Breakfast Topic: Did you order the BlizzCon live stream?
by Michael Sacco 
Aug 17th 2009 at 8:00AM
BlizzCon 2009 is just a few days away now, and unlike previous years, web and fansite coverage of the event might be a little thin (except here, we'll have 13 people at BlizzCon in one way or another). DirecTV has a bit of an embargo on audio/video coverage inside of the convention center, so there'll certainly be less live coverage of the panels and events this year in via that medium -- that is, unless you've subscribed to the live stream that Blizzard's offering with DirecTV. The service promises wide coverage, which hopefully includes all of the panels and the like.
Now, the draw for the stream for some people is, unsurprisingly, the fact that you get a non-combat pet for ordering it -- the same one you get in your goody bag at the actual event. A little piece of the big time, so to speak. Or maybe $40 is the right price for a non-combat pet (six to eight weeks later).
So, have you bought the live stream? Are you boycotting it because of DTV's monopoly on live coverage? If you did buy it, are you in it for the pet or the coverage? Do you just not care about it?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, BlizzCon
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Jeni Aug 17th 2009 8:03AM
[REMOVED]
Knob Aug 17th 2009 8:15AM
Ugly pet? UGLY PET?! It's a SPACE MARINE MURLOC! I mean, how frightening is that? Can you imagine how hard Blizzard will have to tune Icecrown Citadel if the entire raid had SPACE MARINE MURLOCS? The Lich King is probably quaking in his pants right now.
And I got the stream the day it was released. :P
outlier Aug 17th 2009 8:38AM
I would spend $40 on Blizzcon except that my 3 month recurring subscription comes up this week. That's $42, so I think I'll go that way. With wow.com and a dozen or so media outlets reporting the big announcements. Also Trade Channel will probably be a buzz with up to the second updates. I think I'll be ok without ordering it.
swampsquatch Aug 17th 2009 9:04AM
WoW.com and MMO-champion are completely different sites. You can call most of the stuff on here "drivel," but in actuality, you can't compare the two.
WoW.com has weekly columns about every class in the game, how to make money in the game, fun stuff going on in and out of azeroth, and Q&A.
MMO-champion is datamining, blue tracker, and forums.
Adam Holisky Aug 17th 2009 3:07PM
Man, the trolls are out in force these days. Must...resist...urge...to...ban....
Awe who the hell am I kidding?
Retropally Aug 17th 2009 8:03AM
Just won £100 on the lottery so i'm now more than tempted to get this, even though i'll miss the start of the event...
Sangonth Aug 17th 2009 8:09AM
I can't go this year, because I', stuck at work. :) So I bought it for coverage. And pet? It's sweet bonus. :)
GormanGhaste Aug 17th 2009 8:04AM
for the pet
micro-transactions ftw!
KiwiRed Aug 17th 2009 8:58PM
A $40 transaction definitely isn't micro. :P
Blaubard Aug 17th 2009 8:05AM
Honestly, I did not. I would have loved to go to Blizzcon but since it is on the other side of the continent and I have to work - not an option. The casting seems an option but I would be miss meeting other players and "luminaries". I'll just follow them on Twitter ;-)
Good idea though -I am sure a lot of people love it
Rylka Aug 17th 2009 8:05AM
My spouse and I are both avid vanity pet collectors so we purchased two live streams so we could both have the pet. : )
Don't know that we will watch any of it though.
Fejuai Aug 17th 2009 2:04PM
Oh dear, could I watch from one of your streams? =)
Ventroo Aug 17th 2009 8:06AM
Ill certainly be watching off a leeched stream that I don't have to pay for. $40 bucks for what is literally commercials? I think not.
Mailia Aug 17th 2009 8:08AM
I did not buy it. I was planning on following it on WoWRadio's site, but Blizzard & DTV just made a dick move and denied them from filming/streaming it, even if they had gotten the equipment etc.
brownyboi Aug 17th 2009 9:11AM
Totally agree, we have a group of people who manage to put out some superior quality podcasts, ready to report on what the fanbase would like to see and what happens?
BlizzActivision spot another oppertunity to milk its customers for more money and block everyone else from reporting it, despite the fact that WoW Radio has been doing the coverage thing for years, voluntarily and not charging for it.
I actually think that I'm disgusted by this.
Suzaku Aug 17th 2009 10:35AM
Most trade shows don't even allow *press* to film or broadcast. And as much as Blizzcon is a convention, it's largely a corporate trade show.
Sure, you could say it was a dick move for Blizzard to tell a fansite, "no, you can't give away for free what we're trying to charge for," but it was also kind of dumb for WoWRadio to just assume they could waltz into the event, recording, filming, and streaming stuff live, without any sort of press pass or permission from Blizzard.
I mean, even ignoring the DTV coverage, it's not like Blizzcon is even a free event to begin with.
Mailia Aug 17th 2009 10:45AM
Suzaku, learn to fact check.
WoWRadio has had press passes before and have done this kind of thing before. They were prepared to do it again this year, had a donation drive which collected over 4,000 dollars, bought tickets, hotels, equipment etc. and got a bit before the event told that they are not allowed to do it.
Jeremy C. Aug 17th 2009 11:01AM
This is Greg Streets doing, only such a douche move could be greg street...
Stephen Aug 17th 2009 3:46PM
I don't understand the DirecTV anger....
It seems pretty cool that they would broadcast something like Blizzcon at all. It's not like you see Dish Network providing a Dragon-con broadcast, or Time Warner cable doing a PPV of E3.
$40 for 16 hours of coverage in HD, an internet stream, and a Grunty pet isn't really that bad a deal.
I'd like to see them do a PPV of Comic-con and PAX too.
Sky Shark X2 Aug 17th 2009 8:13AM
I bought it, definitely looking forward to the event, should be quite entertaining. Also murlock pets are awesome.