BlizzCon 2006 Unlikely

1up is reporting that there is unlikely to be a BlizzCon 2006. While last year's event was a success, the company has no plans to make it a yearly event. From the article: "Blizzard has a notorious past when it comes to shipping products on time. Less focus on putting a con together means production time going to the game development of the expansion, making sure they make their targeted release date before the end of 2006. In the end, would you rather go to a con or be cruising the Outlands with your flying mount?"

Comments

I'd rather do both.

[dividedsky319]

In the end, would you rather go to a con or be cruising the Outlands with your flying mount?"

I don't know about you, but I'd rather be cruising BlizzCon on my flying mount.

Re:I'd rather do both.

[I Like Pudding]

I don't know about you, but I'd rather be cruising BlizzCon on my flying mount.

I bet you have just the prettiest neon glow-in-the-dark glitter puff unicorn posters hanging in your bedroom

What a choice!

[WinPimp2K]

Hmm attending a con or cruising the Outlands on a flying mount.

Blizzard, you must by all means dicth the convention. Obviously the folks who should have developed my flying car wasted time attending Star Trek conventions in the 70's. I hold Paramount fully liable for my lack of a flying car. They seduced multiple generations of engineers away from flying car development with their nasty conventions.

No sponsors = no con

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

Looks like the sponsors of last years event (http://www.blizzcon.com/) were Intel, NVidia and "Games for Windows". I wonder who walked?

Two "no-go" decision makers for attendees may also have been:

1) Price - $85/120 - yikes!

2) "Will there be wireless internet access for attendees to bring their own computers? BlizzCon will include a LAN area with over 300+ computers, but there will be no wireless internet access. Attendees cannot bring their own computers into the show, but some of the local hotels offer internet capabilities in their hotel rooms if you choose to bring your own computer."

Re:No sponsors = no con

[moe.ron]

"Will there be wireless internet access for attendees to bring their own computers? BlizzCon will include a LAN area with over 300+ computers, but there will be no wireless internet access. Attendees cannot bring their own computers into the show, but some of the local hotels offer internet capabilities in their hotel rooms if you choose to bring your own computer."

What kind of convention is this then? The whole point of a gaming convention is gaming. If you can't bring your own computer, you won't be doing as much gaming. This sounds like more of a tradeshow with 300+ demo machines setup than it does a gaming convention with unlimited LAN access for anyone to plug in their machine and play how they please. Otherwise its going to be people coming from all over the world to do what in a hotel room they could have done at home: sit alone in a small, dimly lit room playing WoW.

Re:No sponsors = no con

[freshman_a]

I agree. I can meet the devs, play unreleased content, watch costume contests, and see Level 60 Elite Tauren Chieftan play any day of the week. I'd rather pay $85 + airfare + hotel to lug my computer half way across the country to play multiplayer StarCraft and WarCraft with a bunch of other people. I mean, it's not like I can't do that from home via Battle.net or anything.

Onions and cheese

[NekoXP]

Cons usually smell like guys who haven't been from their desk to the bathroom because they were too busy grinding.. uhh.. their levels. Yeah, levels.

I don't play Warcraft. I guess ditch the con? Keep these guys in their rooms and duct tape the door seal!

Neither.

[jmhewitt]

I'd rather play Starcraft 2.

That is just great!

[ab0mb88]

Now where am I going to meet that hot night elf that I have been dating on WoW. At this rate I am going to die a virgin.

I'd dress up as lag

[everphilski]

(it's funny. laugh.)

Reporting or Regurgitating?

[Deluxe_247]

From TFA:
"We haven't yet begun planning a BlizzCon for this year, and truthfully it isn't intended as an annual event. We had a lot of fun though, and we're looking forward to getting another one going and inviting everyone to come hang out with us and check out everything that is Blizzard."
Original Link to Post:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=w ow-general&t=8612315&tmp=1#post8612315

The first one was a hit (apparently, I wasn't there.) Tickets did sell out, and there were some really sexy (and.. uhhh... unfortunately not so sexy) ladies dressed up as Succubus! (Im sure /.ers can appreciate that!) The next BlizzCon will likely be to announce the next BIG project after Burning Crusade is released - likely Hero Classes, another expansion, or a new game in the works (StarCraft 2/WC4/Whatever).

Resources

[Anonymous Coward]

"Less focus on putting a con together means production time going to the game development of the expansion, making sure they make their targeted release date before the end of 2006. In the end, would you rather go to a con or be cruising the Outlands with your flying mount?"

Soo.... the guys who design and code the game are the same ones who plan the Blizzcon??

Re:Resources

[zstlaw]

Ummm it was successful wasn't it? Imagine what is would have been like if marketing or HR had organized it instead. All brochures and sit-down sessions. *shudder*

Developers are much smarter and should get to do fun things more often. Honestly, I am absolutely not biased what-so-ever.

Cart before the horse

[cbuskirk]

Why would they host another con in October of this year? To announce a second expansion, before the first is even out? Blizzard spent quite a bit of money on Blizzcon 2005 and they are going to wait till they have something to sell us. My guess is that the second Blizzcon will be in April or May of next year and continue annually at that point. Once they have the first exp pack under their belt I'm sure they will be on track to release one just in time for Christmas annually.