That’s right, not only did Blizzard send along a message to its players concerning a successful and incredibly lucrative four years of digital murder simulation, they also attached a lovable widdle baby polar bear pet. Quite a reward for the $50 box + $40 Burning Crusade + $40 Lich King + 48 months of gameplay at $15 a pop I’ve bled out into their insatiable corporate maw.

Also, because the sixty-four billion they pull in annually from Warcraft isn’t enough, Blizzard has unleashed a new suite of celebrity WoW ads featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Van Sandt. The real truth is that actual celebs and Important People really do play World of Warcraft, which always amuses me. I’ll wager there’s a guild out there wondering where their paladin Obaminator has disappeared to since early November, and I’m pretty sure comedian Robin Williams plays, which must make for one hell of a time on Ventrilo.

Personally, my favourite is this NWS World of Warcraft rant from death metal rocker George Fisher of Cannibal Corpse, where he offers a few subtle and even-handed opinions about the Horde and the Alliance.