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PAX Prime Suggestions Thread

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  • FizzTheCarbonatedFizzTheCarbonated Registered User regular
    So, the pipe cleaners for people to play with in line were a serious stroke of genius. I heard someone say they thought there should be a pipe-cleaner room where people could just go to make stuff during downtime, and I agree it would be awesome. A general crafting room could be a really nice addition to the con, plus give parents of small children someplace quieter to take their kids with a kid-appropriate activity. Pipe cleaners, markers, paper, scotch tape. There could even be little contests over the course of the day, along the lines of the "Make something in 60 seconds that represents Wil Wheaton out of these pipecleaners" that the enforcers did before his panel.

    (Here is my pipe cleaner joke for all the art majors out there.)

  • LexiconGrrlLexiconGrrl Registered User regular
    The booth Grandmas at Good Old Games need to come back every year and bring their delicious cookies with them.

    EPIC FAIL!! Every cookie that a conventioner got from that booth was one less from the Cookie Brigade. Booths that compete with the known charity efforts violate Wheaton's law. Give out something else. Silly Geese.

    Happily on Sabbatical. Don't bug me.
  • FizzTheCarbonatedFizzTheCarbonated Registered User regular
    EPIC FAIL!! Every cookie that a conventioner got from that booth was one less from the Cookie Brigade. Booths that compete with the known charity efforts violate Wheaton's law. Give out something else. Silly Geese.

    Hm. I agree with you in general, but the one time I found a cookie brigadier they were completely out of non-chocolate cookies, so I didn't end up getting any anyway.

    Maybe next year the grannies can give out cups of tea to go with the Cookie Brigade cookies.

  • alegriaalegria Registered User regular
    mcdermott wrote:
    hargem1 wrote:
    why exactly are people complaining about Destructoid live(I wasn't there).

    Saw jim sterling tweet about it today. Apparently lived up to the name.

    Last year they "borrowed" the unicorn plushies from the theater to go and take a photo, never returned them, and later video was up on the internet of them doing lewd things with the plushies. Those were bought by the Enforcers who were in that theater, were enjoyed by many panelists and attendees, and it was incredibly dickish to steal and despoil them for giggles.

    This year they had a cake face-stuffing contest, and not only did they not come prepared with tarps or anything protective (or ask ahead of time to have these provided), they chose to use the worst cake possible - red velvet with chocolate icing. Most of the carpet at the front of that theater is permanently ruined, along with several chairs, some tablecloths, and part of the stage that the panel table/seats were set up on. Additionally, the panels after that one were delayed, and then took place with the reek of overly-sugary icing throughout the room to boot.

    If you can't figure out how to apply Wheaton's Law (or simple common sense) two years in a row, you shouldn't be allowed back as a panel to do it again.

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  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    @kropotkin You said there were a ton of booth babe's, but I wasn't really seeing them. At least not scantily clad ones (some booths were clearly staffed by female temps/models, but they were fairly modest)

    Aside from those dressed as characters from the game (like Lollipop Chainsaw), which I think get more leeway, i didn't notice any. I know that some issues got addressed, but that's the system "working. "

    Not sure on lines. The panel lines seemed shorter (aside from a few), but the expo hall did seem worse. I think it was a mix of issues, including forged badges, more closed booths, harder to get swag, etc. The guys only have so much control of these factors.

  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    Wow...Destructoid sounds unclassy...

  • MonkeyConQuesoMonkeyConQueso No more MH Claw Happy handsRegistered User regular
    I truly do hope that there is some way to come up with a new badge scheme that would reduce the amount of scalpers AND forgeries. That was a major point of contention of mine. I really disliked seeing scalpers around.

    Also, the lines for booths was stupid long. Someone mentioned how they did it for Civ5 during PAX10 with taking people's names and having them come back at the appointed time. That worked beautifully.
    The booth Grandmas at Good Old Games need to come back every year and bring their delicious cookies with them.

    EPIC FAIL!! Every cookie that a conventioner got from that booth was one less from the Cookie Brigade. Booths that compete with the known charity efforts violate Wheaton's law. Give out something else. Silly Geese.

    I saw ONE Cookie Brigade person, and didn't realize they were the Cookie Brigade until they had moved on down the street. Which made me sad. I'm just happy I donated my cash money during the TWDT.

    However, I would have happily had a cookie from the GoG booth, and then easily purchased a cookie/rice krispy treat/etc... from a CB person because, well, it's the CB.

