The folks at Blizzard Entertainment have a pretty basic structure when it comes to throwing a kick-ass community event: grab a big venue, announce new stuff, offer tons of panels, let people play said new stuff for the first time, have a renowned band close out the show with an electrifying performance, and rinse and repeat the following year. Sure, it sounds simple enough, but the amount of excitement that comes from a huge chunk of Blizzard fandom squeezing into the Anaheim Convention Center is truly a spectacle to witness.

With our Quest to BlizzCon nearing its end and the fun-filled Blizzard extravaganza only a few days away, it’s the peak time for pre-show excitement. Before you enter the energetic crowds of Blizzard die-hards that’ll be roaming the show floor, Dan Casey is here to fill you in on everything you need to know about BlizzCon. Buckle up, boys and girls, cause this one will be for the ages.

Have you ever made it out to this prestigious community event? If not, will you be attending BlizzCon this year? Let us know in the comments below.