Description

In addition to looking at the lighter and weirder side of the game industry, System Update provides the latest information on weekly console updates, DLC, game-specific updates, and other game-industry flotsam and jetsam.

Previous Entries

Latest News

Paris getting hit by Blizzard Invitational '08

For most developers, hosting a convention dedicated solely to the company's wares would be considered audacious at best. Of course, when that developer is Blizzard Entertainment, and every game touched turns to gold--irrespective of how long that alchemical process takes--one massive event per region is hardly enough.

With BlizzCon and the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational occupying North America and Asian markets respectively last year, the Irvine, California-based superdeveloper is pitching camp in Europe for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational convention and tournament. The first-of-its-kind Blizzard event for Europe is slated to run June 28-29 at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre in Paris, France. Tickets are priced at €70 (about $110), and go on sale Thursday, March 20 on the developer's official Web site for the event.

In addition to invite-only tournaments in which professional gamers will vie for $100,000, the 2008 Blizzard Worldwide Invitational will host a number of casual tournaments, cosplay contests, live musical performances, and developer meet and greets. Attendees will also receive a swag bag that contains an exclusive WOW in-game pet as well as "a beta key for an upcoming Blizzard Entertainment game."

At last year's events, Blizzard's devout were first enraptured by the long-awaited reveal of Starcraft II in Seoul and then sent into a bona fide tizzy on the debut of World of Warcraft's next expansion--Wrath of the Lich King--in Anaheim. This year, speculation is rife over whether Blizzard will use the event to unveil its new, original massively multiplayer online game. There's also speculation, fueled by several job postings on the developer's Web site, that the next installment in the infernal Diablo franchise could debut.

35 Comments

  • SrTVBR

    Posted Jun 23, 2008 7:51 pm PT

    I'm waiting for this Blizzard Worldwide Invitational 2008 hoping the Diablo 3 announcement.

  • LaniReaper

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 3:47 am PT

    Oh snap, Paris isn't that far from me. I could drive there. I'll be there.

  • mimashator

    Posted Mar 20, 2008 9:38 am PT

    well the actual price for us who are in US is over 1100..... i am no that nutzz to pay that much... just to get hands on SC2

  • dead_god86

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 10:50 pm PT

    i hope they announce what the new MMO is going to be, i've heard it's going to be original, not of the starcraft, warcraft, or diablo universe, but i've also heard rumours of a diablo 3 to be release, and i can't see a diabloe MMO being called diablo 3.

    oh well i guess we will have to wait and see

    oh and HARVERSTBUDDY, paris isn't really that far...if you live in paris

  • invinciblesuman

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 6:00 pm PT

    Its like "One Night in Paris ".... which is also the name of a .... Ok Censored ! []

  • Thrawn118

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 11:58 am PT

    Grantelicious, assuming youre from the UK, its a lot easier for you to get to Paris than us Americans. its just a few hours by train for you guys, we have a 6+ hour or so flight, which costs a hell of a lot more than a train ticket

  • roxythethegreat

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 8:12 am PT

    if i had the money to go to france i would efinitley buy a ticket so im glad i read about it, becuz i deffinitley wouldnt look on a UK site

  • marriage0

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 7:41 am PT

    lol stormwalkerx:
    i would pay to see someone punch paris hilton! epsecially people from blizzard!
    as for the event, im so bummed that i cant go...hopefully they will do one in england some time so i acftually have a chance of being able to get to one of their events

  • stormwalkerx

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 7:06 am PT

    Lol i thought it was about Paris Hilton

  • dannyodwyer

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 5:25 am PT

    Gettin tix 2nite

  • Grantelicious

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 4:55 am PT

    Just go Paris and stop being cheap arses, Paris is beautiful and you American's need to go out and see the world outside generic America.

  • Calverz

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 4:21 am PT

    No more Wow boring. Diablo III please

  • NuZZ01

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 3:59 am PT

    The beta key is for Starcraft 2.

  • Peaches1347 posted Mar 19, 2008 3:59 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Peaches1347

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 3:59 am PT (hide)

    bleach is also been translated into an english version tht can viewed in north america. this is a north american website tht is why i asked the question of why it is posted on here and not the UK website it seems to me tht website is a complete waste if they report european.

  • Oloryn

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 3:43 am PT

    Well...suffice to say that theres no way I can make it, seeing as I'm in the States, but I think its cool that Blizzard shows their fans support all over the world.

  • darkfox101

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 3:41 am PT

    I thought they meant paris hilton LOL

  • Lumenadducere

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 3:21 am PT

    Dang, wish I could go, if only for the beta key. I'm curious as to what the new MMO is going to be - I've got the sneaking suspicion that it's Diablo 3, but that almost seems too predictable. Too bad a ticket to Paris is so freaking expensive.

  • ntropie

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 1:51 am PT

    My first thought was Paris Hilton too. ;-)

  • Beesond

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 12:52 am PT

    OH MAN! I hope its the next MMO, then i will definitely be getting a new computer this summer

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 11:31 pm PT

    More Starcraft II will please me.

  • Da_Bacon_master

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 10:21 pm PT

    awesome i guess happens on my Bday

  • Feibie

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 10:10 pm PT

    what O_O ??

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:54 pm PT

    Hmm i wonder if that beta key is for the exp pack or for SC2 .... either way you could probably pay for your trip going there by just hawking your beta key on ebay .... seems to be the popular thing to do these days ...

  • NinjaHunter

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:19 pm PT

    It's about time someone hit her!.....OH, you mean Paris, FRANCE.....

  • dead_god86

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 8:51 pm PT

    it's on all of them lol, i'm looking at Australia's GS site

  • SHACKR

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 8:36 pm PT

    oh

  • uklegendkiller

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 8:17 pm PT

    Sounds like great news. Hopefully we'll get some news on new projects and current ones as well.

  • plaestic

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 7:57 pm PT

    Hey cool. Hope they have info on a new game and not just some news/updates on projects we already know to be in development.

  • Strike_Zer0

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 7:50 pm PT

    Sounds like it'll be pretty cool. I like how they're trying to go to a different location, makes sense considering Blizzard games are so popular worldwide. Would be cool if we get an announcement of something new there.

  • hyrueprince11

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 7:23 pm PT

    I thought they were talking about paris hilton

  • Zetona

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 7:01 pm PT

    What I'd like to see is more info on Starcraft II and then the unveiling of some game that isn't an MMO (such as the return of Starcraft Ghost!).

  • Harvestbuddy

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 6:59 pm PT

    paris is so far...

  • denter21

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 6:24 pm PT

    Peaches1347, I'm from North America, and I was interested to read this. I could make a comment similar to yours about your display picture, seeing as Bleach is a Japanese franchise, however I'm not an idiot, so I won't.

  • Ninja-Hippo

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 5:54 pm PT

    You're saying that if it doesn't happen in America it isn't news?

  • Peaches1347 posted Mar 18, 2008 5:43 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Peaches1347

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 5:43 pm PT (hide)

    thts awesome for europeans but why is this on North America's gamespot again??

advertisement