When faced with a choice of seeing Paris, with its beautiful coffee joints, Le Tour Eiffel, the breathtaking boulevards and the sumptuous museums, or going nearby to Versailles to attend the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational, what would you do? That's a question that can separate a gamer from a normal man. I would definitely go and see what Blizzard has to offer this year at its main public event. Reasons follow.

In the last few years, the Invitational and its sister project, BlizCon, have been the place for Blizzard to showcase its latest games and make at least one announcement that stunned the gaming world. Arguably the most anticipated game of 2008, Starcraft 2 has been announced at the last year BlizCon. And Blizzard won't disappoint this year, especially as this is the first such event that is held in Europe.

The Invitational gives you a chance to play up-to-date versions of two games that Blizzard plans to release later in the year. You can get some hours with Starcraft 2 and with World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. And a lot of e-sports events at the Invitational, centered naturally on the first Starcraft, but also on popular DotA mod for Warcraft III, offer the chance for any skilled player to pick up cash prizes.

The Invitational is the place for Blizzard fans to be. The costumes should be outrageous, with Elves and Trauren mixing it up with the Ghost look-alikes and the Raynor wannabes. And there's a closing night concert where you get to see World of Warcraft costumed people dance around in real life. Priceless.

Speaking of prices, one needs a ticket to get in at the Blizzard Worldwide International. They go on sale on Thursday and are priced at 70 euro. A small price to pay for a chance to get to know Blizzard up, close and personal on June 28 and 29. Tickets are available here.