This video, Mafioso Swing, was first-runner up in the Blizzcon 2010 Machinima Contest. This is the video that a number of people think should have won and taken the first place prize. I have to admit, it’s a pretty hilarious musical number, and probably one of the first great videos we’ve seen that feature the Goblins in all of their animated glory.

The video previously mentioned, The Rocket of Love, took the Grand Prize in the Blizzcon 2010 Machinima Contest. This video, I Am Forsaken was the second runner up. The story is pretty typical as these videos go, a once human finds himself in tragic circumstances and eventually winds up on the other side of the line as an undead. Still – the way the machinima was made is brilliant and the video looks stunning. It’s no wonder most people I’ve seen think this video should have taken top prize – it’s heartfelt and evocative.

This little video above took grand prize in the 2010 Blizzcon Machinima Contest!

It’s a cute little story of a gnome who wakes up one morning, walks to his window, and see the most lovely sight he ever could possibly see…and then hilarity ensues.

I have to hand it to Mushanga, the creator of the video, for taking home the grand prize – a lot of people have complained that the other entries were better, and we’ll see as I post those over the coming days – but sometimes there’s something to be said for simplicity, elegance, lack of flare and false flask, and…well…gnomes. Enjoy!

One piece of news that may have slipped under the radar in the furor over Blizzcon is the fact that the winners of the 2010 Blizzard Global Writing Contest have been announced! Click the link above to see the winners – unfortunately the winning piece hasn’t been published just yet.

We last mentioned the contest back in June, and want to congratulate all of the finalists and ultimately the winner who’ll have the honor of being invited to Blizzard for a tour of the facility and a sit-down chat with Chris Metzen himself to discuss lore and storywriting.

The winner also gets to take home a Frostmourne replica or a Barbarian statue from Diablo III, and each of the finalists gets signed copies of each of the major Blizzard lore books: The Diablo Archive, StarCraft Archive, Warcraft Archive, and the Warcraft: War of the Ancients Archive. Congratulations!

If you think you have the chops to be one of the people to help craft lore for not just World of Warcraft, but other Blizzard games, Blizzard is looking for you. The 2010 Global Writing Contest is open, and here are the requirements:

Blizzard Entertainment is proud to present the 2010 Blizzard Global Writing Contest! Once again you’re called to action, to use your wits and strength, to compete for the ultimate prize.

Your weapons? They seem to be but a musty tome and quill*, but know that their power is far stronger than the armies of the Scourge, far craftier than the zerg Swarm, and far mightier than the Burning Hells. Ready your tools, scribe, and prepare for combat with the inky beast called fiction!

Whether you’re an accomplished writer or you simply fancy writing as a hobby, we encourage one and all to submit their creative works to our judges of official Blizzard writers and masters of lore. Their eyeballs are glistening and ready, their ocular fortitude intensified by the 2009 Blizzard Global Writing Contest.

Yes, last year’s contest was a marathon for the retina. After poring over story and ballad, adventure and romance, the judges ascended from their drool-covered keyboards to proclaim that they had succeeded in their charge: the 2009 winners had been chosen. News delivered, they then heroically passed out.

Do you dare test our judges’ optic mettle, laying your ideas and dreams beneath their unblinking gaze? If so, submit a 2,500- to 7,500-word short story written in English and set in the Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo universe by August 23, 2010, and earn your chance to visit the Blizzard headquarters and meet the writers and staff behind the lore of Blizzard’s games and books.

See below for details about prizes and frequently-asked questions. You can also check out the official rules for more information.

The contest itself is pretty straight forward, but the rewards are even more interesting:

Grand Prize: The grand prize winner will receive a trip to Blizzard’s headquarters in southern California, where you’ll meet and eat with the Blizzard writing staff. You’ll also receive your choice of a Diablo III “OVERTHROWN” barbarian diorama or a Frostmourne sword.

Runners-up: Seven runners-up will each receive a prize package of the Diablo Archive, the Warcraft Archive, the StarCraft Archive, and the Warcraft: War of the Ancients Archive, all signed by Chris Metzen, the cover artists, and Blizzard’s writing staff.

Tempting? Go ahead and enter, and head over to the contest site for more details and the FAQs!