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Road to BlizzCon Day 2: Fruitcake and Fallout
I couldn't even begin to explain why, but I'm fairly certain my comrade-in-arms Anne Stickney insisted on making our BlizzCon road trip an annual event exclusively so she could get a glimpse of a 104-year-old fruitcake. Our itinerary went through numerous iterations leading up to the start of our journey. The fruitcake was struck from the list countless times, but she managed to worm it back in there every single time. At some point, a guy accepts his fate and travels cross-country to see an old, crusty fruitcake. What can you do? I'll let it slide, though. Day 2 of our road trip also included Goodsprings, Nevada, which I insisted on visiting from the beginning. Anyone who has played Fallout: New Vegas will recognize the location: it's the game's first Vegas locale. And, as it turns out, this supposedly-haunted town and its Pioneer Saloon may be recognizable to even those who have never touched a video game. It's been a standby location throughout modern pop culture, its Hollywood breakthrough predating Fallout by many years.
Celebrate 10 years of World of Warcraft at BlizzCon
Blizzard has just announced a World of Warcraft 10-year anniversary celebration at BlizzCon 2014. While the event is to be held outside of the Anaheim Convention Center the evening of November 7, it's strictly outdoors -- meaning you don't need a BlizzCon ticket to attend. If you happen to be in the area, you're welcome. The event will include live music, access to Anaheim's many food trucks, a photo booth, and a tattoo artist. I'm curious whether this is an artist of permanent ink tattoos -- rather than, say, press-on or henna tattoos. If we're taking ink-and-needles here, we wonder how many will look back on this as a night of regret.
Anaheim Convention Center expansion will be ready for BlizzCon 2016
So far, Blizzard has kept BlizzCon close to home at the Anaheim Convention Center, even as the number of people wanting to attend has skyrocketed. But there's a chance BlizzCon could get a little bigger in the future, since the Anaheim Convention Center is about to start on a new expansion, adding an extra 200,000 square feet -- bringing the total size of the convention center to 1.8 million square feet -- set to open by fall 2016. The addition will sit on Katella Avenue and match with the towering glass structure of the rest of the convention center (and you can check out concept art on the OC Register for a sneak peek). This should make the new space available just in time for BlizzCon 2016 ... not that Blizzard has announced BlizzCon 2016 (or BlizzCon 2015 or BlizzCon 2014) yet, but we can hope.
Navigating Anaheim for BlizzCon
You've got your BlizzCon tickets confirmed, your flight booked, and your hotel reserved -- in short, you're packed and ready to head to BlizzCon 2013. But do you know what you're doing when you get there? Preparing for a vacation isn't unlike preparing for a dungeon run: it's important to be prepared and know the lay of the land before you arrive. At BlizzCon you'll probably be spending most of your time in the convention center or at your hotel -- but what if you want to hit up a grocery store for supplies or need to find a pharmacy? We'll help you map out convenient services that are closest to the convention floor and help you can get around while you're there.
SIGGRAPH 2013 wrap-up
As we noted at the the end of the show last year, SIGGRAPH certainly delivers on the eye candy. From graphics demos to display tech and both 3D printing and motion capture, this is one trade show that offers a glimpse into the present and future of the industry when it comes to visual goods. Highlights include major component news from NVIDIA and Samsung while Dell's 32-inch 4K display and the latest Disney Research project certainly nabbed our attention. The show ends today until we descend upon Vancouver next summer, but a gallery chock full of sights from the show floor and a roundup of the past few days should tide you over until then. %Gallery-194631%
PSA: BlizzCon tickets on sale right about ... now [Update: Gone!]
Just a heads up: Tickets for this year's BlizzCon event in Anaheim, California, are going on sale in just a few minutes at 7pm Pacific. The tickets – which will likely sell out quickly – are priced at $175, and include a swag bag and admittance to the two day event beginning November 8.Tickets are on sale on from the official BlizzCon site.If you don't get tickets today, there's two more chances to do so. This Saturday, April 27, a second round of ticket sales will begin at 10am Pacific, and when that's done, all of the regular admission tickets will be gone. Your last chance, then, will be on May 1 at 7pm Pacific, when Blizzard will sell 200 tickets at $500 a piece for the Blizzcon Benefit Dinner, which includes full admission to the show and a charity event.Update: 29 minutes later, the first round of tickets is sold out. If you didn't get yours, you'll have to try again Saturday.
