Australia’s growing popularity could see BlizzCon down under

More than 40,000 fans from around the world went to BlizzCon this year but only a handful were Aussies. It’s time for a change.

One of the world’s largest games conventions, BlizzCon, wrapped up in Los Angeles earlier this month with more than 40,000 people attending the hugely popular event.

The annual convention drew tens of thousands of avid gamers from across the world to the Anaheim Convention Centre to hear first hand announcements from major Blizzard gaming titles like World of Warcraft and Overwatch.

The annual BlizzCon event is traditionally held at Anaheim Convention Center in California. Picture: Joe Scarnici

Esporting teams from around the world compete for gaming glory each year. Team ABC (pictured) celebrates a victory in last year’s WOW final. Picture: Joe Scarnici

While Australians accounted for just a small number at the event, there are hopes that could change in the future.

Australia is home to a range of passionate Blizzard fans mainly in the multiplayer, online role-playing realm of World of Warcraft.

Card-combat game Hearthstone also has a strong fanbase down under.

Australia has even fielded a team in the first-person shooter Overwatch World Cup finals in the past two years.

Indeed, two characters within Overwatch — Junkrat and Roadhog — are Australian.

Incidentally, Junkrat’s weapon fires explosive cricket ball grenades.

Aussie character Junkrat. Picture: Overwatch Wiki

Aussie character Roadhog. Picture: Overwatch Wiki

WHAT’S HOLDING US BACK:

The major impediments to building Australia’s numbers at BlizzCon events is the availability of tickets, and the cost of getting there.

Scoring BlizzCon tickets are a rare achievement, with box offices selling out almost immediately after sales open.

Australian enthusiasts often describe obtaining a ticket as “zero dark thirty” with most fans missing out and settling down to watch the event via streaming services, through our distinctly average internet.

Ahh that'd be sweet, we'll see as it draws closer next year. :) I'd love to go myself but I live in Australia and the cost of going to Blizzcon would be extremely high.

— 🐻 Ziphora Werebear 🐻 | Pin Preorders closed (@ZiphoraWerebear) November 6, 2018

Hell yeah. As an Australian over in Blizzcon cheering the Aussie team whilst sculling a beer was just the best! 😆 pic.twitter.com/836sZ46j4R

— Mitchiijohn (@MitchiiJohn) November 6, 2018

But those who managed to secure a spot at this year’s US convention showed up in style, proving that Australia’s popularity in the gaming world is growing.

An Aussie army, similar to cricket clashes or tennis opens, formed and of course there where chants of “Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!” across the crowds.

In the Overwatch Arena, the chants were particularly loud during the Australian team’s quarter-final match against South Korea.

Australia competed at the Overwatch Arena for the second year in a row. Picture: Royce Wilson

While the virtual ticket allows you to see as much of the action as your internet connection can provide, it doesn’t capture the extraordinary atmosphere of the convention itself.

Fans from every corner of the world gather to support their esporting heroes and hear the latest updates before anyone else.

Aussie fans attending this year’s convention put their patriotism on display by bringing Australian flags and pinning up posters and photographs of the Australian team to their seats in the arena.

Australian paraphernalia at BlizzCon event Picture: Royce Wilson

But BlizzCon organisers know that the journey and associated costs with a ticket and flight to Los Angeles are far too high for average gaming enthusiasts.

BlizzCon executive producer Saralyn Smith said they were certainly open to doing something

in Australia in the future.

“Well, I don’t know if we’re talking five years or ten years or three years but we are interested in [doing more],” she said.

“There’s a big global community out there so how can we bring BlizzCon to more

of that?”

Ms Smith said they hadn’t ruled out moving the convention to another country or expanding the online reach of it.

“We want to be guided by what the communities are telling us,” she said.

“So yeah, maybe there’s a time when we’re in Sydney.”

Ms Smith said Australian gamers were a passionate and friendly bunch, with plenty of interest in Blizzard’s local e-sports events.

Saralyn Smith says the convention could move to another country in the future. Picture: Royce Wilson

Fans of Overwatch will also be pleased to read that developers haven’t ruled out another Australian map for the game, with lead writer Michael Chu and producer Nicole Gillett both describing the idea as “very cool”.

“That would be really fun, and I love Junkrat and Roadhog, I think they’re an underrated character duo,” Mr Chu said.

“Sometimes people focus in on the comedy, which is great, but I also think they’re pretty interesting heroes.”

Ms Gillett agreed, saying there was potential to see more from the duo.

“I think there’s a lot of desire to explore Junkrat and Road Hog’s whole story,” she said.

“You see them in a lot of our shorts, all around the world, doing their crazy things.”

Popular Overwatch character duo Junkrat and Roadhog originate from Australia. Picture: Blizzard

Royce Wilson attended BlizzCon as a guest of Blizzard.