blizzcon-2011
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Blizzard auctioning server blades to benefit St. Jude's
We posted about this a week ago, but a reminder can't hurt now that the auctions have actually gone live. If you're attending BlizzCon this year and have the chance to visit Hall A, you'll see one of the original World of Warcraft HP server blades that Blizzard is auctioning this year to benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. But even if you're not going to BlizzCon, you still have a shot at bidding: All of the available server blades (from both North American and Europeanrealms) are listed on EBay, and you've still got time to bid on them all. Most of them are older realms that Blizzard has upgraded recently as part of server maintenance, and -- judging from the bids on some of them -- my guess is that a lot of players are interested in owning their old servers. Better yet, each auctioned server will have a plaque with the server's name, dates of operation, and Blizzard developers' autographs inscribed on it. If you want to see an example of what it'll look like, scroll down on Blizzard's charity auction page. If you're interested in owning a piece of World of Warcraft history in addition to benefiting a great cause, you can find general information and Blizzard's two EBay listings for the server blades here: General information on auction dates and servers available North American realms European realms Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Get ready to kick off the weekend with the WoW Insider Reader Meetup, cohosted by Wowhead and Gamebreaker.tv, and look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
Breakfast Topic: What are your plans for BlizzCon this year?
Oh, BlizzCon. Every year you sell out in a ridiculously short period of time, dump players in lines the size of small countries, tease us with small glimpses of future content, titillate us with some daring cosplay, and make us rage about hunters' minimum range and recent paladin nerfs in front of tens of thousands of people. We wouldn't have it any other way. And where is your place in this cosmic dance, dear readers? Are you on your way to the Blizzard mecca today? Or, like me, are you watching the live stream? None of the above? Remember -- if you're going, we'd love to see you at the Reader Meetup we're co-hosting with Wowhead and Gamebreaker.tv! If you're not going, check back with the site anyway around 5 p.m. Pacific (8 p.m. Eastern), because Gamebreaker.tv will be streaming the party. %Poll-70032% Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Get ready to kick off the weekend with the WoW Insider Reader Meetup, cohosted by Wowhead and Gamebreaker.tv, and look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
BlizzCon 2011 goodie bag pictures have surfaced
Though vague on how he came by his goodie bag early, one BlizzCon fan has already posted pics of the bags contents. As expected, the bag contains a mini-Tyrael figure, an authenticator, lots of promotional fliers and a loot card with a redemption code for the Murkablo non-combat pet. That's it. More pictures can be found on the fan's Squidoo site. [via MMO-Champion] Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Get ready to kick off the weekend with the WoW Insider Reader Meetup, cohosted by Wowhead and Gamebreaker.tv, and look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
WoW Insider's BlizzCon 2011 Bingo
How would you like a bizarre unwieldy game to print out and carry around with you wherever you go while attending BlizzCon this year? You're in luck, because the WoW Insider staff has assembled this year's BlizzCon Bingo card! Print the image, take it with you to BlizzCon, and mark off the squares you experience first-hand. When you mark five boxes in a row, you win! What do you win? The greatest prize of all: absolutely nothing. How exciting! Let's be honest, here: Most of you are going to turn this thing into a drinking game. That's cool and all, but please, mind your health (and that of others) when you sit down Friday night and realize you've checked off nearly every square already. %Gallery-136981%
WoW Insider's BlizzCon 2011 predictions
It's quiet around the WoW Insider offices today -- many of us are on our way to Anaheim as you read this. After all, it's BlizzCon 2011 Eve ... uh, Eve. And we can't stop thinking about all the exciting news that we're 48 hours away from learning. Floodgates, people -- they're going to open. Since our brains won't let us consider anything but BlizzCon right now anyway, we thought it might be a good idea for all us staffers to write down our predictions for 5.0 and the convention in general. The bosses think it's a good idea because you want to read about BlizzCon so you'll give us precious, precious page views. I think it's a good idea because we get to have a lot of people on the record who are going to look ridiculous in 48 hours on account of how wrong they are. That, my friends, is what we call a win-win. So, if you'll allow me to get things started: BlizzCon 2011 prediction involves Tyler sneaking past WoW Insider security at our Reader Meetup and getting so close to Fox Van Allen that he needs to be tazered by a security guard to keep him from touching the talent. Also, um, probably something with pandas or whatever.
