Well, I am getting ready for the pilgrimage down to Anaheim for an iconic event in the life of someone such as myself, Blizzcon!  The last few years I’ve purchased the virtual ticket, but this year it became important to me to attempt to attend in person.  Thankfully, my good friend had fast enough fingers and internet connection to get into a reasonable spot in the queue and purchase us some tickets.

I feel very lucky to be able to attend in the first year we attempted to.  I know many people are not able to get tickets so I promise to enjoy the hell out of my time there and charish the opportunity.

Maybe it’s the finite number of tickets, maybe it’s the process of purchasing them, maybe it’s the mystique of the show combined with that of Blizzard, but Blizzcon is really the only convension that I feel an imperitive need to attend before my time is done.  I feel like I have a little gold box above my head, “Achievement unlocked; Face South for Auir and proceed to Cow Level.”

Getting these tickets really is no small feat.  I’m sure others have gone to much greater measures, but it didn’t seem easy on our end.

Aside from me and my friend who are going to the show, we had three additional people who are not going, but were willing to attempt to get into the queue and purchase us tickets.  We were all online hitting f5 on the ticket page with mouse pointers hovering ready to grab the tickets.  In this moment milliseconds feel like hours, but quickly we were all in the queue.  The first day, I thought I had a shot.  I was approximately 4000 in the queue and I waited until the bitter end.  I was in the best position to make it on that first day.  I made it to 100 in the queue with 15% of the inventory still in stock, but I was complately surprised to see that 15% suddenly go to 0% and my first chance evaporate.

The second opportunity was much the same, but I was not in as good a position as my friend who was approximately 2000 in the queue and was well within the inventory limits of that second and final sell through of the tickets.  Although it seemed like a sure thing, I held my breathe waiting for periodic updates on the progress as he got closer and closer to the front of the line.  I didn’t want to beleive we had made it until the purchase was complete.

Once that text came through confirming the purchase I jumped out of my chair and hips swiveling, danced the dance of Blizzcon.  Similar to a touchdown dance, but more nerdy.

Although Blizzard has stated they will not discuss Titan, a disapointment to be sure, I cannot wait to hear all the other exciting news.  What is “Mists of Pandaria?”  Details on the Starcraft 2 units?  Play Diablo 3!  Purchase some awesome swag.  Maybe even get the courage to ask a question at a panel.

It’s expensive and difficult.  There are lots of important things in the world that perhaps deserve more attention.  But for this one weekend, I’ll be immersed at my temple of game.  Everything will still be on fire next week.

Follow my twitter and subscribe to me on youtube for all the stuff I’ll be putting up during the show.

Aten’s twitter http://www.twitter.com/atenthepreacher

Aten on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/atenthepreacher