Not blogged lately, and the backlog of reviews I wrote weeks ago and put into the script to appear every 3rd day has expired. I think. It's not like I check this stuff.
My excuse, such as it is, is that I've been busy. And out of town.
The busy came from a new semi-girlfriend, and preparing to go out of town. The out of town had me in San Diego visiting the 'rents since Sunday. Now I'm up in Anaheim, in the Marriot next to the convention center, where Blizzcon gets underway tomorrow morning. I drove up here Wednesday night and stayed with an online friend, in preparation for Thursday's "fansite summit" at Blizzard HQ in Irvine. It was more than expected, but less than it might have been. I wrote a bit about it on
the diablo site, but my report is almost all about the short D3 demo we saw, rather than the visit itself. If you want some superficial and pointless writing on the visit,
here you go.
I was going to write some more about it tonight, but I took an hour to bang out a detailed report on the d3 demo this evening, and never had time to get back to write another report. After I posted the report I did some forum stuff, then endured long lines for Blizzcon badges, got back and took photos of the goodie bag, uploaded images, did some more comment moderation, and then we were off to dinner. Bliz Europe hosted about 10 fansite peoples for a huge dinner in the steakhouse off the lobby of the Marriot, and my god did we eat. Well, did I eat. Better, it was all free and no strings. I had a greyhound with tanqueray, and pepsi with grey goose, and a raspberry collins, before a good sized glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with my dinner, which was exquisite. I don't know what the total bill was, for 13 of us and all having the huge entree and at least 2 drinks, but I'm glad I wasn't paying it.
They even had 2 full boxes of additional goodie bags, and passed out a few. I didn't want one; the selection this year is dire, with only a few decent items, and a ton of pretty ads. We fansite peoples did get a nice framed and signed print of the Blizzcon 3-game artwork, which I'll value beyond price, at least until someone offers me some $ for it.
Tomorrow morning the show opens, supposedly at 9 for press into the press room, with the actual opening ceremony at 11:30. They're going to announce the new WoW expansion, and perhaps some new Diablo 3 stuff too. I came to the show fully believing that we'd see a new d3 char announced, but based on the body language and averted eyes of the Blizzard people I talked to this afternoon, I'm now thinking that's less likely. Much to my chagrin.
Best of all, this weekend, from my perspective, is my return to the Bay Area sunday evening. My semi-girlfriend (newly met, newly smitted by) was quite glad to invite me to stop by sunday evening on my way home from the airport, and if there's any better way to wrap up a busy travel week, and kick off a long week of work at home catching up on d3 website stuff, than by rolling around with her for a couple of hours on a padded, horizontal surface, I don't know what it might be.
Details to not follow.
And yes, I wrote this whoel thing sitting in bed, mostly with my eyes closed, as the 4-5 drinks I had tonight are just blitzing me. And I need to be up at 7am in time to get breakfast and talk media strategy with co-workers and get over to the show before the doors opena at 9am. Goodnight.
Labels: blizzcon, vacation
