Blizzard raffling additional BlizzCon tix

  • By TomM_GScom, GameSpot
  • Posted Aug 14, 2008 1:30 pm PT

Blizzard Entertainment knew that demand would be great for this year's BlizzCon, the developer's annual meet and greet in Anaheim, CA. As such, the developer expanded its presence at the Anaheim Convention Center from two halls to three. However, even that wasn't enough to satiate the demand of its...

Blizzard Entertainment knew that demand would be great for this year's BlizzCon, the developer's annual meet and greet in Anaheim, CA. As such, the developer expanded its presence at the Anaheim Convention Center from two halls to three. However, even that wasn't enough to satiate the demand of its nearly 11-million-strong fan base, and Blizzard said that tickets for the event had sold out within 24 hours of going on sale earlier this week, Web site snafus and all.

However, for those who were unable to wrest a pass for this year's BlizzCon from the overwhelmed ticket servers, hope has not yet faded. In a post to the developer's site today, Blizzard president Michael Morhaime apologized for the restricted guest list, and said that the company has managed to secure an additional 3,000 slots that will be sold by way of a lottery system.

"On behalf of everyone at Blizzard, I want to apologize for the challenges and frustrations you experienced while trying to purchase BlizzCon tickets on Monday and Tuesday," lamented Morhaime. "Due to these circumstances, we've reevaluated our convention hall space and come up with some solutions that will allow us to offer 3,000 more tickets for sale."

Morhaime noted that the lottery will be available only to those with an active Blizzard account as of 9:00 pm PDT on August 12, and promised that more details will be provided "once our plans are finalized." For those unable to secure tickets or unwilling to pony up the $100 entrance fee, DirectTV will offer a $39.95 package that will broadcast live from this year's BlizzCon, which runs from October 10 to 11.

31 Comments

  • Aasop63

    Posted Aug 27, 2008 12:53 pm PT

    I WON BLIZZCON TICKETS!!!!!! I WON BLIZZCON TICKETS SOOOOO STOKED, and now i dont have to shell out 700 dollars for two tickets off ebay WITHOUT goodybags, instead i get two tickets for two hundre dollars WITH goodybag......I know ur all jealous

  • akazergling2

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 8:25 am PT

    Jedikevin2, they've stated they are expecting wrath of the lich kind to be released Q4 of 2008. Don't believe they have released a date for SC2 or D3 yet, and don't trust gamestop/ebgames. Every time they give a "release date" that is not based in reality.

  • jedikevin2

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 8:12 am PT

    please give us some release dates on there next 2 top games or at least a approx quarter release time!!!!!

  • BigMoney1118

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 6:46 am PT

    @ Koal Jadian People support games like WoW because it is in a simple term... freaking awesome. As for the graphics and gameplay, the "bad quests" and "bad animations" has made Whirrled of Wawrcraft the best pc game since it came out. If people are killing to get into blizzcon i dont blame them, if i could id definetly go for the stuff like the murloc suit and the archangels. =P

  • brian_13un

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 11:00 pm PT

    I hope Blizzard gets the job done

  • brian_13un

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 11:00 pm PT

    I hope Blizzard gets the job done

  • Koal_Jadian

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 4:11 pm PT

    Kenji_Masamune,

    Ya that whining is why Blizzard is allowed to charge so friggin much for the most miniscule gameplay value of WoW. Bad graphics (9 years outdated), bad animations, bad quests. For a game where you are continually forced to pay to continue playing, you get sooooooooooo little. Why do people support that crap? move on

  • Koal_Jadian

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 4:08 pm PT

    "they make quality games from fans"... no they use fans to take money from the sheeple. No company needs $155 MILLION a month in revenue. If you think that money is for upgrades, updates and server additions and maintenance, you are confused. Look up the term 'profit margin'.

  • Bonemender

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 8:18 am PT

    i paid $40 for my last 3-day Gencon pass a few years ago. $100 seems a bit much. Does this thing compare to Gencon?

  • link631

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 4:01 am PT

    sweet

  • invis444

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 3:41 am PT

    Cool!

  • invis444

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 3:41 am PT

    Cool!

  • tomivav

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 11:00 am PT

    nice. can't wait for new diablo3 info from this year's blizzcon.

  • defjam33

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 8:16 am PT

    11 million peoply vying for 3000 tickets - you'll have better odds getting hit by lightning

  • LoserMike

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 8:00 am PT

    Dunno why anybody would buy the PPV. People are going to Blizzcon to meet other Blizzard freaks and play Starcraft 2. Seriously, that's the main reason to go, play starcraft 2 before anybody else does. Maybe Blizzard will surprise everybody with a playable Diablo 3. That'll be crazy!!!

  • M0nk3y11

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 6:32 am PT

    I've played blizzard games since Warcraft(original). I've never been disappointed in a single one, they support their products valiantly. They get alot of complaining from people who have no clue what it takes to support something with the worldwide magnitude of WoW - I throw all those complaints out the window, I think they do a very good job considering what it is they're working with. Plus think about it - the amount of money they'd be pulling in by selling blizzcon tickets and having a "pay per view" is a drop in the bucket compared to what they're making on WoW subscriptions - they're not in a panic "We need money situation" so I believe their reasoning is sound, whatever it may be. Plus - anyways - if you pay 39.95 to watch blizzcon you're at just as much fault as them for charging the money hahaha

  • N0-

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 4:37 am PT

    i hope it sucks

  • TheVinster

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 12:12 am PT

    You guys need to start basing your accusations of Blizzard off of WoW. Blizzard deserves money for all their hard work, and World of Warcraft should not define them as their reputation. They make quality games for fans.

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 8:13 pm PT

    Blizzard is becoming a hungry hungry hippo.. for money.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 7:59 pm PT

    That sounds like a rip off to me

  • earlthecannibal posted Aug 14, 2008 4:16 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    earlthecannibal

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 4:16 pm PT (hide)

    I wonder if the ticket graphics will stink as much as the games graphics do.

  • firesage423

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 3:38 pm PT

    i dont care about WoW anymore its all the same thing, go kill X amount of "insert monster/ humanois?".. or go collect x amount of "items" so get a quest go kill stuff come back and repeast 1000 times..

  • Kenji_Masamune

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 2:41 pm PT

    http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html;jsessionid=BCD0881CDA4EA42059635157958F3FDB.app05_06?topicId=8765585053&sid=1

    whinning of epic porportions

  • ZiGZ04

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 2:29 pm PT

    Why is this posted under the platform Macintosh? o.O
    also will gamespot be covering it?

  • kos1085

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 2:01 pm PT

    39.95 to watch it on tv. I would pay that if the WOW expansion download code came with it.

  • Sam_Fisher_932

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 2:00 pm PT

    DirectTV is # 1.

  • nweasel

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 1:59 pm PT

    Definately an interesting development. I wonder how many of these conventions, though, purposely undersell, either just in case of space in their venue, or just so that they can sell them at a later date. I also wonder how many go to the Press and such, because obviously they must be admitted as well. I'm impressed with how many tickets they're selling still!

    Sadly, I won't be making it, but, still, interesting story.

  • Destroyeron13

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 1:57 pm PT

    Cool

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