The MMO Report: Aztec pandas make no sense edition
Morgan Webb dethrones Casey this week on The MMO Report, having made the journey to Anaheim to interview Blizzard's reps about World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion. J. Allen Brack and Tom Chilton focus on the philosophy of this expansion and its shift from previous expansions' ominous tone to a more playful theme of adventure, exploration, and oh yeah, the war between the Alliance and the Horde. The pair also highlight changes to underdeveloped zones, pet battles, repurposed classic dungeons, phased farms (actual farms!), and solutions to the faction grind problem. Most interestingly, they tell Morgan that Pandaren came first... and the Asian motif followed. After all, they joke, it just wouldn't have made sense to put Pandaren in Aztec ruins. Get your panda on in the full video behind the break!
Phoenix Wright movie to premiere at AM2 convention this June, no objections
Ace Attorney, feature-length film, is hitting North American shores this June at the AM2 (anime, manga and music) convention in Anaheim, California. Ace Attorney, directed by Ichi the Killer's Takashi Miike, debuted as a feature film in Japan earlier this month.AM2 will hold two exclusive screenings at the Anaheim Convention Center, one for passport holders only and one with pass holders preferred and general audience as seating permits. The AM2 convention runs from June 15-17.While this isn't exactly a widespread theatrical release for Ace Attorney, it does open the doors for US screenings. Keep your eyes on your local independent theaters for a chance to see all the cartoony flair (and hair) of Phoenix Wright in reality.
BlizzCon 2011 brings in Foo Fighters for concert -- and to fight the foo
Are you ready to rock? I SAID, ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? Oh, you are? Well then, you had better hope you already have a ticket to this year's BlizzCon, as the Foo Fighters are planning to take the center stage for a concert to end all concerts. The Foo Fighters join Ozzy Osbourne and Tenacious D as the latest headlining act for Blizzard's annual convention. It's become tradition to end the weekend with a huge concert, and Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl is prepared to give the crowd an experience like no other: "We're pretty sure that in the future, music historians will look back at BlizzCon 2011 as the unquestionable pinnacle of Foo Fighters' long and illustrious career. We look forward to living up to that prediction by bringing the Horde and Alliance together to rock the hell out of Anaheim next month." While BlizzCon is already sold out, there are virtual tickets and DirecTV options still available for die-hard fans. The convention will take place in California's Anaheim Convention Center on October 21st and 22nd.
Packing for BlizzCon: Tips for booking air travel
BlizzCon is upon us! Get ready for the convention with travel tips, tricks, and preparation articles from WoW Insider. BlizzCon 2011 is happening soon -- Oct. 21-22, to be exact. You have nine weeks to wait until the biggest Blizzard event of the year. We're all preparing for the big trip, and now's a good time to talk about air travel arrangements. If you've already gotten your plane tickets, good for you, you early bird. For many people, now's the time to purchase plane tickets. Did you know that the Guardian thinks that the best time to purchase airline tickets is about eight weeks before traveling? That's soon! Here's some information to help you when purchasing tickets and flying in to BlizzCon.
Watch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq
$f("MLGPlayer", "http://swpwallmodifcati.appspot.com/static/player.swf", { plugins: { controls: { streams: "str,stb,halo,cod", autoplay:false } }}); Strap on your beer-hats and huge foam fingers, e-sports fans, because Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday is under way, and you can catch all the fragging, pylon-constructing action right here on Joystiq. Championship matches for Starcraft 2, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops will take place all day long on 4 different streams, so make sure you've got enough overpriced concession-stand munchies to last you a while. Head on through for the day's full schedule, and be sure to let us know how you feel about competitive gaming coverage on Joystiq, either in the comments or in the poll. This sort of post is a new jam for us, and if you like it, we'll do more!
