What the fans want from BlizzCon 2010
by Adam Holisky 
Mar 11th 2010 at 2:00PM
In this installment of WoW.com's guest writer program, we welcome a handful of authors to share their thoughts on what is a rumored BlizzCon 2010 this October.
BlizzCon has become one of the premier gaming events each year, attracting folks of every different walk of life from every corner of the globe. In 2009 Chris Metzen stood on stage and to thunderous fire announced World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. The expectations set for future BlizzCon are nothing less than spectacular; reading some of the well thought out opinions, you can see what your fellow WoWers want to see at BlizzCon 2010...
Darcy Zalewski (Better known to some as Syrana)
I went to BlizzCon in 2009 for the first time and saw a lot of great stuff. Since I've experienced it once, now I have some things I'd like to request -- nay, demand -- to see this year. I want to see someone in a Pandaren Monk costume and I want them to go all out with it. I also want to see some updates regarding the Warcraft movie. Then there's the next-gen MMO Blizzard is working on. I hope they'll show some concept art and maybe a demo of this. Lastly, I want Mountain Dew in the vending machines. The only Dew available was at the end of a long concession line (the machines gave Pepsi no matter what button you pushed!). The developer panels taunted me with their untouched bottles of sweet nectar.
BlizzCon has become one of the premier gaming events each year, attracting folks of every different walk of life from every corner of the globe. In 2009 Chris Metzen stood on stage and to thunderous fire announced World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. The expectations set for future BlizzCon are nothing less than spectacular; reading some of the well thought out opinions, you can see what your fellow WoWers want to see at BlizzCon 2010...
Darcy Zalewski (Better known to some as Syrana)
I went to BlizzCon in 2009 for the first time and saw a lot of great stuff. Since I've experienced it once, now I have some things I'd like to request -- nay, demand -- to see this year. I want to see someone in a Pandaren Monk costume and I want them to go all out with it. I also want to see some updates regarding the Warcraft movie. Then there's the next-gen MMO Blizzard is working on. I hope they'll show some concept art and maybe a demo of this. Lastly, I want Mountain Dew in the vending machines. The only Dew available was at the end of a long concession line (the machines gave Pepsi no matter what button you pushed!). The developer panels taunted me with their untouched bottles of sweet nectar.
Scott Carson
What I would really like to see at BlizzCon 2010 is a dungeons and raids panel dealing with the design philosophy of the dungeons of Cataclysm or of the design teams "favorite" dungeons of all time (dependant on the timing of BlizzCon and the release of Cataclysm). We got a look at the "how" of dungeon and raid design in 2009, but a panel going into the "why" would be interesting. It could be run with a panel of designers showing a fly-through, giving commentary and pointing out features and elements that make the individual dungeons stand out from the pack. To one-up this, they could have some of the team play through a dungeon, live, while the panel delivers a "director's commentary," perhaps with Ghostcrawler playing a retribution paladin.
William Gray
With Blizzard requiring all players to 'upgrade' their accounts to Battle.net they have provided themselves with an excellent tool in the tricky task of herding WoW players to whatever their next MMO project is. When they make their next project public, which may very well be at BlizzCon 2010, I'm interested in seeing what their strategy is for making the transition between WoW and the future of Blizzard's financial success. Will they be able to stay atop the MMO market or will they lose their audience to a rival company?
T.J. Luckman
Two words. New MMO. Is MMO a word? It's actually an acronym, so maybe I should say it's four words, but that's less dramatic. Regardless, I'm really hoping we get some news on the new project they've got in the works at Blizzard. It's not related to any of their other properties, so I'm dying to know more about it. Is it something that could draw me away from WoW? Is it something more serious or more light than Warcraft is? Will there be ponies? We've already got a lot to look forward to with Starcraft II and Cataclysm in 2010, and Diablo III in the not too distant future, but we know almost nothing about this new MMO. Blizzard needs to drop some information on this and get us all salivating over their next big thing.
El-ad David Amir
What do I want? More of the same. Let's be honest here. Blizzard's main strength is polish. They take the acceptable, the tested, the mundane, and upgrade it to the next level, thus creating a brand new industry standard for others to aspire to. Since 2005, BlizzCon has more or less followed an exact formula: New game announcement; public play of upcoming titles; tough Q&As, answering some difficult questions from players regarding the world's most popular titles; and, of course, the goody bag. No tricks, no shenanigans, just high quality sessions that form a dialog between the company and us, the fans. The formula works, and I want the formula to stay.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: BlizzCon, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Eregos ftw! Mar 11th 2010 2:05PM
Good, it's in october this year. I missed out on getting tickets last year, and instead went to disney land. The resort I was staying at was RIGHT beside Blizzcon. It taunted me.
