My only complaint is the concert. I have no idea if anyone else mentioned this... there are a lot of posts.
I was in the middle front area (with the R2-D2 backpack) for the Saturday concert and I was so frustrated that the camera guy was running around back and forth. Friday night wasn't as bad because there wasn't as much action on stage.
What happened to the camera on the big mechanical arm? Why would you sacrifice the enjoyment of your attendees by having a camera guy step all over them just so your DVD can be entertaining? I was in the front because I am short and usually cannot see very well... but this was ironically ridiculous! I was there for Frontalot and that was the worst moment of the entire show for me. I couldn't get out of the way quickly enough to prevent getting stepped on.
There was a point where we were not allowed in that middle area, and I think it should have stayed that way. I was told to move forward after Freezepop, but afterwards I realized it would have been a lot better to leave that open floor area for the camera guy.
Please don't do it that way again! Please! At least use some kind of rail to separate the camera person from the crowd like most big shows do.
Hey All! I totally loved my first PAX. The Pre-Pax events rocked and the button trading was way fun. I was also very impressed by the Cookie Brigade's results. Since we're offering suggestions, though, I thought I'd throw my two cents in. :winky:
Lines: Total kudos to the tickets or cutoff idea. I was about 30 people away from the keynote and, though I wasn't too upset, it would have been nice to do something else with that time.
Concerts: I may be a minority, but after walking around Seattle all day, I was way tired by the time the concerts came. It would be cool if they started earlier. Plus, as a nerd music newbie, I really only wanted to see the main acts which played very last. I know it's hard for the small bands because people might leave if the big bands played first so maybe there's no way around this. It was just so late that I was nodding off towards the end during a very loud rock concert!
Pre-reg shirts: Cool idea! I would totally have taken the option to pay an extra $20 for a PAX shirt.
Pre-reg panel tickets: Wonderful idea! I wanted to attend several panels but didn't because I had already spent so much time in lines. This would help the PA guys gauge interest too.
Q&A: Enforcers might want to screen the questions ahead of time. Most were good but some were just personal sob stories and such. The second Q&A was cool but I heard the first one was full of "Remember last year at PAX.... that was awesome" sort of stuff.
Food: There are some AWESOME restaurants in Seattle and many are close to the convention. We definately used the map in the program and would encourage PAXers to do the same. Maybe a price estimate would encourage PAXers on a budget to try something new. I heard many worrying that if they strayed too far from fast food, they would go broke.
All in all, I had a wonderful time and want to thank everyone for making this my best vacation ever! 8-)
The only suggestion I'd like to make is concerning the main Q&As with Gabe and Tycho.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MODERATE THESE!!!
Just have an enforcer standing next to the mic where the line forms. Any question where someone wants to:
give something/get something signed/is canadian/wants to make a fool of themselves
should be turned away.
Honestly, this is probably the coolest part, and I'd say 2/3rds of the questions are not even questions or they're some weird plea for help/signing/gift.
I've been coming to PAX since '04 and it's only getting worse.
The only suggestion I'd like to make is concerning the main Q&As with Gabe and Tycho.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MODERATE THESE!!!
Just have an enforcer standing next to the mic where the line forms. Any question where someone wants to:
give something/get something signed/is canadian/wants to make a fool of themselves
should be turned away.
Honestly, this is probably the coolest part, and I'd say 2/3rds of the questions are not even questions or they're some weird plea for help/signing/gift.
I've been coming to PAX since '04 and it's only getting worse.
That is all.
Except then we would have missed the Broodax plush, the button case, and the Bad Horsing.
jonxp on
Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576 PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
The only suggestion I'd like to make is concerning the main Q&As with Gabe and Tycho.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MODERATE THESE!!!
Just have an enforcer standing next to the mic where the line forms. Any question where someone wants to:
give something/get something signed/is canadian/wants to make a fool of themselves
should be turned away.
Honestly, this is probably the coolest part, and I'd say 2/3rds of the questions are not even questions or they're some weird plea for help/signing/gift.
I've been coming to PAX since '04 and it's only getting worse.
That is all.
I thought those situations created some of the best Q&A opportunities personally! Of the situations in Q&A that were brought forward, I'd say the lion's share of ones that were actually interesting/amusing weren't questions... I'd vote for keeping them.
Now, if the ONLY thing they wanted was for Gabe/Tycho to autograph something, that's one thing (and I agree that those could/should be screened)... but with (for example) gift giving and fool-out-of-self making, there's often something deeper going on that's primed and ready for comedy.
The button case was arranged way ahead of time with Enforcer support, too. We just didnt have a guy hop in line.
I totally agree that personal requests should be screened by enforcers before people get to the mic. We get too many people wanting personal attention while an entire audience waits. Gabe "Cupcake" and "Ordinator" Tycho were awesome with those people, though, and overall the Q&A was fun.
The only suggestion I'd like to make is concerning the main Q&As with Gabe and Tycho.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MODERATE THESE!!!
Just have an enforcer standing next to the mic where the line forms. Any question where someone wants to:
give something/get something signed/is canadian/wants to make a fool of themselves
should be turned away.
