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Ringing Bells and Taking Names at NASDAQ

by Blizzard Entertainment Mar 21, 2011 5:33 PM PDT
49

On Monday, March 7 Blizzard Entertainment founders Mike Morhaime, Frank Pearce, and Allen Adham rang the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York in celebration of Blizzard’s 20th anniversary.

While most executives might have spent their free time discussing the financial market, Mike and Frank decided to squeeze in a game of StarCraft II instead. (Frank won their heated TvT mirror match, but it was close, in case you were wondering.)

While our founders were ringing the bell inside, Blizzard was taking over Times Square outside in the name of our global gaming community. We projected a seven-story-high video featuring cinematics from World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty on the NASDAQ tower for a full hour -- marking the first time that Deathwing was ever rendered to scale.

Thanks to your support, Blizzard has been able to spend the last twenty years developing and publishing some of the most epic entertainment experiences ever. Please visit our 20th Anniversary site to take part in the celebration, and be sure to check out the extensive retrospective video we posted recently.

From left, Activision COO Thomas Tippl and Blizzard Entertainment co-founders Mike Morhaime, Allen Adham and Frank Pearce celebrate Blizzard's twentieth anniversary by ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ Marketsite, Monday, March 7, 2011 in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Blizzard Entertainment) Blizzard Entertainment co-founders Frank Pearce, left, and Mike Morhaime unwind by playing a StarCraft II match before ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ Marketsite, Monday, March 7, 2011 in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Blizzard Entertainment)
From left, Blizzard Entertainment vice president Lisa Jensen, Activision COO Thomas Tippl, Blizzard co-founders Allen Adham, Mike Morhaime and Frank Pearce, and NASDAQ senior vice president Bob MnCooey celebrate Blizzard's twentieth anniversary by ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ Marketsite, Monday, March 7, 2011 in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Blizzard Entertainment) Trailers for Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and StarCraft II play outside the NASDAQ Marketsite after Activision and Blizzard executives celebrated Blizzard's twentieth anniversary by ringing the closing bell, Monday, March 7, 2011 in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Blizzard Entertainment)

Tags: Blizzard, 20th Anniversary, NASDAQ
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Himi
Sentinels
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Himi
3/26/2011
Wow! That's coo-....waaaaaaait.
Deathwing is 7 stories tall?

.....
I....I'm just gonna go chill in Outlands for the next two years. As far away from that big thing as I possibly can be.
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Brosephion
Hydraxis
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Brosephion
3/25/2011
My name is ringin bells, in penitentiary cells.
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Colsanderz
Bladefist
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Colsanderz
3/25/2011
whats going on after i downloaded cata i keep lagging out, it keeps diconecting me. i might just leave wow. its a good game but what happened. it used to run good and i played it alot but now i can even play for more then 30 minutes now.
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Ðrake
Darkspear
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Ðrake
3/27/2011
@Colsanderz: Get a new PC or a better internet connection i guess. Ive never heard of anyone having this problem lol.
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Exiio
Ragnaros
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Exiio
3/24/2011
This is Real bussiness
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Calypsà
Arthas
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Calypsà
3/23/2011
Would love to see a pic of this Deathwing.
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Incus
Wyrmrest Accord
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Incus
3/22/2011
I would've loved to see the effect a life-sized Deathwing had on the traffic outside NYSE.
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Synrae
Dunemaul
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Synrae
3/22/2011
"We projected a seven-story-high video... marking the first time that Deathwing was ever rendered to scale."

Best line of the whole article.
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Wehs
Sentinels
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Wehs
3/23/2011
@Synrae: Agreed xD
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Gilzo
Sentinels
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Gilzo
3/26/2011
@Synrae: I wish I could have seen that! If I had known that was happening I would have made a special trip to see it.
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Quotedaraven
Echo Isles
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Quotedaraven
3/22/2011
ugh bliz is starting to piss meh off realy i dont mean to complain but WoW has ben realy bad sence cata not being able to log in gliches broken Qs and youd expect this after a pach like that but also doesnt seem they care about WoW as much as they use to kinda sad :(
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Dunkwar
Aggramar
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Dunkwar
3/22/2011
People who are asking about stock information:
Activision Blizzard, Inc., formerly Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) is the American holding company for Activision and Blizzard Entertainment. The company is majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA and was created through the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games, announced on December 2, 2007,[3] in a deal worth USD$18.8 billion.[4] The deal closed July 9, 2008. The company believed that the merging of the two companies would create "the world’s largest and most profitable pure-play video game publisher
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Trollkicker
Perenolde
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Trollkicker
3/22/2011
Living in NYC ftw.
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Lasserous
The Scryers
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Lasserous
3/22/2011
Sigh.

I worked at startups at the same time these guys were at Silicon & Synapse.