    PSN : Aubvry ;; WiiU/XBL/Steam : MonkeyConQueso ;; 3DS FC : 4553-9982-3786
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  • Bionic ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMBionic ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRM Registered User regular
    Console tournaments at PAX should be structured like actual tournaments. At the very least, a list of rules for each tournament should be posted to the forums clarifying whether or not the tourney is single or double elimination as well as what console the games will be played on. I went to the console tourney desk and they told me MK9 would be held on 360s, and when I got to the tourney I discovered that the games were all being played on PS3s. Right, so I guess I lugged my TE fightstick to PAX for nothing. >.>

    Also, fighting game tourneys really should have a double elimination bracket setup. I have never heard of a Street Fighter tourney that was single elimination. If having double elimination fighting game tourneys is too time consuming then maybe you should cut back on some of the mini-tourneys. I don't think anyone is going to be terribly offended if they can't play Pac-Man or Puzzle Fighter in a tournament, to be terribly honest.

    As well, I don't think providing a prize of some kind for the tournaments should be out of the question. PAX rakes in a lot of money and there are only a few major tourneys. Would offering a prize such as a special controller or Astro gaming headset be so costly?

  • JDickson87JDickson87 Registered User new member
    [
    EPIC FAIL!! Every cookie that a conventioner got from that booth was one less from the Cookie Brigade. Booths that compete with the known charity efforts violate Wheaton's law. Give out something else. Silly Geese.

    You don't have to get a cookie to donate though...... I got a cookie and donated, had I gotten a cookie from GOG I'd still have donated to cookie brigade. It's a great cause.

  • MonkeyConQuesoMonkeyConQueso No more MH Claw Happy handsRegistered User regular
    Console tournaments at PAX<snip>

    Considering the tournaments were hosted by vendors and not PAX itself, I believe that the vendors themselves would be responsible for prizes and tournament rules (and platforms). I could be wrong (especially if we're both talking about different tournaments), so feel free to correct me ;)

    I almost brought my 360 TE, and I'm glad I didn't.

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  • japerryjaperry Registered User regular
    -I didn't know about the hole-punch method that On-Live was doing but it sound brilliant. Add little boxes that can be punched right onto the badge.

    My girlfriend was PISSED when this happened to her. They punched her BYOC badge, then realizing it was the wrong one, they punched the 3-day pass. It'd be great to have a QR code that is basically the ID of the badge. This would still allow people to re-sell their badges, but at least people can signup with their badge ID and be counted without destroying it.

    The same can go for lines. It'd be great if there was a queue system that allowed you to schedule when to play a game aka Disney World/Land. This should greatly diminish the lines for the expo hall. The same could be done for each room. It'd take a little bit of development, but having a simple seat/floor plan that is pluggable per room would allow you to scan your badge and pick your seat for panels, and would tell you when they are full. Have it timed so its only available for reservations 2hours ahead of the panel, and then require you to be in line 30 mins before the panel starts.

    With QR codes and people linking a phone number to their badge number will allow text messages (for simple phone and our Canadian friends with no US data), private twitter messages, etc.

    Also, doing non-sequential number/letter ID between 1 - X10X00X with QR codes would greatly decrease the probability of a counterfeit number actually being valid. When someone goes to schedule, create a profile, etc, the backend database will immediately know if its a valid key code. And those who make counterfeit codes will not be able to schedule themselves in line. Its like being limited to single player for those with fake passes!

    Other than that, bring BYOC back to 500. Hopefully with no Halo Fest next year there will be enough space?

    Also.. is there a way to make that huge room on floor 4 more efficient than just a expo queue line? Its empty it seems most of the con.

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  • XRXR [E] LULK ILRegistered User regular
    skylatron wrote:
    Aside from those things, the only personal complaint I really have is one Enforcer. I have never ever had an issue with an Enforcer until Saturday. We went into the PC Freeplay area for the first time, and were promptly led to our computers (yay). There were TONS of free spaces and we ended up around some people who had quite obviously been there longer than us. 30 minutes into gaming, we got a tap on our table and rudely told "Time up". Then the Enforcer walked off. No one else had to leave. We weren't being loud or doing anything douchey, so I'm not sure what the deal was. :(
    Unfortunately you were just unlucky and the tracking system was saying that your time was up. If it was Saturday night, computer rows were not being used in order to get them ready for the Starcraft 2 tournament the next day. All you had to do is jump back in line and you could have been resat at a computer again.

  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    Hard to do much with the queue room, because it's a pretty spartan space...and anything you do to spruce it up would reduce its effectiveness as a queue room.

  • MonkeyConQuesoMonkeyConQueso No more MH Claw Happy handsRegistered User regular
    I'm actually surprised that people are so down on Halo Fest. Yeah, not everyone is still into Halo (especially since MS has taken over entirely now), but there was some really awesome stuff over there for the Halo fanatics. The Weta Warthog was amazing to see in person (instead of just in the commercial), and the diorama they used in one of the commercials all broken up was awesome too.

    Just put it this way - MS wanted to have it at PAX, and I'm glad the PAX staff got the space that they did for MS instead of on the expo floor.

    PSN : Aubvry ;; WiiU/XBL/Steam : MonkeyConQueso ;; 3DS FC : 4553-9982-3786
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  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    I still love me some Halo, i just didn't like seeing that much space devoted to something. Outside of something like tabletop, that naturally needs more space.

