Even though Blizzard really does not need to give any more incentive for gamers to buy tickets for the upcoming 2009 BlizzCon in Anaheim, California, Blizzard announced today that anyone who attends BlizzCon (or purchases the Pay-Per-View event through Direct TV) will be awarded with an exclusive Grunty the Murloc Marine in-game pet for the MMORPG World of Warcraft.

Grunty the Murloc Marine is, as his name suggests, a baby Murloc encased in the Terran Marine’s massive blue CMC Power Combat Suit. He is equipped with a rapid-fire C-14 Gauss rifle which he periodically fires into the air when idle. The Terran Marine is a unit from the Starcraft video game series that is also developed by Blizzard.

For the last several years, attendees of BlizzCon have been given special in-game items for World of Warcraft. Special mounts, pets, and costumes were some of the goodies given away. Grunty the Murloc Marine, however, represents yet another occasion that Blizzard has allowed its Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo universes to overlap.

The Collector’s Edition of the original World of Warcraft allowed gamers to obtain either a baby panda, a mini-Diablo (from Diablo) or a Zergling (from Starcraft). At BlizzCon 2008, attendees were given a mini-pet of the Archangel Tyrael from Diablo II.

Tickets for BlizzCon go on sale for the first time on May 16 for $125 through Blizzard’s website. In the likely event that the first batch of tickets sell out, a second round of ticket sales will commence on May 30. If you can not secure a ticket (or are unable to travel to California) Blizzard has partnered with Direct TV to provide a live, pay-per-view special of BlizzCon 2009 for $40. Subscribers to the event will be given a Grunty the Murloc Marine in-game pet as well.

BlizzCon 2009 will take place on August 21 and August 22.