by Magistrate - 8 years ago     show comments

Whether you’re a first time goer or a seasoned BlizzCon veteran, the wildly popular mecca of all things Blizzard swells with events, fans, and coverage every year. To stay ahead of the game, here’s six tips (and a bit extra) for anyone lucky enough to make the journey.

Also, don’t miss our prep list from last year–it has even more great tips on everything from travel to your own personal sanity.

Download the BlizzCon App

One of the easiest, most accessible ways to make your BlizzCon adventure simpler is to download the official BlizzCon app as soon as it’s available.

Update: The BlizzCon 2017 mobile app is now available for download!

In previous years, the app has been indispensable for a number of reasons, including allowing you to:

• Plan ahead: you can review BlizzCon events, sort them by franchise and stage, mark favorites for later review, add them to your calendar, and sync them automatically with the BlizzCon website.
• Pre-purchase Blizzard Gear Store items: you can review items from the store ahead of time, purchase them before the event starts, and pick them up any time Thursday through Sunday at the Gear shopping area.
• Map your day: you can view a huge, detailed BlizzCon map, with the ability to zoom in to find panels, spots to meet up with the gang, and plan your route.
• Stream panels anywhere: you can watch panels, esports, the main stage, and more from anywhere. If this year’s BlizzCon virtual ticket upgrade translates into the app (pretty much every panel, esport event, discussion, etc., is included this year), this translates into a lot of versatility.

The BlizzCon app isn’t available just yet, but it should be soon as we approach the event. And who knows–maybe they’ll add some more features this year. Keep an eye on the official BlizzCon site (ahem, and BlizzPro) for when it becomes available.

Bonus tip: Your app won’t do much if you don’t keep your phone charged. Make sure you charge your smart device overnight, use a case with a built-in extra battery, carry a portable charger, and don’t forget your charging cable. There are charging hubs in the event, but due to volume, they will likely be in heavy demand.

Leave Time for Crowds, Travel

When we say “mecca of all things Blizzard,” we’re really not kidding. Local hotels tend to fill up pretty quickly, and the event, itself, sells out in minutes, necessitating multiple ticket sales days.

Some things to keep in mind:

• Plan out how you’re getting to the convention center and your hotel before you get to the airport. No matter where you fly in, there will always be cabs, and they cost mucho dinero. You can always try finding an Uber/Lyft, splitting costs with friends on rides, or travelling with people you know from the area. If you don’t like making split second decisions, figure this all out ahead of time. (And don’t, like me, fly into San Fran instead of Orange County by accident when you have to be there in 2 hours. It’s a very, very long cab drive.)
• Get in line to secure your event badge as early as possible. There will be an enormous, unavoidable queue to do this, and pretty much everyone has to play this game. Last year, general attendees could pick up their badges by Hall E starting at 9:00 AM PST Thursday, 8:00 AM Friday, and 8:00 AM Saturday.
• Remember that your bag will be searched each time you enter the convention center. If you think you’ll be cutting it close to a specific event and you’re not in the building yet, consider only taking what you can in your pockets. Don’t worry–you’ll get bags for any goodies you may pick up during the show. (Alternatively, having a bag can make you everyone’s best friend in your group–just don’t lose it!)
• Plan smart if you want to play demos. One of the best parts about BlizzCon is a hands-on experience with the latest franchise content. Demo stations will be available along the front section of the first floor as you enter through the doors. Depending on the “newness” and popularity of a given game, you may be waiting for quite a while. If you want to attend a panel, competition, or discussion in person, don’t get in line for a demo shortly before it will begin.
• Arrive early to any popular reveals, panels, discussions, or competitions if you want seating or a good view. Many stages have seating, and that seating will fill up fast depending on what new or popular announcements are made. If you want to see the latest from the “Hearthstone – What’s Next” panel, show up a little early so you’re not on your feet for another 45 minutes. (Hint: you’ll be on your feet all day.)