  • japerryjaperry Registered User regular
    mcdermott wrote:
    Hard to do much with the queue room, because it's a pretty spartan space...and anything you do to spruce it up would reduce its effectiveness as a queue room.

    At the boston convention center we had moving tables. I'm wondering if there were folded moving tables stacked around the sides, and once the room lets in at 10am, have a crew of event staff and enforcers roll them into place. It could become the new table top area. It'd probably only take 30 minutes with a large enough crew. If its only used for one queue line in the morning I think this could be feasible.

    Then move the table top venders to the outside where the t-shirts were being sold, and put that upstairs or somewhere.. =P

    7jIDTca.png
  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    japerry wrote:
    mcdermott wrote:
    Hard to do much with the queue room, because it's a pretty spartan space...and anything you do to spruce it up would reduce its effectiveness as a queue room.

    At the boston convention center we had moving tables. I'm wondering if there were folded moving tables stacked around the sides, and once the room lets in at 10am, have a crew of event staff and enforcers roll them into place. It could become the new table top area. It'd probably only take 30 minutes with a large enough crew. If its only used for one queue line in the morning I think this could be feasible.

    Then move the table top venders to the outside where the t-shirts were being sold, and put that upstairs or somewhere.. =P

    That's an option. Also a good spot for things like raffles. Also, they should ask every presenter if they're planning on, oh I don't know, giving away free consoles to everybody....if so, we know to put you by it for easy overflow.

    I think it'd be a good spot to expand tabletop to maybe free up some space for a Rock Band stage/room.

    Oh, and the merch booth is where it is for a reason....I don't see it moving.

  • skylatronskylatron Registered User regular
    XR wrote:
    Unfortunately you were just unlucky and the tracking system was saying that your time was up. If it was Saturday night, computer rows were not being used in order to get them ready for the Starcraft 2 tournament the next day. All you had to do is jump back in line and you could have been resat at a computer again.

    Thanks for the explanation! I didn't want to get back in line and seem greedy or anything, plus I was afraid someone was mad at me (I'm pretty meek when it comes to confrontation) or that I'd done something wrong on accident. It was Saturday day around 2:30ish or so. Anyway, will keep all of that in mind for next year. Thanks again :)

  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    However, on that note I feel like the queue room may be unused for a reason...not like it's new, it was the same last year.

  • japerryjaperry Registered User regular
    in 08 and 09, wasn't it used as a concert room? I'm not sure where the queue was before 2010.

    Perhaps the queue could be in the unused area of the 'secret level' ? it'd be out of the way. Understandably there would need to be some big ass signs out front indicating the Expo hall queue room is across the street. If that room wasn't a queue room at all, the table top vendors could be in there as well.

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  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    japerry wrote:
    in 08 and 09, wasn't it used as a concert room? I'm not sure where the queue was before 2010.

    Perhaps the queue could be in the unused area of the 'secret level' ? it'd be out of the way. Understandably there would need to be some big ass signs out front indicating the Expo hall queue room is across the street. If that room wasn't a queue room at all, the table top vendors could be in there as well.

    Yeah, it was the main theater/concert hall in '09 IIRC. Which was...meh. Better for concerts than Benaroyal in some ways (standing room!) but still shitty and the Paramount takes things to many new levels. I forget where/how they queued up people for the expo floor that year...

    ...oh, wait, that was the year I lost my badge, so I wasn't there to see how they did it. Right.

  • NomadRavenNomadRaven Registered User regular
    Oddly, I too had trouble with two of the enforcers in the PC Freeplay being gruff and/or rude. One of them told me my time was up, and then she proceeded to watch me, literally staring, until I left. I told her I understood, but she just stared. It took about 30 seconds for me to leave (shut down the game, grab my stuff, and run!), because it was really creeping me out. I wasn't being rude or anything that would have warranted it, and I felt really uncomfortable going back to PC Freeplay again after that. The other one was just really gruff and unfriendly, "time's up!" in a cranky voice. I seem to recall getting a couple minutes' warning at previous PAXes, which allows you to wrap up your game. But mostly it was a tone of voice thing, and both of them left me feeling like I was a bother just for existing, which was weird. Not really a big deal, but it felt very out of place for PAX. The rest of the enforcers in that area and the rest of the con were fantastic and a joy to be around, as always.

    I was really bummed about not getting a swag bag any of the three days. From reading the forums it seems there actually were swag bags in multiple places, and the enforcers in the queue room didn't point us to any of the other locations. Better communication of where the swag bags were would have been great.

    Loved the Paramount! It is such a nice venue, and it's so close to the convention center. It was really cool that a city street was blocked off for the queue line. A sunshade of some sort would be nice for the area of the line that isn't shaded by buildings, but that wasn't a very large area anyway. I'm just glad it didn't rain because that would have seriously sucked.