Let's just say I won't be ringing any NASDAQ bells anytime soon...
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Celticpriest
Black Dragonflight
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Celticpriest
3/22/2011
Soon the world will know our names, together We will influence there Poor Minds!
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Elbeghast
Andorhal
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Elbeghast
3/22/2011
So,Blizzard is ran by a bunch of old people? Explains a lot.
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Torami
Exodar
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Torami
3/22/2011
@Elbeghast: The company was created 20 years ago, what did you expect?
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Tonyintheeye
Mannoroth
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Tonyintheeye
3/22/2011
@Elbeghast: And how does that explains things... They've got far more experience than u do. Don't say anything if you can't do better, and i doubt you can
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Elbeghast
Andorhal
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Elbeghast
3/22/2011
@Tonyintheeye:
It explains why they 'forgot' to add things like the 'Dance Studio' and 'Path of the Titans' and 'Aerial Combat'. They are old and their memory isn't what it used to be.
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Mcjimothy
Lethon
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Mcjimothy
3/22/2011
@Elbeghast: They didnt "forget" about stuff like that, they just haven't done it.
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Elbeghast
Andorhal
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Elbeghast
3/22/2011
@Mcjimothy:
They haven't done it because they are too busy ringing stock market bells and acting like old people.

I want to see them skateboarding and spending quality time in a mosh pit...not trading commodities. My generation hates the corporate mindset.
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Uuteodon
Steamwheedle Cartel
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Uuteodon
3/22/2011
@Elbeghast: @Elbeghast: Uhmm... dude, I'm fifteen myself, and I know that a company run by people who only go to mosh pits and skateboard can't make the amazing games we play. And you obviously can't read very well either, because after they rang the bells of the stock market; Morhaime and Pierce played starcraft. Very instense corporate mindset... my ass. Of course they aren't young either, they made the company 20 years ago... what did you expect? Finally, your so-called generation doesn't exist, sorry to say. I'm in high school, and I'm attending a university course as well. Both generations at my schools hates the corporate mindset, some love it, a few hate it (like you) but most don't really care. Corporations and their mindset have produced most of your material goods, so get over it.
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Uuteodon
Steamwheedle Cartel
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Uuteodon
3/22/2011
@Uuteodon: Typo, both generations at my school DON'T hate the corporate mindset***
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Michaels
Hydraxis
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Michaels
3/22/2011
@Elbeghast: Lol you are quite the idiot aren't cha?
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Synrae
Dunemaul
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Synrae
3/22/2011
@Elbeghast: ~42 is old? lol
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Quotedaraven
Echo Isles
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Quotedaraven
3/23/2011
@Elbeghast: NIGHT ELF MALES=GAY STOP BAGING BLIZ even tho they dont care about WoW anymore xD
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Beeffrank
Borean Tundra
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Beeffrank
3/23/2011
@Elbeghast:It explains nothing.
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Druukin
Echo Isles
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Druukin
3/26/2011
@Elbeghast: every time i think about the dance studio that was "on the box cover" i get a little upset. how long am i supposed to be doing the macarena for? seriously?
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Quid
Farstriders
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Quid
3/22/2011
Please remind me to add Blizzad to my portfolio...How are they trading now anyway?
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Elviastratus
Eitrigg
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Elviastratus
3/22/2011
@Quid: That is a good point. Most people never think, "If I enjoy something this much and it massively popular, maybe I should own a piece of it and profit as well." I wonder how they faired (is that even a word?) in the months leading up to Cataclysm.
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Xiahoukai
Stormscale
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Xiahoukai
3/22/2011
@Quid: yes a very excellent point I mean if you think about it... what 11 million subscribers.... approx $15 each month... O_O.... When Cataclysm launched they had employment openings opening in an economy where downsizing isn't the south beach diet! Srsly... my current company just when through a massive re-structure and at the same time Blizz is looking for more people. Thankfully (or maybe unthankfully?) I was kept on.... but I still continue to link Blizz hiring page and my resume is hot and ready.....but I'm locked into a mortgage where I live. Anyway, before we queue the violins I leave it at - FRACK blizz seems to be existing in another world economically than the rest of us - the same place that petrolium sits - hands firmly on the economic balls of the world squeezing! We should TOTALLY buy a piece of that before the stock gets too high! Blizz is the REAL TUF!
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Reddrake
Medivh
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Reddrake
3/22/2011
good PR move keeping kotick out of those shots
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Davus
Thaurissan
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Davus
3/22/2011
@Reddrake: 100% agreed. Compared to Mike, Frank and Allen, Kotick = douche bag. He's more out there to earn for investors instead of providing a service like the 3 dudes of Blizz. The board should have booted him a long time ago.
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Krustybunny
Lightninghoof
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Krustybunny
3/22/2011
awesome, Blizz please take over that auction house, I'd rather pay for things in gold.
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Metalwrath
Daggerspine
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Metalwrath
3/22/2011
I definitely want to see a replay & other footage from the event! :D
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Rikur
Icecrown
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Rikur
3/21/2011
Haha, Starcraft 2 at NASDAQ. Epic occurrence is epic!
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Smashlol
Illidan
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Smashlol
3/21/2011
lets get the replay posted if possible?
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Boomblast
Turalyon
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Boomblast
3/22/2011
Yes, replay please!
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Rexzoolza
Runetotem
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Rexzoolza
3/21/2011
Congratz guys. It's a big honor and well deserved in an industry that you're pioneering. Cheers!
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Wasselin
Bonechewer
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Wasselin
3/21/2011
Yay blizz has a lot of money!!
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