Honestly, this is probably the coolest part, and I'd say 2/3rds of the questions are not even questions or they're some weird plea for help/signing/gift.
I've been coming to PAX since '04 and it's only getting worse.
That is all.
You got a problem with me giving them the signed CCST handbook? Honestly, some of the shit they're gifted is a lot more interesting than the questions people ask.
Clearly you weren't there for the button case gifting.
Goodness knows we all need more time to see panels on how to get your girlfriends into gaming, which would have been horrible if it wasn't such a trainwreck. I guess they could add a preceding panel on actually getting girlfriends, but who knows how that would turn out.
The only suggestion I'd like to make is concerning the main Q&As with Gabe and Tycho.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MODERATE THESE!!!
Just have an enforcer standing next to the mic where the line forms. Any question where someone wants to:
give something/get something signed/is canadian/wants to make a fool of themselves
should be turned away.
Honestly, this is probably the coolest part, and I'd say 2/3rds of the questions are not even questions or they're some weird plea for help/signing/gift.
I've been coming to PAX since '04 and it's only getting worse.
That is all.
You got a problem with me giving them the signed CCST handbook? Honestly, some of the shit they're gifted is a lot more interesting than the questions people ask.
Clearly you weren't there for the button case gifting.
I have no problem with pre-arranged super gifts or something. The button thing, ok I get it.
The problem I have, and this is where everybody gets insulted... Is yes, I do have a problem with your CCST, reason being, it sets a precedent. Are you going to go up there every year and give him another one? Is someone else going to? It's a Q&A... not a presentation. I don't mean to be a dick, but you could probably save the CCST thing for the signings. 8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book. It's about Gabe and Tycho, not about you. And it's my opinion, that they SHOULD have more signings. There should be more opportunities for interaction.
Go to any other Q&A and you don't see people going up to give gifts/sign every 3rd question.
Again, I may come off as an a-hole here, but frankly, I want to hear legit questions, not random PAXers telling their own story.
8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book.
Speaking as somebody not in the CCST, yeah, they do need to know. Especially with all these damn n3wbs descending on PAX from nowhere seething with expo hall lust, and then whining and bitching about how PAX is so lame because they have NO IDEA about the layer cake that is the PAX community.
It's about Gabe and Tycho, not about you.
In which case, you would note how fucking quickly Jerry jumps on every and all gift givers saying things like oh yeah we love to get stuff, and then he hassles all the others for not bringing tribute. Every year, every time. Why do you think it keeps getting "worse"? He loves that shit.
Go to any other Q&A and you don't see people going up to give gifts/sign every 3rd question.
You weren't at the Wil Wheaton panel this year I take it.
I am always going to argue for a completely open mic. I'd rather get a few boring things than risk a few interesting things getting weeded out because of somebody else's standards.
Someone suggested I post my suggestions here, so here are some:
limit total number of PAX admissions sold to prevent overcrowding and keep lines shorter
provide more seating
host all panels and presentations inside of actual enclosed theaters with PA systems
implement larger freeplay areas (perhaps via a "bring your own console" method akin to the "bring your own PC" area)
welcome the casual gamers into your community as well (don't just cater to the obsessed fanatics who are willing to stand in lines for hours)
divide tournaments up into skill level divisions... it's no fun to enter a tournament where everyone is lightyears beyond your own skills, which spooks a lot of people off
sell food
I would personally rather see more space for freeplay and tournaments and panels than see so much space used up by the exhibition hall... why do we need so many companies advertising so many products at a convention that is supposedly about gamers and the community?
c0d3h4x0r on
0
redhaloAlso a Professional AlcoholicRegistered Userregular
You got a problem with me giving them the signed CCST handbook? Honestly, some of the shit they're gifted is a lot more interesting than the questions people ask.
Clearly you weren't there for the button case gifting.
Yeah, but you have to do it smoothly, you have to come up from behind the curtain and surprise sex them. :winky:
Also, I too enjoyed seeing the stuff people where gifting. Anyone see the detail and quality of that stuffed broodax? That's dedication. The purpose of the Q&A is to gain insight into Mike and Jerry from a perspective outside of their comic characters. What better way is there than to give them ridiculously cool shit and see how they respond.
Concerts: I may be a minority, but after walking around Seattle all day, I was way tired by the time the concerts came. It would be cool if they started earlier. Plus, as a nerd music newbie, I really only wanted to see the main acts which played very last. I know it's hard for the small bands because people might leave if the big bands played first so maybe there's no way around this. It was just so late that I was nodding off towards the end during a very loud rock concert!
8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book.
Speaking as somebody not in the CCST, yeah, they do need to know. Especially with all these damn n3wbs descending on PAX from nowhere seething with expo hall lust, and then whining and bitching about how PAX is so lame because they have NO IDEA about the layer cake that is the PAX community.
Oh goodie, PAX elitists. This is what we all need: arrogant neckbeards.
I'm sure everything I have to say has already been said.
Obviously the line deal and not being able to get in was a bummer. I had a list of panels I wanted to go to and didn't go to any of them because I don't like lines *that* much.