    More tabletop space would be great! It was hard to find a table to play on, but that's probably because the tabletop library is always so awesome.

    I really missed the Rock Band stage this year!

    Hopefully they can get the counterfeit badge thing under control next year... I was pulled aside to have my badge checked, but it was quick and friendly so it wasn't such a big deal. I would prefer to have my legitimate badge checked for legitimacy, than to risk PAX being over capacity and getting shut down.

  • dyaballikldyaballikl PAX Main Theatre House & Security Manager • PAX Community Cartographer Gold Coast QLD AustraliaRegistered User regular
    jrr8942 wrote:
    I liked the Paramount as a venue but I don't think the theater staff knew how to deal with PAX. They would not allow outside food and drink and I understand the need to make money but there were people who sat in line for 2 hours and they should be allowed to keep there bottled water. Also when I did purchase a drink from them I could not drink it at my seat. It seems like they are used to shows with assigned seats, tickets, and an intermission.
    I can at least respond to this one. There was a miscommunication early on about outside food and drinks. I took care of it when I found out midway through Friday.

    a.k.a. dya
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  • ColdbrewColdbrew Down in Front Productions Lake Stevens, WARegistered User regular
    edited August 2011
    Bring back The Protomen. I saw them Sunday night, and their non-PAX shows are awesome, but I still want to see them back on the PAX main stage. Or if not them, The Megas would be cool to see here too.
    Supercommuter needs more exposure. I understand why they played last, like the Minibosses, but they were much better than I or any of my team expected.
    As usual I'm going to keep saying bring back The OneUps. And even Freezepop (even just for East).
    Otherwise things were ran pretty well, good show. I'll think of some other things later.

    Coldbrew on
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  • ReparadocsReparadocs Registered User regular
    edited August 2011
    The booth Grandmas at Good Old Games need to come back every year and bring their delicious cookies with them.

    EPIC FAIL!! Every cookie that a conventioner got from that booth was one less from the Cookie Brigade. Booths that compete with the known charity efforts violate Wheaton's law. Give out something else. Silly Geese.

    I am sorry to say that the Cookie Brigade cookies cannot compete. It has to do with the fact that these cookies were fresh made whereas the cookie brigade cookies were cold :(
    mcdermott wrote:
    Paramount was fuckawesome. Be there always and forever.

    Halofest was meh. And a large meh.

    This ^
    I was expecting so much more from you halofest :(
    cedelacruz wrote:

    i also think that the PAX 10 developers should be given more visibility, maybe some floor space at the sky bridge at least

    have a ticket system for the big games similar to the DMV/govt so people don't have to spend 2+ hours in line waiting and clogging up the aisles. they can still walk around and explore and come back every 20 mins or so and if they see that there number is close to being called they can then wait around
    I agree with the PAX 10 part but the ticket system is a BAD idea. People would just go around getting tickets which woud:
    A) Cause lines for getting tickets form up
    B) Most people would skip the majority of tickets they got since they would have a lot of tickets, and this would lead to unrealistic estimates of lines to games, which would lead to exhibitors not letting people get tickets for the game.
    C) Anyone who arrived an hour or more late would be at a serious disadvantage.
    MaxNV wrote:

    -PAX_Lines is a great tool and should continue being used. Also could Official_PAX please stop tweeting the percentage complete. They are the single saddest tweets of the whole weekend.
    .

    Yeah, to whoever does @Official_Pax , please stop tweeting the percent complete. It made me very sad :(

    Reparadocs on
  • GeekyPrincessGeekyPrincess Registered User regular
    The booth Grandmas at Good Old Games need to come back every year and bring their delicious cookies with them.

    I disagree with this one actually. I had more than one person tell me they weren't getting cookies from the cookie brigade because they can get them hot and fresh from Grandma upstairs.

    More than once I felt like the "silly gooseness" had been turned up this year. Convention center staff and the new "security" people just seemed snarly. I had one jump my 7 year olds butt for standing in the wrong area on Sunday, she was picking up garbage off the floor, took everything she had not to bust out in tears, guy was just a jerk. I'm not sure what can be done to fix that one, but I have never seen a group of people so genuinely unhappy to be somewhere before in my life!

    Cookie Brigade Prime 2011 and 2012!
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  • LexiconGrrlLexiconGrrl Registered User regular
    I am sorry to say that the Cookie Brigade cookies cannot compete. It has to do with the fact that these cookies were fresh made whereas the cookie brigade cookies were cold :(

    Yeah, the Cookie Brigade cookies aren't that great. I mean after all, they're homemade instead of being mass produced junk food... there are awesome themed cookies like combustible lemons and jammy dodgers...the proceeds go to a charity that the PA guys started...

    I can see why a commercially produced marketing bid handed out by paid actors who know nothing about PAX would be better hot.

