Blizz Con

Blizz Con

"BlizzCon" is a convention held by Blizzard Entertainment to celebrate their major franchises: Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo. The first BlizzCon was held in October 2005 at the Anaheim Convention Center where it has been held since. The convention features game-related announcements, previews of upcoming games and content, Q&A sessions and panels, costume and other contests, and playable versions of various Blizzard games. The closing night has featured concerts by The Offspring, Tenacious D, Foo Fighters, Ozzy Osbourne, and Blizzard's in-house band, currently known as Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain (previously Level 10, 60, 70, 80 and "The Artists Formerly Known as Level 80" Elite Tauren Chieftain).

Attendees are presented with a "swag bag", containing various Blizzard-related items, including redeemable codes for in-game content and collectible figurines. For example, at the 2005 BlizzCon, there was a code that could be exchanged for an in-game pet from World of Warcraft, which was a baby Murloc named 'Murky'. As well, there have been passes to get in to the closed beta test of an upcoming Blizzard game - World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade from 2005, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King for 2007, StarCraft II for 2008, and Diablo III for 2010.

Tickets for the first three events were US$100 each for admission to both days of activities. For 2009 the price was raised to $125. For 2010, the price was raised to $150. For 2011, the price was raised to $175. All of the extras in the swag bag, concerts, panels, and contests are included in the price. Blizzard Entertainment has announced that there will be no Blizzcon 2012, and that the next one will be held in 2013.

The similar event is the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational and it can be held in other countries.

Read more about Blizz Con:  Past BlizzCon Editions, BlizzCon 2005, BlizzCon 2007, BlizzCon 2008, BlizzCon 2009, BlizzCon 2010, BlizzCon 2011, BlizzCon 2012, BlizzCon 2013