The exhibition hall had more room than it has had since 2004. I think it was an awesome improvement over 2007 (and especially over 2006!) but of course we want more room if it can be given to us.
The Walrus theater/corner theater really is not built for ANY sort of panel. Movies, trailers, sure. But it's in a very poor location for anything meaningful that needs to be said over a PA system in my opinion.
I think the biggest thing that needs improving is the number of hours there are in a day. Currently there's 24. During PAX, I think it's evident that we need to stretch that out to 36 or even 48 if possible. Can we start a committee to look into that?
In all seriousness though, I think PAX went great! I also think that crowding problems might be greatly alleviated just by the fact that there'll be multiple PAXes going on starting in 2010. I imagine a great pool of people who want to do PAX will only go to one or the other, which will help to resolve this situation naturally.
8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book.
Speaking as somebody not in the CCST, yeah, they do need to know. Especially with all these damn n3wbs descending on PAX from nowhere seething with expo hall lust, and then whining and bitching about how PAX is so lame because they have NO IDEA about the layer cake that is the PAX community.
Oh goodie, PAX elitists. This is what we all need: arrogant neckbeards.
Yeah, I'm so arrogant that I spent months of planning, hundreds of dollars of my own money, and organized a bunch of volunteers to put on a dinner for the community, and then I hauled all the left over food to a shelter for abused women and children. Yeah, I'm such a cock. Shame on me for thinking that the community is valuable and that people who focus only the expo hall are missing out. I certainly wouldn't be trying to improve their experience or anything.
8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book.
Speaking as somebody not in the CCST, yeah, they do need to know. Especially with all these damn n3wbs descending on PAX from nowhere seething with expo hall lust, and then whining and bitching about how PAX is so lame because they have NO IDEA about the layer cake that is the PAX community.
Oh goodie, PAX elitists. This is what we all need: arrogant neckbeards.
Yeah, I'm so arrogant that I spent months of planning, hundreds of dollars of my own money, and organized a bunch of volunteers to put on a dinner for the community, and then I hauled all the left over food to a shelter for abused women and children. Yeah, I'm such a cock. Shame on me for thinking that the community is valuable and that people who focus only the expo hall are missing out. I certainly wouldn't be trying to improve their experience or anything.
Ugh. Go back to SE++.
Yes, and I'm sure the nice derisive term of "n3wbs" is the way to do this. I don't really care what you do in your free time, but the second you assume that how you chose to spend your time is the proper way then you lose any and all credibility. If I was judging PAX solely on the convention itself, and even the community events, I'd find it fairly lacking as well for all it's built up. You can't tell people how to interact or have fun.
And if that's the Thursday dinner I gave money to that, so you can fuck off for trying to guilt me, or whatever that was.
8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book.
Speaking as somebody not in the CCST, yeah, they do need to know. Especially with all these damn n3wbs descending on PAX from nowhere seething with expo hall lust, and then whining and bitching about how PAX is so lame because they have NO IDEA about the layer cake that is the PAX community.
Oh goodie, PAX elitists. This is what we all need: arrogant neckbeards.
Yeah, I'm so arrogant that I spent months of planning, hundreds of dollars of my own money, and organized a bunch of volunteers to put on a dinner for the community, and then I hauled all the left over food to a shelter for abused women and children. Yeah, I'm such a cock. Shame on me for thinking that the community is valuable and that people who focus only the expo hall are missing out. I certainly wouldn't be trying to improve their experience or anything.
Ugh. Go back to SE++.
Yes, and I'm sure the nice derisive term of "n3wbs" is the way to do this. I don't really care what you do in your free time, but the second you assume that how you chose to spend your time is the proper way then you lose any and all credibility. If I was judging PAX solely on the convention itself, and even the community events, I'd find it fairly lacking as well for all it's built up. You can't tell people how to interact or have fun.
And if that's the Thursday dinner I gave money to that, so you can fuck off for trying to guilt me, or whatever that was.
Welcome to the gaming world. Some people are n3wbs. And if you're trying to deny that somebody like me who's been coming to PAX since day 1 in 2004, not to mention NecroWomibCon 2001, and been a community organizer for half that time, has no useful advice for somebody coming for their first year, I would say you're irrational. Experience is valuable, experience can be learned from, that's the whole foundation of human development. And yes there are obviously different ways to experience or fail to experience the expo. There must be contrasting values, because the people who whine about the PAX experience are, for what I've seen, a minority. Most of the people I've talked to enjoyed the fuck out of PAX, and to a rational person, that suggests that the minority were a) doing it wrong b) unlucky c) shouldn't be there because it's not for them.
You bought $30 into the dinner? Thanks. I gave $300 in costs that weren't passed on to attendees (more if I ever stopped to think about all the gas going to and from comparing venues, picking up the supplies, running donated food to the middle of Bellevue, etc.). Plus time and equipment. And I'm not trying to guilt people, I'm saying that you should be careful whom you're calling a jerk and whose credibility you're challenging.
Let's not fight about this... if I can help... my apologies in advance if I'm putting words in anyone's mouth, but this is what I'm seeing (feel free to correct if I'm misinterpreting as well)...