    Happily on Sabbatical. Don't bug me.
  • hml151hml151 Registered User regular
    edited August 2011
    I am sorry to say that the Cookie Brigade cookies cannot compete. It has to do with the fact that these cookies were fresh made whereas the cookie brigade cookies were cold :(

    Yeah, the Cookie Brigade cookies aren't that great. I mean after all, they're homemade instead of being mass produced junk food... there are awesome themed cookies like combustible lemons and jammy dodgers...the proceeds go to a charity that the PA guys started...

    I can see why a commercially produced marketing bid handed out by paid actors who know nothing about PAX would be better hot.
    I love you LexiconGrrl and I completely agree. Not just because I donated a lot of cookies to the cause but our cookies awesome!

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  • trickycooljtrickycoolj Registered User regular
    +1 Paramount, so many times yes. I only made it to one panel there and it was sort of by accident (right place/time) and walked in after the scheduled start, it hadn’t started and got some nice seats on the balcony. As a local Seattlite, I’m ashamed I’ve never been to a show there it was so gorgeous!

    I <3 PAX always, been since 2008 and things are running so much more smoothly over past years that I only have a fairly nit-pick list and try to give constructive examples so I’m throwing it behind a spoiler.
    +1 to discouraging/limiting exhibitors with those annoying box booths. There was nothing to see and it left barren aisles in many places of the expo (Especially the SW corner of 4E on the WSCTC map where Sony was. It was a giant hallway of black walls from Sony and the actual walls of the room, it was barren and depressing) I’m really terrible at demos, I don’t have intuitive instincts for just knowing control schemes and I find many demos don’t include inverted controls so I’d rather just watch a friend or someone already at the booth. A box booth doesn’t allow that. Frankly for a few games with nutso lines I ended up reading about them on Joystiq later that night in BYOC which defeats the purpose.

    +1 to discouraging raffle mobs in the expo hall. This has improved greatly since ’08, but there are still some vendors that insist on this (Zotac/CoolerMaster looking at you). Other vendors did come back and check your ticket/twitter at a specific time, sign up for our mailing list and randomly win, like us on facebook, etc. Those things actually work.

    +1 to enforcing policy. Glad the NOS girls were told to tone down the outfits, it’s an all ages event. They kind of had a Hooters vibe, I don’t like Hooters so I avoided that whole aisle in the expo. The kicker for me was when they were allowed in BYOC. I watched a BYOC girl chase the NOS girl down just to get a sample drink (gals need caffeine too!) but guys who weren’t even interested or paying attention got bracelets slapped on them at their seats and drinks handed to them. Boo-urns! Also, not sure if it was known/dealt with but apparently CoolerMaster had a boothbabe calendar as swag. One of my “friends” stuffed one in my monitor box when I wasn’t looking during BYOC teardown. It’s really tacky and looks like those escort cards on the street in Vegas. Granted I’ll probably use it for a prank gift now…

    +1 6th floor planning. It was very often a cluster up there and made trying to get to BYOC a real pain, especially around 6:00 when the mini expo was herded out the one set of doors near Unicorn to the big escalator to the 4th floor. I <3 Enforcers, but it was a real drag to have to be herded in that mob when they had to block the hallway that went straight from the mini-expo to BYOC, it was like missing the warp zone and having to play Worlds 2 and 3 in ultra slo-mo shuffle.

    +1 bring back more free play space. Overall I felt everything was a little more commercial this year with preference to giving space to vendors/developers rather than to the actual gamers who are there to game. TT, Console, PC, BYOC were all reduced this year and I feel like that was to accommodate more booths and Halofest.

    +1 Halofest, meh. It was interesting, but it was about a 15 min walkthough. I’ve only played Halo in more recent years but it just felt like it was suited for a traveling exhibit at EMP or the Pacific Science Center. That would have allowed for the “hidden level” again with the escalators leading from the expo hall down to mini expo instead of having it up on 6th limiting BYOC/PC/Console so badly.

    +1 scalpers/forgers are lame. I’m as bummed as everyone else and know PA has some difficult decisions ahead regarding the situation. Having worked with the Seattle Fire Marshal for a Haunted House at UW I know how very difficult it is to keep them happy and would hate to see PAX run into issues and possible shut down.

    TL;DR
    Love Paramount / Box Booths bad / Expo Raffle Mobs bad / Enforcing booth policies good / 6th floor crowded bad / moar freeplay/BYOC / Send Halofest to EMP+SFM or Pac-Sci / Future badge security good

  • every day's greatevery day's great Registered User regular
    edited August 2011
    Overall, PAX was pretty fantastic. The exhibit halls were impressive and a bit overwhelming (though 6th floor wasn't bad at all when I went there) but I had the most fun at the sessions and at the excellent and usually mob-free tabletop gaming areas (+1 to WotC.)

