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Too hot, too crowded, too boring...

RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
edited August 2006 in PAX Archive
And personally, I want my money back. Showed up around 4pm on friday. Got in one round of DDR. Stood in about 5 lines that never moved forward. Well...the console freeplay line moved, but only because people would bail out before getting to the front of it. Left around 7:30 because $40 for that crap was just getting me angry. Hey, at least I can say I played to most expensive round of DDR in history.

So where do you go to get a refund if you aren't satisfied?

RandomDude on
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Posts

  • ToadTheMushroomToadTheMushroom Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    You turned up at 4pm, stayed for 3 hours and are complaining of having to queue up.

    Seriously man, get there earlier to avoid queing.

    Or if you are queing up, dont wait 10 minutes then join another one.

    ToadTheMushroom on
  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Got it...to have a better time, get there earlier so I can wait longer in less lines. Because lines shouldn't move, you should just wait in them longer. Eventully they have to move, right? But in the meantime, sit there with one thumb up my ass and one in my nose. Check. Spend my money so I can spend my time 'queing' it up. Word. Sounds like a great way to spend a weekend.

    To be honest, I've seen better planning out of local government around here.

    RandomDude on
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    There are never any lines in the Exhibitor's hall unless you want to play something that's uber popular, and even then you can just play something else until the lines die down. While you're waiting in line, of course, you can talk to the developers of the game, or of the other game that's one booth away. Not to mention all the panels and stuff, the lines for which never exceeded 10 minutes as far as I was concerned (except the PA panel but that's always packed).

    If all you wanted to do was play console games and DDR you probably could have gotten that without going to PAX. Seattle has a nice arcade in the University District if you're looking for shorter lines.

    TychoCelchuuu on
  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Actully, playing some consoles and DDR were about as far back on the list as possible. Being as that the only line I could get through is the DDR line, however, I felt like I had to get something for my $40. Went to go check out the Smash Bros. tournament, but it was kind of like being in a sauna up there. Only a little bit warmer and muggier then your average sauna.

    I appreciate your help trying to offer advice and alternatives and ideas for having a good time. But when I'm told that some rooms are so stuffed that it may be violating fire code, and the line to wait to be in that room is sixty minutes long and not moving...thanks but no thanks. Lesson learned for me. I'll just go to Alki or something.

    RandomDude on
  • dpkdpk Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    FWIW, the Exhibitor's hall TychoCelchuuu is talking about wasn't open on Friday. Nobody knows how crowded it'll be, or how the lines'll be there.

    Alki is going to be significantly warmer than PAX, also FWIW. Heh.

    dpk on
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  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Yeah, but it has a big puddle of water to jump in. Should help some. :D

    RandomDude on
  • kolekole Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    it is a three day event.

    also, the hall will be crowed at first, but there is so much going on today, it will thin out and sunday will be very open [just like last year]

    kole on
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  • GuekGuek Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    plan your time better

    enter a few tournaments. even if they do take forever to get off the ground, they're a load of fun, fire hazard or not.

    go to a few panel discussions

    hit the exhibitor hall

    if you really want to do console or pc freeplay, wait until the concert starts and then you'll have a 5 minute wait, max for like 3 hours to play whatever the hell you want.



    bring some friends

    Guek on
  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Thanks for the million dollar advice. Plan your time better, enter some tournaments, go to the hall, and check out some panels. Thanks for recaping what has been on the schedule for months. Bring some friends. Ooohh...ouch. That one hurt. Especially coming from one such as yourself, who I'm sure is the center of every social circle known to man.

    So, if I bring some friends, it will make the lines shorter, or the humidity lower, or bring the heat down inside the building? Got it, more people is the answer to what I'm bitching about. I mean, shoot...the best thing to do for long lines that don't move is add more people! When a room has more people then fire code allows, why not have a few more try and get in? Thanks but no thanks, guy. I'm good.

    I will sell my three day pass for five dollars to whoever wants it. But I feel like I will be ripping you off if you buy it for that much.

    RandomDude on
  • kolekole Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    ohhh, i get it now.

    try not to be such an asshole, might help. then again, one less negative person there is better for all of us.

    see ya!

    kole on
    _________________
    heavyness
    game artist/designer
    www.heavyness.com
  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Well, let me think here for a second. A dude tells me too...

    "Plan my time better."

    What else, oh yeah.

    "Bring some friends."

    Now how am I supposed to respond to that? Should I say, "gee thanks mister!! Thanks for trying to help out in such a productive way! I appreciate you telling me that I have poor time management and zero social skills!"