I think what ElectricTurtle was trying to say was that involvement in the community events can really make PAX better for those who might otherwise not find it as entertaining. If someone was displeased with PAX, becoming involved in these events might be the tide that helps to turn that bad feeling around (because inevitably, PAX begins to become more about the people at the event rather than the event itself). Due to this positive effect that the community events have, they should be mentioned in Q&A sessions when possible.
And Pb, it sounds like you disagree, and think that the community events don't really help alleviate the problems you found at PAX... though I think you haven't stated the details yet, because the argument quickly became about the tone used in the argument rather than the arguments itself (which understandably happens frequently on a medium like the Internet, where people can't hear the actual tone and intent of statements).
Hopefully this helps with the discussion... I think the language/tone used distracted from the point that was trying to be made, which seems to have caused the conflict here more than the actual content. Again, correct me if I'm wrong... hopefully this helps though to bring it back to a discussion about the content.
8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book.
Speaking as somebody not in the CCST, yeah, they do need to know. Especially with all these damn n3wbs descending on PAX from nowhere seething with expo hall lust, and then whining and bitching about how PAX is so lame because they have NO IDEA about the layer cake that is the PAX community.
Oh goodie, PAX elitists. This is what we all need: arrogant neckbeards.
Yeah, I'm so arrogant that I spent months of planning, hundreds of dollars of my own money, and organized a bunch of volunteers to put on a dinner for the community, and then I hauled all the left over food to a shelter for abused women and children. Yeah, I'm such a cock. Shame on me for thinking that the community is valuable and that people who focus only the expo hall are missing out. I certainly wouldn't be trying to improve their experience or anything.
Ugh. Go back to SE++.
Yes, and I'm sure the nice derisive term of "n3wbs" is the way to do this. I don't really care what you do in your free time, but the second you assume that how you chose to spend your time is the proper way then you lose any and all credibility. If I was judging PAX solely on the convention itself, and even the community events, I'd find it fairly lacking as well for all it's built up. You can't tell people how to interact or have fun.
And if that's the Thursday dinner I gave money to that, so you can fuck off for trying to guilt me, or whatever that was.
Welcome to the gaming world. Some people are n3wbs. And if you're trying to deny that somebody like me who's been coming to PAX since day 1 in 2004, not to mention NecroWomibCon 2001, and been a community organizer for half that time, has no useful advice for somebody coming for their first year, I would say you're irrational. Experience is valuable, experience can be learned from, that's the whole foundation of human development. And yes there are obviously different ways to experience or fail to experience the expo. There must be contrasting values, because the people who whine about the PAX experience are, for what I've seen, a minority. Most of the people I've talked to enjoyed the fuck out of PAX, and to a rational person, that suggests that the minority were a) doing it wrong b) unlucky c) shouldn't be there because it's not for them.
You bought $30 into the dinner? Thanks. I gave $300 in costs that weren't passed on to attendees (more if I ever stopped to think about all the gas going to and from comparing venues, picking up the supplies, running donated food to the middle of Bellevue, etc.). Plus time and equipment. And I'm not trying to guilt people, I'm saying that you should be careful whom you're calling a jerk and whose credibility you're challenging.
Oh, thanks for introducing me to the gaming world, that was pretty called for. It's not like I've been at this for a while. And I'm sorry, did I actually call you a jerk? I'm sort of looking for that up there and not seeing it (neckbeard, yes, you could have gotten me on that one). I didn't even end up making it for the dinner due to flight delays, so I guess that was more food for the homeless.
Anyways, on to the salient points. I know you have plenty of experience with this con and are all up in it's particulars, but that still does not give you any right to sneer and snicker because you "know" better. Did you ever consider that some of them might find the community itself to be absolutely abhorrent and just came for the games? There were definitely people who just came because they simply wanted a large gaming convention, not because they really cared for Penny Arcade. When E3 dissolved for a year PAX got a reputation as a premier, large gaming convention, and I think that's lured people in and subsequently disappointed a few. Yeah, getting into the community would give them things to do, but if someone doesn't want to then I don't think your derision is going to assist people.
The only suggestion I'd like to make is concerning the main Q&As with Gabe and Tycho.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MODERATE THESE!!!
Just have an enforcer standing next to the mic where the line forms. Any question where someone wants to:
give something/get something signed/is canadian/wants to make a fool of themselves
should be turned away.
Honestly, this is probably the coolest part, and I'd say 2/3rds of the questions are not even questions or they're some weird plea for help/signing/gift.
I've been coming to PAX since '04 and it's only getting worse.
That is all.
You got a problem with me giving them the signed CCST handbook? Honestly, some of the shit they're gifted is a lot more interesting than the questions people ask.
Clearly you weren't there for the button case gifting.
I have no problem with pre-arranged super gifts or something. The button thing, ok I get it.
The problem I have, and this is where everybody gets insulted... Is yes, I do have a problem with your CCST, reason being, it sets a precedent. Are you going to go up there every year and give him another one? Is someone else going to? It's a Q&A... not a presentation. I don't mean to be a dick, but you could probably save the CCST thing for the signings. 8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book. It's about Gabe and Tycho, not about you. And it's my opinion, that they SHOULD have more signings. There should be more opportunities for interaction.
