I am extremely pleased to announce that for the first time I will be attending Blizzcon 2014! Although I’ve been to other gaming conventions in the past, I never had the opportunity to check out Blizzcon. Only in recent years have I become more emotionally ingrained into the fabric of the gaming community, particularly with Diablo 3 and World of Warcraft. So for me to be able to attend one of these is definitely a major highlight in my life.
Last year, I did participate in the Blizzcon 2013 Virtual Ticket system but truthfully I felt that the experience fell very short of the price tag. The real thing I felt I was missing was not the games, nor being around Blizzard itself. It was being able to bond directly with other like-minded gamers. Through Twitch, YouTube and the games themselves, I’ve managed to make a few friends (or associates) that I have grown somewhat attached to and have been hoping to meet in person for a long time. The Virtual Ticket experience doesn’t really add much outside of providing you all the data of current Blizzard plans. But just like watching a concert video, it’s not the same.
So I made it a major goal this year to attend. Usually, I would save my money or vacation time for something like Japan. This time, I decided to stay here where I feel that I’ve missed a lot over the past decade. I think when I was in Japan for my 5 1/2 years, I lost a lot of time and became apathetic to what was going on around me and here in my home. Sure, Japan to a degree will always have a special place in my heart, but at the moment I simply do not have that level of passion.
My real passion is for games and the community. While I love Japan for the culture and lifestyle that I once had, I never really felt accepted and there was an odd distance between myself and the people and country there. Although I managed to emotionally and mentally manage that aspect, I really needed something to connect with. The gaming community offers some of my personality quirks that I don’t have to justify. So I want to give delving into that part of society a try.
I will say that it is sad that the convention last for so little time as I wish I would have more of an opportunity to really hang out and get to know some of these people I’ve encountered through streams and the games. It’s one of the few opportunities where you can bond through a common passion and then delve more into something since you’re right there with others. In talking with a few streamers, I feel there’s more than just games where I’m hoping I can increase my friendship. It’s really something else when you can meet someone in person so that you’re not just this digital, nearly voiceless icon that seems anonymous floating around on a screen.
Whether or not the games and announcements are good remain irrelevant to me. It will be the people that I think will make the experience potentially life changing for me. Who knows? Maybe something interesting will happen that I won’t expect in a very positive manner.