Blizzard has just announced a series of upcoming worldwide tournaments that give World of Warcraft's player-vs-player contingent the chance to beat each other down with specially designed characters for a share of "more than $200,000 in cash prizes."
The tournaments, which are scheduled to begin in April, will pit players against one another using only their wits and specially created level 70 characters equipped with the finest epic gear available, "placing the focus on tactics and execution rather than normal adventuring."
Each worldwide region has its own buy-in fee ($20 here in the States), though all seem rather reasonable and certainly low enough to ensure a large turnout of gamers.
According to Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime, the tournament is an effort to "expand World of Warcraft's tournament options for players who want to focus mainly on the competitive aspect of the game."
Since the largest complaint leveled against Blizzard's mega-MMO has always been the dearth of PvP options, this is presumably an effort on behalf of the company's management to appease the heavily vocal PvP minority.
I can't see simply cash tournaments replacing the much-requested PvP gameplay systems in titles like Age of Conan or Warhammer Online, but perhaps placating players with the lure of money is the best way for Blizzard to silence the angry masses.