    Hell no, bitch. The one person that offered some constructive ideas got a thank you in response. Other then that, yeah, I'll be an asshole to anybody that offers some shit in response that defends that $40 line I stood in.

    Hey, maybe it's just not my thing and all you people (yes, I said you people) might be down with the Expo. That's all fine and cool, I'm glad you enjoy it. It just wasn't my thing, and I want to say something about it. The internet is useless if we can't bitch about what we don't like. And I didn't like the 2006 Penny Arcade Expo. And I want to voice my opinion about it where it will be heard the most. Here. So sue me, guy.

    Oooh...one less negative person is better. Way to be tottally zen about it. Good for you.

    RandomDude on
  • dpkdpk Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    ....

    dpk on
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  • DogDog Registered User, Administrator, Vanilla Staff admin
    edited August 2006
    Well, for one thing the lines died down a LOT after about 8:00. 3-7 was the most packed time.

    Also, perhaps you really weren't making the best use of your time. There were several open Guitar Hero stations for people to pick up and play, for example. The freeplay console area wasn't that bad of a wait, and you got 30+ minutes of uninterrupted play after waiting. You could easily join in on other people's stations in multiplayer games - people playing fighting games, puzzle games, and even Mario Kart were generally quite welcoming of strangers to grab a controller and join in for some different competition.

    You could also strike up a conversation. Everybody here is pretty much game-obsessed so I'm sure you could find SOMEONE who has interests like you. Probably someone within 20 feet of you at any given moment. Stand in a line and chat with people, go play games with them, etc.

    Also, bring a damn DS. Makes waiting in line so much easier, and you'll find tons of people to play with.

    Unknown User on
  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Yeah, my buddy and I decided that the DS was necessay. Oh well, lesson learned I suppose.

    Anybody need a three day pass?

    RandomDude on
  • DogDog Registered User, Administrator, Vanilla Staff admin
    edited August 2006
    RandomDude wrote:
    Yeah, my buddy and I decided that the DS was necessay. Oh well, lesson learned I suppose.

    Anybody need a three day pass?

    I PMed you if you're serious.

    Unknown User on
  • outlawoutlaw Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    kole wrote:
    ohhh, i get it now.

    try not to be such an asshole, might help. then again, one less negative person there is better for all of us.

    see ya!

    Actually I find that almost everyone on these boards are complete ass holes especially in the "Artists Corner"... and the dude who made the first response sounded really hostile... like most of the posts following. "Randomdude" was just trying to express his views and you guys just jump on it... like dogs... nice guys, real nice.

    outlaw on
  • StericaSterica Yes Registered User, Moderator mod
    edited August 2006
    Who would have realized that hostility generates hostility?

    Sterica on
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  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Seriously...when all I wanted to do was bitch and moan. :D

    RandomDude on
  • Xenocide GeekXenocide Geek Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    outlaw wrote:

    Actually I find that almost everyone on these boards are complete ass holes especially in the "Artists Corner"... and the dude who made the first response sounded really hostile... like most of the posts following. "Randomdude" was just trying to express his views and you guys just jump on it... like dogs... nice guys, real nice.

    Maybe he shouldn't whine about how much he disilked it in the official PAX forums. That's always a good idea.

    How can you not expect him to get jumped on? :p

    Xenocide Geek on
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  • outlawoutlaw Registered User regular
    edited August 2006

    Maybe he shouldn't whine about how much he disilked it in the official PAX forums. That's always a good idea.

    How can you not expect him to get jumped on? :p

    *Shakes Head*... wow... you must not have read what I just wrote....

    outlaw on
  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    First of all, I posted here because what better place to let my feelings be known. Or would you rather have me post on some message board that has nothing to do with what I'm writing about? Maybe if I dislike a product, like let's say...a Ford Mustang. Who am I supposed to bitch about it to...??? The Craftsman tool company? No, I'm going to the source.

    Posting on here has gotten a pretty good response so far, wouldn't you say? Maybe it was a good idea.

    Second...a few poorly written and badly thought out responses with a couple of pitiful attempts at insulting me hardly qualifies as being "jumped on." I've heard better insults in old saturday morning cartoons. I mean, c'mon, celebrity roasters ya'll ain't. What's next, insulting my spelling, grammar or typos? Or challenging me to a fight? Get real.

    Maybe instead of trying to change my view on it all, and telling me how to better 'manage my time,' you should accept the fact that someone didn't like your show. Oh no!!! He didn't like PAX? Gasp!!! Jesus, get your panties out of such a twist.

    And just so everybody knows...I was planning on going today to give it another chance. That was until I found out that the speed run showcase is just videos of speed runs. I was led to believe they would be live speed runs. Now, I will be the first to admit that if they were live, then I fucked up and should have gone. But it read in the schedule that it was just videos. Seriously. Hope everyone has fun.

