As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/

Buttoneering! - IT IS TIME

jonxpjonxp [E] PC SecurityRegistered User regular
edited August 2013 in PAX West
Do you hear the sound of scarves covered in metal? That's right, let's get ready for...

PAX PRIME BUTTONEERING 2013!

This is our sixth year doing it, and we definitely have a groove going. However let's do something new this year, shall we? See here for details. The new instructions are just below under the heading "How do I Participate?"

g6593.png

What is Buttoneering?

Buttoneering is a meta-game that takes place every year at PAX Prime (and to a lesser extent PAX East and other events). You play by printing up a large number of buttons with a picture that represents you, and then find other people at your event to trade with you. It is remarkably easy to do, and it's a great way to meet people. Additionally, you come away with a huge number of buttons that are a unique souvenir of your time.

What are the rules?

Well, there are only a couple. First, if you get a button you should give a button, and vice versa. This applies to the "avatar" button, which is the one that represents you personally. If you have made other buttons representing a group, game, or are just something special, you can set your own rules for what people need to do to get them. As usual, follow Wheaton's Law for maximum fun.

How did Buttoneering start?

It started out as a problem at PAX 2008 for members of the Pax Forum Community. They wanted a way to be able to pick each other out of the crowd of more than 55,000 gamers. The initial idea was for t-shirts with everyone's avatars printed on them. Once someone pointed out the added benefit of being able to smell fellow forum members coming, other ideas were proposed.

Finally, everyone settled on making buttons with their avatars on them. After some initial research, it was discovered that one could get bulk amounts of these created for relatively cheaply, and the idea of PAX Button Exchange was born!

Where can I get buttons?

We recommended PureButtons because of their excellent customer service, good prices, and being all-around cool folks. No, we don't get paid to say that. If you're not in the U.S., feel free to ask in the thread to find info on providers closer to home, or if you're the trusting type, ask if you can ship the buttons to someone who is, to save yourself some shipping costs.

How do I participate?

Here are the steps for participating in Buttoneering:
  1. Choose your button size and shape, and make your artwork. 1.5 inch round buttons are by far the most popular, and are a good compromise between price and size.
  2. Upload your artwork to BUTTONEERING!, our official Buttoneering site.
  3. Put your button's rim text on your button somewhere: While logged in to Buttoneering, click on the magnifying glass for your button and scroll to the bottom of the page that comes up.
    • If you are buying from PureButtons: Copy the text from the text box, and paste it into the additional notes when you make your order
    • If you need to put the text on manually: Place the part in bold somewhere on your button, preferably along the rim where it is out of the way, but still findable.
  4. Order your buttons. 100-150 buttons is a good base amount, but feel free to go with more...there are usually more than 200 buttons available for trade! If you order from PureButtons, be sure to use the discount code PAXPRIME and put your rim text in the notes!
  5. Go to PAX, trade with other Buttoneers, take pictures, have fun, and go home with a giant collection.

Other frequently asked questions:
Q. Why do you only list Purebuttons.com as a source of buttons? Are you banging the owner?
You are free to have your buttons made by anyone, make them your self if you'd like. Our prior experience shopping around last year has shown that you really can't beat the price Purebuttons offers for buttons in bulk. If you can, let us know your insider info.

Q. How do I get a button? What are these "bonus buttons"?
The buttons fall in to two categories, the "avatar" or "main" buttons, and the "bonus" variety. While there are no set rules for trading them, these general guidelines are encouraged:
- Avatar buttons should be traded for other Avatar buttons, with no challenges or criteria expected to be fulfilled other than you are both Buttoneers.
- Bonus buttons may (or may not!) have special criteria for receiving them, and may go to people outside the button game who fulfill the criteria. This could be a challenge ("What is the flightspeed of an unladen swallow?"), a requirement ("You must be a member of the CEOs of America Club"), or one may just ask for one (remember to say "Please").

Q. I want to make people stand on their head, nude, while singing "Yankee Doodle" to receive my buttons! Can't I do that?
It is perfectly within your rights, but don't expect many people to trade their buttons back with you.

Q. Do I have to purchase hundreds of buttons to participate?
Purchase as many or as little as you want. As they say the more the merrier, more than likely you will only be able to recieve as many buttons as you have to give. Last year a somewhat active person could easily go through 100+ buttons.

Q. With 55,000+ people, how will I find you all to get my trade on?
Many if not most of us will be attending various community ran events. Feel free to stop by the Pre-PAX Dinner, the Pre-PAX Movie, Pre-PAX Pubcrawl, or the Pre-PAX Breakfast. We'll be there in droves. No one had any problems finding buttons last year. We stand out pretty hard.

