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?"

Starcraft Ghost

[jon1986]

How about playing Starcraft Ghost instead of cruising on a flying mount.

Con / Servers / Expansion

[ryane67]

They've lost so many customers to poor server stability that they know a con isnt going to bring any market share back. An expansion pack will... ...if they can increase their service stability in the mean time.

Neither.

[jmhewitt]

I'd rather play Starcraft 2.

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.

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??

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.