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Prime 2013 BYOC Information - [Sold Out!]
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Q: What does B.Y.O.C. stand for?
A: "Bring Your Own Computer" a dedicated, secure place within PAX that attendees who purchase the additional badge have the ability to bring their own computer into PAX and play with other PAX attendees! It's a gigantic LAN Party and a pretty awesome place to rest your feet when you get tired of walking around the convention!
Q: How do I purchase a BYOC Badge?
A: Badges are being sold during the PAX Prime Registration phase when you purchase your 4-Day or Single Day Badges. There is no external site for BYOC Registration and BYOC badges will be mailed to you ahead of PAX just like your Attendee Badges.
Q: How many BYOC Spots are available?
A: For Prime 2013 - Number of Seats To Be Determined - Will be similar to last year.
Q: BYOC is sold out and I didn't get a pass! Are passes set aside for later purchase? What about cancellations?
A: We do not reserve any BYOC tickets for sale at a later date, so there are no additional tickets to be sold. If there are any cancellations, we may be able to, on an extremely limited basis, offer the cancelled tickets up for general purchase. Contact registration at paxsite dot com for specific inquiries.
Q: How much does BYOC cost?
A: $35 in addition to your regular 4-Day PAX pass (or Single Day Passes, should you decide to do that).
Q: What time do you recommend (or require) people show up for BYOC check-in?
A: Check in will start at 8:00 AM, 2 hours before PAX opening on Friday. I aim to have it all complete an hour before PAX opens, to give people an hour to get their stuff hooked up and ready.
Q: What hours does the BYOC run each day?
A: Same hours as PAX. The room will have to be cleared at PAX closing. About 30min before closing there will be an in-room announcement to start wrapping up your games or whatever for the night before everyone gets kicked out at closing.
Q: Do I leave my stuff in the LAN the whole time?
A: Yes. The room is guarded all during PAX and locked up at night. We are the first ones in and the last ones out. If you must take your stuff up (like a laptop) you need to check it out at the security desk as you leave and check it back in when you return.
Q: What games are typically played?
A: Whatever is popular this year. TF2, LoL, COD4/5/6/7/etc, WoW, Starcraft 2, Portal 2, Monday Night Combat, L4D2, etc. If you want to play a game you can find others that are up for it as well.
Q: If I get a spot for the BYOC, I don't need to commit to being in there the whole time, right? Just when I feel like relaxing and playing some games with people?
A: Correct, you aren't chained to your spot in BYOC. The majority of BYOC attendees are just there in-between the PAX events that they want to go see.
Q: Can I bring my 30+ something inch monitor/TV?
A: No. The max monitor size is 27" due to power and space constraints.
Q: Can I bring my own chair?
A: No! The WSCC doesn't allow this. Please use the chairs provided.
Q: Can I bring a laptop with my desktop?
A: Yes, as long as you stay within your 30" of table space. Although remember you only get one network port and two power ports per seat and you can't use your own power strips
Q: Can I bring a switch or my own power strip to increase that?
A: NO! No outside networking devices are allowed. Any spotted will be removed.
A: Daisy chaining power strips is a HUGE NO-NO as well. Fire Marshall hates that so we need to enforce this pretty seriously. Sorry.
Q: Can I charge my iPhone, Android, iPad or other gadgets using power provided to my BYOC Seat?
A: No, you are only given two power outlets for all of your stuff. If you need to charge your phone or other device, bring a USB cable.
Q: Do I need to bring a network cable?
A: Yes. You will need a network cable to hook your computer up to the network switch at your table. Bring around a 25ft cable otherwise, depending where you are sitting, the switch may be out of your cables reach.
Q: Can I bring *insert friend/Girlfriend/spouse/random person here* in BYOC with me?
A: No, Sorry. To ensure the security of everyone's personal equipment in a busy area such as PAX, only BYOC attendees are allowed into the BYOC room.
Q: Is there Internet in BYOC?
A: Yes there will be, although it will be locked down to prevent things like torrenting and throttled so not one person can use up all the bandwidth.
Q: But... how am I supposed to get my computer there?
A: Drive it! An alternate option which I have used to attend LANs that are far away, is to ship yourself your computer/monitor to your hotel you are staying at. If you call them and say you have a package coming they will hold it for you until you check-in. Just ship it back to yourself when PAX is over. There is a FedEx Office in the WSCC!