In case you haven’t already noticed, the word of the day is “early.” Do everything early. Get your muffin in the hotel lobby early. Peg your best friend’s defenseless, sleeping body with the wax fruit from that decorative bowl on the coffee table early. Generally speaking, if you think ahead, you get ahead.

Bonus tip: Your badge will include a BlizzCon goodie bag. If you don’t feel like carrying this around all day, consider dropping it off back at your hotel quick and then returning to the convention center.

Hit the Gear Store ASAP

If you want keepsakes besides the BlizzCon 2017 goodie bag, you’ll want to head to the Blizzard Gear Store area in Hall E. There’s tons of unique collectibles, wearables, and whatever-ables available this year that will only be available through BlizzCon, and at a ridiculously marked up price on Amazon five years from now. The cool stuff will sell out fast–you will be in competition with some of the most dedicated, passionate Blizzard fans on the globe.

Of course, you can pre-purchase stuff from the Blizzard Gear Store ahead of time on the official site or, when it becomes available through the BlizzCon app (assuming it works like previous years).

Don’t forget: Blizzard Gear isn’t the only merchandise that will be available. J!nx, Razer, Nvidia, and many others will all have little pavilions throughout the floors that may sell items. Don’t see something you like? Don’t spend your hard-earned money until you’ve taken a gander.

Find Space to Breathe

The energy, crowd density, and mix of franchise music and video reel audio is a rare experience. Your ears will buzz with event announcers’ energetic coverage and the fevered crescendo of crowds at the mention of game updates and esports competition progress. You will rarely find a place to sit that isn’t the floor, and day one will leave you like a sardine in a can. And that’s not even to mention the numerous, huge hosted parties going on all down the drag.

It can be stressful.

• Find space and time to relax and zen out for several minutes here and there. This can be a currently unused staging area, a bathroom, the entry foyer, or a lesser populated exhibition area.
• If there’s nothing going on you’re interested in, you can always leave and return later. You can always leave the convention hall for a bit and return later if you want something more fulfilling than vendor concessions for lunch or dinner. Also, you can always stream panels and esports from your phone using the app, or following the excitement from any of a wealth of fansites.

Respect Yourself and Others

To many, BlizzCon is about more than just cool games–it’s about the connections we make. You might meet new friends, in-game players, cosplayers, and any number of other amazing people, in or outside of the convention.

Remember that everyone is entitled to respect, decency, and kindness, including you. Be good to others and yourself!

• If you want a picture of a cosplayer, ask first. Not only will this show that you have respect for what an awesome job they did, it will also give them a chance to give you a nice pose. If you’re going to post it online, consider getting their contact information so you can credit them.
• Give everyone space if you can. We might like to beat testing dummies in Shattrath, but other people are not dummies. Some are even parents that bring their children. If you’re waiting in line or standing in a crowd, try not to jostle or touch other people you don’t know and without their invitation.
• Show restaurants, fast food joints, cab drivers, and locals respect. BlizzCon attendees are coming together in a unique way, in a unique space, for a specific purpose–to celebrate games and the experiences and people they bring together. Show the larger world that we’re an inviting, fun-loving bunch. Don’t leave your hotel a mess when you check out, and don’t shoot a hundred straw wrappers across the table at Ihop. You are a reflection of gaming culture and all of your friends.
• If you drink, drink safely. There’s going to be a lot of drinking, probably, and it’s also pretty embedded in many cultures that drinking and celebrating go hand-in-hand. If you’re out at a bar or a big party, go for that buzz, but don’t let it become an excuse to lose control and common sense.
• Stay up and have fun, but make sure you sleep, eat, and keep yourself clean. You may get through 14 hours of raiding in one sitting with a pee jar okay by yourself, but you will be on your feet a lot, and probably not eating the healthiest food most of the day. Make sure you get a few hours of sleep minimum, and be sure to regularly wash your hands, or you might end up with something less than comfortable in your system on your return flight.

Bonus points: If you see a friend or stranger in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation, do something. If you feel comfortable, intercede and give an opportunity for them to slip away, or contact an authority figure.