Blizzcon is a semi-regular convention held by Blizzard Entertainment to celebrate their major franchises: Warcraft, Diablo & Starcraft.
This year's Blizzcon was on October 10 and 11, 2008 and once again held at the Anaheim Convention Center. It saw 15,000 gamers descend from 27 different countries to take part in two days of discussions, tournaments, and sneak peaks at upcoming releases. Several big announcements were scattered among a raft of new details about Diablo 3, Starcraft 2 and Wrath of the Lich King. The new information went a long way toward drumming up interest for what already appears to be worthy successors to old favorites.
Here is a very brief summary of what can be expected in Diablo 3.
In designing the Wizard, the delopers made a conscious decision to focus on what they call "high magic." They announced the Wizard was designed with a brash and ambitious personality in mind. For example, she would not choose the safe, easy, or common way to do things. It would have to be a more creative approach.
Also in Diablo 3, the developer's wanted everything more "visceral," to give it an exciting visual impact that would keep the player interested in watching everything that goes on. For example, the Wizard was designed as a "light show," with lightning, huge glowing tornadoes, and destructive beams of energy. Witchdoctors use more indirect magic. Instead of spraying fire, they'll summon a horde of bats, set them on fire, and funnel them at an enemy.
The developers (and marketing people) are also going out of their way to make multiplayer more appealing. Overall, it should be an exciting game that continues the path of improvements from one version to the next.
