Blizzard hits Austin

World of Warcraft creator to open customer-service center in the heart of MMOG country, says it has no current plans for a development studio there.

The Irvine, California-based developer of the hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft is expanding its operations to the North American hub of MMOG development--Austin, Texas. Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed an Austin Business Journal report that the company is opening a customer-support center in the Texas capital.

"The city has a vibrant and dynamic community with a well-established tech industry and a highly regarded university system," a Blizzard representative told GameSpot. "It's also a major hub for call centers in North America. World of Warcraft has fueled explosive growth in our customer service department, so we're looking forward to attracting talented professionals from the region."

The representative invited Austinites with a passion for gaming in general, and World of Warcraft in particular, to apply for job openings. More details can be found in a new posting on the Blizzard jobs page.

The new facility in Austin raises the question of Blizzard potentially opening up a development studio in the MMOG talent-rich city, but the company's representative denied the suggestion.

"We don't have any current plans to form a development studio in Austin. For now, our expansion in the region will be focused on game masters, as well as quality-control and internal support staff," the rep said.

35 Comments

  • dragonsama

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 6:27 am PT

    I just hope they release a Starcraft 2. Hell I'll take Starcraft Ghost at this point.

  • classicfan

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 1:44 am PT

    DIABLO 3 DIABLO 3 DIABLO 3 NOW BRING IT OUT IN 2007-2009 I DON't CARE BUT SOON!->

  • theKSMM

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 6:22 pm PT

    The strong game community is one of the things that I envy most about Austinians...Austinites...Austonians....whatever they are.

  • zsc4

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 11:00 am PT

    Expanding is good, but then the rate of expansion is another issue and Blizzard hasn't be able to grasp it properly

  • earlthecannibal

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 9:57 am PT

    Blizzard is the slowest most successful Pc game developer-that doesnt make a lot of sense to me. It's like being a really rich guy and not being able to buy a sports car. HURRY UP WITH DIABLO 3 SOME OF US WANT TO PLAY IT BEFORE WE DIE!!

  • andrew_mcbride

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 9:24 am PT

    "I want Diablo 3..."

    The main team that made Diablo and Diablo 2 left the company because the were useing the warcraft world instead of the diablo world. So the left and helped form NC Soft and made Guild Wars.

  • pkgilbert

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 9:16 am PT

    They should move the whole operation there... Hollywood and Southern California is having a bad influence on Blizzard developers.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 6:10 am PT

    Why not a new development studio? I want Diablo 3...

  • double_decker

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 3:30 am PT

    Nothing wrong with expanding and creating jobs. Spending money to make money

  • TryMe01

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:00 pm PT

    the biggest mmorpg to hit is now expanding... watch out!

  • Runningflame570

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 9:34 pm PT

    Silicon Hills baby! Another source of revenue for my metropolitan area..its good.

  • Somini

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 6:14 pm PT

    It's great that Blizzard's expanding and all, but can't they focus on making a lot of new, great games instead. They're sooooo slow, I wan't Diablo3 NOW!

  • Felaipes

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 5:37 pm PT

    yeah, great ahaa...soo....where is starcraft II or diablo III...at least starcraft: ghost...no??! nothing...k...

  • silentnsly

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 5:28 pm PT

    When most companies are setting up call centers in low cost countries like India and China... it is nice to hear a company going the ethical route and supporting the US economy.

    Thanks Blizzard!

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:37 pm PT

    I didn't know Austin was the hub of MMOG development. Thats pretty cool.

  • brerrabbit23

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:36 pm PT

    Great tech center for lots of reasons (Apple runs their CC from Austin as well.) Good call on Blizz!

  • strangelove

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:27 pm PT

    BTW, call1...

    HOOK EM HORNS

  • strangelove

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:25 pm PT

    Ghostrydr: Cryptic isn't in Austin. NCSoft, their publisher, is. But the studio itself isn't in Texas.

    Nothing very good comes out of Austin, but Vigil Games will change that when they release 40k.

  • Geekhippie

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    If Blizzard has enough money to build a call center, then they, obviously, have enough money to make Starcraft 2. Come on Blizzard. Get to work on Starcraft 2. Enough excuses.

  • call1

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:19 pm PT

    "Keep Austin Wierd," Yea, Austin Rules. I hope they try to add a devopment studio, even though they said they won't, or maybe other studios may try. Austin RULES!

  • GIF

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:09 pm PT

    Going all the way to Austin to work as a CSR would be a waste if their is no development studio there. Its just a stupid call center.

  • Paul733

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:05 pm PT

    meh, blizzard is no longer "cool" since they stopped making videogames and are concerned only by profit. Getting new staff for what, EVEN MORE WOW? OK WoW is great and all, but cmon' get over it allready! Give us something new Blizz ! And ... please... no "world of starcraft" or "world of freakin' diablo ... online". Heck, I'd even settle for a crappy starcraft ghost.

  • robbie_basic

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 12:46 pm PT

    I really considered being a WoW GM for awhile...

  • jrmyecomp

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 12:45 pm PT

    umm why is this news...?

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 12:36 pm PT

    it'd be cool to work for Blizz... even in customer service.

  • aka_hal

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 12:27 pm PT

    Yay for them using people in America for their customer support!

  • Cellien

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:57 am PT

    @Ghostryder.. I live in Austin and work at a smaller game studio here. The game industry here is known as a MMO industry. Sony Online, NCsoft, THQ and others.. all working on large scale MMO games.

  • keinuveye

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:54 am PT

    my old roomate is in austin. I am gonna tell him to get a job ther

  • GHOSTRyDr

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:42 am PT

    I didn't know Austin was "the North American hub of MMOG development" The only MMO developer based out of Austin that I know of is Cryptic.

  • icym

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:39 am PT

    I'm just amazed they didn't outsource it outside of the US...

  • joestierman

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:27 am PT

    by the title of this message, i was gonna say they must be having strange weather right now lol

  • Monroe1

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:09 am PT

    Interesting I think the only time I have Called Customer service was for my 360. But I guess it could happen.

  • AA7

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:01 am PT

    Ive called customer service b4. They are actually decently helpful.

  • Monroe1

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 10:57 am PT

    I wonder how many people reallly call

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