Johanna Faries, president of Blizzard Entertainment, and Conan O’Brien nerded out over the world of gaming at SXSW on Tuesday. O’Brien, the iconic comedian, is a self-proclaimed “clueless gamer” who has been known to dabble (badly, by his own account) with World of Warcraft and Diablo. (Side note: O’Brien said he’d like to be “a demon, maybe a necromancer” in the next Diablo game.)
The two noted that SXSW’s inclusion of a gaming talk was overdue recognition of the importance of the industry, which is increasingly influencing even film and TV, as gaming IP is transformed for the screen. Their chat came a few days after Activision announced the return of BlizzCon, a celebration of all things Blizzard that usually includes things like big game announcements and a chance to create “a different kind of gathering well for gamers,” per Faries.
It’s the community aspect of gaming — the coming together of people around the world who can appreciate interactive storytelling and artistry in games — that O’Brien said he loves.
As a thank-you for his commitment to the gaming community, Faries gifted O’Brien onstage a giant gold Doom Hammer, a nod to WoW fans. O’Brien said he would cherish it, even as his wife will tell him “that is not going anywhere on the first floor.”