    RandomDude on
  • Kato_ArabelKato_Arabel Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    RandomDude wrote:
    Got it...to have a better time, get there earlier so I can wait longer in less lines. Because lines shouldn't move, you should just wait in them longer. Eventully they have to move, right? But in the meantime, sit there with one thumb up my ass and one in my nose. Check. Spend my money so I can spend my time 'queing' it up. Word. Sounds like a great way to spend a weekend.

    To be honest, I've seen better planning out of local government around here.

    For your information, asshole, Gabe & Tycho haven't had the opportunity to move the event to a bigger venue for more working space, because the only other venue bigger than the 'bauer, is the Seattle Expo, and they so happen to have been already booked for this weekend before the literary duo could get to it.

    Next year, it'll have more space, more opportunities and less garbage. Plus, the wireless booth got assfucked because the sponsor that was supposed to show, never showed. This year was about on par with last year's, if not in sheer volume but in what it has offered. I think most people agree that PAX 06 was a bit jumbled, but they did their best to organize it on their third year.

    Cut them some slack, boy.

    Kato_Arabel on
  • outlawoutlaw Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    gah.... fan boy bitch, now i know why I left these boards.

    outlaw on
  • Kato_ArabelKato_Arabel Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Talking to me, boy? If so, you may want to shut it - it is simple logic that they would not have been able to manage it better than it is now, simply put. Penny Arcade is a commanding icon in pop culture now, and that's why this convention is fucking packed. So either be quiet and enjoy it, or get the hell out.

    Kato_Arabel on
  • outlawoutlaw Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Talking to me, boy? If so, you may want to shut it - it is simple logic that they would not have been able to manage it better than it is now, simply put. Penny Arcade is a commanding icon in pop culture now, and that's why this convention is fucking packed. So either be quiet and enjoy it, or get the hell out.

    hahaha.... "Talking to me boy?"... from the south are you?

    outlaw on
  • Kato_ArabelKato_Arabel Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Nah, just from across the Atlantic. I'm gonna go find something to do. My head hurts, though.

    Kato_Arabel on
  • outlawoutlaw Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Nah, just from across the Atlantic. I'm gonna go find something to do. My head hurts, though.

    k, I'll do the same... for the next 6 six or so weeks.

    outlaw on
  • Bionic MonkeyBionic Monkey Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2006
    Seriously man, get there earlier to avoid queing.

    Hahahahahahahah. Are you even here, man? There's fucking queing for the goddamn bathrooms. They should have cut off registration for this, and not allowed purchasing passes at the door. This is fucking ridiculous.

    Bionic Monkey on
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  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Yeah, the boy thing really needs to go. You're not tough. You aren't making anybody scurred of you. Give it up and live in the now.

    Let's see...Washington State Convention Center has quite a bit of room...over 100,000 square feet of meeting room space and 200,000 square foot of exhibitor space. Qwest Field Event Center has 165,000 square feet in the WEST HALL alone, and 90,000 in the East Hall alone. Tacoma Dome, Everett Event Center, why not even the Oregon Convention Center in Portland? There are plenty of other viable alternatives to packing people in like sardines.

    And guy..."be quiet and enjoy it." Are you for real? Way to fucking sell out and accept whatever they feed you. Who are you sucking off at that Expo, anyways?

    So what...now if somebody doesn't enjoy something that they spent their money on, oh well? Because Penny Arcade is some pop icon? Brittney Spears in a pop icon, so is Paris Hilton. But just because they do something does not mean I have to like and should be afraid to voice my opinion on it.

    Oooh...Mel Gibson is pretty iconic. He hates Jews. But oh well, since he is such a commanding icon, I either need to be quiet and enjoy it or shutup about it, right?

    Get out of here, you suck.

    RandomDude on
  • ThePimpImpThePimpImp Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    All that matters is that I'm having a good time, athough BYOC helps.

    Lots of shwag and stuff to do. My only complaint is letting poeple in after the advertised times, and the badly run SSBM tourney that I just bailed on because it started about 3 hours late.

    ThePimpImp on
  • Bionic MonkeyBionic Monkey Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2006

    Maybe he shouldn't whine about how much he disilked it in the official PAX forums. That's always a good idea.

    How can you not expect him to get jumped on? :p
    Gee, maybe he wants to make things better next year by offering his views on what the major problems were this year. Where would you suggest he vent then?

    Seriously people. This is fucking horrible compared to last year. Whoever was in charge of planning this thing really dropped the ball.