Q. I want to make sure I get EVERY SINGLE BUTTON I can, will there be a Buttoneer meetup?
YES. We always meet in front of the convention center after the last round of the Omegathon.

Q. You said this is a game! How do we know who won?
Everyone is a winner! Especially you! You're so special, you know that?

Q. Will I be able to fly with my buttons. Are they considered an instrument of death?
As confirmed by the US TSA and experience from past years, 1" -1.5" buttons are not classified as an instrument of death even if you have a 100, and can be carried on or checked (they did say that depending on the TSA Agent you may be asked [forced at gun point] to check the buttons).
But remember this only applies to people whose flight originates in the US. If you are flying into the US with buttons make sure you check with your TSA equivalent before bringing them on a plane. The TSA people here also highly suggested that you check with US Customs (contact via your local embassy) before you try and bring them into the country (they indicated that the problem isn't with the button it's with what you could be hiding in the button). Recap: If you're in the US you can fly w/ buttons, if you're not you're probably better off mailing.


Event Schedule

We have THREE meetups planned to hopefully meet as many people's needs as possible, now with social media links to share pictures! The two morning ones are at the Juicy Cafe, which is on the second floor of the convention center, behind the escalators. The last day one is, as always, in front of the convention center.

Saturday Morning, 9AM @ Juicy Cafe (Facebook) (Google+)
Sunday Morning, 9AM @ Juicy Cafe (Facebook) (Google+)
Monday Afternoon, After the Omegathon in front of the convention center main entrance (Facebook) (Google+)


About BUTTONEERING!.org

As of 2011, our official Buttoneering website is http://buttoneering.org. Usage is completely optional, but it does provide a number of benefits that make it worth the 60 seconds or so that it takes to sign up...
  • Upload your buttons and see everyone else's
  • Easily track the ones you've collected
  • Lots of cool filters and sorting to help you find the button you're looking for
  • Hosting for your finished button designs with the code to embed it in the forums
  • Keep up with your collection from year to year, event to event, so you can see just how much awesome you've seen

This way, we have a very convenient way for everyone to see the buttons and hopefully build upon it with buttoneering apps and the like!

So sign up, (make sure to use your forum name from here!), check your email for the confirmation, and then upload your artwork.


Before clicking on any of the links below, be aware that there are some NSFW buttons.

Click here for the list of this year's buttons!
Click here for last Prime's buttons.
Click here for last East's buttons.

Are you not on the list? Then you didn't sign up at http://buttoneering.org, so do it right away!

Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
jonxp on
«13456713

Posts

  • Little Miss RachelLittle Miss Rachel Geek Chick Before Geek Was Chic Idahoan ExileRegistered User regular
    New is scary! D=

    (Actually, so long as the core concept stays the same, which it sounds like it will, I'm okay with something a little different. ^_^)

  • SmallLadySmallLady Registered User regular
    Has anyone emailed purebuttons yet to ask if they will give us a coupon code again this year?

    "we're just doing what smalllady told us to do" - @Heels
  • JulietJuliet Registered User regular
    I am new to this. How many buttons do most people order?

  • ramen215ramen215 Registered User regular
    WOOOOT! Buttoneering! Looking forward to the huge meet up as it was so much fun last year :) I'll get started on my design IMMEDIATELY!

    Track Record: ~Prime '12 Prime '13
  • bloatedhippobloatedhippo Registered User regular
    This is gonna be awesome!

  • SerenitySerenity Registered User regular
    SmallLady wrote: »
    Has anyone emailed purebuttons yet to ask if they will give us a coupon code again this year?

    Most likely. I'm assuming JohnXP would have done it.
    Suggestion regarding the Post-PAX meetup: Make it somewhere else besides in front of the convention centre.
    I don't know about other people but in previous years I've found it very crowded and hard to maneuver around to do your last trading.
    It seems to be regular public mixed with other PAXers mixed with buttoneers.

    I'm going to suggest the back garden courtyard area instead.
    I don't think that's closed off after PAX closes, is it?

    qxd8or7ouox3.png
  • ramen215ramen215 Registered User regular
    Just a BIT off topic (though still on the topic of Buttoneering), does anyone have the group shot of the Buttoneers from Prime '12 next to the Juicy Cafe?

    Track Record: ~Prime '12 Prime '13
  • MightyMighty Omeganaut '15 '16 '17 NebraskaRegistered User regular
    I already purchased my buttons, and now they await trading in a bag in my room. Also, I purchased a doctors overcoat so I could attach all buttons I receive to it!

