BlizzCon schedule posted
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 18th 2009 at 11:00AM
Blizzard has posted the schedule for this year's BlizzCon event, and there aren't too many surprises at all. We already expected to see most of the panels, so while there'll be the usual favorites like lore and art panels for each game, and two different World of Warcraft class panels (those are always fun, with devs confronted by players with class balance issues), there aren't any unexpected sessions popping up. They haven't revealed, say, a "new WoW expansion" panel, or a "next-gen MMO" panel.That doesn't mean those won't happen -- it probably does mean we won't see demos for anything announced at Friday's keynote, as the schedule is pretty full already, but in the past when Blizzard has announced an expansion, for example, they usually spend a lot of time in the "Dungeons and Raids" panel talking about what they're doing with the new material. We'll have to see.
Finally, it appears, somewhat strangely, that the live DirecTV broadcast on Friday might actually cut off the end of the popular contests at the end of the day -- the broadcast ends at 8, and the contests end an hour later. Hopefully stream subscribers won't miss out on some of the fun. They won't have that problem on Saturday, as the broadcast runs all the way through Ozzy's concert. And of course, don't forget to add our meetup on your own schedule -- we're kicking things off on Thursday night. Sounds like fun!
Update: Blizzard has since retracted the schedule.
Update x2: Blizzard has posted a new schedule.
BlizzCon 2009 is coming up on August 21st and 22nd! We've got all the latest news and information. At BlizzCon you can play the latest games, meet your guildmates, and ask the developers your questions. Plus, there's some great looking costumes.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gessilea Aug 18th 2009 11:26AM
Schweet! I got the feed and I'm definitly excited (still wish I'd been able to go though). I hope that they're not really cutting off the end of the contests though, that would be lame. I wouldn't really mind missing the /silly or even the dance competitions, but the costumes are always awesome and if it's the same as I remember, that bit's usually at the end.
jay Aug 18th 2009 11:31AM
Better late than never, I guess
Mike Schramm Aug 18th 2009 11:35AM
They always release it way late. Even exhibitors, from what we've heard, don't get to know what's happening until a few days before the show.
Mr. Tastix Aug 18th 2009 12:07PM
Yeah, it's gotta be incredibly frustrating though. I suppose you'd get used to it since it would come with the job but honestly, telling officials 3-4 days before the events due seems rather lazy and unprofessional (just my own opinion, I know it doesn't just happen with BlizzCon too).
Mike Schramm Aug 18th 2009 12:45PM
My guess is (and I have no sources to back this up, just my general experience with covering and attending almost three of these things) that Blizzard doesn't even know. From everything I've seen, they don't actually work on the specifics until about two weeks before the show. I'd bet they're not sure what they're showing in terms of cinematics or content until a few days before the show -- they've mentioned in panels that they finished some of the stuff they show off "last night." They're a game company, not a convention company. :)
Eddyman Aug 18th 2009 11:35AM
I was looking at the map they posted http://www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/events/map.xml and they have a wow play area.. does this mean they are going to have the new xpac playable. They can't just have wotlk there, and i'm sure they wouldn't let you play icecrown..
Laynne Aug 18th 2009 11:35AM
I'm still debating whether or not to buy the feed. It would be the internet stream. I'd like to know whether it will be saved to watch later. I'll be at work Friday and would love to catch up on Friday night or later in the weekend, but I don't know if that's possible. The pet isn't enough to make me buy it alone. Maybe if it was cuter, or a mount ;)
Teni Aug 18th 2009 2:10PM
Well poop, looks like they've removed the schedule. I can't find a link to it anywhere at the Blizzcon site, and the URL you provided in your article is no longer valid.
Slyght Aug 18th 2009 2:17PM
MMO-Champion still has a copy of it up. I think they may have taken it down for a typo, it said the final performance (w/ Ozzy) was going to be on the smaller stage, not the main stage.
I'm pretty sure the 12 PM "Diablo III" panel on Friday immediately after the opening ceremonies (with no break between them) is a fake placeholder for something else.
nate Aug 18th 2009 2:19PM
"That doesn't mean those won't happen -- it probably does mean we won't see demos for anything announced at Friday's keynote, as the schedule is pretty full already, but in the past when Blizzard has announced an expansion, for example, they usually spend a lot of time in the "Dungeons and Raids" panel talking about what they're doing with the new material. We'll have to see."
Last year, if you went straight to the Diablo 3 demo area, you found out the new class before they announced it at the Opening Ceremonies. So... maaaybe. Of course, with something like an expac, I doubt it will be playable yet.
Ashrum Aug 18th 2009 4:47PM
At the Blizzcon that Wrath was announced they had Howling Fjord playable then and there.