Bethesda.net announces the 21st annual QuakeCon will take place from August 4 through August 7 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. They outline some of the activities and perks, including the possibility of shirts invoking a separated at birth we first noted in 1998. Here's the plan:

Get Ready for QuakeCon 2016!

For many, QuakeCon is an annual tradition. For others, QuakeCon 2015 was their first time attending this fan-favorite convention. Whether you’re a long-time attendee or new to the QuakeCon experience, the four-day video game festival will be back in 2016 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, on August 4 through August 7 – so start making your plans!

Whether you come for the BYOC, tournaments, exclusive panels, or to play the latest games from Bethesda – or all the above – QuakeCon is packed with awesome activities for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

And it only gets better every year. QuakeCon 2015 was our biggest show yet! In an attendee exclusive, behind-closed-doors presentation, Todd Howard revealed a host of new details on Fallout 4. And many of the attendees were the first to play DOOM Multiplayer anywhere in the world outside of id Software!

Attendees also get to rub elbows with a number of our developers throughout the show. id Software’s studio director, Tim Willits, kicks off the show every year with the annual QuakeCon Welcome presentation, and stays all the way through the Saturday night finals party. He likes to be one of the first to set up his gaming rig in QuakeCon’s legendary BYOC – and he’s one of the last to leave.

“The event is a true “grassroots” organization; founded by only a group of fans and volunteers 20 years ago,” Willits reminisces. “The event is still supported by fans of id Software/Bethesda and largely staffed by volunteers today. The event has grown and matured over the last 20 years but what has always remained the same is the spirit of community gaming; people coming together to play their favorite games with friends and family. I have had the privilege of attending every QuakeCon, and what I enjoy the most is seeing all the great people that make this such a wonderful event year after year.”

Note: Even with a clean shave, you’ll still see Tim’s 1990s-George-Costanza-with-a-moustache mug on shirts and more. Sorry Tim, we couldn’t resist

The allure of QuakeCon goes far beyond playing games and seeing what's on the horizon. It's about the community and the friendships built through QuakeCon's volunteer program. That's definitely been the case for Eric Ochoa – better known by his handle cwizard. Including QuakeCon 2015, Ochoa has attended the event 18 times – dating all the way back to 1996. While there's been plenty of fun and games, his focus has shifted from gaming to helping to plan and execute the event as a member of the QuakeCon Director staff over the last seven years.

"What really makes QuakeCon special for me is the quality of my circle of friends that it has provided," Ochoa reveals. "I feel extremely lucky every year to be surrounded by so many great and talented people. To be a part of the volunteer team that makes the show run is an amazing experience that you can't replace."

QuakeCon 2016 is a little less than a year away, but it's not too early to get started on planning your experience. You can make reservations at the Hilton Anatole Hotel by calling 1-800-Hiltons (or 1-800-445-8667 FREE) or clicking here. A special room rate of $169 per night is available for QuakeCon attendees; just mention QuakeCon 2016 when calling to reserve your room!

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned to Bethesda.net, quakecon.org, and the official QuakeCon channels on Twitter and Facebook for new updates throughout the year.

We’ve listed just a few of the reasons Bethesda/id Software fans make their annual pilgrimage to QuakeCon. Need a few more? There’s also Master Pancake, huge tournaments, tabletop gaming workshops and contests, loud whooping noises, and the elusive party elevator. If you haven’t yet experienced any of these, well… we won’t spoil it for you, but they’re big reasons you’ll want to attend every year.