Go to any other Q&A and you don't see people going up to give gifts/sign every 3rd question.
Again, I may come off as an a-hole here, but frankly, I want to hear legit questions, not random PAXers telling their own story.
Oh and
Just for that, I'm going to give them a signed book every year at the beginning of the first panel and I'm going to make sure the story is even longer each time, and dedicate the whole reason for the long drawn out story to you. Why, you ask? Because I can. If you don't like it too bad, because they do, and so do the enforcers. Don't believe me? Ask the enforcer who escorted my group in so we could do the hand-off right at the beginning of their panel, or ask the other enforcer who photographed the handoff and said it was in his top ten pictures for PAX. If you don't like it, it's no loss to be, because there are plenty of people who enjoyed it. I kept that story as succint as possible, but if you were paying attention, you would have noted their interest in the little story I did tell. I could go off on this tangent for another page and a half, but I have other shit to do. Basically, it won't stop, I won't stop and if you don't like it, I don't give a fuck.
More room for the expo hall, it was a bit crowded this year.
Enforce the no booth babes policy.
More cosplay involvement. Maybe an actual con-run contest?
More random encouter fun outside the expo hall (Think the community run scavenger hunt or the exclamation point quest guys, and I ADORED the Guild Wars quests from 06)
The_SavesMagistrate of Crazy Town KirklandRegistered Userregular
edited September 2008
Last year was my first PAX, and I had nothing to do with the community and saw it as an industry convention.
I went, I saw, I loved. And since then I have tried to incorporate myself with the amazing community.
Yes, people might come and become disappointed. But no, not all will.
And the community behind the event even lures people to it's awesomeness.
People need to open up and enjoy this for what it is to them personally. And they need to walk away with that. But calling people out and whining about their personal experience is cold. No one is being Elitist, just trying to share what this event means to them.
Also for the CCST handbook; even people not there for the community can still be amazed that people would drive across the country to have this experience. Mike and Jerry are people too, and something like this can mean a lot to them. I do agree that some sort of system would be nice though. I love listening to Mike and Jerry talk and respond, but some question are dribble. For example the "what should your loyal followers call my lieges?" That question was kinda awkward and put them at an uncomfortable position, even though they did bounce back a little bit (cupcake=classic). Also; the Bad Horse Snipers was an amazing and funny finish to the second QA. That wouldn't happen in the "no gift" utopia.
Hopefully this thread can get back to emotion free suggestions. If your on the forums then you share some feelings with or about the community. Please don't aim to be hurtful to other people.
People need to open up and enjoy this for what it is to them personally. And they need to walk away with that. But calling people out and whining about their personal experience is cold. No one is being Elitist, just trying to share what this event means to them.
You know what would be great? Screening the fucking questions at the Q/A. How awesome is it hearing some person spout some obsequious bullshit like "So, what should we call you guys? Lord? Master? Liege?" without any fucking trace of irony. If the previous 15 people ahead of you have said "THIS IS MY FIRST PAX EVER LET ME SAY THANKS FOR EVERYONE EHREGSDFGHIKASFJ" you can stop what you're doing and sit your stupid fucking ass down.
A-fucking-men.
Please, people:
Think about your questions ahead of time. Write them down if you have to.
Make the questions short and TO THE POINT, and most of all...
Don't make the question about YOU.
I watched so many panelists paste a fake smile on their face about 45 seconds into a stupid, stupid question....made me feel sorry for 'em.
Baelzar on
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-P. J. O'Rourke
...But they did have pretty dresses. Damn those skinny bitches.
CaptainTapole on
The Girl Who Gave Everyone the Shortest Jenga Game Ever.
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cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
edited September 2008
I thought the statues outside the Fallout 3 and Castle Crashers booths were way more impressive.
Though the person in costume at the Sins of a Solar Empire panel did an awesome job(and I remember reading that she was involved in the game's development).
Obviously the space issue is being addressed, so I won't complain about that.
I'm not going to complain about enforcers, because they did what their titles said to do: they ENFORCED.
I do have a problem with this:
The Will Call line.
First of all, a bunch of friends of mine there had to wait in line due to Will Call. Some of them were from the United States who were instructed to go to Will Call (even though they bought passes well before the cutoff date), and others had to because of being international.
The problem occurred when there were four "at line purchase" lanes, and only two for Will Call. The people that thought ahead to buy their tickets had to wait forever, while the people that came that day walked through what seemed like a "free-flow" lane. This issue simply has to be fixed. I'm not sure whether it was people at fault from Brown Paper Tickets for having people that shouldn't have been at Will Call in there and you didn't expect so many people needed the tickets, or if it was a lane issue where too many lanes were assigned to people just showing up.
The priority needs to be for the people that already bought tickets, not people that walk in and decide to check out PAX.
That's all :-)
Other than that, I think it was a great show. Obviously more space would be amazing (the thought of multiple expo hall floors blows my mind...even though I'm sure that's not an option)!
