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The Daily Grind: What single MMO convention would you abolish?
There are MMOs that stick to the conventions and MMOs that work around them, but we all recognise the conventions when we see them. They make up much of the vocabulary of an MMO and fuel the memes that go around: we all recognise the likes of Kill Ten Rats and Looking For Group. Conventions are those features that we expect to find in an MMO of a given genre, whether we like them or not.But given the opportunity, which one of the various MMO conventions would you banish to the infernal regions, never to return? There are just so many to choose from. Quests where you kill X amount of Y creature, or collect randomly dropping pieces of its anatomy? Missions where you escort the balsawood NPC to safety? Monotonous resource gathering? Endgame raids? The tank-dps-healer trinity? Long travel times? Elf-orc-dwarf mythologies? Epic loot? Gear covered in so many spikes you could use it for a weenie roast?
Blizzard showcases in Leipzig Games Convention
The European-gaming savvy among our readers will already be familiar with the Leipzig-held Games Convention. "If a seismograph were installed in Leipzig," says the GC website, "it would probably swing to its limits for four days non-stop in August."Vaneras announced today that Blizzard's going to be once again showcasing at the Games Convention. Not only will attendees be able to try out StarCraft 2 demos, they'll get a chance to play around with Wrath of the Lich King. And, as seems to be standard operating procedure, Blizzard will be providing a "Live Raid" during the show. They've not announced who the Live Raid is going to be, but I think safe money's on Nihilum.The other thing at Leipzig which is pretty cool is that Blizzard's going to have representatives at the booth ... recruiting. They recommend bringing your resume along when you visit the Blizzard booth, and asking questions about what it's like to work for the Big Blue. The Leipzig Games Convention had a few interesting things coming out of it last year, so we might get a chance to hear even more without having to wait for BlizzCon.
Blizzcon 2008 tickets to go on sale August 11th
According to a new press release, tickets for Blizzcon 2008 will be available for purchase at the event's official website on August 11th. You might not need to buy them, though, because the press release also announced that at least 8 hours of the event will stream live to DirectTV customers pay-per-view style. Prices for the DirectTV route haven't been released yet, but folks who want to actually attend the convention in Anaheim, CA must pay $100 per head. That's probably a fair price if you're a hardcore Blizzard fan who wants to get hands-on time with upcoming games. And then there are the dance competitions! The event will occur on October 10th and 11th.
Microsoft's Frank O'Connor hints at 'HaloCon', comments on 'Bungiegate'
Following the "Halo Universe" panel at the San Diego Comic Con 08, Eurogamer had a chance to speak with former Bungie content manager Frank O'Connor, who now works with Microsoft to manage the Halo franchise. During the interview, O'Connor stated that a "HaloCon" (that's Halo Convention, for the contextually impaired) is a definite possibility, adding, "Bungie has done fanfests at E3 and it would be lovely to see something bigger, something more ambitious in the future." In addition, we figure a Halo-based expo would also prove an appropriate time to follow through on certain... engagements.Eurogamer did not let Bungie's seized E3 announcement go unmentioned, and O'Connor responded with an uncrushed spirit, explaining that "someone, somewhere decided strategically that another time is better, and it will be, and there's going to be an announcement and it's going to be awesome." This could mean that they actually know when they'll be following through on their promised E3 megaton, and (if you can wrap your mind around this) -- that they've yet to announce when they're going to announce what they're going to announce.
