Logging into StarCraft last night, I was unobtrusively informed that on the 8th – 9th of November, Blizzard Entertainment would be holding their annual BlizzCon event. “Fantastic!” I thought; I’d spent my weekend watching the MineCon event unfold and learnt a great deal from the development panels that were aired live through YouTube. I clicked my way into BlizzCon’s site only to find that… oh no, you need a Virtual Ticket, and those virtual tickets cost money…
So if you’re interest in watching BlizzCon online, I’m here to tell you that you can, but that it will cost you $39.99/£24.99 to do so. You’ll get a few trinkets as well: a Murkalot WoW pet, a new portrait and decal for SC2, a mystery card for Hearthstone fans, and a banner for Diablo III gamers, so if you’re a budding collector of everything Blizzard, then go ahead.
The live stream will feature “exclusive interviews with the designers, artists, and key creative folk behind your favourite Blizzard games,” the costume contest, and the talent contest, and the whole event will be made available to view on demand should you be unable to view it live.
Some folks over at Neogaf are arguing that the trinkets are really not worth the price tag, and that other conventions have been far more inventive with virtual tickets. Personally, I plan to spend my £24.99 on a crate of beer and sit on StarCraft II all evening.
Each to their own, I guess!