What to do during tournaments you aren't in?

Zauron

I noticed some time slots there's nothing going on but gaming tournaments - no exhibition room open and no panels. For those of us not participating in these particular tournaments, is there anything else to do?

I recently went to a tournament in that same center (IVGF I think it was called) and everyone agreed it sucked because when it wasn't your turn to compete, there was nothing to do but stand around. That got old pretty quick, we are gamers after all, we like to play games! We thought the event would have been a LOT better if some systems had been set aside for free play to give us something to do when it's not our turn to compete.

So what I'm wondering is, will there still be some consoles and/or PC's set aside for free play during the tournaments? Because honestly, what I had hoped to do was some serious free play Smash Bros. gaming, something I really wanted out of that other event and never really got (only got to play the game 4 times for 16 hours over 2 days - most boring weekend EVER!)

Zig21

Unfortunately, the console tournies are just too big to allocate TV's for freeplay during the tournaments themselves, at least for most of the time. During later rounds, if there're less than 32 matches to be played, then I can set some TV's asside for freeplay.

It's an akward position, really. By avoiding scheduling conflicts between the tournies and other events, we don't force people to miss out on something because they have to play. But by doing so, people who are out early or wait a long time between matches have nothing to do.

B:L

Are there any Bring Your Own Console rooms or places, like at EVOLUTION 2004?

Zauron

Bummer..guess I'd better bring my GBA SP then eh?

During total free play there's going to be at least a couple Smash Bros. boxes right? 'Cause honestly other than trying to advertise my Minebot game the main reason I'm going is to play some Smash Bros. against people besides my friends.

Kroenen

Zauron wrote:

Bummer..guess I'd better bring my GBA SP then eh?

Yeah. Bring that, a few multiplayer games and your link cable and I'm sure there'd be people that wouldn't mind linking together and playing something.

Zig21

Steven-Technically, the console room IS the BYOC room. More like Evo2K3, when free play and tournies were in the same room.

I plan on allocating certain TV's to certain games during freeplay. Expect at least 4-5 for Smash, as it's the most popular game so far besides Halo.

WhitePanther

Darn right bring your GBA. As was posted in another forum, we need some quality Four Swords action. Some Advance Wars 2 might be good as well... anyone recommend other GBA games to pick up?

Also, don't forget, the Tabletop room is available, and they are sure to have enough tables for whatever needs to go on on the side, despite whatever event they have running at the time. Just join some pickup Magic: the Gathering, Poker, board games, whatever strikes your fancy.

You could also take time to... Oh, I don't know... eat? Seems the biggest gap you're describing is 6:00-8:00pm on Saturday. Sounds like a perfect time for a burger.

Zig21

6-8pm Saturday is the Black Arrow tourney, which isn't really being organized or run by me or anybody else on the console room staff. Odds are it'll be small, so I could just steal half the TV's during that block or something.

sPider817

WhitePanther wrote:

Darn right bring your GBA. As was posted in another forum, we need some quality Four Swords action. Some Advance Wars 2 might be good as well...

Damned skippy. I'm going to be guarding my GBA with my life, though. It's my only source of sanity on the plane ride up except for reading the last month worth of comic books I've been missing while saving for the trip. And Gabe and Tycho autographed it at the GameWorks appearance here in Texas.

As to things to do? Nap, eat, play gameboy, come see me and I'll draw you a sketch and give you a free copy of my comic book if I have any available (I'll be wearing a Team-Killing Smacktard Jersey with a big red logo for ih8u productions on the front), play magic, d&d, try and mack on hot gamer girls that don't have bfs, sit around discussing the minutia of video game culture. See, there's lots of crap to do.

QuizMaster

You could always use these times to get food/sleep. But if you're thinking of participating in the Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments, then you could ask people to play that (how much room do you need)? I hear that some people will be bringing Magic cards, so I'm probably going to end up walking around the place, looking for others and shouting "DUEL!" at them.

Fall

If you want some privacy or quiet time while playing consoles I suggest you check out Lanwerx which about 50 feet away from Maydenbauer Center. We've got a private console room with a massive projector screen and all consoles already hooked up and a reasonably comfy couch and booming speakers. Only $10.00 an hour for any number of people.

Zauron

Do you have GameCubes with Smash Bros. available there?

Fall

We only have one console room, so only one Gamecube. Still, it's a massive screen in a pretty well sound proofed room, so it won't be like your average Smash Brothers experience. We have Smash Brothers (among many other games for Gamecube, Xbox and PS2) and a bunch of controllers. You can also bring your own games and controllers if you'd like.

You can even use the room to watch DVDs if you'd like, the sound system is pretty good and the seating area could manage eight people comfortably.

Zig21

I HIGHLY recommend the console room. The sound system is just too good.

Zauron

Do you take credit cards?

Oh, and since you are from the same company, does the Lanwerx in Woodinville also have GameCube's and Smash Bros.? I thought I had looked when they first opened and it seemed to be XBox's only or something. Maybe I have faulty memory?

sPider817

Oh, and in the rare event that someone wants to play Munchkin, I have all the sets, including Munchkin Blender which I just picked up from work today. God, I love working in a comic shop's warehouse. Plus, the owner is super cool and sells my book in the stores, so we all win.

-spider
btw, I hate Munchkin Fu, so I might "accidentally" leave those cards out.

SmallLady

Oh my god!!!

I so wanna play Munchkin. I freaking love that game...


hmmm maybe I should bring my killer bunnies cards.... another AWSOME game...

Taramoor

I propose a tournament of one of the greatest non-Hoyle card games ever.

eelektrik

Its been a while since I played Guillotine, may have to refresh myeslf on the rules(not that they were hard or anything), but id gladly join in on any games going of that. I could bring my own copy of it as well.

sPider817

I really hope that the airport doesn't search my bag. I'm gonna have 6-7 different card games in my bag and they're gonna think I'm a bit weird. I've got all of the munchkin sets, including Munchkin Blender, a couple starters of the MegaMan CCG, Chez Geek, Knightmare Chess 2, a few old Magic decks, Lunch Money. Then on the higher tech side, I've got the GBA, Zelda, Advance Wars 2, a copy of MvC2 for PS2 if someone wants to go if freeplay's available. Might try and pick up a copy of Crazy Taxi. A tourney in that would be pretty sweet.

TrainwreckX

ummm, wtf?

Borfase

everyone just bring an SP and a copy of Four Swords or advance wars.

TrainwreckX

I'll bring an SP with Adavance Wars (the first one). Anyone got a cable?

QuizMaster

I got a four-player cable which I'll be using with my GBA and Bomberman Tournament.

Sigma_100

hell ill bring advanced wars 2, two game boys, and a link cable.