Welcome to E3 2008, now with less magic
If there was any question as to the fate of the spectacle that was E3, a quick visit Monday afternoon to the LA Convention Center seemed to confirm the show's demise. Oh sure, E3 may live on in name, but where years past would have found the convention center papered by now in gaudy banners promoting the year's biggest titles and deepest pockets, 2008 instead finds the halls exhibiting all the life of a George Romero set piece without the visceral afterglow. Even so, we do look forward to see what the show has in store for us when it officially kicks off later today. After all, we're not total pessimists. Yet.%Gallery-27531%
WoW Insider is at E3 this week
We're not expecting very much WoW news out of E3 this week (especially since Blizzard has taken a pass on the event), but nevertheless, my co-lead Dan O'Halloran and I are here in Los Angeles for the week (and we brought all of our coolest stuff), to see what we can see. And of course if we see anything related to Azeroth at all, you'll see it, too.Activision Blizzard is planning a press conference on Tuesday evening, and we'll be there for sure, so keep an eye out for that. And we'll be paying attention to WoW competitors as well (Warhammer Online is set to make a big splash at E3, though the recent news that Mythic is cutting the game back a bit may overshadow any other announcements) -- our sister site Massively will have coverage of any and all MMOs at the show this year. And on Thursday, I'm getting a hands-on demo with the Novint Falcon, so we'll see if it controls WoW as well as they say it does. And if you're one of those who wants to see the big picture, Joystiq's E3 page has all the E3 news you need and then some.It won't be all work there -- we'll also be at the big Joystiq meetup on Thursday, so if you're in LA and want to come by and say hi, please do (I'll try to wear my BlizzCon t-shirt so you can find me). For us WoW fans, the big events of the year are the Worldwide Invitational and BlizzCon, of course, but WoW Insider's got you covered at E3, too.
Play Bangai-O and Naruto at this week's Anime Expo
Want to get your hands on Bangai-O Spirits before its August release? Then head on over to California and go to this year's Anime Expo. Not only will you get to play this gem of a game, but the entire DS Fanboy staff will envy you for your hands-on Bangai-O experience. Another DS game that will be playable is, of course, Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2. Would you really expect the orange-clad Ninja not to make an appearance? So, if you plan to stop by the Expo, make sure to check out D3 Publisher's booth (901) for some fun times on the DS. Gallery: Bangai-O Spirits Gallery: Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2
Where's the Wrath cinematic?
So it's Monday now, the Worldwide Invitational in Paris is officially over, Diablo 3 has been announced and we've got tons of new info about Wrath of the Lich King -- but where's the cinematic? We know the Wrath cinematic is coming, but there was no sign of it at all at the WWI.Then again, if you look at the timeframes, it's still a little soon -- the acclaimed Burning Crusade cinematic actually dropped on the Spike Videogame Awards in December of 2006 (just a month before BC was actually released in January of 2007), so since there's still some time until the Wrath release, there will still be some time until the cine shows.In fact, it's looking more and more like BlizzCon 2008 might be the place to see it. With a rumored release date of sometime in November, Blizzard's big convention in October would probably be the perfect place to show off the next, undoubtedly beautiful chapter in the fall (and maybe even redemption?) of Arthas Menethil. Plus maybe they'll put a Gnome in there this time around.
Stargate Worlds to make a dramatic showing at Comic Con
Firesky, MGM Home Entertainment, and the United States Armed Forces will be showing Stargate Worlds at Comic-Con 2008 in San Diego. The convention will run from July 24th to 27th. Firesky plans to deploy a full-sized stargate replica outside the convention center for photo ops. Fans will also get to be among the first in the public to see gameplay footage. Check out booth 3525 if you're going to be there.Footage is exciting and all, but we're intrigued by the partnership with the Armed Forces. Presumably this means recruiters will be present at the event as well. The Stargate franchise has always had a close relationship with the military; its central characters have mostly been members of the Air Force. In fact, Stargate SG-1 has featured a handful of cameos by real-world military figures, including Air Force chief of staff Michael E. Ryan, who played himself in the episode "Prodigy."[Via Ten Ton Hammer]
The Daily Grind: Planning to attend any conventions?
