Who wants to come to PAX for FREE on BioWare's dime?

Evil Chris Priestly

Howdy everyone. I'm BioWare's Community Communication Coordinator "Evil" Chris Priestly.

Some of you may have met me last year when we showed off Mass Effect at the Microsoft booth or when I was scarfing down cheesecake at the Factory across the street.

BioWare is going to be returning to PAX this year and we are going to be bringing on lucky contest winner with us. And what is even cooler, we're going to be paying for the whole thing. Yep, we're going to be paying to fly the winner from any major center in North America to Seattle (and back again), we're paying your accommodation in the same hotel as us (no cheap cardboard box in the alley for you!), we're providing you with an 3 day pass badge, we're giving you a Sony DvD camcorder to keep track of your memories at PAX and we're even throwing in $500 clams to let you pick up some cool swag and cover your meals.

We're calling it the "Who wants to be BioWare's Minion" contest. We're even going to give you 3 t-shirts to wear at PAX saying "I am BioWare's minion". All you have to do to enter is film yourself saying why you should be BioWare's minion and send us the video.

If you want more details, the legal stuff and all, just click over here for our contest details: http://www.bioware.com/biozone/articles/2008_07_02_minion_contest/index.html

If you've got questions, post 'em here and I'll answer them. And, as PAX gets closer, I'll be back to talk about BioWare's involvement. Get those entries in fast as the deadline for entering is July 28.



:evil:

The_Reflection

yeah here my question, we all agree you should pick VThornheart, so can you just pick him and end the contest?

Lyanth

The_Reflection wrote: »

yeah here my question, we all agree you should pick VThornheart, so can you just pick him and end the contest?

Seconded!

Moe Fwacky

Yeah, do this

do it because he has the entire community's support on the matter.

edit: wait, can we all make videos on his behalf? that's got to be worth something

The_Reflection

video for support of VT staring to be written

mentok1982

VThornheart FTW!

Man this sounds like totally sweet gig. The camcorder and the Exhibitor badge are jaw droppingly awesome.
I would love to win but I already have all my stuff booked and VThornheart is the man that NEEDS to win this contest.

Anngaricus

Yes Yes!!! I'm sure he'll make the perfect Minon! :P

ElectricTurtle

For what it's worth, I am part of the 'give a free trip to VThornheart' consensus. If we can make videos on his behalf, I would be willing to help with that project. I know that my wife is very fond of him too since they both like classic consoles. He is such an active and valuable member and leader of the PAX community that anything reasonable that will allow him to overcome his present circumstances and come to PAX should be done.

Liger

VT Needs a trip to PAX! Choose him as your minion and he'll be so happy to be there, he won't let you down.

PLUS, there's an incentive in it for BioWare. Since it seems like everyone on this forum is pulling for VT, we all want to see him there, that if he makes it we will ALL want to visit him at the BioWare booth. We can spread the story of community love etc etc blah blah blah and get MORE people to check out your spot in the Expo hall. You'll be UNSTOPPABLE because your minion is so freakin' awesome!

Think about it.

Moe Fwacky

Yeah, you guys would be stupid not to pick him.

Also, you guys owe me a favor since I'm housing one of your own on Thursday night.

mentok1982

Moe Fwacky wrote: »

Yeah, you guys would be stupid not to pick him.

Also, you guys owe me a favor since I'm housing one of your own on Thursday night.

Oh snap! Moe is calling in his favor!

tr0tsky

VThornheart for Presi...I mean Minion!

Snickers

I agree with all the others above. Without VThornheart, hte Magical Mystery Tour would NEVER have happened. He is the backbone of that event! I believe PAX needs someone with his dedication to the community in attendance.

I don't youtube, or anything like that. Just never have done it, for whatever reason. But in this case, I would gladly contribute!

Also, and I'd have to propose this idea in the proper thread, the Button Exchange group MIGHT be willing to sport extra buttons in thanks for picking VThornheart! In fact, I'm going to go propose this right now.

JonnyNero

from the rules on bioware's site

You cannot record anyone but yourself in the video

*sadface*

so who's willing to edit video that VT creates for him then?

