Question regarding gaming journalists at PAX

HikariStarshine

So, I got asked by an indie game developer to distribute a few copies of their game to some of the gaming media folks at PAX, as I'm apparently the only member of the community associated with said game that is going to the con. The problem with that, which I didn't realize until after the CDs had actually been put in the mail for me, is that I don't actually pay much attention *to* the gaming media. At all.

Which leaves me in an awkward position, as I suddenly have these CDs I'm supposed to give out, and... well... I don't know who would be appropriate to give them to. So, here's my question. I'm working with a somewhat unusual puzzly dungeon-crawling game, but don't know who might be appropriate to give copies of the game to, that might be at PAX. Someone suggested I look for Brian Crecente, but... well, that's one person, and I've got a bit more than just one CD. Can anyone give me recommendations for who might be good to give some to?

SpawnOfCthulhu

Look for people with the special press pass.
I have no idea what they look like, but I DO know that there is a special color pass.

HikariStarshine

*nod* I figured there'd be an easy way to tell a journalist from a normal con-goer... but that wasn't exactly what I meant.

I'm not wanting to give my puzzly dungeon-crawler CDs to a gaming journalist who primarily goes for violent shooty games, y'know? I have a suspicion that a journalist like that wouldn't necessarily appreciate what I was giving them.

geoffhom

Well, can't you just ask them? "Are you interested in a puzzly dungeon-crawler, similar to Puzzle Quest(?), but more ____?" If it's similar to Puzzle Quest, you could hang out in the handheld area when the PQ is scheduled, and look for press there. Or you could wear a big sign saying something like, "Love Puzzle Quest and member of the Press? . . ."

If you have 100+ CDs, I'd think your problem would be finding enough Press to take your CD.

Sorry I can't help more. I don't keep up with the puzzle/RPG press either. But I think it comes down to how much leg work you want to do for your friends. Best of luck! (And I'm not press, but if it's web/Mac-compatible, I'll take a look. :-)

b0wser

Media badges are distinctly different from regular badges. In past years, Media badges have been yellow, while regular badges are red.

HikariStarshine

It's closer to 10 CDs, actually. Well... 9, given that one of them's going to be included in my 'loot the corpse' goodies for Assassins.

And it's utterly *un*-like Puzzle Quest.

And the CDs have installers for PC/Mac/Linux.

geeeeoffff

sounds like an interesting game.

normally i'd just say setup a booth and wait for the press to come to you. however, since you probably aren't interested in planning a booth for an event that happens in a few days how about this:

leech onto someone else's booth. figure out which company has a game that is in the same genre as the game you are giving out and see if they are cool with you hanging out there until you get rid of your swag.

this way, you only deal with journalists who are interested in your type of game.

rufo

I'm not 100% sure they're going (more like 80%), but if you can locate one of the 1UP guys who do the GFW Radio podcast (Jeff Greene, Shawn Elliott or Ryan Scott) I'd try and give a disc to one of them. They're already rather PC-friendly and tend to be interested in indie games, so chances are one of them would like it. 1UP is doing 1UP Yours live at PAX, so that might be a good place to catch one of them. The 1UP Yours crew (Garnett Lee/Shane Bettenhausen/Andrew "Skip" Pfhister) is mostly console centric and as such I wouldn't give it to one of them - although John Davison (who now works for whattheyplay.com but still makes regular appearances on 1UP Yours) might not be a bad person either.

Just keep in mind they (or any other journalist, for that matter) are there on business, and may be dealing with deadlines/fans/other indie developers trying to get their attention. Try to be polite and be respectful of their time, and you should be fine.

kropotkin

The key window of opportunity is 12pm Friday when the show opens to the media only. It's during these first 2 hours that PAX is occupied soley by exhibitors and media. Therefore I'd get the media queue, before they are going into PAX and hand them out there. Just a thought!

samred

Hey there,

12pm Friday is a BAD time to bug the press. They want those two hours to check out all of the.... sequels and big-budget stuff in the exhibition hall. They will ignore you at that time.

There is a PAX press room somewhere tucked away from the main melee of the show. If you try to go in, you will be assaulted by NERF guns (or an equally non-lethal deterrent). And typically, the "big" media outlets don't set up shop in that press room. However, lots of prominent blogs and sites will go in and out of that room during a given day, so it might be a good place to leave your pile of CDs outside of. Then media folks can just grab a CD without being harassed while they're trying to post 1,000 twitter updates. Just a thought.

I'll keep my eye out for the disc. You got a link to this game?

-SM
http://slog.thestranger.com/categories/games
http://www.seattlesavant.com