Bashiok on BlizzCon: "It makes sense to focus our efforts"
by Matthew Rossi 
Jan 25th 2012 at 3:00PM
Bashiok - No Blizzcon
Yeah it's a bit disappointing because we all really do enjoy being able to 'open the doors' so to speak. But, it is an enormous effort by all employees, including our game designers and artists, not to mention customer support and quality assurance, PR, our business departments, and *hot breath on fingernails & shirt rub* Community & eSports to make a BlizzCon happen. In a year when we're working to release multiple titles (knock on wood) it makes sense to focus our efforts. Also with multiple game releases we just wonder if we'd be at a point with any of them where we'd have anything really big or new or cool to talk about.
We didn't have a BlizzCon in 2006 either, and at that time we were really strong on the idea that BlizzCon isn't really supposed to be and doesn't have to be an annual event. Of course then we have it for five straight years in a row... which obviously built some expectation.
Personally I always enjoy seeing the excitement, the rushing crowds, hearing the clicking of mice on the demo stations, and waiting in agony as the seconds countdown to an announcement and then the waves of emotion from the crowd that follow it. But thinking about our year and what we're trying to get done already without a BlizzCon, and having to think pretty hard about what we'd have to announce or demo, it just makes sense to me not to have one.
Here's to the Battle.net World Championship, it's going to be awesome, and to a bigger and better BlizzCon in 2013.
We didn't have a BlizzCon in 2006 either, and at that time we were really strong on the idea that BlizzCon isn't really supposed to be and doesn't have to be an annual event. Of course then we have it for five straight years in a row... which obviously built some expectation.
Personally I always enjoy seeing the excitement, the rushing crowds, hearing the clicking of mice on the demo stations, and waiting in agony as the seconds countdown to an announcement and then the waves of emotion from the crowd that follow it. But thinking about our year and what we're trying to get done already without a BlizzCon, and having to think pretty hard about what we'd have to announce or demo, it just makes sense to me not to have one.
Here's to the Battle.net World Championship, it's going to be awesome, and to a bigger and better BlizzCon in 2013.
So there you have it. With multiple titles aimed for release this year, not only would it be a lot of work to also run a convention, but then the convention wouldn't have much to show, since all the titles would have been released beforehand. While this is sad news, it does definitely make me think we're going to be running around Pandaria (and freeing Sanctuary, and dealing with the Zerg) well before the middle of this year.
The news is out -- we'll be playing Mists of Pandaria! Find out what's in store with an all-new talent system, peek over our shoulder at our Pandaren hands-on, and get ready to battle your companion pets against others. It's all here right at WoW Insider!Filed under: BlizzCon, Worldwide Invitational
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ominous Jan 25th 2012 3:06PM
Well, I liked watching the coverage.
Here's hoping they give us a pet anyway.
A pony and / or moose are due!
ejunk Jan 25th 2012 3:12PM
highly reasonable explanation.
Scott Jan 25th 2012 3:29PM
Highly reasonable explanation to some highly unreasonable fans.
The statement is pretty much 100% on the head though. Come October, we should have two of the three titles in development in our hands. That $175 to $200 for a ticket can be used for buying the games.
Aykwa Jan 26th 2012 2:36PM
Regardless of the reason, I think the end result is greater demand for future Blizzcons. When supply is considered known into the future, and then suddenly it becomes less available and future supply becomes uncertain, the price of the good or service will always go up. People will pay a premium if they have to, for the 2013 Blizzcon (assuming they have one), because nobody will know if they will have another one in 2014, 2015 or even ever. The next one could always be the last one, or at least the last one in a few years. So the feeling of exclusivity will go up.
kunukia Jan 25th 2012 3:23PM
Moar pony!!
kunukia Jan 25th 2012 3:24PM
Moar pony!!
kunukia Jan 25th 2012 3:24PM
Sorry, I have no idea how I posted twice!
slim1256 Jan 25th 2012 3:43PM
Because it's that important!
You were promised a *PONY*!
Evelinda Jan 26th 2012 10:56PM
I'm more curious as to how you managed to get both of them uprated...