I will if no one else shows

The_Reflection

question, what sound better to convince them?

1) Please pick VT and i'll personally tell every person in my town to buy your products

or

2) Pick VT or i'll rip your heart out of your chest Kali-Ma style

tr0tsky

You can record yourself talking about VT though

JonnyNero

I'm pretty sure they mean to record your submission as to why you should be minion

tr0tsky

JonnyNero wrote: »

I'm pretty sure they mean to record your submission as to why you should be minion

"you can extol the virtues of Gabe & Tycho from Penny Arcade"

s/Gabe & Tycho/VThornheart

Moe Fwacky

But it doesn't say that, it says you have to record yourself. So record yourself telling them to pick VT.

The_Reflection

or record yourself threatening to pick VT

fear >>>> politeness

ElectricTurtle

Moe Fwacky wrote: »

But it doesn't say that, it says you have to record yourself. So record yourself telling them to pick VT.

Yes. I wonder if Bioware took any note of that wiki puzzle contest and how we hijacked it so hard that after we solved all the puzzles for him we deleted the thread so that it wouldn't help anybody else...

... and he still didn't win that one... but...

<ATHF>This time... will be different!

(... it's not different at all, is it Steve?! AHAHAHA!!!)

</ATHF>

mentok1982

For BioWare's edification here is VThornheart's post about not being able to go to PAX:

VThornheart wrote: »

Bah. =( It looks like the inevitable fact of me having to find another job is going to be an issue after all. I'll help out as much as I can with planning if people still want to do the Magical Mystery Tour, but I'm apparently going to have to pull a "cut and run" from PAX. =( My wife and I sat down yesterday to calculate how much money we'd have for a move with and without the PAX trip. We just won't be able to pull it off.... and after the week I've had at work, I don't think there's going to be a miracle come from behind victory for my company.

I'm sorry that I'm bailing on you guys... I'll still be on the forum, and I'll help to plan the itinerary and organize the trip if it'll help. I wish I could've gone, not just because of the tour or PAX itself but because there's so many people I've met in the forums here since I started posting regularly that I'd like to have met. Perhaps if circumstances find me in a better position next year, I'll be able to find myself at PAX.

=( I've got to go break the news to ElectricTurtle now. I was hoping to help volunteer to help out over there as well for the dinner. Bah... hopefully things are going to turn out better for my PAX plans next year. All I need is a stable job, a place to live, and some time off in August. Sadly, this August the first two seem too unlikely now for me to take the risk by going to PAX. =( Indeed, it is a festival of suck. =(

Anyways, I'll post some itinerary plans this weekend... I'm going to try and keep planning this as if I were going, so that hopefully it'll go smoothly. What we need, if anyone's up for it, is for someone to be willing to take over the actual "during event" festivities (and if you'd like to take over the itinerary planning and pre-organizing, you're welcome to it as well if it's the kind of thing you dig... but I'll be here in the forum at least, so I can help with that if you'd rather just to the actual event).

Anyways, I'll post again tomorrow with some preliminary plans... anyone who's up for the task, PM me or post here.

The "trip" he is talking about is the Magical Mystery Tour that he planned before he figured out that he could not afford go to PAX.

Here is a link to a thread that is all about us helping VThornheart enter (and hopefully win) another contest that would send him to PAX:

MasterHelios

VT FTW

mentok1982

Moe Fwacky wrote: »

But it doesn't say that, it says you have to record yourself. So record yourself telling them to pick VT.

I'll do it tonight and I'll get it up on the YouTubes.

Can we get a list going about why he should win the contest so I can use it in my video?

All I got is the info that I posted in 22nd post of this thread and the fact that every post in this thread is
about how VT should win.

JonnyNero

also, shouldn't all this stuff be directed to the community of bioware

I think this post was jsut to advertise...I don't think he's going to come back and look at everything. All this info should be going to Bioware's forum

tr0tsky

If you've got questions, post 'em here and I'll answer them.

