WRUP: Come on, man, it's the '90s
by Fox Van Allen 
Oct 7th 2011 at 9:00PM
Going to BlizzCon? No? Why not? It's the '90s! Everyone's going to conventions these days!
Sure, it's in Southern California, and for many of you, that's a long way from home. But man, this is the '90s. They have planes now. And some of those planes even have air phones. You can hook up your 14.4k modem to one of those and connect to your favorite Warcraft 2 BBS, maybe play a little Legend of the Red Dragon from 20,000 feet. Why not? It's the '90s!
What's that? You say it's not the '90s -- it's 2011? Well, of course it is! I know exactly what today is. See this Casio digital watch on my wrist? It has the day, week, month, and year on it. Everyone's got one -- everyone, that is, who's living in the '90s.
BlizzCon, the hottest event of the '90s, is coming up in a mere two weeks. So today, in addition to the usual question of "What are you playing?" (Super Nintendo and Scattergories, obvi), I had our top-notch writers (many of whom have Tripod pages) answer a bonus question: "What terrific advice do you have for the go-go BlizzCon attending folks of the '90s?"
Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey) This weekend will be spent finishing my entry for the Global Writing Contest -- in other words, writing like a madwoman.
As for BlizzCon -- make sure you have plenty of water along, the convention hall is bigger than it looks! Show up for panels early, check the events schedule and figure out what you want to hit in advance. Also -- comfy shoes. Seriously, you will be on your feet pretty much all day long. Comfy shoes are the best!
Allison Robert (@AllisonRobert) I'll be going to another wedding this weekend but will otherwise be on the PTR getting notes for an upcoming Shifting on tanking and healing the three new 5-mans.
As for BlizzCon, I have yet to go, but if I had to guess from past experiences with academic conferences and the like, have only one bit of advice: Don't wear heels.
Alex Ziebart (@AlexZiebart) (gplus.to/alexziebart) Been playing some Dead Island and hopefully will get a hefty amount of co-op time in with a buddy of mine. Good coop games are way more rare than they ought to be.
For BlizzCon, take more shirts than you think you'll need. If you get super-sweaty, stop into your hotel room and change shirts. It's better than being smelly and uncomfortable all day.
Chase Hasbrouck First WRUP /yay. Continuing my feral soloing in project in WoW (when Kuwaiti latency allows), else playing SpaceChem on Steam. All the fun of programming without the code!
BlizzCon: never been, but experience has taught me always to follow the 3 W's when traveling: water, weight, and walking (comfortably).
Daniel Desmond (@hazmacewillraid) I'll be doing a little bit of PTR spelunking, trying out the new dungeons and paladin changes, but mostly I'll be scratching a few more tallies into my wall with a plastic spoon, counting the days until Skyrim releases.
As for BlizzCon, this will be my first! As such, I'll be sticking to my guildmates like black leather seats on a hot summer day.
Daniel Whitcomb (@DanielWhitcomb) Since my mage and warrior are on hold until the 4.3 goes live, I may see if I can solo me some more tier 5 for my warlock. I'm also playing some Aquaria and Bastion (again) on Steam, so I may do some more with those games.
My advice? Hygiene. Namely, double-, triple-, and quadruple-check your travel bag. If you miss something like a toothbrush or a shaving kit, chances are you are going to have to pay an arm and a leg to replace it.
Dawn Moore (@dawnwow) Not playing anything this weekend, but I'll be watching lots of StarCraft 2 and League of Legends at IPL3.
Advice for BlizzCon? Hmm ... Waiting in the badge pick-up line isn't necessary if you don't need to be the first one into opening ceremonies. Just pick up your badge while everyone is in line for the ceremonies and you'll be in and out in 5 minutes.
Elizabeth Wachowski (@leeatwaterlives) I'm still on my honeymoon in NYC, but when I get back I'll probably start AC: Brotherhood, since my AC2 disc is scratched and I don't think I can finish.
Fox Van Allen (@foxvanallen) (gplus.to/foxvanallen) I've been in Philly for a solid part of the week, and I'll be staying in Philly throughout the weekend hanging with my friend Chester. All sorts of fun will be had. Like today, I ate Dutch food. We are a terribly boring people, we Dutch.
My BlizzCon advice: If you want to hang out with Fox, I suggest you get your request in ahead of time, because there are many of you, very few nights in beautiful Southern California, and only one Fox. Further, I advise anyone who is not from an area with Jack in the Box restaurants to go eat at a Jack in the Box restaurant. Oh my god.
Joe Perez (@Lodurzj) More LoL, I have a new champion to learn! Also more alt leveling in WoW and really looking forward to another choose my adventure day Sunday; I'll probably start earlier (3 p.m.) this week and go till 5. I'll also be livestreaming the adventure, so be sure to watch Twitter for the link and time!
Biggest BlizzCon blunder: not wearing comfortable and supportive shoes. Seriously, you stand and walk so much that you are a fool if you don't. Also, the amount of pain your feet will be in will be surprising. Also, drink / bring lots of water and try to eat outside of the convention center. Lots of good local places to nom things at that are a quick walk from the convention center.
Josh Myers (@Elamqt) I'm liking my army of premade and main-transferred shaman on the PTR. I also have a lone mage premade who was set up with spec/glyphs/keybinds/etc. and then promptly forgotten.
I have no BlizzCon advice, though I caution all Wow Insider meetup attendees to avoid eye contact with Fox. That's just common sense, though.
(Excellent point. This is how I select my prey. -- Fox)
Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra) Hoping for some quality time with my DS, but I'm not sure, as I'll be working at my job, doing art, and it's Thanksgiving up here in Canada-land, so there's that. I'll be heading out of town Sunday night to see my family.
BlizzCon advice? Take the health-check:
- Bring lots of water with you.