The Reader Meetup details you've been waiting for
The convention starts this Friday, but the real party begins Thursday night. The BlizzCon 2011 WoW Insider Reader Meetup, cohosted by Wowhead and livecast by Gamebreaker.tv, starts at 5 p.m. Pacific at the Anabella Hotel patio. Yes, Dan, we know that, you say. You've already told us this. True -- but now I can finally announce the details. The guests Felicia Day? But of course! Plus others from the cast of The Guild will be on hand. Members of TankSpot and WoW Interface as well as Wowhead will be in attendance. Other special guests we have confirmed include Amy Brady of the Frag Dolls, actress Michele Morrow, machinimator extraordinaire Oxhorn, and Learn2raid's Kinesthesia. That's just a few of the many WoW celebrities we have lined up for the evening. Many of these guests will be talking at the microphone with our hosts for the evening, Mat McCurley and Fox Van Allen. You will also get a chance to meet many of our guests at a special meet-and-greet area at the party. The giveaways What's a party without a few party favors? Our good friends at Cryptozoic are coming with 1,500 booster packs of the latest WoW TCG. And guild hosting site Enjin has 1,500 vouchers for two months of premium service to give away. Plus, there's more from Steelseries, AstroGaming, The Guild, and Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab -- even Dungeons & Dragons loot from Wizards of the Coast. Wizards has also generously donated three full sets of Magic: The Gathering foil M12 cards in limited edition boxes, each with limited edition sleeves and limited edition deck protectors. Handing out many of these prizes will be the lovely ladies of the Apotheosis Agency who helped us out last year, as well. Did we mention the drinks? Monster Energy is giving away cans of Monster Energy and Peach Tea during the meetup for free. All you need to do is ask one of the many servers or bartenders at the party. Looking for something a bit stronger? Alliance- and Horde-themed cocktails await your pleasure, if you are 21 or over. Wristbands will be handed out at the door after your valid I.D. is checked. If you don't have a valid I.D., you can still come in -- just no alcohol for you. The livecast Can't make it? No problem. Gamebreaker.tv will be livecasting the meetup with Gary Gannon, Josh Allen (aka Lore), and Mike B., as well as our own Mike Sacco and Anne Stickney. They will have exclusive interviews with many of the VIP guests and provide commentary on the event as it unfolds. The livestream will be simulcast on WoW Insider, Wowhead, and Gamebreaker's site. If you're on the go, you can follow it on your mobile phone using the Justin.tv app. What more needs to be said? Let's get this party started! The details What: WoW Insider's 4th Annual BlizzCon Reader Meetup, cohosted by Wowhead and Gamebreaker.tv Where: The patio and the poolside of the Tangerine Grill & Patio at the Anabella Hotel When: Thursday, Oct. 20, starting at 5 p.m. Pacific Additional info: You can be under 21 and still attend. Shoes and shirt are required. You do not need a BlizzCon pass to attend. You can RSVP on our Facebook Event page. There will be a valet charge if you park at the hotel. %Gallery-105834% Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Get ready to kick off the weekend with the WoW Insider Reader Meetup, cohosted by Wowhead and Gamebreaker.tv, and look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
BlizzCon 2011: Mega Bloks Thrall figure and more
Earlier this year, it was announced that Blizzard would be teaming up with MEGA Brands, Inc. to release Warcraft- and StarCraft-themed Mega Bloks sets. It looks like they're definitely going to have a presence at BlizzCon 2011, and the toys look great. BlizzCon attendees can look forward to a Thrall giveaway figure as an exclusive gift -- but there's plenty more to be had, including a limited edition Battlecruiser. Only 3,000 of these Battlecruisers were produced, and they are available for purchase to all BlizzCon attendees and Virtual Ticket holders. You can order yours on the official Mega Bloks BlizzCon site. Oh, but that's not all. Attendees can also tweet to win by taking their photo with a massive Mega Bloks statue of Thrall. On top of that, you can also enter to win a chance for a one-of-a-kind Mega Bloks Frostmourne replica by guessing the number of bloks that went into creating the sword on display at the Mega Bloks booth. Be sure to stop by Booth C-303 to take a look at the Mega Bloks creations and get in on the contest action! Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Get ready to kick off the weekend with the WoW Insider Reader Meetup cohosted by Wowhead, and look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
WRUP: The one written from 35,000 feet in the air
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! Oh, man. BlizzCon 2011. It's almost a reality. As you read this, I will be somewhere over Kansas or Oklahoma or one of "those" states on my way to Southern California. I'm going to be the first staff member hitting the ground in Anaheim, and I couldn't be more excited about it. WoW Insider will be covering all sorts of exciting World of Warcraft news once BlizzCon starts, but in the meantime, the focus is on travel. Being a helpful guy, I've compiled a few air travel tips and tricks to help make your trip to Anaheim an enjoyable one: Grab something to eat before the flight. I know it's a cliché, but you don't want to spend six hours in the air armed with a meager bag of airline-supplied peanuts or Chex mix. Get real food first. Bonus tip: While the food court's Sbarro may make a delicious lunchtime treat, avoid the breakfast menu at all cost. Egg brick and cold potatoes may seem like a good idea at the time, but you don't want that slimy crud working its way through your system while you're trapped five miles in the sky. Trust me. Be aware of security precautions. Since Sept. 11, airports have been on high alert! You should never take a suspicious-looking package on board that was given to you by a stranger. Unless the stranger who hands it to you looks totally trustworthy. Further, leave your firearms at home! You'll have plenty of time to buy guns upon arrival on the streets of Los Angeles. Make someone else pay for your in-flight wireless! My strategy? Wait until you're actively on the plane to write that week's WRUP. Business expense! Having dreaded this six-hour plane ride that I am currently on, I asked our venerable WoW Insider staff for some recommendations on how I can best kill the time.