    Bionic Monkey on
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  • RandomDudeRandomDude Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    There's fucking queing for the goddamn bathrooms. They should have cut off registration for this, and not allowed purchasing passes at the door. This is fucking rediculous.

    There's an idea. Maybe if this iconic pop culture phenom quit thinking with their wallets, that would have happened. Yeah, you can sell 1,394,323,235 passes and get the money for them, but maybe someone should have thought that all those people would be trying to get inside. But hey, at least this 'commanding pop culture icon' got it's pocketbooks lined with your hard earned dollar.

    Honestly, I'm not trying to ruin anybodies fun. I love gaming and I hope everyone there is having a good time. But if you're there, and you're posting here...something is very wrong with that. You should be having your attention grabbed by some way better shit then my ramblings.

    RandomDude on
  • DogDog Registered User, Administrator, Vanilla Staff admin
    edited August 2006
    I'm in complete agreement with the OP. It seems like they planned the same event as last year. Last year was overcrowded, but this year is pretty much the same exact show with 2x the numbers. As a result, I grew sick of it quite rapidly. Everything's starting late. There's a 20 minute wait for EVERYTHING. They just didn't plan well. I didn't expect to pay for a 3 day pass and 2 nights in a hotel just so I could wait in long lines.

    Seriously, It is quite irritating, and that's why I'm chilling in my hotel instead of hanging out down there.

    For those of you enjoying yourselves, I'm happy for you. However, some of us do have some major criticism for the event. (and not unwarranted) Hopefully next year will be better.

    Unknown User on
  • Bionic MonkeyBionic Monkey Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2006
    I spent at least two to three hours just in lines yesterday, and that's not even including waiting for the doors to open. Today has been about an hour and a half, and I'm getting ready to head back so I can wait in line for another hour, just to get into the PA panel. If they start it 25 minutes late (like everything else this weekend) it'll be an hour and a half.

    Bionic Monkey on
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  • sPider817sPider817 Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2006
    I'm not even heading back up there for the concert. I'm just gonna chill in my room for a bit, play some WoW, possibly go down to the tabletop room for some Pink Godzilla or Dreamblade. I hear tell of a Turbine party in the tabletop room? booze? anyone know?

    sPider817 on
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  • SaniusSanius Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Sounds terrible. Did you ever get in with a group? I'm not going to pretend i'm at PAX or act like I know what it's like, but it sounds like you just went in there with no precautions and didn't plan to meet up with anyone you knew.

    I hope next year isn't like that. Chances are I will go, and I expect it to be even bigger.

    Sanius on
  • AstayonixAstayonix Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    sPider817 wrote:
    I'm not even heading back up there for the concert. I'm just gonna chill in my room for a bit, play some WoW, possibly go down to the tabletop room for some Pink Godzilla or Dreamblade. I hear tell of a Turbine party in the tabletop room? booze? anyone know?

    Yes, it is happening. Check the program for specifics. I went to it last year and it was a lot of fun. Get there early or you'll miss the foodness and free boozeness. I'll be there!

    Astayonix on
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  • BroloBrolo Broseidon Lord of the BroceanRegistered User regular
    edited August 2006
    RandomDude, if you do have serious concerns and/or input about PAX the best way to do it is to PM Robert Khoo, who is pretty much the liason between these boards and the actual Penny Arcade staff.

    That said, while he does read this board, he's probably too busy at the actual convention right now to actually do anything about it.

    Finally, the forums are a very, very different place than what you might expect. We're pretty much disowned by Jerry although Mike will make the occasional appearance on these boards - we're also not particularly friendly to new people, and getting into fights with forumers, even if you didn't start the fight, will likely get you jailed or banned.

    Brolo on
  • Black_HeartBlack_Heart Registered User regular
    edited August 2006
    Okay... some random idiot who has no idea what he is doing vs 100,000 people who probably do have some idea what PAX is, the events and that Penny Arcade is popular.

    Thank you for your worthless comments. Do not show up next year, do not read Penny Arcade, do not come back to this site. You will not be missed. Cry and moan more please, I find it enjoyable you wasted $40 on something other people seem to love and will most liekly be taking E3's place in subsequent years.

    Black_Heart on
  • DogDog Registered User, Administrator, Vanilla Staff admin
    edited August 2006
    Dude. Don't be an ass and call someone an idiot because he thinks PAX is disorganized, crowded, and unfun. It's not a compelling argument and makes you seem like a prick. We're not saying, "Man, only morons would have fun at PAX." We're saying that they're having major problems with PAX, that even Gabe and Tycho have addressed. ("Kiss these walls because we won't be back here next year.")

    Unknown User on
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