- Wear comfy shoes (with insoles if necessary). Remember to stretch your lower back every hour or so!
- Bring some protein-rich snacks with you -- natural food bars, dry-roasted nuts (like almonds and cashews). Con food is overpriced and full of crap, and this will keep you fuller longer. /health nerd
Mat McCurley (@gomatgo) (gplus.to/gomatgo) I am a broken record. League of Legends and WoW.
Tips for BlizzCon: bring a bottle of water if you can, take things slow, wear comfortable shoes, and buy Mat McCurley drinks at the WoW Insider Reader Meetup.
Matt Low (@matticus) In a change of pace, playing on my Nintendo DS. Replaying some Final Fantasy VI! My faaaaaavourite Final Fantasy series -- ever!
Matt Rossi (@matthewrossi) (gplus.to/MatthewWRossi) My hand is absolutely screwed up now, so bad I don't think I can play much of anything. (I'm typing this one-finger, hunt-and-peck style).
As for BlizzCon, I've never been.
Matt Walsh (@Rhidach) Some Sword of the Stars with some buddies, for (probable) last game before the sequel comes out. We'll send the old girl off in style. I'll also be getting some serious Minecraft time in since my guild's server was down last week. Need to make up for lost time!
This will only be my second BlizzCon, but the biggest thing I picked up last year is to be really early to anything you want to go to -- panels or whatever. Except for badge pickup on Thursday night. It's open for hours and badges aren't limited in the same way seats or space is. No need to show up early for that line; go later that night and coast right through to pickup.
Michael Gray (@writegray) I'll be shooting weddings through most of the wedding, which is at once exciting and terrifying. I'm not the pro of the team, so I except to spend a lot of time going "Hurrr ..."
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!
Filed under: WoW Insider Business
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Xsinthis Oct 7th 2011 9:04PM
One of my proudest moments in highschool as using Tim the Toolman Taylor in a game of Scattergories (letter T, characters)
HappyTreeDance Oct 7th 2011 9:13PM
This article just makes me sad I'm not going to BlizzCon. Oh well. NYCC next week!
Kylenne Oct 7th 2011 9:21PM
I'm madly trying to finish my Storm costume for NY Comic Con this weekend. Sadly, Blizzcon's not in the cards for me this year, but my advice remains the same as it does for every large gathering of nerds in an enclosed space: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE SHOWER. USE SOAP. AND WEAR DEODORANT.
Your fellow attendees will thank you profusely.
And no, Febreezing and/or Axe-ing do not constitute a substitute for showering or deodorant.
Tirrimas Oct 7th 2011 10:20PM
I have a feeling that the target audience for your message (sadly) does not read the Insider...
Kylenne Oct 7th 2011 10:33PM
I know. I feel sad for all the noses in Anaheim. :(
Sleutel Oct 8th 2011 10:35AM
One of the people in my extended group at B-Fest two years ago brought a bottle of Febreeze with him--to spray out over the seats when the funk would waft by. It actually worked pretty well, and the neighbors were appreciative.
Sleutel Oct 8th 2011 10:37AM
Honestly, has anyone else ever wondered why they can't have hygiene standards for these things? I mean, they have rules about the types of costumes and weapons you can have, right? Presumably those rules are to maximize everyone's enjoyment, so why not have rules about the smells you can bring in?
Starsmore Oct 7th 2011 9:39PM
Pfft, Tripod's for losers. All the cool kids are on Geocities!
Zapp and Roger Oct 7th 2011 9:51PM
Had I seen your comment I wouldn't have left mine without clicking through. Great (old) minds think alike.
Randomize Oct 7th 2011 9:45PM
I'll never understand why women wear heels when they're gonna go walking for 4 hours at a time. I mean, come on, it's the nineties, everyone wears sneakers these days.
Zapp and Roger Oct 7th 2011 9:49PM
Tripod? LoL All the kewl kids are on Geocities...
Sleutel Oct 7th 2011 10:08PM
If it's the '90s, I'm playing Myst. And my favorite search engine is HotBot.
Tirrimas Oct 7th 2011 10:21PM
DO NOT FORGET YOUR MEDS (OTC, 'script, whatever).
Take a small first aid kit with a small sewing kit inside. With scissors. In your checked baggage, if necessary.
Ditto on the comfy shoes. For freak's sake, don't forget socks.
An extra, lightweight bag, if you're planning on buying a bunch of stuff. Something you can sling over a shoulder, preferably.
MusedMoose Oct 7th 2011 10:48PM
Since it's the nineties, I feel comfortable offering the following tips for, well, feeling comfortable:
Pants like M.C. Hammer's will do a great job of keeping your legs cool and well-ventilated.
Also, the Vanilla Ice haircut effectively works as a heat sink for your head.
Yeah, the combination is a strange look, but you can pull it off, man - it's the nineties.
mem0ryburn Oct 7th 2011 11:01PM
man. that video. soy good.
jc_peterson Oct 8th 2011 1:00AM
if it's the 90's, I'm playin Trade Wars
Terrant Oct 8th 2011 12:00AM
It's the nineties, so I'm busy responding to all my ICQ messages. The sound means a new one just arrived!
Also, happy Thanksgiving, Canada!
mem0ryburn Oct 8th 2011 12:02AM
Thanks :)
Al Oct 8th 2011 3:45AM
And the little "uh-oh" sound popped back into my head, like a memory spasm.
Fletcher Oct 8th 2011 2:43AM
Oh dear! I hope your hand recovers soon, Rossi!
If it doesn't, you can animate your beard with fel magics and use it to type. Because it's the nineties.
Me, I'm staving off depression with WoW, grinding honor and justice so my alts will be capped for when 4.3 hits. In the nineties, I'd have been staving off depression with BBSes.