- or some funky smelling breath -- not to be invited in. Go on, prove that you're still worthy, apply for the Resistance 2 Public Beta. You can drop your answers here (remember, there's always a right answer, even if it doesn't count). Here's what Insomniac has to say:

"We'll notify you via e-mail if you are accepted into the Public Beta. Space is limited. So, if you want to get a chance to try out all the new multiplayer features in Resistance 2, such as the 8-player co-op and up to 60-player competitive multiplayer, apply now! Good luck!"

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

We really don't want to focus on the new GameTap titles this week, so let's look at the good stuff that's recently been added. The first season of American McGee's Grimm is done, with new installments coming soon. Don't forget to check out Fallout 2 (the first Fallout is free to play) before the third installment nukes us later this month.

But If you must know this week's additions:

• Dancing With the Stars (Windows) - The top-rated show infects your PC.
  
• Ride! Carnival Tycoon (Windows) - Another sub-par tycoon game.
• Secrets of Great Art (Windows) - Where's Waldo and I Spy meet high art.

The one saving grace this week is Sacred Gold hitting the free games lineup. The full list can be found after the break.

Oh Metal Gear Online, where did it all go wrong? Well, Kojima has a pretty good idea. Still, Konami hasn't given up on its multiplayer extension of MGS4, revealing a second major content update, the "Meme Expansion," which will be featured at TGS next week.

Included in the expansion are three new maps: Silo Sunset (from Portable Ops), Forest Firefight and Winter Warehouse. In addition, Liquid Ocelot and Mei Ling will be added to the perpetual battlefield. The Meme Expansion has yet to be priced and dated.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

News

• Spoiler: Angrathar, the Wrath Gate
  Don't click that link if you don't want the story ruined, but s. is about to hit the f. in Northrend. if you know what we mean.
• Ask a Beta Tester: Multi-passenger mounts and Enchanting
  Our beta tester (one of them) answers your questions about what's going on in the Wrath of the Lich King beta.
• New items for old Honor
  Blizzard's about to wipe all Honor and marks off the map, so here's what they're offering to let you buy before everything goes bye-bye.
• Shaman changes in Wrath beta build 8982
  Class tweaks are coming faster than ever near the end of the beta, and our class columnists are keeping you updated on what's going on.
• Boss models updated in Wrath beta
  Finally, Sylvanas looks like the badass Blood Elf Banshee Queen she's supposed to be.

Features

• First Impressions: 5-man healing in the beta
  What it's like to keep a group up in Northrend.
• Skill Mastery: Mind Sear
  A look at an Area of Effect ability coming to Shadow Priests,
• Breakfast Topic: The last week of Brewfest
  The in-game holiday of drunken Dwarves is almost over -- did you get your Brew of the Month membership yet?
• WoW Insider's preview of PopCap Games' Bejeweled addon
  Here's a first look at PopCap's official Bejeweled addon -- one addictive game inside another.
• Will Wrath really be ready by November 13th?
  Blizzard, a company known for polish, is still not done with some of Wrath. Will the game come out unfinished?

It was a landslide victory for wecomic wrapup newcomer Cross Platform, whose comic A New Creative Outlet took almost 40% of the vote. (Be sure to also check out the previous comic, Not-So-Secret Identities.) The site is still being prettified, so here's hoping we'll get permalink pages for each comic (hint, hint).

Second and third place go to usual suspects Penny Arcade (The Origin of the CD Keys, Part One) and Digital Unrest (No Avoiding It). Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!

The Capcom blog has announced that the horrifically under-promoted Age of Booty sets sail on October 15 and 16 for XBLA and PSN, respectively. The PC version will be available "shortly after" on digital download services like Metaboli, Impulse and Steam. The game will be sold on all platforms for $10.

We've had a few positive hands-on experiences with developer Certain Affinity's AoB, going back to when it was known by the less risqué name, Plunder. Hopefully this multiplayer-focused, real-time, boardgame-esque downloadable title finds an audience in the madness of this packed holiday season.

We're still enjoying our beta status at the moment, and so is LittleBigPlanet. Some intrepid gamers have already recreated Tetris in-game, as seen above (via PS3 Fanboy). We showed you Super Mario World earlier this week and we're sure there are dozens more mind-boggling creations propagated around the internet. The best we've tried our hands mittens at making is a pendulum. Anyway, here are our picks for the week's best game-related webcomic. Polling after the break; be sure to vote for your favorite!

The Origin of the CD Keys, Part One (Penny Arcade)
No Avoiding It (Digital Unrest)
Easily Unlocked (Dueling Analogs)
A New Creative Outlet (Cross Platform)
The System 62 (Rosscott, Inc.)
Mega Man Upgrade (Pilli-Adventure)
You'd Never Guess (Sidescroller)