NRD80Y Jan 25th 2012 3:25PM
No Project Titan announcements :(
Klausse Jan 25th 2012 3:26PM
"While this is sad news, it does definitely make me think we're going to be running around Pandaria (and freeing Sanctuary, and dealing with the Zerg) well before the middle of this year."
Wow, you are much more optimistic about Pandaria than most. I doubt we'll see a beta before April. I'm sure Blizzard will want to let Dragon Soul breathe for a while longer. Add to that the fact that D3 doesn't have a release date yet, the Pandaria pre-patch content, and the fact that Blizzard has offered up almost nothing new since Blizzcon and "well before the middle of the year" for the next xpac doesn't seem likely at all.
SamLowry Jan 25th 2012 3:36PM
"I'm sure Blizzard will want to let Dragon Soul breathe for a while longer."
Why? The first raid buff will be appearing very soon, and one of the big bosses already said the LFR should tide us over for "a few months" until Pandaria opens.
vincentmagius Jan 25th 2012 3:49PM
Not that optimistic. Beta usually takes 4 months by itself. They could start it Feb 1 and that should still leave enough time for DS to start wheezing and the expansion event to be stale. We are a fickle and impatient bunch. I don't think DS can last more than 6 months.
D3 has been in beta for a while now, so I'd expect a release pretty shortly. I think they released the contents of the Collector's Edition not too long ago. Starcraft will probably be early next year, but a Christmas release isn't out of the question.
Klausse Jan 25th 2012 4:13PM
Considering that between the last raid patch of one expansion and the pre-patch of the next, Blizzard has traditionally waited awhile.
There were 7 months between patch 2.4 (Sunwell) and the Wrath pre-patch, with another month until the full Wrath release. There were 10 months between patch 3.3 (ICC) and the Cata pre-patch, with another 6 weeks until the full Cata release (I'm not counting Ruby Sanctum here).
Allowing for even a shortened time frame of 5 months between Dragon Soul and the Pandaria pre-patch would put us at early-to-mid April, and then add roughly a month until the full Pandaria release to mid-May. But, to date there have scant updates on Pandaria from Blizzard and zero indication that even an alpha testing phase has started, much less a beta. If Pandaria indeed was releasing in May, the beta would probably be starting up very soon (i.e., in a few weeks).
Aaron Jan 25th 2012 4:37PM
It also depends on what Patch 4.4 brings. I hear it described as world event to set the tone for Pandaria, which would only need to drop a few weeks before 5.0. If prior patch numbering is any indication, however, 4.4 would include additional content. If 4.4 unlocks a PUGgable raid like Ruby Sanctum or a daily quest hub like Quel'Danas, it could keep players occupied for several months.
I've heard at least one Wow Insider columnist hope for an August ship date, but, it wouldn't be wise to introduce a wave of new content as the new school year and TV season are getting started. [speculation] I think 4.4 will hit in late spring, bringing a lair boss and a Save the City/Destroy the City questline. That, combined with beta access for those who took the Annual Pass, will keep players busy until the Pandaria content patch hits in October and the game ships in November. [/speculation]
Klausse Jan 25th 2012 4:47PM
Plus, the publisher of the upcoming Jaina Proudmoore book just pushed its release date back to August 28, 2012 (it was set at July 24, 2012 only a few days ago).
byronius_prime Jan 25th 2012 5:17PM
4.4 is unlikely to bring a new raid - didn't a CM or something say 4.3 was the last patch? If there's gonna be 4.4, it's probably solely the pre-expansion event, which probably will be about Theramore, and the war.
Aaron Jan 25th 2012 9:26PM
@byronius_prime: That's true, what I've read suggests that 4.4 will be a "world event", which is usually just a two-week thing. I was just hoping for more. What I really don't want to see is Blizz rushing to put out a new expansion so they can satisfy the people who complain about Cataclysm feeling rushed.
Galestrom Jan 25th 2012 3:26PM
It's just Blizzard's "Mayan Contingency" in action, really.
SaintStryfe Jan 25th 2012 3:29PM
I'm glad Blizz, despite all the claims by detractors, isn't giving into the "We have to make the millions from this every year" hysteria. If there'll be little or nothing to promote, don't put on a promotional event in the name of tradition.