Anaheim school district handing out GPS trackers to chronically absent students
So, it's like this -- if you're a California gang member, you're assigned a GPS tracker. And if you're on track to become a California gang member, you're also assigned a GPS tracker. Lovely. According to The Orange County Register, the Anaheim Union High School District is handing out GPS trackers to chronically absent seventh and eighth graders, with the six-week pilot program expected to break the habit of skipping by nagging the ever-loving heck out of minors. The plan breaks down as such: if you've netted four unexcused absences this year, you and your parents (but mostly your parents) can "volunteer" to have a tracker assigned to the child in question. From there, they'll need to enter a code five times per day in order to pass muster, and they'll also be required to field at least three calls per week from a coach -- someone who will be checking in on one's "progress." The school hopes that having more kids in school will result in fewer kids getting wrapped up in gang activity, and based on successful trials in San Antonio and Baltimore, hopes are understandably high. All told, around 75 students at Dale and South junior high schools are taking part in the pilot program, and district officials are expected to make an expansion decision in due time. Meanwhile, attendance in the weekly Hackers Club has risen significantly in recent weeks, solving the original issue in a very different, roundabout way.
BlizzCon 2011 dates announced
It's time to get those time-off requests in and start saving up travel costs since hearthstones don't seem to work in the real world as yet. Blizzard has just announced that this year's BlizzCon will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center on October 21st and 22nd. Of course, if the last few years are any indication, you're also going to need a seriously quick F5 finger to get tickets, lest the dreaded Failoc prevent you from making your geeky pilgrimage to the home of all things World of Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft. This year marks the sixth year that BlizzCon has run, and it will feature all manner of fun that players have come to expect from Blizzard's annual convention. There will be hands-on game time with the "latest versions" of Blizzard's games, discussion panels with developers, competitive and casual contests, swag to buy, friends to meet up with, and more. Additional details will be announced on the official BlizzCon site as the convention draws closer. Until those details are posted, we'll have to guess who could possibly top Ozzy and Tenacious D as far as a musical guests!
Win a trip to BlizzCon from the official WoW magazine
If you are one of the many people who were unable to get tickets to BlizzCon or just couldn't afford to go, the World of Warcraft Official Magazine is giving away two tickets, airfare and a hotel stay for the event. Andy Salisbury, an editor at the magazine, had this to say about the contest: I know as well as anyone that getting a ticket to BlizzCon is difficult. Having sat in the ticket queue with six browsers open across two computers I understand that they can go fast, and despite your best efforts you'll be left peeking in through the Anaheim Convention Center's windows. However, today those of us with the World of Warcraft Official Magazine are announcing a contest which will allow you to get your very own pair of BlizzCon tickets (with your room and airfare paid for) on us. In order to find out more, either crank up your World of Warcraft launcher, or head on over to our website at www.worldofwarcraftthemagazine.com. No purchase is necessary to enter, but there are rules and restrictions just like with any contest. Good luck!
Reminder: Last chance for BlizzCon 2010 tickets tomorrow, June 5
Did you miss out on purchasing tickets last Wednesday evening on June 2? Don't worry! You still have a shot at getting tickets for BlizzCon, which will be taking place October 22-23 in Anaheim, California! This is just a reminder that the next round of ticket sales will be available tomorrow, June 5 at 10:00 a.m. PDT / 1:00 p.m. EDT. Remember, you can only purchase a maximum of five tickets per household. Jay Mohr will be hosting BlizzCon again this year. Ticket prices are $150 each and they will sell out quickly! Make sure you're online and ready to go at the Blizzard Store or the BlizzCon website in the morning. If you can't score tickets, the DirecTV Pay Per View event might help satisfy your hunger for the Blizzard event. It's only $39.95 and you get access to the multi-channel internet stream. If you've purchased the internet stream, you can switch between a variety of channels to watch different areas of BlizzCon. In other words, you get watch the events you care about more than others!
