BlizzCon and (almost) Everything You Need To Know About It

The number of games festivals have exponentially increased* over the years!

*Numbers may not have exponentially increased, but it’s fair to say that gamers have indeed become a force to be reckoned with!

We have a few in Denmark. Mostly we’re known for Nordic Game Jam, where participants each year go in groups and develop a game over 48 hours: showcase it and they might just win critical acclaim! (Nordic Game Jam is held in April: this year it’s from the 13th to 16th).

We also have Game Scope, which is a growing games festival, more so catered to showcasing different games. (Game Scope is held in August)

But, we’re not here to talk about “just any” games festival.

Blizzard, as most of us, know as the father/ mother/ creator to the MMO genre: having dominated the field (and still is) with their massive, World of Warcraft ever-expanding-series, which is a game to admire whether actually you like it or not. It’s accomplishments — as for Blizzard’saccomplishments — speaks for themselves!

But Blizzard IS a leading publisher and developer, spanning multiple decades and leaving only a roster of great to amazing to Godly games in its wake.

To mention a few, we have:

• The massively popular StarCraft® series (not to mention, its WarCraft® series too).

• Heroes of the Storm®.

• The card game no one expected to rival — or even beat — the likes of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon TCG — but alas, it did. It’s, of course, Hearthstone®.

• And also, I can’t NOT mention, Overwatch®: a game that filled a void in most competitive FPS gamers’ hearts. It’s fun, it’s strategic, and although it is somewhat salty, what it ISN’T is flawed.

But, what am I talking about? Well, if it wasn’t because I needed to put it in the title or the tags, this would be more of a surprise. But, alas:

Blizzcon® 2018

Is upon us, and the ticket sale dates have been announced: Thursday, May, 3.00 BST and Saturday, May 12, 18:00 BST. The main event is taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center on November 2nd to 3rd. The tickets will cost from $199 for 2 days and a goodie bag.

There is also an exclusive dinner buy-in to $750, where the net proceeds from the event go to benefit CHOC Children’s (a pediatric health system in Orange County, California). The exclusivity and the price comes with meeting the developers and of course, supporting a good cause!

However, this year, it’s not only attendees that can enjoy BlizzCon, as gamers from around the globe can tune in via Virtual Ticket, and watch it all through a livestream coverage of the event — including bonus content, which also includes in-game item!

For more information, go to www.blizzcon.com.

Now, if you’re not sold yet — let’s hear it from Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment.

“It’s our chance to meet and really get to know the people behind the terran commanders, demon hunters, and Tracer mains […] to share our passion for games and esports with each other, and celebrate what being in the Blizzard community is all about.”

As a person from Denmark and as a student, I will not physically attend BlizzCon, but being a casual Overwatch player and a-back-in-the-day WoW gamer, the opportunity to follow Blizzard from the web does intrigue me.

Blizzard is one of those game companies you know will hold its own against the up-and-comers studios like Epic Games with their massively popular Battle Royale: Fortnite. Blizzard is a Titan among the Gods of the gaming world, and following their footsteps, it’s clear that they have left a mark on gaming history.

To me, Blizzard was my first MMO, and although I never got into WoW as many did, I’m drawn back every time they release new content because I can know for sure that it is amazing.

Every. Single. Time.

But enough chit-chat!

What do you think of gaming festivals? Are you planning on going to BlizzCon? Did you play WoW back in the day or are you still a hardcore fan: still pumping up the hours of playtime? Let me know in the comments below!

Frederik Becker

https://www.frederikbecker.com/ 

[email protected]