Blizzcon! What else would they be announcing? They'll do D3 at Blizzcon!

May 18, 2007 - Editor's note: I'm writing this from a wireless connection on Blizzard' WWI show floor. Their opening ceremony is set to start any minute now. As the ceremony continues there'll be fragmented updates below. Expect more details throughout the presentation unless this wireless connection screws up. Also, expect typos. All timestamps are local time in Seoul, South Korea.

3:09 - controlling protoss zealots - still has psi blades and personal shield - new charge ability that let him quickly close range on enemies. Siege tanks shown - still the same type of behavior where they can lock down - take out zealots really quickly - new protoss unit - called immortals - have special shield that only activates upon being powerfully attacked - siege tanks could barely do any damage to them.

3:07 - Showing gameplay footage - Looks like protoss ships - floating over asteroid/ base structure - entering protoss ase - similar looking buildings - vespene gas still in the game - character pane shows up on right side - some protoss guy - shifts to terran bases floating on rockets over same type of territory - sill collecting crystals as resources - marines load out. Dustin is actually playing the game - nothing in the game is final.

3:05 - Morheim says everyone eager to see actual game - going to show actual gameplay - bringing up SC2 lead designer. Dustin Browder.

3:00 - FMV sequence in a spaceship - looks Terran - zooming in on a metal door - door opening - reveals a guy with a cigar in chains - prisoner - door shuts behind him - there's so much bass the room is shaking - guy steps into some kind of metallic devicce - legs are strapped in - guy rising toward ceiling - Korean text on screen got people very excited - another part of the machine is dropping metal arms on him - machine whirring - applying armor to his torso - extremly detailed visuals here - now guy is strapping on gloves - armor is molding together - seems like a Terran marine - rockets turn on - zerg now onscreen - Marine delivers a line - StarCraft 2 officially announced.

2:57 - Showing another movie, presumably of game footage.

2:56 - Video over - Morhaime about to make announcement.

2:55 - Now showing WoW footage - more cheers from crowd.

2:52 - Showing WC3 footage. When they showed Diablo footage the Deckard Cain "stay a while an listen" line got a cheer from the crowd.

2:51 - About to show a video now of previous Blizzard titles and WWI's from years past. Morhaime still rambling on with politically correct thanks to the gaming community. Here goes the video for past Blizzard stuff. Nothing exciting yet.

2:50 - Talking about how this is the largest WWI they've had yet - there'll be WoW tourneys as well.

2:49 - Mike Morhaime takes stage to make announcement.

2:47 - Here we go, they're going to announce something.

2:45 - Now they're taking the oath saying they'll play for "for the races of each title" and their home country whom they're representing.

2:42 - The WC3 player pulls it together and delivers a solid address to the crowd, intoducing himself and saying he's glad to be here.

2:41 - Interviewing a WC3 player. Female MC and size of crowd is making him nervous. Another joke in Korean. Now the female MC is complimenting his smile, he's visibly squirming.

2:40 - One of the MCs just tried to explain the joke in English and failed.

2:38 - Now the WC 3 and StarCraft players are taking some sort of "oath." Apparently in the spirit of fair play during the WWI. This is all being said in Korean, but one of the players just made the whole crowd laugh.

2:37 - Shrill screams of adoration are erupting randomly from the stands at the back of the arena.

2:36 - Here come the WarCraft 3 guys. One guy from USA. They're announcing names as well as which race they play in competition.

2:35 - These guys are from all over the world, from Taiwan to Poland. Wearing some kind of hybrid NASCAR / track jackets with advertisements all over them.

2:34 - Now they're introducing the professional gamers who'll be participating in the StarCraft and WarCraft 3 tourneys. More fireworks. No fatalities.

2:31 - Mike Morhaim - president and cofounder of Blizzard introduced. Continuing to introduce people in attendance, they're just sitting in the crowd, though, not approaching the stage. Chris Metzen introduced.

2:30 - Ok, fireworks just went off. Nobody is dead...yet.

2:29 - He's continuing the trend of talking about why WWI is awesome.

2:27 - Jungwon Hahn, managing director of Blizzard's Korean office speaking now.

2:26 - Still blabbing about why WWI is awesome.

2:24 - Just showing crowd on screens, welcoming everyone to WWI - lots of screaming for musical guests to perform later on. Includes Ivy.

2:20 - MCs start presentation. Delivering lengthy speech in Korean - waiting for English translation.

2:19 - Starting. Video playing on screen showing blizzard logo.

2:18 - They appear to just be shaking hands, presentation hasn't started yet and another atrocious melody is on the speakers.

2:15 - Blizzard employees currently mounting the stage, lights come on, crowd starts applauding / cheering.

2:14 - Just made an annoucement saying "the program is being delayed a little." Announcer says it'll start shortly.

2:13 - Korean press in center of floor seating is yelling and doing the wave.

2:12 PM - Still hasn't started. Some video guy in front of me is actually dancing to the abominable jazz they're pumping in here. Now he's tapping his feet.

2:08 PM - Another horrible song starting. Large video banks behind announcement stage are displaying Blizzard's WWI logo. People with video cameras are running around everywhere. Gah, this music is bad, awful jazz sax.

2:06 PM - Guitar riffs still aggravatingly cheesy. Crowds continuing to fill seating. Ceremony has yet to start.

Update 2:02 PM - Announced presentation will begin shortly. Really cheesy guitar riffs playing over the speakers. The staduim seating is filling up, must be several thousand in attendance so far.

Update 1:59 PM - Announcing itinerary for the rest of the event over the next two days.

Update: We're inside an hour until Blizzard's opening ceremony, and we're camped in the front row waiting for the announcement. They've set up several large screens looping Burning Crusade videos while blasting Rammstein's "Du Hast" from giant banks of speakers. A number of pyrotechnic setups line the front of the stage, so this must be an interesting announcement indeed. Or, at least from the front row, a very hot one. Check the pics, we'll be back with more.