Is Tyrael this year's BlizzCon swag statue?
Looks like we know what's going to be in our goodie bags this year. We've gotten pictures of what appears to be BlizzCon swag for this year's attendee goodie bag. Last year, BlizzCon-goers were given a Dethling statue in commemoration of Deathwing's return to Azeroth and Cataclysm's launch. This year's Diablo-themed statue would definitely make sense. Hit the jump for the full picture.
Blizzard wants you to Ask the Artists this BlizzCon
BlizzCon thunders towards us like some great thundering thing. This year, BlzzCon will include a chance for you to ask questions on the forums and have them answered at the convention. BlizzCon: Ask the Artists - Zarhym At this year's BlizzCon we have a stage dedicated to featuring Blizzard artists of all disciplines and styles, from Glenn Rane (Digital Painting, Creative Development) to Samwise Didier (Traditional Drawing, StarCraft II). Whether you're attending the event or watching from home, we're giving you the opportunity to ask a question of the artists in this thread. All you have to do is list the discipline and/or category below which best fits your art-related question and ask away. If selected, your inquiry will be read and answered live from the Artist Stage at BlizzCon! source Head over to the BlizzCon forums for a list of disciplines and categories including 3D modeling, trading card art, Cinematic Matte Painting and my personal favorite, Environment Concepts. I'd love to hear about the design process for WoW zones or the new Diablo III. Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Get ready to kick off the weekend with the WoW Insider Reader Meetup cohosted by Wowhead, and look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
Win a BlizzCon ticket from Gamebreaker.TV
Seeing as how this year's BlizzCon tickets were sold out in the same amount of time that it takes you to read this sentence, the only way for you to experience the convention now is either virtually or by snagging a ticket from a generous donor. Fortunately, Gamebreaker.TV has a spare ticket on hand that it's prepared to bestow on a lucky fan -- and anyone can take a crack at winning it. To try your hand at winning the golden ticket, you simply have to buy as many Wonka bars as you can possibly... no, wait, that's not right. Actually, all you have to do is head over to Gamebreaker.TV's Facebook page and click "like" to be entered into the drawing. BlizzCon tickets were priced at $175 apiece and were sold out as of this past May. The convention might not have the big reveal of Blizzard's next big MMO, but it's got plenty of Foo Fighters to compensate.
WRUP: Come on, man, it's the '90s
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! 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?"
WoW Rookie: Guide for the BlizzCon rookie
New around here? WoW Rookie has your back! Get all our collected tips, tricks and tactics for new players in the WoW Rookie Guide. WoW Rookie is about more than just being new to the game; it's about checking out new classes, new playstyles, and new zones. Is this your first year at BlizzCon? Don't worry if it is -- we're here to help you. BlizzCon is a huge event, and Blizzard fans from across the nation gather to get their game on. While it might seem like a big, confusing mess, BlizzCon can actually be broken down fairly simply. What the heck goes on at BlizzCon? As we get started, let's throw a shout-out to the Friday night WoW Insider & Wowhead Reader Meetup. It's not an official BlizzCon event, of course, but we've been doing it for a few years, and everyone knows where to go. The pre-party itself is a fantastic time when we all get together at the Anabella (right near the convention center), drink, play some contest games, take pictures, hobnob with celebrities, and enjoy a little show. The party's so good, we stream it! If you're anywhere near Anaheim Thursday night, come enjoy a good time with fellow Blizzard friends.
