Platypus King here to just notify you... PAX South is less than a month away and it's time to start getting ready!
Normally this is where we would be posting all the information about where the BYOC room is, Seating Requests, the loading dock area and so much more, but details are still being finalized (so expect updates to show up in this thread!).
While other details are still to be flushed out one thing I would LOVE you guys to do is suggest some games to play in BYOC Tournaments. Last year we had a pretty great time and I'm always open to suggestions. This will allow people to get games while they are on sale this holiday season and polish their skills before meeting head to head come PAX. I will update a list below as games are suggested and approved!
In regards to to the Seating Requests for groups: Since we are still figuring out the map and where BYOC is going to end up, we are going to use last years map as a template of seat availability. Feel free to send requests and pick spots and if the map changes I will update it accordingly (keeping you with your group of course). Please be patient with this as we figure out all the details.
To request group seating, use the seating chart below to choose your seats and email
We've sent out pre-registration forms to anyone that sent in group seating reservations. It's a google form from the email address pax.south.byoc "at" gmail.com. Pre-registration basically just means we'll have all your info in the database already when you arrive on-site so check-in should go much faster for you. If anyone else is interested in pre-registration, please send us an email (pax.south.byoc "at" gmail.com) with a picture of your BYOC badge(s) attached, and we'll send you the form. Yes, this means in order to pre-register you must already have your BYOC badge(s) in-hand. To anyone picking them up at Will Call: we'll close the form at noon on Thursday, so if you're able to pick up your badge(s) from Will Call before then, and we're not too busy with setup to send you the form, there's still a chance you'll be able to pre-register.
Hello!
If you're getting this, that means you have purchased a BYOC spot at PAX South to bring your computer and play on our dedicated network alongside a couple hundred friends you haven't met yet. To help make sure your BYOC festivities go smoothly, we've put together a little information packet for you. If you ever have any questions, feel free to email us at pax_pc@paxsite.com or to help ensure others benefit from your question, post in our forums at
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/categories/pax-south.
--- PAX South Badge Registration ---
Your PAX South BYOC badges should already be mailed to you. If you do not have yours please contact registration@paxsite.com or pick them up at WILL CALL.
--- Getting There ---
The BYOC Room is located on the furthest North-West section of the building past the Expo Hall.
You will be allowed to enter the building early, at 8:00am on Friday ONLY, to begin checking in and getting seated. Entry on Saturday, and Sunday begin at 10:00am. If you are driving in, the best way to get in will be through the loading dock which will be open for BYOC Load-in from 8am-noon on Friday. The image below shows how to get there:
http://hw1.pa-cdn.com/pax/resources/south/BYOC Map.png
This is an active loading dock so we have to be strict, you'll only have about 5 minutes of unloading time before we'll need you to park your car.
If you haven't received your badge yet for whatever reason, you'll need to pick it up from Will Call at our Registration Desk in Main Lobby. You'll probably want to leave your computer in the car until you get the badge. If that's impossible for whatever reason, then just bring your rig to the load-in entrance and we'll try to prevent you from having to run around while carrying 50lbs of steel.
If you are walking in with your computer, use the Exhibitor/Media/Medical Pass entrance in front of the Main Lobby to avoid having to wait in a huge line with your rig.
--- Basic LAN Party Information ---
If you've never been to a LAN party, be sure to bring the following equipment:
- BYOC Pass
- Computer
- Monitor (Please no bigger than 27" LCD) and connecting cable
- Keyboard
- Mouse (we recommend wired, just to avoid any potential interference)
- Mouse pad
- Ethernet cable (25 feet should be sufficient)
- Power cables (but no extension cords or power strips. Maximum of two power connected devices)
- Headphones
- Games CDs/DVDs, Windows CD, and backups for other programs you may need to install/reinstall.
We suggest printing off this list checking each item as you pack it. If you end up forgetting something, talk to an Enforcer or BYOC Help Desk and we might be able to help out.
Please update/patch your games before coming to PAX. This includes updating Steam, Impulse, Origin, and such. You will have access to the Internet, but bandwidth is EXTREMELY limited!
Please be sure to enable virus protection on your computer before connecting it to our network. Any computers that are found with a virus will be immediately disconnected from the network until the matter is resolved. We would also like to remind everyone that there is absolutely NO personal network equipment allowed (Switches, routers, WiFi AP’s, etc).
