BlizzCon ’09 Panels Revealed, StarCraft 2 Represented Well

May 15th, 2009

The panels are one of the key reasons to visit BlizzCon this year. Every BlizzCon is filled to the brim with writers, artists, and programmers giving interesting discussions about their craft. It also gives fans the opportunity to engage the people who make their favourite games. If you still aren’t sold about BlizzCon, the panels should sway it.

StarCraft 2:

Gameplay – The creators of StarCraft II discuss the design process and evolving mechanics of the upcoming real-time-strategy sequel.

Lore – The writers who shape the ever-expanding StarCraft universe bring you up-to-date on the defining characters and events in the interstellar struggle between the Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg.

Art – Join Blizzard Entertainment artists for a discussion about the distinctive art style of the StarCraft universe — and how that style continues to evolve with the development of StarCraft II.

Diablo 3:

Heroes & Monsters – The hero you play and the monsters you slay take center stage in any Diablo game. Join us for a look at the design process that brings these characters and creatures to life, as well as the mechanics involved in creating epic and memorable battles.

Lore – Sit down with our lore masters as they delve into the past, present, and future of the Diablo universe. We’ll recap the story thus far, provide new information on the tale Diablo III will tell, and grant some insight into what’s in store for Sanctuary.

Art – From designing characters to creating concept art to placing the building blocks that form the world: Our artists take players on a behind-the-scenes tour of Sanctuary.

World of WarCraft:

Class Discussion – Always a crowd favorite, the class-discussion panel gives insight into the intricate workings of class design and balance, from conception to continuing development. If you’re passionate about the class you play, this is the panel for you.

PvP – The crowd thunders, the timer starts, and the battle-hardened combatants take their positions. But this isn’t an Arena match — it’s the World of Warcraft PvP panel! Join our designers and your fellow players for a lively discussion of competitive play and our PvP battle plan.

Dungeons and Raids – Not to be outdone, the biggest and baddest enemies in Azeroth have united to form a panel of their own. Learn how World of Warcraft’s most epic encounters are created and balanced from the game’s raid and dungeon designers.

UI and Mods – Find out more about the ongoing quest to make a simple yet highly customizable UI. Join the World of Warcraft UI designers and programmers as they explain their philosophy and offer a peek at future features that may be coming to an Interface Options menu near you.

Blizzard general:

Cinematics – Meet the artists, storytellers, and creators behind the high-quality cinematic sequences you see in all of Blizzard Entertainment’s games. Join them for a behind-the-scenes peek at the creative process.

Sound and Music – The right music can make Icecrown more chilling and Mar Sara more thrilling. Meet the composers and sound designers who help bring the StarCraft, Warcraft, and Diablo universes to life through the use of music and sound effects.

DVD/Video Production – Meet the creative team behind the in-game cut scenes, trailers, and Collector’s Edition DVDs for Blizzard Entertainment’s games. Share their insights into the art of storytelling through video, in-game assets, and editing techniques.