Tis the season to be traveling! As the summer ramps up, more and more companies are planning different outings and fan events. Blizzard has announced that not only will they have their (now sold-out) Worldwide Invitational in Paris, but also will be hosting another Blizzcon this October. Sony Online Entertainment has announced the next in a long line of highly successful Fan Faires coming to Vegas this August. CCP is expected to host yet another "party at the top of the world" as their EVE Online fan fair returns this year. Funcom will have a great showing as part of the MMO track at Dragon*Con where they've been partying with fans for years. And who can forget all the gaming goodness that goes on at PAX, GenCon, and other related conventions happening all around the world! For today's Daily Grind, we thought we'd ask you what kind of plans you have for traveling this year? Are there any conventions that are absolutely must-see events for you? Which events, if any, are you excited to check out? And if it's a general event like Dragon*Con or PAX, what are your "must see" games while you're there?
Send in the cosplayers
Cosplayers are perpetual purveyors of entertainment. Die-hard fans never miss a chance to dress up, while some fans would rather die. Some do it so well that everyone becomes a fan, if only for a moment. Anyone grossly offended by the glory of cosplay should look away now (we're kidding, keep reading), as we present the new Guiness World Record for "Most Video Game Costumes in One Place."It is estimated over 600 fans showed up to A-Kon 2008 dressed in video game attire, easily besting the previous "record" of 80 Marios. Characters from all walks of Nintendo life were found at A-Kon, and we've gathered a few of the best to check out after the break. Cosplay done right looks rad.
Worldwide Invitational 2008 to offer more tickets
If you wanted to head to the City of Lights this summer to check out the World Wide Invitational this year, but missed the first round of tickets, you're in luck. Blizzard has announced that they will be selling another round on the official WWI website some time next week. If you're still interested, keep an eye out for it! The World Wide Invitational will take place in Paris, France on June 28th and 29th, and will include developer panels and multiple contests, including fanart and machinima contests, as well as a playable version of WoTLK -- essentially, it's a European Blizzcon. Be sure to check out all of our previous coverage on the event, and stay tuned for all the latest news as we get closer to the date.
Nintendo pulls out of Leipzig
European Nintendo fans eager to attend the biggest gaming show in all of Europe, take note. Nintendo has decided not to attend this year's show. Considering they had a great show last year, we honestly can't understand why Nintendo would back out. Their new focus will be to participate in "smaller, local events and national promotional tours."Any of our European readers saddened by this news? Were you planning on attending the show in Germany this year?[Via Nintendo Revolution]
Challenge the original LotRO Lore-Masters at Gen Con Indy
If you're a fan of Lord of the Rings Online, and you're still undecided about attending Gen Con Indy this year, let us make your decision a bit easier. During this wildly-popular gaming convention, you will have the opportunity to challenge the original lore-masters at their own game. Not only will there be prizes to be won, but you will get to meet some of the story and content designers on the game, such as Jonathan "Berephon" Rudder, Paul "Rhidden" Simon and Chris Pierson. This event will not be based on LotRO trivia or from the movies, but actual Tolkien-based lore, taken from the Fantasy Flight Games' Lord of the Rings Trivia Game.In addition to this contest, a few of the developers will also be participating in several Writer's Symposium panels at the convention, as well as doing book-signing in the Author's Avenue. The convention itself will be held from August 14th through the 17th in Indianapolis, IN, so don't miss it!
Activision Blizzard ditches E3 and the ESA
Just in case you missed it when the news came out a few days ago, Activision Blizzard has apparently announced that they're not showing up at E3 this year. And hot on the heels of that information came the news that both Activision and Vivendi have pulled out of the ESA, an organization that acts as the main trade association for the videogame industry.What does this mean for us as Blizzard fans? Not much -- not only is Blizzard already running their own E3-like conventions (Blizzcon and WWI), but Activision Blizzard is apparently planning to hold a press conference on the first night of the show anyway. Blizzard's properties have enough gusto on their own to get press with or without inclusion in a big event like E3, and it's Activision's other properties that might have to worry about exposure.As for the ESA news, who knows -- Activision Blizzard's pullout might mean a big shakeup in the way the videogame industry as a whole is represented, or (if no other companies choose to leave the ESA) it may not mean much at all. Time will tell.
Blizzard Invitational tickets on sale this week!