***AGAIN, PATCH YOUR PC BEFORE YOU ARRIVE. WE CANNOT EXPRESS THIS ENOUGH***
The PAX SOUTH BYOC schedule is as follows:
Friday: 8:00am - 11:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 11:30pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
--- Tournament Schedule ---
Once available the PC Tournament Schedule can be found on the PAX South website here:
http://south.paxsite.com/schedule/category/pc-s?sfl=74# . Keep your eyes out for fun contests and events there but... these do not include the AMAZING BYOC exclusive events that we'll be peer pressuring you into. We all had a lot of fun with it last year and expect it to be even BETTER this year.
--- BYOC Contests ---
The BYOC staff will be running organized games throughout each day in the games on the list. Some of the activities will have signups ahead of time while others you can just jump in game and join us. Extended descriptions for each of the organized events will be posted on the PAX Forums. Scheduled times will be available on site starting at check-in.
--- Security Information ---
There's a lot more to do at PAX than just play PC games, and we want you to be able to go do all of these things secure in the knowledge that your computer and peripherals are safe and sound. To that end, we put a much higher emphasis on security than most other LAN parties. Before you enter the PAX BYOC area, you will have to quickly register your computer and any monitor you're bringing into the computer area. We've gone to great lengths to keep the security processes in check, and as such, please keep your BYOC badge as visible as possible when entering the room….it’s for your own protection.
While we will make every attempt to keep all equipment in the room safe, be aware that there is little we can do to prevent phones, tablets, portable game consoles, CD's, wads of cash, and other small items from walking off. We strongly suggest you keep such items out of plain view and use some common sense when it comes to your own security. If you're coming with a laptop, we also STRONGLY recommend you invest in a laptop lock. Seriously.
--- Voice Chat Information ---
We will have Discord servers available for tournaments and public gaming. While we will have the clients available on our file server, it is recommended that you download and install clients before hand.
--- Pre-registration: ---
We've sent out pre-registration forms to anyone that sent in group seating reservations. It's a google form from the email address pax.south.byoc "at" gmail.com. Pre-registration basically just means we'll have all your info in the database already when you arrive on-site so check-in should go much faster for you. If anyone else is interested in pre-registration, please send us an email (pax.south.byoc "at" gmail.com) with a picture of your BYOC badge(s) attached, and we'll send you the form. Yes, this means in order to pre-register you must already have your BYOC badge(s) in-hand. To anyone picking them up at Will Call: we'll close the form at noon on Thursday, so if you're able to pick up your badge(s) from Will Call before then, and we're not too busy with setup to send you the form, there's still a chance you'll be able to pre-register.
See you soon, everyone, and we hope you have a great time!
Posts
Want to be part of a rad PAX Lan Party? This is how you do that! BYOC is a dedicated LAN Party area in the PC section of PAX for you to bring your cool rig or your travel machine or just your gaming laptop and hang out and game with other attendees! The BYOC badge does not grant you entry to PAX itself, you need both BYOC and PAX general admission badges in order to participate!
Register here:
https://www.showclix.com/event/paxsouthbyoc2580997/listing
While BYOC does have its own security, it's still a good idea to lock things down when possible via the locks you suggested. If for no other reason than additional comfort in leaving your stuff behind.
BYOC is an area that only those with BYOC passes and the BYOC staff can enter, so it's certainly a more chill space than the rest of the convention. It's nice to be able to retreat back to your space that you know is yours for the con and sit down and play a game with other LAN folks.
For games, usually whatever current popular multiplayer games people are playing are good installs. Civ6, PUBG, Overwatch, HotS, other mobas, any LAN-ready game that you like. Closer to the convention you should be able to get more info about what games the BYOC crew will encourage as well. PAX has had good partnerships in the past to set up local steam caches and the like to make multiplayer gaming as good as they can.
A good note though is that the network is optimized for gaming traffic specifically. There's a throttle and cap on non-game traffic, so don't expect to be able to do a lot of streaming or similar at your BYOC spot.
Can't believe this will be my fourth time.
-- Vroomfondel
Thanks for hosting us!
edit: Never mind, found the thread.
We definitely will be doing group registration! Follow the link to the Mega Thread in my previous comment. The email to contact is listed there!
Your request is in and on the map! See you in a month.
We are gonna give some more time for the larger groups to get their requests in before saving the seats for the smaller groups. I'll get the current smaller requests on the seating chart so everyone can see and larger groups can hopefully work around them
when will we know the final seating setup?
Thursday (1/11): 9AM – 6PM
Friday (1/12): 8AM – 7PM
Saturday (1/13): 8AM – 7PM
Sunday (1/14): 8AM – 5PM
These, of course, are subject to change.
Did you get your group request in?! If not let me know and we can get that all set up for you for seating arrangements.
Where are these servers?
Hope everyone had a great time and feel free again to message me if you want to play games or anything!