Article From- All Your Games
BlizzCon, one of the biggest gaming festivals in the world, is only a month away. People come from all over the country – and the world – to Anaheim, the location of BlizzCon since 2005. Each Blizzcon is larger than the last, with Blizzcon 2018 attracting 40,000 fans, compared to 8,000 in 2005. As well as previews of upcoming games and expansions, Blizzcon offers live esports tournaments and live concerts by popular bands. While international Blizzard gaming events have been held in South Korea and France, all of the American BlizzCon events have been held in Anaheim.
Blizzcon 2019 is likely to be even bigger than last year’s event. Those planning to attend can look forward to many new attractions as well as what was present at earlier Blizzcon events. There is no shortage of things to do at Blizzcon. Even if one tries to go to as many events as possible, there will not be enough time for everything. Tickets cost around $200, and some are willing to spend up to $750 to attend a benefit dinner.
1) See the best players of each game compete live
One of the biggest attractions at Blizzcon is the live esports tournament where the best players of each Blizzard game compete for the prize. As well as the highly anticipated overwatch world cup, there will also be championships for the best Starcraft II and WOW Arena players. The summer WOW arena championships are over, and the teams that will compete at BlizzCon have already been decided. There will be a Hearthstone tournament as well.
2) See the live music
Formerly, bands from The Offspring to Linkin Park to Ozzy Ozbourne have performed at Blizzcon. Who will be performing in 2019 is not yet known, but it is rumored to be a classic rock band such as The Rolling Stones or Aerosmith. Fans are not allowed to know who will be playing at the concert until shortly before the date of the convention.
3) Look forward to new game announcements
While unimpressed fans booed last year’s announcement of the mobile game Diablo: Immortal, Blizzard is known to be working on multiple new titles. One can expect new games and new expansion packs for Blizzard’s very popular Diablo, Warcraft, and Starcraft series. Possibly they could even announce something utterly new in a unique setting. Overwatch, after all, proves that not all Blizzard games have to be part of the Warcraft, Starcraft, or Diablo settings. Immortal is not the only Diablo game in development, so one could see an announcement for a non-mobile Diablo title that fans will receive better.
4) Attend the Pre-Blizzcon fan events
Shortly before BlizzCon begins, one can find an entirely fan-created event known as Con Before the Storm. This is an opportunity to meet famous gaming journalists and youtube personalities that play Blizzard games. Con Before the Storm is completely free as it is funded entirely by Kickstarter donations. Last year’s Con Before the Storm offered and excellent art gallery where many unique works were purchased. If you can’t make it to the free Before the Storm fan event, there will also be Pre-Blizzcon live podcasts. Again, the Con Before the Storm pre-BlizzCon event is entirely free.
5) Don’t miss the opening ceremony
The opening ceremony is a big deal, so don’t show up late and miss it! Those who miss the opening ceremony will miss out on the official announcements of at least most of the new titles. The opening ceremony will probably, as was the case in 2018, take place on multiple stages scattered around the event. Each Blizzard game will have a different stage.
6) Take advantage of discounts around Anaheim
If previous years are anything to go by, plenty of businesses in Anaheim will be offering discounts specifically to Blizzcon attendees. After the show closes, you are not likely to want the fun to end. Food and entertainment venues in the area will give deals to those who attended BlizzCon. There are plenty of things to do after 10 in Anaheim, whether you intend to spend more money than most attendees or not.
7) Playtest the new games
One of the most exciting parts of a gaming convention is the opportunity to playtest new games long before they are released. Many new games have been rumored to exist, including Overwatch 2, a full sequel to Diablo, and a first-person shooter game set in the Starcraft universe. While the lines for playtesting can be lengthy, one has a chance of being able to play an early form of a new game.
8) Buy souvenirs and merchandise
Plenty of merchandise will be on sale at a discount for those who hold Blizzcon tickets. Don’t go all the way to California and not come back with any interesting souvenirs!
9) Enjoy using your in-game items after the events
As well as being able to buy physical merchandise, everyone who buys a BlizzCon ticket will receive a set of in-game items. These items do not always remain exclusive to ticket buyers forever, but they can be impossible for others to get for a long time.
10) Make new friends and meet people you know only online
If you have people who you regularly play online games with but have never met in person, make sure to mention the fact that you are going to BlizzCon. The odds that you already know someone who is going is better than you might think, with tens of thousands of attendees and more every year. You may also be able to make friends with those who you talk to for the first at BlizzCon. They might be too far away to visit, but you can still hang out with them online. Many people make long-lasting friendships at the convention.
Those of you who are attending BlizzCon should make sure to install the BlizzCon APP, which will help you navigate and make the most of the BlizzCon experience. Anyone who has been to BlizzCon or any other gaming convention knows that they should head to everything early. You might miss part of an event otherwise.