    Very few bummers that I can think of offhand:

    1. "Gamers are second-class citizens." Reserving large sections of the Paramount theater (e.g. the entire loge section and first three rows of the mezzanine/balcony) for media was unnecessary and insulting. PAX should really be for the regular attendees, not for the media or "VIPs." Worst of all, these sections were almost entirely empty after the sessions began, but still nobody was allowed to sit there.

    2. "Oh sorry, the schedule lied." For example, the printed schedule promised that the legendary David "Zeb" Cook (designer of 2nd edition AD&D) would be at the "D&D Through the Ages" panel, and he's the reason I got in line more than an hour in advance. However, when the panel started, he was missing. I asked the panel organizers about it, and they said that they had known for a long time that he wouldn't be there and had informed PAX far in advance, but neither the printed schedule, nor the posted schedule at the room, nor the schedule in the iPhone app were updated. In the future, any changes to the schedule or panels should be clearly noted in printed updates, on the mobile app, and on the schedule that is posted at the auditorium itself.

    3. "Ahhh! It Burns!! What is that LIGHT!!!" The line outside the Paramount was, surprisingly for Seattle, scorchingly hot during the day. I can't believe I actually got .... sunburned??? If the weather has any chance of being good next year, is there any chance that the line could be moved to a sheltered or shaded location? Otherwise, warn people that they may actually need sunscreen - or an umbrella even if it's not raining.

    Thanks for listening.

    every day's great on
  • Bionic ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMBionic ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRM Registered User regular
    edited August 2011
    I also had an instance in console freeplay in which I was treated rather rudely by an enforcer.

    I was sitting at the big Street Fighter screen watching people play, waiting to get a few matches in myself. The guys who were playing right before me played first-to-three with one guy taking three games in a row before the loser surrendered his seat to me. I then take a seat, hook up my fightstick, set up my controls, and play three matches, losing all three. I start getting ready to leave.

    An enforcer then comes from nowhere and tells me that I've been playing for "a really long time", matter-of-factly telling me that "loser gets off" and ordering me to put the matches on best three out of five, and that players switch after one match. He then vanishes from the room instantly, leaving me to wonder if he even really cared, and leaving everyone else with a "what the hell was that guy's deal" look on their faces. I was playing SF4 in console freeplay a lot this weekend, and I saw a lot of people play first-to-three sets. I really feel like I was treated unfairly.

    This enforcer obviously didn't understand how casuals are played in fighting games. Both guys usually connect their sticks, rearrange the control scheme for their respective sticks, button check to see if everything is working fine, and then play a set of first-to-three, first-to-ten, or something similar. Nobody ever plays three-out-of-five round matches, it's always two rounds out of three. I play Akuma, so I like to put light kick to the right of hard kick (right where triple punch usually goes) so that I can do the Raging Demon shortcut easier. Almost nobody uses this setup, so if someone wants to use the default setup for their stick, they'll have to rearrange all the controls again every single time I finish a match. Playing big sets of matches means less hassle with people having to constantly get up and get settled, as well as ensuring the people playing at one time get a lot of time to do so. Yeah, it also means people have to watch for a while, but most fighting game enthusiasts like watching matches, and it's considered to be extremely rude to demand someone to get off and give someone else a turn during matches.

    What the enforcer said to me made me uncomfortable because I felt like I was being watched constantly/stalked by the enforcers in a way that nobody who wasn't playing a fighting game in console freeplay was subjected to, as well as the fact that the enforcer was simply being flat-out rude. I thought enforcers were supposed enforce the Don't Be A Dick rule, rather than being dicks themselves.

    Bionic ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRM on
  • CaptainTapoleCaptainTapole Awesome in the Possum - Yee-Haw! Northern CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    Time to add in mine!

    ~Basically, I am on the train of "Yay! Paramount!"
    ~I don't play Halo, but I thought Fest was cool. It made me want to buy the soundtracks...didn't but I wanted to.
    ~The WotC floors below Halo Fest = Awesome in the possum (yee-haw)
    ~Also on the forever-will-say-this-until-it-happens train of "Please bring Wil to Main Theatre."

    I spoiled what every day's great stuff and I will place in my stuff after spoiler.
    1. "Gamers are second-class citizens." Reserving large sections of the Paramount theater (e.g. the entire loge section and first three rows of the mezzanine/balcony) for media was unnecessary and insulting. PAX should really be for the regular attendees, not for the media or "VIPs." Worst of all, these sections were almost entirely empty after the sessions began, but still nobody was allowed to sit there.

    2. "Oh sorry, the schedule lied." For example, the printed schedule promised that the legendary David "Zeb" Cook (designer of 2nd edition AD&D) would be at the "D&D Through the Ages" panel, and he's the reason I got in line more than an hour in advance. However, when the panel started, he was missing. I asked the panel organizers about it, and they said that they had known for a long time that he wouldn't be there and had informed PAX far in advance, but neither the printed schedule, nor the posted schedule at the room, nor the schedule in the iPhone app were updated. In the future, any changes to the schedule or panels should be clearly noted in printed updates, on the mobile app, and on the schedule that is posted at the auditorium.