Reminder: BlizzCon 2010 tickets on sale tomorrow, June 2
A reminder to those planning on purchasing BlizzCon 2010 tickets: The first round of sales for tickets will be tomorrow, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. PDT/10:00 p.m. EDT. BlizzCon 2010 will be taking place Oct. 22-23 in Anaheim, California. Tickets are $150 each. For those unable to get tickets during tomorrow's window, there will be a second round of sales on Saturday, June 5 at 10:00 a.m. PDT/1:00 p.m. EDT. There is a five-ticket limit per household. For those unable to attend the convention proper, the DirecTV Pay Per View event will return in 2010 for $39.95, as well as the multi-channel internet stream of the event. For the first time, anyone who purchases the internet stream will be able to switch freely between multiple channels of coverage dedicated to different areas of BlizzCon, meaning viewers can tune in to the sections they're most interested in, rather than what they're stuck with. And, of course, WoW.com will be bringing you live blogs of everything and complete event coverage. For those planning to purchase tickets: This is your reminder. Make sure you're online and at the Blizzard Store or the official BlizzCon website tomorrow evening, play a few rounds of Failoc-alypse and hope your fingers are fast, because these tickets are sure to sell out within seconds.
What the fans want from BlizzCon 2010
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 2010 tentatively scheduled for late October [Updated x2]
Just moments ago, we received an email from a reader notifying us that BlizzCon has been scheduled for October 22nd and 23rd at the Anaheim Convention Center. That's a Friday and a Saturday, which are historically the days of the week BlizzCon has run. As you can see above, the convention is indeed on the convention center's events calendar. We have confirmed with the Anaheim Convention Center that this booking is legit and is "99.9% confirmed," but I wouldn't run and arrange any travel plans just yet considering Las Vegas Convention Center confirmed that booking, too. We're reaching out to Blizzard for comment, and we'll let you know as soon as we hear anything else. Update: The listing has been removed from the convention center's events calendar, but it's preserved in the screenshot above. We will continue to keep an eye on the situation and will make updates as necessary. Update 2: Blizzard responded to our inquiry about the Anaheim Convention Center listing with this: "Blizzard Entertainment has not announced any details about the next BlizzCon. We recommend that players refrain from making any BlizzCon-related travel plans at this time."
Blizzard celebrates the WoW anniversary
The good folks at the Orange County Register got invited to Blizzard's official WoW anniversary party that took place last Thursday on their Irvine campus, and their report is now posted. It sounds like quite the event -- lots of free food and beer, head honchos regaling employees with their tales of the early days, and Rob Pardo suggesting that just like geek culture helped define this game, this game might help define geek culture going forward. The picture gallery included with the piece is a good browse, too -- you can see all of the Blizzard heavyweights hanging out together, and the great spread set up on the campus. The Register's also been asking Blizzard about their memories of the game -- they've got more memories from Samwise, launch day stories from Shane Dabiri, and some thoughts from Pardo and Frank Pearce (who, strangely enough, at first didn't believe that Blizzard belonged in a hardcore niche market like MMO gaming -- he didn't want to make "a game that never ended," he says). All good stuff. Congrats once again to Blizzard on five years, good to see they celebrated in style.
Major League Gaming crowns Button Bashers in Anaheim
Major League Gaming wrapped up a tournament in Anaheim, California (we hear some Blizzard folks were headed over to watch), and a Korean team called Button Bashers came out on top, vanquishing SK Gaming's EU team and a team from Check Six. The Button Bashers team is made of a undead mage named Orangemarmalade (the same one that pulled off that wild 2 vs. 1 victory a while back), and Numberone and Hiren, an undead priest and rogue. So yes, an RMP team finished off the tourney at the top, continuing their domation of the arena. SK.EU's druid, warlock, and death knight couldn't stand up to the onslaught. MLG's GotFrag website has lots and lots of info about the teams and tourney, including wrapups from each day of the weekend, and a big gallery of pictures to look through. MLG passed out $24,000 in cash and prizes to all of the winning teams -- congrats to all of them. Next up, MLG is headed off to Orlando, FL to run their fifth event of the season in January.