I guess better panels? Some of the panels were horrible. The "Writing for Games' panel's moderator didn't even have anything prepared and turned it into a Q&A, it was a completely wothless panel with questions like, "What tools do you use to write?" and them talking about "how to break out of writer's block on a deadline". Those are useless, I want to know how to break into writing for games or HOW to write for games. They had a girl up there from Harmonix that wrote the blips when you bought stuff from the Rock Band Marketplace. Seriously?
I know that's more of a problem with the vendor/exhibitor than you guys. So it's okay :-)
You submit a panel blurb to Amber Fechko, with the title, what you intend to talk about, who you are, and who you are going to have on it. Her team of ninja monkeys goes through the various ideas and then says yes or no.
SWATJester on
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I was in the middle front area (with the R2-D2 backpack) for the Saturday concert and I was so frustrated that the camera guy was running around back and forth. Friday night wasn't as bad because there wasn't as much action on stage.
What happened to the camera on the big mechanical arm? Why would you sacrifice the enjoyment of your attendees by having a camera guy step all over them just so your DVD can be entertaining? I was in the front because I am short and usually cannot see very well... but this was ironically ridiculous! I was there for Frontalot and that was the worst moment of the entire show for me. I couldn't get out of the way quickly enough to prevent getting stepped on.
There was a point where we were not allowed in that middle area, and I think it should have stayed that way. I was told to move forward after Freezepop, but afterwards I realized it would have been a lot better to leave that open floor area for the camera guy.
Please don't do it that way again! Please! At least use some kind of rail to separate the camera person from the crowd like most big shows do.
Lines: Total kudos to the tickets or cutoff idea. I was about 30 people away from the keynote and, though I wasn't too upset, it would have been nice to do something else with that time.
Concerts: I may be a minority, but after walking around Seattle all day, I was way tired by the time the concerts came. It would be cool if they started earlier. Plus, as a nerd music newbie, I really only wanted to see the main acts which played very last. I know it's hard for the small bands because people might leave if the big bands played first so maybe there's no way around this. It was just so late that I was nodding off towards the end during a very loud rock concert!
Pre-reg shirts: Cool idea! I would totally have taken the option to pay an extra $20 for a PAX shirt.
Pre-reg panel tickets: Wonderful idea! I wanted to attend several panels but didn't because I had already spent so much time in lines. This would help the PA guys gauge interest too.
Q&A: Enforcers might want to screen the questions ahead of time. Most were good but some were just personal sob stories and such. The second Q&A was cool but I heard the first one was full of "Remember last year at PAX.... that was awesome" sort of stuff.
Food: There are some AWESOME restaurants in Seattle and many are close to the convention. We definately used the map in the program and would encourage PAXers to do the same. Maybe a price estimate would encourage PAXers on a budget to try something new. I heard many worrying that if they strayed too far from fast food, they would go broke.
All in all, I had a wonderful time and want to thank everyone for making this my best vacation ever! 8-)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MODERATE THESE!!!
Just have an enforcer standing next to the mic where the line forms. Any question where someone wants to:
give something/get something signed/is canadian/wants to make a fool of themselves
should be turned away.
Honestly, this is probably the coolest part, and I'd say 2/3rds of the questions are not even questions or they're some weird plea for help/signing/gift.
I've been coming to PAX since '04 and it's only getting worse.
That is all.
"Oh what a day, what a LOVELY DAY!"
Except then we would have missed the Broodax plush, the button case, and the Bad Horsing.
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"Oh what a day, what a LOVELY DAY!"
I thought those situations created some of the best Q&A opportunities personally! Of the situations in Q&A that were brought forward, I'd say the lion's share of ones that were actually interesting/amusing weren't questions... I'd vote for keeping them.
Now, if the ONLY thing they wanted was for Gabe/Tycho to autograph something, that's one thing (and I agree that those could/should be screened)... but with (for example) gift giving and fool-out-of-self making, there's often something deeper going on that's primed and ready for comedy.
I totally agree that personal requests should be screened by enforcers before people get to the mic. We get too many people wanting personal attention while an entire audience waits. Gabe "Cupcake" and "Ordinator" Tycho were awesome with those people, though, and overall the Q&A was fun.
Fear my leet Paint Skills
You got a problem with me giving them the signed CCST handbook? Honestly, some of the shit they're gifted is a lot more interesting than the questions people ask.
Clearly you weren't there for the button case gifting.
/endorsed
I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off anyway, and I never even see any panels I'm so busy with everything else.
E
I have no problem with pre-arranged super gifts or something. The button thing, ok I get it.
The problem I have, and this is where everybody gets insulted... Is yes, I do have a problem with your CCST, reason being, it sets a precedent. Are you going to go up there every year and give him another one? Is someone else going to? It's a Q&A... not a presentation. I don't mean to be a dick, but you could probably save the CCST thing for the signings. 8000 people don't need to know that the CCST signed a big book. It's about Gabe and Tycho, not about you. And it's my opinion, that they SHOULD have more signings. There should be more opportunities for interaction.
Go to any other Q&A and you don't see people going up to give gifts/sign every 3rd question.
Again, I may come off as an a-hole here, but frankly, I want to hear legit questions, not random PAXers telling their own story.
Oh and
"Oh what a day, what a LOVELY DAY!"