    1) I agree...to a point. I understand Media/VIPs should get SOME privileges; but I believe five minutes into the panel and there are empty seatings in that area; it should open up to the public.

    2) There were some time changes with a few of the panels throughout the weekend and luckily whomever does the Official PAX twitter feed did a good job at doing the best to keep up. The San Diego Comic-Con does these daily news letters to wrap up what happened the day before and have an updated schedule of that day. Maybe PAX can do something similar? I know it costs monies, but this is a suggestion thread after all.

    As for the GOG/Cookie Brigade. Having fresh cookies DID NOT stop me from getting other cookies and treats from the Brigade. Funny enough, I actually found a Brigadier not long after I had a GOG cookie.

    Okie. That is my stuff. Doneski.

    The Girl Who Gave Everyone the Shortest Jenga Game Ever.
  • BigRedBigRed Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    +1 to enforcing policy. Glad the NOS girls were told to tone down the outfits, it’s an all ages event. They kind of had a Hooters vibe, I don’t like Hooters so I avoided that whole aisle in the expo. The kicker for me was when they were allowed in BYOC. I watched a BYOC girl chase the NOS girl down just to get a sample drink (gals need caffeine too!) but guys who weren’t even interested or paying attention got bracelets slapped on them at their seats and drinks handed to them. Boo-urns! Also, not sure if it was known/dealt with but apparently CoolerMaster had a boothbabe calendar as swag. One of my “friends” stuffed one in my monitor box when I wasn’t looking during BYOC teardown. It’s really tacky and looks like those escort cards on the street in Vegas. Granted I’ll probably use it for a prank gift now…

    1)
    Just like last east exhibitors were let into BYOC because they want to take a look around and hand out free things to attendees (and give us more prizes). We all love more free stuff (plus hey, free energy drinks!) plus more sponsors for PC room checking things out is always awesome. This cant happen if they aren't let in... plus if they are there for work why would they pose a security risk. They are just eyeing everyone for more marketing opportunities.
    I too was kind of... cross with them randomly putting the slapbracelets on people and told them to stop when I wasn't being pulled multiple directions from various problems.

    2)
    Yeah we knew about the coolermaster thing. It was in a box of random marketing/swag stuff that came in with the PC prizes. Probably just a standard LAN sponsorship thing that was sent (not like they are trying to circumvent the boothbabe thing).
    It also wasn't a boothbabe calender but it was the girls from all the coolermaster videos on their youtube channel.
    We just laughed at it, there was only about 15 of them, I just threw them in the large box of free stuff I put out for BYOC people. If it makes you feel better you can blame me for them being given out in BYOC :P

    <MoeFwacky> besides, BigRed-Worky is right
  • trickycooljtrickycoolj Registered User regular
    BigRed wrote:
    +1 to enforcing policy. Glad the NOS girls were told to tone down the outfits, it’s an all ages event. They kind of had a Hooters vibe, I don’t like Hooters so I avoided that whole aisle in the expo. The kicker for me was when they were allowed in BYOC. I watched a BYOC girl chase the NOS girl down just to get a sample drink (gals need caffeine too!) but guys who weren’t even interested or paying attention got bracelets slapped on them at their seats and drinks handed to them. Boo-urns! Also, not sure if it was known/dealt with but apparently CoolerMaster had a boothbabe calendar as swag. One of my “friends” stuffed one in my monitor box when I wasn’t looking during BYOC teardown. It’s really tacky and looks like those escort cards on the street in Vegas. Granted I’ll probably use it for a prank gift now…

    2)
    Yeah we knew about the coolermaster thing. It was in a box of random marketing/swag stuff that came in with the PC prizes. Probably just a standard LAN sponsorship thing that was sent (not like they are trying to circumvent the boothbabe thing).
    It also wasn't a boothbabe calender but it was the girls from all the coolermaster videos on their youtube channel.
    We just laughed at it, there was only about 15 of them, I just threw them in the large box of free stuff I put out for BYOC people. If it makes you feel better you can blame me for them being given out in BYOC :P

    LOL... yeah trust me I'm getting those guys back after dumping it in my monitor box and finding it when I got home in my zombie like stupor trying to get my computer set back up so I could get on the interwebs. So thanks for the future white elephant gift. BYOC was a hoot again this year and I'm having so much fun telling all the engineers at work about our bridge. :)

  • dyaballikldyaballikl PAX Main Theatre House & Security Manager • PAX Community Cartographer Gold Coast QLD AustraliaRegistered User regular
    1. "Gamers are second-class citizens." Reserving large sections of the Paramount theater (e.g. the entire loge section and first three rows of the mezzanine/balcony) for media was unnecessary and insulting. PAX should really be for the regular attendees, not for the media or "VIPs." Worst of all, these sections were almost entirely empty after the sessions began, but still nobody was allowed to sit there.