For all 10 million of you who just can't get enough of the lands of Azeroth (and the untold millions who are breathlessly waiting for the release of Starcraft 2 -- or Diablo 3!) Blizzard has announced that the tickets for their 2008 Invitational event are going on sale this week for 70 € / £55 for the two-day event. (Approximately $110 USD at current conversion rates.) Between seeing all the cool things that are in store for this event, knowing what the previous Blizzcons have been like, and partying down in Paris, who can resist? Now if you'll pardon me, I need to go see about a plane ticket. (Or at least, figuring out how many months of eating noodles in a cup I'd have to live through to get a plane ticket, anyway.)[via WoW Insider]
NCsoft Europe's Ultimate Heroic Weekend!
UK residents, NCsoft loves you! And to prove it, they're holding a 4-day social gaming event appropriately entitled the 'Ultimate Heroic Weekend'! Starting at 8 PM on Friday, March 21st, and continuing until 8 PM on Monday, March 24th in the capacious Omega Sektor in Birmingham, the UHW will challenge and satisfy gamers of all types with a veritable cornucopia of superhero-related joy.Similar to their recent convention, yet much more -- dare we say -- massive, the fun all starts on Friday with a meet and greet with Melissa 'War Witch' Bianco, who will remain for the entire weekend and provide details on the upcoming City of Heroes expansion, Issue 12! There will also be prizes for Best Heroic Costume and PC and console gaming until midnight.And the event truly kicks off with a bang on Saturday ...
Orlando museum attracts record numbers with gaming convention
Going to the science museum? Boring. Going to the science museum to play video games? Excellent! At least that's what we took away from an Orlando Sentinel article on The Orlando Science Center's third annual Otronicon gaming event.The conference, which just closed to the public, brought in a record 3,000 game players on Saturday as part of an expected 18,000 attendees total. The throng did more than just play over 100 displayed games, though -- they attended exhibits focused on the therapeutic benefits of gaming, workshops on game development and even performances by the Orlando Magic dancers (the last of which we can only assume was somehow game-related).Though the event is now closed to the public, some lucky youngsters will get to attend school field trips to the event over the next few days, which makes us extremely jealous. The best field trip we took in grade school was to the box factory. Or was that The Simpsons? We can't remember, honestly.
Xfire has chats up from BlizzCon
Yes, even though we've been extremely busy here at BlizzCon, the guys from Xfire (who stopped by our party on Thursday, as did a few folks from Upper Deck and Blizzard), haven't been slacking off, either. They've posted quite a few live chats over the weekend, and here's a roundup for you to browse through. Their biggest event was probably a chat with Jeff "Tigole" Kaplan-- I actually was standing right next to him when they did this one. If you're an Engineer, check it out for sure-- he says they'll be able to craft flying machines! They also chatted it up with a few high profile players: The1Crow and Beraa from MYM (and here's part 2), The Hukhukhukhukhuks from Team EG (parts 1 and 2), and even Jonas from Nihilum. And we have no idea why they wanted to do this, but before the Con, they even sat down to chat with us-- here's part 1, part 2, and the Lightning Round! (guess which is my favorite part) Amanda, Elizabeth and I all made predictions about what would happen, and we got a lot of stuff right (and, ok, some stuff wrong). Plus, Xfire has lots more from the floor, including pictures, updates, stories, news, and tons of other stuff. Thanks to them for all their help this weekend, and go check out their coverage!
In the line for passes at BlizzCon
I think we were just plain unlucky-- right at 5pm, we hit the big rush for BlizzCon passes, as the line started way outside the convention center, and slowly moved inside to the checkin area. But there was lots to see, including the WoW Radio guys doing their thing, the All Access pass (the guy I took the picture of was very suspicious of why I was so interested in a picture of Arthas at BlizzCon), and the official BlizzCon Staff t-shirt (featuring, yes, an item called the BlizzCon Staff).All that and more in the gallery below. Who knew something as boring as picking up a pass could be so exciting somewhat interesting?%Gallery-5482%