BlizzCon 2011 schedule of events
Just in case you don't happen to have an iPhone or Android device, we have the full list of panels and events from BlizzCon 2011 right here. The convention hall layout is almost identical to last year's events according to the map above. Please note: This is a preliminary schedule from the BlizzCon 2011 app. Schedules may change before BlizzCon. Friday, Oct. 21 Opening Ceremony 11am -12pm, Main Stage Artists Stage 12pm - 1:15pm, Artists Stage Diablo III: Gameplay and Combat Systems 12pm-12:50pm, BlizzChat: Live Forums StarCraft II Match 1 12pm-1:30pm, StarCraft II Stage World of Warcraft 12pm - 1:30pm, Lore Zone
BlizzCon 2011 schedule app available for Android, iPhone
Blizzard Entertainment has released a new app for iPhone and Android users, a scheduling assistant for BlizzCon 2011. Included with the app is a map of the convention hall and the full schedule of events, as well as feature to personalize your own schedule while at BlizzCon, with an event alert so you don't miss any important panels. Along with the usual run of tournament play for both World of Warcraft and StarCraft, this year's BlizzCon includes a host of panels for Diablo 3, StarCraft 2, and World of Warcraft. Everything from class talent systems to lore and publishing will be covered. Download the free app now on your iPhone or Android device! Turn to WoW Insider for all your BlizzCon 2011 news and information. Get ready to kick off the weekend with the WoW Insider Reader Meetup cohosted by Wowhead, and look for our liveblogs of the convention panels, interviews with WoW celebrities -- and of course, lots of pictures of people in costumes. It's all here at WoW Insider!
15 Minutes of Fame: Will you be at BlizzCon?
From Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, millions of people have made World of Warcraft a part of their lives. How do you play WoW? We're giving each approach its own 15 Minutes of Fame. If you're planning to attend BlizzCon this year, 15 Minutes of Fame just might be looking for you! Our reporters and photographers will be out looking for interesting backstories from some of the most enthusiastic Blizzard and World of Warcraft fans in attendance. If you or anyone you know will be at BlizzCon and fall into any of the categories below, please drop me an email at lisa@wowinsider.com with "BlizzCon interviews" in the subject line. Let me know why we might want to interview you and how I can reach you via email and (optionally) Twitter. Don't be shy -- conventions are chaotic events, and we need plenty of suggestions in order to be able to actually track all of you down! Biggest guild group in attendance Long-distance traveler (How far will you be travelling to get to BlizzCon? Coming up from Down Under?) Cosplayers (Tell me about your costume and give me a feel for its complexity; we'll be interviewing a number of stand-outs!) Long-distance romantic couple meeting for the first time at BlizzCon More players we're seeking at BlizzCon, after the break.
Blizzard's not talking about its unannounced MMO at BlizzCon this year, either
Remember that one time when Blizzard accidentally leaked some info stating that it's working on a new MMO (codenamed "Titan"), and we all got excited? And then BlizzCon happened, and we all thought the studio would tell us more, but it didn't? And then remember when that happened the next year, too? Well, it's happening again this year. In a clarification statement to IGN, Blizzard has confirmed that it will not be discussing the "unannounced MMO" during BlizzCon 2011. This follows a VentureBeat interview with M2 Research senior analyst Billy Pidgeon, who predicted that news of Titan must be breaking at this October's event. Oh well, we still have emote dance contests and the Foo Fighters, right?
Foo Fighters to close out Blizzcon 2011
Blizzard continues its tradition of closing the doors on Blizzcon with a big concert. Two years ago it was Ozzy Osbourne, and Tenacious D followed -- this year it'll be the Foo Fighters' chance for post-gaming convention immortality. Blizzcon takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center on October 21 and 22. If you were unable to score yourself a ticket, Blizzard is offering a pass to take part in the festivities virtually for $39.99, either via the internet or through DirecTV. For more info on live streaming, check out the Blizzcon site.
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.
Foo Fighters to rock the house at BlizzCon 2011
We've been waiting for the announcement of who would close out BlizzCon 2011 with an awesome concert, as has been the BlizzCon tradition. This year's concert headliner will be Foo Fighters with Dave Grohl. It's a different direction from the previous year's Ozzy Osbourne and Tenacious D, but it's going to be a great concert nonetheless. The high-schooler in me is really excited to see Foo Fighters. I feel old now. You can get access to the concert by purchasing the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket or by attending BlizzCon. Get to the concert hall early if you want a good seat, though. It packs up pretty fast.
