Blizzcon is almost here and fans from around the world will be flocking to the Anaheim Convention Center in California on October 10th and 11th to see what the multi-billion dollar gaming company has in store for the future. Tickets to the event sold out almost as soon as they went on sale, and it’s no surprise, as Blizzard promises the annual fan favorite to be bigger and better than before. Still didn’t get your ticket? Don’t worry… you can catch most of the action from home.

This year Blizzcon will be available to watch on pay-per-view for DirecTV subscribers. The coverage will carry more than sixteen hours of high definition fun and excitement with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes looks at the Blizzard campus where all the magic is made, tournament and team coverage, and much more. You even get your very own Blizzcon mount just for ordering the event. Subscribers can order the package beginning September 28, 2008, and throughout the broadcast for $39.95.

So what is there to look forward to this year? Well for CGS fans, San Francisco OPTX’s own General Manager Kat Hunter will be one of three hosts providing you with live in-depth coverage of the event. She will be joined by Geoff Keighley of Spike’s Game Trailers TV and Becky “ACKTREZ” Young of the Girls Entertainment Network at the broadcast desk, while cameras roam the show floor looking for action.

Blizzcon Highlights Preview:

CGS' Kat Hunter will be one of the hosts on the DirecTV Blizzcon event.

Tournaments: There will be three tournaments this year, where teams will compete for the Blizzcon ‘08 championship titles and of course some sweet prizes. Old favorites such as Starcraft and Warcraft III will be featured for the competition alongside World of Warcraft PvP Arena. The team brackets were announced for the start of competition and can be viewed on the WoW site.

Contests: Numerous contests are being run for those in attendance as well as those who can’t make it to the event. The deadline for the 2008 Movie, Original Song, and Motivational Poster has come and gone, but the winners will be announced at the event. The /Silly (one-liner jokes), Dance, and Costume contests are still open for attendees, however participants must register before September 30. The Diorama picture contest remains open for submissions until October 3rd.

Panels: Other popular features of Blizzcon are the developer panel discussions. Game developers talk about up-and-coming game features, design, lore, and art. For the Diablo III series there will be expert panels on game design, class design, art, and lore; Starcraft II will have panels on game play, lore, and art; and World of Warcraft panelists will speak on class design, the future of PvP, upcoming dungeon/raid development, UIs, and Mods. There will also be panelists from Blizzard’s cinematic and sound crews to give some insight into the sights and sounds of the games. Be sure to check in on the discussions as developers have been known to drop some hints on things to come.

Entertainment: The cast of “The Guild,” an independent web sitcom that has earned some acclaim, will be appearing at the show to speak with attendees and answer questions. Comedian Patton Oswald will be on hand to make you laugh and Jay Mohr will be hosting the Blizzcon contests. Of course, no Blizzard event would be complete without the musical sensation, Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftan, giving a live rockin’ performance.

There will be plenty to see, do (and, of course, purchase) at Blizzcon, including exclusive merchandise available only at the event. The long awaited World of Warcraft expansion Wrath of the Lich King, (slated for release on November 13, 2008) will be prevalent at the con and shoppers can get their very own replica of Frostmourne. All attendees will also take home the famed Goody Bag, which usually includes some neat little things, especially the Blizzcon ‘08 Mount. (The mount is also available to DirecTV event viewers.)

If you were lucky enough to get a ticket, you should have a great time! Those who were not can still enjoy the events from the comfort of home. We can still enjoy CGS’ own Kat Hunter and remember that there is always Blizzcon ‘09 to look forward to! In the meantime, tune into the CGS Podcast for Blizzcon ‘08 updates and highlights. Huzzah!