I think he'll be back

Moe Fwacky

Evil Chris Priestly wrote: »

If you've got questions, post 'em here and I'll answer them.

edit: beat'd

Lyanth

Wait, has anyone contacted VT about this yet? I know when the last contest came up, he was notifyed pretty quick. As i'm sure he'll want to be a part of all of this, we should at least give him the option to enter first, right?

Evil Chris Priestly

Hey all.

I don't know Mssr Thornheart, but he certainly sounds like a good candidate. Definitely encourage him to enter. You "could" film yourself recording on his behalf, but we would have to disqualify it as we have to hear from the potential contest winner them self.

I do think it's great that you are all so self sacrificing and all, its just a legal thing we have to follow.

As I said, definitely alert the VT about it though.



:evil:

Ukali.Kula

Considering many if not all the forumers are already going.... VT is one of few here that needs it. So good luck to everyone and VT.

Godmeat

I don't know...I kind of need a Sony camcorder...

ElectricTurtle

mentok:

In addition to his work on the Tour, he's done other things in the past such as the Classic Console Night in his hotel room. He shows a willingness to help with things beyond the events he organizes, demonstrated by his interested in helping with the Pre-PAX Dinner. He has been one of the most active and helpful people in the PAX forum, trying to give those new to the event the proper context and background necessary to prepare for it.

Of those people who would have gone to PAX but for unfortunate circumstances, I can think of none more deserving.

jonxp

Whoa, I eighteenth the motion that it should be VT. We're supposed to have a drink together and talk about programming while our wives roll their eyes.

mentok1982

Evil Chris Priestly wrote: »

Hey all.

I don't know Mssr Thornheart, but he certainly sounds like a good candidate. Definitely encourage him to enter. You "could" film yourself recording on his behalf, but we would have to disqualify it as we have to hear from the potential contest winner them self.

I do think it's great that you are all so self sacrificing and all, its just a legal thing we have to follow.

As I said, definitely alert the VT about it though.



:evil:

Well even if it is disqualified, I am still going to send in a video. I think if many of us send in a video about him
it will still send a definite message to the BioWare judges.

ElectricTurtle wrote: »

mentok:

In addition to his work on the Tour, he's done other things in the past such as the Classic Console Night in his hotel room. He shows a willingness to help with things beyond the events he organizes, demonstrated by his interested in helping with the Pre-PAX Dinner. He has been one of the most active and helpful people in the PAX forum, trying to give those new to the event the proper context and background necessary to prepare for it.

Of those people who would have gone to PAX but for unfortunate circumstances, I can think of none more deserving.

Thanks man. That is exactly what I needed.

Snickers

I agree. I think it would be impossible to ignore that many people, all voting for the same person, and not themselves.

proXimity

Hmmm... VThornheart has not weighed in himself

ElectricTurtle

jonxp wrote: »

Whoa, I eighteenth the motion that it should be VT. We're supposed to have a drink together and talk about programming while our wives roll their eyes.

Offtopic: Wow that's almost exactly what I did during the Seattle Slashdot 10th Anniversary Party.

Mentok: Good luck and godspeed. I may join you simply because I felt guilty not being able to help with the puzzle contest.

ElectricTurtle

proXimity wrote: »

Hmmm... VThornheart has not weighed in himself

To be fair, it's expected for him not to be watching the PAX forum every hour especially since he currently believes attendance is out of his reach.

mentok1982

ElectricTurtle wrote: »

proXimity wrote: »

Hmmm... VThornheart has not weighed in himself

To be fair, it's expected for him not to be watching the PAX forum every hour especially since he currently believes attendance is out of his reach.

His posting habits seem to point toward the evenings on the weekdays.

Last night 10:01PM-10:26PM
Yesterday 12:12AM-3:22AM
7-07 10PM-3:33AM on 7-08

spydey

ElectricTurtle wrote: »

proXimity wrote: »

Hmmm... VThornheart has not weighed in himself

To be fair, it's expected for him not to be watching the PAX forum every hour especially since he currently believes attendance is out of his reach.

Very true. When I didn't think I could go this year I stayed out of the forum. Didn't need salt in the wound. Luckly, I scrapped the money together.

Houn

I 200th (or whatever we're on) the motion for VThornheart. Can we all record ourselves voting for him and add it to his video?