Speaking as somebody not in the CCST, yeah, they do need to know. Especially with all these damn n3wbs descending on PAX from nowhere seething with expo hall lust, and then whining and bitching about how PAX is so lame because they have NO IDEA about the layer cake that is the PAX community.
In which case, you would note how fucking quickly Jerry jumps on every and all gift givers saying things like oh yeah we love to get stuff, and then he hassles all the others for not bringing tribute. Every year, every time. Why do you think it keeps getting "worse"? He loves that shit.
You weren't at the Wil Wheaton panel this year I take it.
I am always going to argue for a completely open mic. I'd rather get a few boring things than risk a few interesting things getting weeded out because of somebody else's standards.
Yeah, but you have to do it smoothly, you have to come up from behind the curtain and surprise sex them. :winky:
Also, I too enjoyed seeing the stuff people where gifting. Anyone see the detail and quality of that stuffed broodax? That's dedication. The purpose of the Q&A is to gain insight into Mike and Jerry from a perspective outside of their comic characters. What better way is there than to give them ridiculously cool shit and see how they respond.
I second this, whole-heartedly.
Oh goodie, PAX elitists. This is what we all need: arrogant neckbeards.
Obviously the line deal and not being able to get in was a bummer. I had a list of panels I wanted to go to and didn't go to any of them because I don't like lines *that* much.
The exhibition hall had more room than it has had since 2004. I think it was an awesome improvement over 2007 (and especially over 2006!) but of course we want more room if it can be given to us.
The Walrus theater/corner theater really is not built for ANY sort of panel. Movies, trailers, sure. But it's in a very poor location for anything meaningful that needs to be said over a PA system in my opinion.
I, too, missed the DDR machines.
In all seriousness though, I think PAX went great! I also think that crowding problems might be greatly alleviated just by the fact that there'll be multiple PAXes going on starting in 2010. I imagine a great pool of people who want to do PAX will only go to one or the other, which will help to resolve this situation naturally.
Yeah, I'm so arrogant that I spent months of planning, hundreds of dollars of my own money, and organized a bunch of volunteers to put on a dinner for the community, and then I hauled all the left over food to a shelter for abused women and children. Yeah, I'm such a cock. Shame on me for thinking that the community is valuable and that people who focus only the expo hall are missing out. I certainly wouldn't be trying to improve their experience or anything.
Ugh. Go back to SE++.
Yes, and I'm sure the nice derisive term of "n3wbs" is the way to do this. I don't really care what you do in your free time, but the second you assume that how you chose to spend your time is the proper way then you lose any and all credibility. If I was judging PAX solely on the convention itself, and even the community events, I'd find it fairly lacking as well for all it's built up. You can't tell people how to interact or have fun.
And if that's the Thursday dinner I gave money to that, so you can fuck off for trying to guilt me, or whatever that was.
Welcome to the gaming world. Some people are n3wbs. And if you're trying to deny that somebody like me who's been coming to PAX since day 1 in 2004, not to mention NecroWomibCon 2001, and been a community organizer for half that time, has no useful advice for somebody coming for their first year, I would say you're irrational. Experience is valuable, experience can be learned from, that's the whole foundation of human development. And yes there are obviously different ways to experience or fail to experience the expo. There must be contrasting values, because the people who whine about the PAX experience are, for what I've seen, a minority. Most of the people I've talked to enjoyed the fuck out of PAX, and to a rational person, that suggests that the minority were a) doing it wrong b) unlucky c) shouldn't be there because it's not for them.
You bought $30 into the dinner? Thanks. I gave $300 in costs that weren't passed on to attendees (more if I ever stopped to think about all the gas going to and from comparing venues, picking up the supplies, running donated food to the middle of Bellevue, etc.). Plus time and equipment. And I'm not trying to guilt people, I'm saying that you should be careful whom you're calling a jerk and whose credibility you're challenging.
I think what ElectricTurtle was trying to say was that involvement in the community events can really make PAX better for those who might otherwise not find it as entertaining. If someone was displeased with PAX, becoming involved in these events might be the tide that helps to turn that bad feeling around (because inevitably, PAX begins to become more about the people at the event rather than the event itself). Due to this positive effect that the community events have, they should be mentioned in Q&A sessions when possible.
And Pb, it sounds like you disagree, and think that the community events don't really help alleviate the problems you found at PAX... though I think you haven't stated the details yet, because the argument quickly became about the tone used in the argument rather than the arguments itself (which understandably happens frequently on a medium like the Internet, where people can't hear the actual tone and intent of statements).
Hopefully this helps with the discussion... I think the language/tone used distracted from the point that was trying to be made, which seems to have caused the conflict here more than the actual content. Again, correct me if I'm wrong... hopefully this helps though to bring it back to a discussion about the content.
Oh, thanks for introducing me to the gaming world, that was pretty called for. It's not like I've been at this for a while. And I'm sorry, did I actually call you a jerk? I'm sort of looking for that up there and not seeing it (neckbeard, yes, you could have gotten me on that one). I didn't even end up making it for the dinner due to flight delays, so I guess that was more food for the homeless.
