What will we find at BlizzCon?
by Mike Schramm 
May 16th 2008 at 4:00PM
BlizzCon was announced on Monday, and ever since, there's been a question bouncing around the back of my mind: just what is it for? Blizzard doesn't just host an event because they love us or because they feel like it -- they host events to release news. WWI last year was where Starcraft II was announced, and Wrath of the Lich King got announced at the previous BlizzCon.We do know that we're expecting Wrath in "the second half" of the year, and whatever we see at BlizzCon could depend on when that releases. If Wrath appears in August (before BlizzCon in October), we might be seeing the announcement of the next expansion (probably the Maelstrom or the Emerald Dream, or both) in Anaheim: Blizzard has said that they want to release them faster, and there'd be no time like BlizzCon to get an announcement out. If Wrath doesn't show up until November or December, though, Blizzard could use their convention to announce brand new features we haven't heard about yet -- maybe another Hero class?
Of course, we could be grinding the wrong quest mobs entirely -- remember that BlizzCon is about Blizzard, not just World of Warcraft, so anything they announce might have nothing at all to do with their MMO. Diablo 3, anyone? Or maybe they do just want to hang out with their fans and get some good press before the big release. We won't know for sure until they open the doors at the convention center in October.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, WoW Social Conventions, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Expansions, BlizzCon, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nati May 16th 2008 4:19PM
They won't announce any new WotLK features at Blizzcon :P
By then WotLK will be well in beta - if it hasn't already been released - and everyone will know everything already.
rick gregory May 16th 2008 4:33PM
mmmmm... I doubt WotLK will drop in August. That's 3 months away and there's no beta.
Didn't they have openings for people to work on a new MMO? Could be an announce of that. Could be Diablo. Could be an announce of the next expansion. Could be an announcement of ship dates for Starcraft and/or LK.
Tumnus May 16th 2008 4:27PM
I'm thinking the big thing at Blizzcon will be non-WoW news. I know they've said they wanted to release expansions more quickly, but I find it unlikely they'll announce the next before WotLK is even released. They will want the hype to stay on it, and not overshadowed by another WoW expansion.
In short, expect a lot of WotLK hype, and may be an announcement of the next big (non-WoW) thing.
michael.bussmann May 16th 2008 4:35PM
... what about the WWI in France? I think it is a bit strange to ask what is happening in October, when there is a big Blizzard event next month...
David(Postal) May 16th 2008 4:34PM
Diablo 3 announcement would be nice!
Heela May 16th 2008 4:37PM
Their next gen MMO plans will be announced.
Kadathwack May 16th 2008 4:54PM
I think we'll get a whole lot of Wrath info. No idea what the specifics would be. Maybe a first look (as in maps and screenshots and stuff) at some of the higher level zones. Dalaran, the Storm Peaks, Lake Wintergrasp, Icecrown, and so on. Nothing absolutely groundbreaking though. With Wrath, the only thing I'd bet money on seeing is the opening cinematic though.
Lots of Starcraft II stuff, and a Diablo announcement also.
Truckin May 16th 2008 5:01PM
I'm going to wager on a Diablo 3 announcement
Stormtamer May 16th 2008 5:16PM
Something that alot of people ive talked to, have totally forgot, but i realised, was the WoW Movie!
Hopefully be new stuff about the movie.
Scott May 16th 2008 5:19PM
My hopes are that they time the release to coincide with Blizzcon and attendees can purchase WotLK at Blizzcon. Servers would probably not be ready for the expansion until the official release date, but you could still get it signed by developers or get the 'uber elite Blizzcon 08 edition' with a special vanity pet or other drool worthy in-game item.
Something I'd really like to see is some of the employees running one of the new dungeons with a DVD-like commentary by the design team. Discussing everything from the lore behind the instance to why certain mobs were placed where they are to what pitfalls they encountered along the way.
As far as announcements go, I think we'll have a pretty good idea what they'll announce prior to the event. If I were a betting man, I'd say it'll be either Diablo 3 or the next expansion. But this is Blizzard. It could be a Lost Vikings remake for next gen consoles.
Gerik May 16th 2008 5:21PM
It's bad enough that I have to anticipate both Starcraft 2 and Wrath of the Lich King at the same time. If they add Diablo 3 to that list, my head would probably explode.
Ryin May 16th 2008 5:22PM
i dont see a diablo announcement when most of that team is working on Mythos, a flagship studios game that works alot like Diablo II but less dark and more graphicly inhanced
http://www.mythos.com/
MechChef May 16th 2008 5:22PM
I expect you to find nerds.
Henry May 16th 2008 5:30PM
I think it would be hilarious if they decided to resurrect Starcraft: Ghost, but that's probably not going to happen. I'd expect more Starcraft 2 stuff, and Diablo 3. If it's not Diablo 3, then it would be some new IP, and that would be completely unpredictable. I'm still holding out for updates to The Lost Vikings and Rock n' Roll Racing (yeah, right). There's a slight possibility (in my mind) for a WoW expansion, but it's still possible.
knid May 16th 2008 5:50PM
I expect to find more hand sanitizer!
I thought it was amazingly funny that the oddest item in the goodie bag was a small bottle of hand sanitizer that you could attach to your lanyard. It fit the unshaven, unwashed, undeodorized stigma of gamers everywhere. I could see going around to different people and breaking out the bottle saying, "Hold on. I touched someone recently and putting this on is for your protection." I hope I'm not the only one that found it amusing.
Orbit May 16th 2008 6:46PM
I still have my bottle :P
peaglemancer May 16th 2008 6:00PM
Fairly sure the announcement will be The Lost Vikings III: Valkyries are Serious Business.
Badger May 16th 2008 10:40PM
I am amazed that the awesomeness of this Comment did not crash the entire Internet.
Druid dude May 17th 2008 2:09AM
My guess is a release date for Starcraft 2.
Possibly a Beta announcement for Wrath.
They will definitely *not* be announcing another hero class for Wrath, because they aren't making one. Blizz folks have said publicly that DKs will be the only hero class for Wrath, and why.
Orbit May 16th 2008 6:46PM
Think about it for a second. Diablo3.com was bought. They announce a blizzcon for october which is around halloween. And they are adding an additional convention hall thing at the convention center. I was a blizzcon last year and the way it was, they wouldn't need a third unless...An entire new game is coming out!