    3. "Ahhh! It Burns!! What is that LIGHT!!!" The line outside the Paramount was, surprisingly for Seattle, scorchingly hot during the day. I can't believe I actually got .... sunburned??? If the weather has any chance of being good next year, is there any chance that the line could be moved to a sheltered or shaded location? Otherwise, warn people that they may actually need sunscreen - or an umbrella even if it's not raining.
    1. I apologize if this was the appearance. We maintained a minimal section for VIP seating (Penny Arcade peeps and the like) on one side of the loge. A couple of times, we had to expand to the other side to accommodate panelists' guests, but otherwise the other side was open to anyone. As an Enforcer, you, the attendees, are my number 1 priority. While I treat general media with respect as I serve them, believe me, you outrank them.

    3. This is a concern that I will try to share up the chain when it comes time. I carried a fair supply of SPF50 around with me for those who asked, but not enough for "the whole class."

    a.k.a. dya
    "Riding a mongoose reminds me of having sex with a man, which is something I do frequently because I am gay!" -Gabe
  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    Is this a good place to bitch about panel selection? I'm gonna anyway. Not much...I think it's obvious I still enjoyed myself. But is it just me or does PAX, each year, veer more towards the "I am a nerd who loves games and wants to work in the gaming industry" theme for panels? Only my third year, but it seems each year we get less panels aimed at fans and more aimed at people who want to work in games (to include games journalism). Especially once you slice off big single-game presentations. I just seem to remember '09 having more panels catering to a genre of games, or tabletop gaming, or wacky gaming stories, or gaming talk and a little less geared towards "I want to be a videogame tester or freelance journalist."

    Because I don't.

    I have a good paying job, and I don't want to be a videogame tester anymore than I want to be a gynecologist. I know better.

    I guess I could dig up the old programs and see if this is an actual "thing" that is happening, but talking with some friends we all seem to agree that it feels like it is.

    The suggesting, of course, being "less of this."

  • ReparadocsReparadocs Registered User regular
    I am sorry to say that the Cookie Brigade cookies cannot compete. It has to do with the fact that these cookies were fresh made whereas the cookie brigade cookies were cold :(

    Yeah, the Cookie Brigade cookies aren't that great. I mean after all, they're homemade instead of being mass produced junk food... there are awesome themed cookies like combustible lemons and jammy dodgers...the proceeds go to a charity that the PA guys started...

    I can see why a commercially produced marketing bid handed out by paid actors who know nothing about PAX would be better hot.

    To clarify, I still bought cookie brigade cookies for the good cause :D
    But I really did enjoy the fresh cookies better...they just tasted better. In addition, all the cookie brigadiers I bought from only had standard chocolate chip, bran muffins, and brownies. I was really hoping to see the themed cookies :(

  • SecretAgentCowSecretAgentCow Registered User regular
    Am I the only person who really missed the line games and the giant computer that talked to everyone in the queue room? As a side note, having the same advertisement for onlive playing for 50 minutes (at least) on loop with the same music, wore down my nerves before they even let us into the expo hall. I also agree that bigger panels (like skyrim and irrational) should have more time in between them, and should also be held in the main theater. Another thing I noticed that was a problem was having the mass effect "stage" right in the doorway to the expo hall, attracting large crowds and generally blocking the entrance to the part of the expo hall across the skybridge.

  • DaveRHDaveRH Registered User regular
    3 days is not enough, I know it won't happen...but make PAX four days :)

  • EvilBadmanEvilBadman DO NOT TRUST THIS MAN Registered User regular
    edited August 2011
    I am sorry to say that the Cookie Brigade cookies cannot compete. It has to do with the fact that these cookies were fresh made whereas the cookie brigade cookies were cold :(

    Yeah, the Cookie Brigade cookies aren't that great. I mean after all, they're homemade instead of being mass produced junk food... there are awesome themed cookies like combustible lemons and jammy dodgers...the proceeds go to a charity that the PA guys started...

    I can see why a commercially produced marketing bid handed out by paid actors who know nothing about PAX would be better hot.

    I enjoy the cookie brigade immensely and always picked up some delicious cookies. That said, you are being absolutely ridiculous about this. The cookie brigade is for charity, the GOG booth is not a competitor. They were not drinking the Cookie Brigade's milkshake.

    On to actual suggestions:

    -Love the Paramount. I kept joking that I need to see something "legitimate" there in the next year.
    -HaloFest was a one off, and I understand completely why it was done. It was a celebration of a franchise with roots in the northwest. Yes, other things could have been there, and next year there will be.
    -I still want to see an Art Gallery/Auction with Community and Famous artists selling works for Child's Play. Hell, I'd organize if it asked. :D

    EvilBadman on
    FyreWulff wrote: »
    I should note that Badman is fucking awesome
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