Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP! Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Hey folks. Next week is looking like a snoozer. I'm pretty sure there's nothing interesting going on at all. Yawn. It's not like there's some kind of super major convention happening in Anaheim, and ...

... oh wait. Correction: I'm being informed that there is totally a super-major convention happening in Anaheim next week. It's called BlizzCon 2010, and an awful lot of us WoW Insiders are heading to SoCal for it. We're actually kind of excited about it -- it's something of a big deal.

This also feels like a really good time to remind you about the WoW Insider meetup at the Anabella Hotel at 7 p.m. Thursday night. I'll be the dude in a black WoW Insider button down and white tie. And if you're thinking about buying me a drink, I'll have a "Chocolate Choo Choo." It's a girl drink -- tastes like candy! (I'm something of a girl drink drunk, you see.)

Before we can get to BlizzCon, though, we have to get through this weekend first. We asked our staff the usual "What are you playing?" question, with the bonus followup: "What do you expect to see at next week's BlizzCon?"

Alex Ziebart (@AlexZiebart): I still have a lot of preparation to do for BlizzCon, so that's going to eat up most of my weekend. Washing things that need to be washed, packing things that need to be packed, making sure the site is good and ready to be down most of its editorial staff due to a couple of days of heavy traveling. I'm hoping to get some time with Dead Rising 2 in between all of that, though.

Bonus question: I expect this to be low on massive WoW announcements (besides the full Cataclysm cinematic) but heavy on nitty-gritty class and story news. I also expect to see the gleeful, smiling faces of many WoW Insider readers at our meetup Thursday night. You'll be there, right?

Allison Robert (@AllisonRobert): I've given up on getting either of the Zul'Gurub mounts, which makes my weekend comparatively relaxed. I'll be trying to max out archaeology on my beta main, then getting as much writing done for Shifting and OverAchiever as early as possible. Busy week coming up, and not just BlizzCon!

Anne Stickney (@shadesogrey): Writing like an absolute madwoman. Also, mount farming -- if that tiger goes away before I get that silly drop, I am going to be very sad. Also, OMG BlizzCon.

Chase Christian (@madsushi): My guild's first ICC-25 after patch 4.0.1 should be fun. With any luck, our warrior will complete his Shadowmourne this week, which means I'll be getting one of the hot quest rewards!

Dan O'Halloran: More exploring in Cataclysm. I'm taking a break from my beloved moonkin and taking a level 85 fire/frost mage and shadow priest for a spin. Also, Vindictus is in open beta and is a great deal of hackin' n slashin' fun for an MMO!

Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb): My weekend will be a flurry of BlizzCon preparation. I may fit in some sleep there, if I'm lucky. As for the question, I fully expect to see the Cataclysm opening cinematic at the opening ceremony, but beyond that I imagine most of the focus will be on Diablo 3. We'll see new zones, new enemies, new story hooks and maybe even a new class.

Dawn Moore (@dawnwow): I'll be attending MLG DC and hopefully getting some good interviews with the players. As for BlizzCon ... I expect to see some bar-raising cosplay, friends, more Diablo 3 stuff and hopefully SC2 development. I'm still bummed I won't be seeing a zergling plushie -- come on, Blizz!

Fox Van Allen (@foxvanallen): Prepping for BlizzCon! My roommate DJ and I are flying in Tuesday and attending a taping of The Price is Right (along with the super awesome Chester and Jordan) on Wednesday. That means I'll be spending a chunk of the weekend trying to design a garish T-shirt to wear while trying to win a brand new car.

I've been mostly playing -- and will continue to play -- the Final Fantasy 1 iPhone port, along with Plants vs. Zombies. I'll also be playing some more Civilization 5. As for what I'm expecting to see at BlizzCon: You, at our WoW Insider meetup!

Gregg Reece (@undeadfish): My paladin over and over again via raids and random dungeons. Pathfinder pen-and-paper RPG test campaign with a couple friends. And I expect to see the following at BlizzCon: a new Diablo 3 class, previews of the next SC2 campaign game, and the Cataclysm trailer. Oh, and some random person asking about when we're getting guild halls during the Q & A which the devs will respond with, "This is something we'd like to do at some point in the future, but would like to keep people out and interacting in the major cities instead of hiding in what is essentially a private instance."

Joe Perez (@lodurzj): Mount farming, mount farming, mount farming. That's how I'm spending my weekend. Desperately want to get the ZG tiger before it goes poof, and I'm so close to 100 mounts I've got that itch. It's got me hooked enough I'm actually doing AT dailies again ... Getting ready for BlizzCon and can't wait to meet everyone. As far as what I'm expecting from BlizzCon, I expect epic swag! I also expect another class for Diablo 3 to be released, and more "worlds" showcased.

Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra): I will be playing OH DEAR GOD I NEED TO GET EVERYTHING DONE pretty much until I leave Wednesday morning. No, seriously -- I'm talking at least two all-nighters. I see much caffeine in my future. As for BlizzCon, I'm quite sure we're going to see the Cataclysm cinematic. /smacks lips

Lisa Poisso (@emused): Workingworkingworking ... and more working, trying to get ahead of the game before BlizzCon. But the beauty of what I expect to see at BlizzCon? Heck, I work at WoW Insider -- I'll be seeing my friends.

Mathew McCurley (@gomatgo): This weekend is full of mirth and fun. Hopefully. Saturday is all busy, Sunday is raid night for some ICC-10 and beyond to test out our new talents, etc. As for what I hope to see at BlizzCon, I'm hoping for the Cataclysm cinematic and potentially some new pets in the pet store. If Lil' Ragnaros is for sale, Blizzard gets more of my money.

Matt Low (@Matticus): Studying. Guess who's got exams on either side of BlizzCon? With Starcraft 2 out and Cataclysm on the verge of being released, I suspect there will be focus on Diablo 3. Might we hear something about Blizzard's fourth IP?

Rich Maloy (@stoneybaby): With the girlfriend in Paris, I'm off to Washington D.C. to hit up some microbrews with my two best friends, then back here on Sunday for my first night of raiding this week. Patch 4.0.1 really kicked my @$$, and I've been offline until today. Bonus answer: I expect we'll hear about Blizzard's next MMO.

Robin Torres: I am going to be playing this game I've never played before; it's called "knit on the beach with friends." Otherwise, I need help. Should I buy Civ 5 and be totally unproductive? (Yes, you should. -- Fox) Or should I wait until after BlizzCon? Bonus: I expect to see the announcement of Blizzard's new MMO. I have been told that is a completely unrealistic expectation. I don't care.

Sarah Nichol (@mentalshaman): I will be mainly reading She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth by Helen Castor, as well as prepping for the Obscure All Things Azeroth live shows next week. Planning a BlizzCon party, and while I'm there, I'm hoping to see the Cataclysm cinematic and awesome cosplay. I'm very visually orientated this week, apparently. In game, I'm going to be experimenting with elemental shaman PvP!

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The weekend is the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy some game time. Are you an achievement junkie? Can't get enough raiding? Rolling a new alt? Considering taking the leap into roleplaying? Whatever your favorite way to play World of Warcraft, let us know in the comments what you're playing this weekend!

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Tags: blizzcon, blizzcon-2010, what-are-you-playing, wrup

Filed under: BlizzCon