Blizzard is not only an extremely successful developer studio but also the dream workplace for all nerds. We know this because we were invited there ourselves and convinced ourselves of it!
“Embrace your inner Geek” can be read on the floor in the center of the “Blizzard Campus” in Irvine (California). However, these wise words were not hastily scribbled by a mischievous employee; rather, the saying is elegantly stamped in bronze in a large circle consisting of eight company principles that surround the statue of a giant orc. And the fact that the call to wholeheartedly be a true geek stands alongside typical corporate values like “Think globally” or “Commit to Quality” says a lot about the atmosphere at Blizzard.
Outwardly Flawed, Inwardly Amazing
However, the entire company building looks nothing like a creative forge full of geeks and nerds from the outside. The Blizzard Campus – which we and other invited guests were allowed to visit at Blizzard’s invitation – is located in the middle of the Californian business enclave Irvine and is housed behind guarded walls in a trio of typical office buildings.
Anyone who cannot relate to the name “Blizzard” might just suspect another IT company behind the facade of the campus, of which there are dozens in California. For there are no griffin statues guarding the gates, no turrets and towers rising from the facade, and the banner of the Horde does not proudly fly over the complex.
However, this changes quickly as soon as you pass the security and enter the lobby of the entrance area. For there, right behind the reception, stands none other than Grommash Hellscream, triumphantly overlooking the severed (and quite dissatisfied-looking) head of the Pit Lord Mannoroth. The trailer for Warlords of Draenor sends its regards.
The Dream of Every Nerd
After the meeting with Grommash, one highlight follows another. Right next to the grim orc chieftain stands his oversized axe Gorehowl (nearly 5 meters!). This is indeed the same axe that Blizzard used last year as a PR stunt for the launch of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, which they slammed into an innocent taxi in Times Square, New York.
Next to the axe, we immediately move into the in-house museum. Yes, you read that right, Blizzard actually maintains its own museum with its own curator who regularly rearranges and expands the many exhibits – including numerous awards and trophies that Blizzard has won so far.
The Cross with the Circle – “When it’s done!”
Next, we headed out to the center of the campus, where the already mentioned giant orc stands with the eight core values of the company. We heard a funny story here, as Blizzard had to airlift the orc in separate parts from a foundry in the Far East, and unfortunately, they first painstakingly assembled the orc and then wanted to embed the circle with the eight values into the ground.
However, a complete circle with several meters in diameter is not as easy to construct as the people at Blizzard thought back then, and to make matters worse, the plaques with the values did not always fit optimally into their designated places. And since Blizzard always places great value on quality, the poor orc and circle had to be taken down and rebuilt multiple times.
No Boring Workplace
From the center, we were then able to enter the venerable halls of the developer offices in the second building of the campus. There we passed a donated cosplay outfit of Valla from Diablo 3 to the company cafeteria. Here, hungry employees can get all sorts of dishes for a symbolic price of one dollar.
We continued towards the offices and encountered a large wall with the Blizzard logo on the way. Hundreds of employees had immortalized themselves there during the last big company party, with Art Director Samwise Didier stylishly depicted with a grim orc visage.
Next, we already entered the large open-plan offices, where we unfortunately were not allowed to take any photos. After all, they are actively working on games like Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Heroes of the Storm, and Blizzard is reluctant to see trade secrets exposed in photos.
By the way, if you think of endless rows of gray cubicles where unenthusiastic wage slaves engage in soulless office tasks when hearing the term “open-plan office,” you couldn’t be more wrong. Because even if Blizzard, of course, has the obligatory “cubicles,” the entire workspace is always themed in a specific way.
For example, one open-plan office has a “Zombie Apocalypse” theme. Hence, the walls are “decorated” with (artificial) blood splatters, and on a fire door is the unmistakable warning never to open it, as zombies would come in if you did. Therefore, in the kitchen, besides the obligatory espresso machine, there is also a locker with axes, machetes, and a chainsaw. And, of course, the offices and cubicles are filled with nerdy stuff like Nerf blasters, action figures, and cosplay props.
The Perfect Refuge from the Zombie Apocalypse
During the tour through the offices, we especially noticed the numerous real swords and shields hanging on the walls of some employees’ offices. This weapon – our guide explained – is not just for decoration. Rather, Blizzard awards employees with it. Anyone who works for the company for five years receives a real sword for their anniversary, and each year a new design is used so that connoisseurs can immediately recognize in which year a specific employee started.
The steel shield with the emblem of Lordaeron is available after 10 years, and anyone who has been there for fifteen years can adorn themselves with a noble ring. Veterans with 20 years of service receive the classy crown of the Lich King Arthas, and the upcoming anniversary celebrants, like company boss Mike Morhaime, who have already been there for 25 years, will soon be honored with a cool warhammer. “If a zombie apocalypse should break out here, you should take refuge with us. Because no company here has as many swords in stock,” advised us our tour guide at the end of the talk about the rewards.
The Blizzard University
After we passed through more offices and admired imposing statues of Illidan, Kerrigan, Tyrael, and Tracer, we went to the last of the three large buildings. There is the training center of the company where Blizzard trains its employees. It is indeed organized like a university and even has its own dean and a course catalog.
However, the highlight of the building lies behind a massive, iron-clad wooden door that creaks ominously when opened. For behind the portal lies a huge library full of games! From PC and console games to board games and pen & paper role-playing games, everything that the nerd heart desires can be found.
Another proof that at Blizzard one can fully be a geek without reservation. “I don’t have to hide that I’m an enthusiastic pen & paper role-player,” our guide says. “Rather, we have several lists hanging up and are constantly looking for new role-playing groups!“
Mein-MMO says:
The visit to Blizzard was thoroughly impressive, as the company seems to offer its employees a lot. But, of course, the company also expects a lot from its employees, and even though the offices are extremely nerdy and come across like the dream of every gamer, hard work is still done there.
The success of Blizzard, after all, does not come from everyone slacking off. But the fact that satisfied employees are likely to be more productive and, above all, more creative has probably been recognized and implemented at Blizzard for a long time. The ongoing success and high quality of Blizzard’s titles apparently confirm the concept.