Q: Can I bring my xbox/playstation/nintendo console?
A: Sorry, no consoles allowed in here. This is a PC LAN. You cant being a console in addition either, those things use up a lot of power.
Q: Can I Bring a cooler in for drinks/snacks?
A: Yes but only small personal coolers /w no ice (use the frozen gelpacks). If it has more than one handle and/or wheels then it wont be allowed in (think lunch sized cooler).
Q: Can I email you my question?
A: Yes! Feel free to email PC Questions to pax_pc at penny-arcade dot com
All information is subject to change as thats the nature of the convention beast.
Vapok
Vapok
Will the group seating threshold be 6 again this year?
Yes.
Vapok
Cool, thanks!
There will be a separate thread for that as we get closer to PAX. They usually don't pop up until a month or two before PAX. Keep watching the forums. Also, keep in mind that PAX tourneys aren't usually hardcore competitive - they tend to be fun for all.
Vapok
This won't be the proper thread for this, however, I can tell you that we are working on some changes to the structure of tournaments that we do in the PC Room. There will be another thread for that as we near closer to the show.
Vapok
Thanks for the info though, I will watch this forum for that thread.
This year was 10x worse then last year.. this will be my first PAX without BYOC.. and at East this year probabbly 1/4 of the people didn't even check in. BYOC should be sold the same as PAX Dev, the people that went last year should get first chance to buy for this year.. open it a day or two early for BYOC to people that signed up last year.
Just my 2 cents. Hopefully some more tickets open up.. I don't know what I'll do without my game time.
Your concerns, and thoughts are heard. That's all I can say for the time being.
There is a possibly of doing a survey for all BYOC attendees. More on that later too.
I would modify this suggestion to be early BYOC reg for people who registered the previous year AND actually brought a computer! Always saddens me to see empty table space every year when there are so many who desperately want in so they can actually participate. This will be my first PAX without BYOC also and its a shame I wont be bringing my new water-cooled rig. It is very pretty, you peeps would like it.
More BYOC tickets please. Seperate them from the main ticket ordering system in the future.
If any badges become available, and I find out about it, I'll post here as soon as I can.
Vapok
PAX Prime Attendee since 2006, BYOC Attendee 2008-2012, Buttoneer 2010-2014
https://www.pinnypals.com/pals/alegria
Anyone else seeing the same thing?
I don't really have any specifics or idea why, but I agree with Vanus that it probably has something to do with the fact that it was an add-on and not a "ticket". If you were charged appropriately, I would not worry.
Vapok
Sorry about hearing this, but it sounds like you've got a plan figured out. Come on by and say hi to BYOC. If you want to run the collection bucket through BYOC, I can have an Enforcer escort you around. See me at the show if I can be of assistance.
Vapok
Oooh, fabulous. Thank you.
I'll miss hanging out in BYOC, but I didn't game nearly as much as some folks did and I decided it was time to let those who are more into the LAN thing take my spot. Also, since my husband runs one of the theaters, I have an alternative place onsite to store my stuff.
PAX Prime Attendee since 2006, BYOC Attendee 2008-2012, Buttoneer 2010-2014
https://www.pinnypals.com/pals/alegria
I quit after last prime, I am not running BYOC this year.
Took a promotion at work that is preventing me from working PAX until I have more sway with my days off. But hey... extra $1k a month. Not passing that up.
I actually have to work 6h a day during this PAX (except on Monday). I either need to drive to redmond or work from my hotel. I did get a BYOC seat though, unsure if I will be going though.
I know personally I wouldn't feel compelled to get all 4 days if I knew I could be in BYOC for all 4 and just hit the expo/conference areas for a day or two. Also I think this would help BYOC stay more full and alive.
I'm not suggesting it for this year because I suspect the BYOC room is too tightly integrated into the rest of PAX to make that possible.
Some people who attended previously got an e-mail alerting them they were on sale, some didn't. It was a mess. Not to mention the stress for my friends and I of knowing we had our PAX badges, but not knowing if we'd all get BYOC badges. I vote to keep it this way (PAX and BYOC on sale at the same time).
With that said, I'd like to move forward with this discussion and keep this thread for any other questions, comments about case mods, anecdotal BYOC stories, or other discussions regarding possible ideas for contests that @s7arbuck might end up doing.
Vapok