Anyways, on to the salient points. I know you have plenty of experience with this con and are all up in it's particulars, but that still does not give you any right to sneer and snicker because you "know" better. Did you ever consider that some of them might find the community itself to be absolutely abhorrent and just came for the games? There were definitely people who just came because they simply wanted a large gaming convention, not because they really cared for Penny Arcade. When E3 dissolved for a year PAX got a reputation as a premier, large gaming convention, and I think that's lured people in and subsequently disappointed a few. Yeah, getting into the community would give them things to do, but if someone doesn't want to then I don't think your derision is going to assist people.
We got shorted by about 50 Sumos this year. Sorry!
Just for that, I'm going to give them a signed book every year at the beginning of the first panel and I'm going to make sure the story is even longer each time, and dedicate the whole reason for the long drawn out story to you. Why, you ask? Because I can. If you don't like it too bad, because they do, and so do the enforcers. Don't believe me? Ask the enforcer who escorted my group in so we could do the hand-off right at the beginning of their panel, or ask the other enforcer who photographed the handoff and said it was in his top ten pictures for PAX. If you don't like it, it's no loss to be, because there are plenty of people who enjoyed it. I kept that story as succint as possible, but if you were paying attention, you would have noted their interest in the little story I did tell. I could go off on this tangent for another page and a half, but I have other shit to do. Basically, it won't stop, I won't stop and if you don't like it, I don't give a fuck.
More room for the expo hall, it was a bit crowded this year.
Enforce the no booth babes policy.
More cosplay involvement. Maybe an actual con-run contest?
More random encouter fun outside the expo hall (Think the community run scavenger hunt or the exclamation point quest guys, and I ADORED the Guild Wars quests from 06)
SNOBAWLS DAMMIT
Thats all i can think of atm. ^.^
Aye, decisively.
I went, I saw, I loved. And since then I have tried to incorporate myself with the amazing community.
Yes, people might come and become disappointed. But no, not all will.
And the community behind the event even lures people to it's awesomeness.
People need to open up and enjoy this for what it is to them personally. And they need to walk away with that. But calling people out and whining about their personal experience is cold. No one is being Elitist, just trying to share what this event means to them.
Also for the CCST handbook; even people not there for the community can still be amazed that people would drive across the country to have this experience. Mike and Jerry are people too, and something like this can mean a lot to them. I do agree that some sort of system would be nice though. I love listening to Mike and Jerry talk and respond, but some question are dribble. For example the "what should your loyal followers call my lieges?" That question was kinda awkward and put them at an uncomfortable position, even though they did bounce back a little bit (cupcake=classic). Also; the Bad Horse Snipers was an amazing and funny finish to the second QA. That wouldn't happen in the "no gift" utopia.
Hopefully this thread can get back to emotion free suggestions. If your on the forums then you share some feelings with or about the community. Please don't aim to be hurtful to other people.
Suggestion: More left 4 Dead pls!
I actually had a fantastic time.
Please, people:
I watched so many panelists paste a fake smile on their face about 45 seconds into a stupid, stupid question....made me feel sorry for 'em.
-P. J. O'Rourke
Five times as many booth babes please.
...But they did have pretty dresses. Damn those skinny bitches.
Though the person in costume at the Sins of a Solar Empire panel did an awesome job(and I remember reading that she was involved in the game's development).
I'm not going to complain about enforcers, because they did what their titles said to do: they ENFORCED.
I do have a problem with this:
The Will Call line.
First of all, a bunch of friends of mine there had to wait in line due to Will Call. Some of them were from the United States who were instructed to go to Will Call (even though they bought passes well before the cutoff date), and others had to because of being international.
The problem occurred when there were four "at line purchase" lanes, and only two for Will Call. The people that thought ahead to buy their tickets had to wait forever, while the people that came that day walked through what seemed like a "free-flow" lane. This issue simply has to be fixed. I'm not sure whether it was people at fault from Brown Paper Tickets for having people that shouldn't have been at Will Call in there and you didn't expect so many people needed the tickets, or if it was a lane issue where too many lanes were assigned to people just showing up.
The priority needs to be for the people that already bought tickets, not people that walk in and decide to check out PAX.
That's all :-)
Other than that, I think it was a great show. Obviously more space would be amazing (the thought of multiple expo hall floors blows my mind...even though I'm sure that's not an option)!
I guess better panels? Some of the panels were horrible. The "Writing for Games' panel's moderator didn't even have anything prepared and turned it into a Q&A, it was a completely wothless panel with questions like, "What tools do you use to write?" and them talking about "how to break out of writer's block on a deadline". Those are useless, I want to know how to break into writing for games or HOW to write for games. They had a girl up there from Harmonix that wrote the blips when you bought stuff from the Rock Band Marketplace. Seriously?
I know that's more of a problem with the vendor/exhibitor than you guys. So it's okay :-)
How does the panel selection happen anyway?
Keep up the great work, loved PAX!
You submit a panel blurb to Amber Fechko, with the title, what you intend to talk about, who you are, and who you are going to have on it. Her team of ninja monkeys goes through the various ideas and then says yes or no.
Contributing Editor, http://www.gamepolitics.com
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