Saltypoison Mar 11th 2010 2:06PM
I just want a ticketing system that doesn't require me taking a day off work to spam F5. >.>
OfieshK Mar 11th 2010 2:55PM
THIS BIGTIME!!
Zohra Mar 13th 2010 1:00AM
Yes. Hell yes.
scraggerly Mar 11th 2010 2:08PM
Want wowcon > blizzcon
Tori Mar 11th 2010 2:15PM
I'd be all for that. :) I don't have much interest in other Blizzard creations beside Warcraft.
traptinacivicsi Mar 12th 2010 10:01AM
I agree, SC2 and Diablo have always been kind of boring IMO, just not enough to pull me into either world, where warcraft has always been interesting.
I remember trying to find something to do when the non-warcraft panels were up this past year :P
Tarrennilf Mar 11th 2010 2:11PM
I'd just like my server to work this year
evenkots Mar 11th 2010 3:01PM
Agreed
jfofla Mar 11th 2010 2:12PM
More Jay Mohr!
He may not know a blasted thing about our game, but he tries and he is funny!
melynxis Mar 11th 2010 2:13PM
Its only Rumored to be October, its not exactly confirmed.. If you click through on the link it states that the date was posted at the Anaheim convention center and then removed. We are all still in hopes and waiting for the big "Announcement" on when it will be
melynxis Mar 11th 2010 2:14PM
Gah.. That was supposed to be a response @Eregos ftw!
jlpknights82 Mar 11th 2010 2:13PM
Larger venue. More tickets? I know if can't get TOO crazy or it wouldn't work.
I hope they will have a more comprehensive online stream this time. Love the online "attendance" I could have last time. Expanding that content would be great. I would like to be able to see the demo content they have even if I can't attend. Maybe some videos of it being played that aren't by a fan with a shaky low-quality camera?
I'd love some preliminary info on the Nest Gen MMO as well. That would really start people getting excited about it.
Some info about online play for the TCG?
Depending how long they make it this year, maybe more Q&A sessions? They never feel long enough.
As much technical info about Cataclysm as possible. System things like Talents/Mastery/Path of Titans, etc. The details that will help players plan better for the expansion.
Daedalus Mar 11th 2010 2:20PM
If it really is in late October, I really want to see a preview of what's coming in 4.1, and a panel dealing with how they've felt about the first few months of WoW since Cataclysm's launch.
Failing that, I'd settle for seeing the unveiling of World of Starcraft.
Above all, what I really want to see at Blizzcon 2010 is me; last year was my first trip, and I really hope I get the chance to do it again.
mindboggle Mar 11th 2010 3:18PM
Uhmmm... beta of Cataclysm hasn't even started yet, Cata is not going to be out before October.
Drakkenfyre Mar 11th 2010 4:37PM
It isn't likely to be out before November.
Drakkenfyre Mar 11th 2010 4:43PM
Ok, I didn't see your second comment until now.
World of StarCraft? Are you serious?
They have already said their new game isn't an existing IP. Secondly, they wouldn't put out StarCraft 2 then put out an MMO afterwards. Thirdly, I wish people would stop using "World of StarCraft". StarCraft has 12 worlds. It wouldn't be "World".
iammurlocftw Mar 11th 2010 4:44PM
Not only that, Alpha hasn't even started. then again they started development b4 Wotlk. I think they're doing pretty well for what's basically wow 2.0
Gemini Mar 11th 2010 5:24PM
"Secondly, they wouldn't put out StarCraft 2 then put out an MMO afterwards."
Let's do a bit of creative editing here.
"Secondly, they wouldn't put out WarCraft 3 then put out an MMO afterwards."
See what I did there?
WarCraft 3 was released in 2002. WoW was announced in 2001.
Drakkenfyre Mar 11th 2010 5:41PM
The difference being is that the game came out in 2004. Working on a game and releasing it is different.
They are also redoing Battle.net for StarCraft 2. They will be making a new interface, and they aren't going to pull away attention from that.
They aren't going to put out StarCraft 2, then announce an MMO immediately. And they have also said their new game isn't an existing IP.