    Twitch: twitch.tv\dreadmighty
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    Serenity wrote: »
    Suggestion regarding the Post-PAX meetup: Make it somewhere else besides in front of the convention centre.
    I don't know about other people but in previous years I've found it very crowded and hard to maneuver around to do your last trading.
    It seems to be regular public mixed with other PAXers mixed with buttoneers.

    I'm going to suggest the back garden courtyard area instead.
    I don't think that's closed off after PAX closes, is it?

    The issue with making it in the freeway park area is that it's harder to find for people that don't really *know* the area. Also remember people will be coming from all over downtown at the end of PAX, and not just from the convention center. Out in front is super easy for everyone to find.

  • KomiKomi Registered User regular
    Buttons buttons~ Everybody love da buttons. Kind of excited to see what this new thing might be!
    Juliet wrote: »
    I am new to this. How many buttons do most people order?
    Generally speaking I've seen the usual recommended amount be 100 at a minimum. I personally go for 150 though.

    -PAX Prime 2014-
    [x]In awe that my 30 minute badge window prediction was pretty close to accurate.
    [x]Badge (HOLYCRAPIGOTA4DAY!)
    [x]Hotel
    [ ]Airfare
    [ ]Buttoneering Buttons
    [ ]Challenge Coin
  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    SmallLady wrote: »
    Has anyone emailed purebuttons yet to ask if they will give us a coupon code again this year?

    I'm working with them on something. Don't worry. That's why I said in the title to not order your buttons yet. :D

    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
    3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
    PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
  • MembinoMembino Registered User regular
    yay buttons. i was hoping this would happen again!

  • bigwahbigwah Registered User regular
    Sweet, cant wait to do this again. Didn't realize that I did this the starting year(seems like so long ago too!)

    LoL Tribunal:
    "Was cursing, in broken english at his team, and at our team. made fun of dead family members and mentioned he had sex with a dog."
    "Hope he dies tbh but a ban would do."
  • ptriz21_teamkillptriz21_teamkill Registered User regular
    Looking to buttoneer for the first time. Standing by...

    3DS: 3325-2059-2105
  • kemikalkemikal Registered User regular
    Wait wut. What kind of "new" are we talking about?

    Assassin's Ball, Prime '13: @CowboyVerse
    TWDT '13: Hufflepuff OotP
  • SerenitySerenity Registered User regular
    kemikal wrote: »
    Wait wut. What kind of "new" are we talking about?

    Yeah I'm curious about that as well.

    qxd8or7ouox3.png
  • contrefaitcontrefait Registered User regular
    Well crap.. I think I'm running out of Lucas Arts adventure games I've played to use for my buttons. Guess I'm going to have to play them all again to find a good scene.

    Oh darn.

    Also, new sounds scary.

    PAX East 2016 Checklist
    Passes: ▬ Hotel: ▬ Flight: [color=red]☑[/color]
  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    edited April 2013
    OK, so here's the deal. I had a grand idea that it turns out isn't possible, and to avoid raising expectations for future years, I won't go in to it. Fortunately I had a couple smaller ideas that we CAN do, and we're getting a little help on it.

    So here's the thing. Back when we started Buttoneering, the idea was to put our forum avatars on a button so we knew who was who. That worked pretty well for all of one year. No one wants to do the *same* buttons again every year, right? So we started making awesome unique (or not so unique) designs that we traded, but then no one could tell who was who purely from the buttons without knowing all the designs. Two years ago I introduced the Buttoneering! website so we could keep track of the buttons, but it turns out it's really hard to go through 250 buttons to mark off the one you have in your hand.

    So here's our problem, we have lots of buttons that, while cool, aren't easily associated with a forum member, a certain PAX, or even easy to find on the website.

    I propose a solution! The only design allowed is a QR code in a specific format this year!

    No, I'm kidding, of course. I figure we use the rim of the button to put all this information. I suggest the following format: "[EVENT] - [FORUM NAME] - [BUTTON ID]"...for example "PAX Prime 2013 - JonXP - 12345". The button ID will make it easy to find on the website, as I'll explain in a moment. I am working on a few things to support this:

    - When you upload your artwork to Buttoneering!, I'll list the EXACT format for you in the "detail view" of the button.
    - If you use PureButtons, they will add the text for you! In the additional notes about your order, add 'Rim Text: "[RIM TEXT]"' and they'll take care of it.
    - When it comes time to record your buttons, you'll be able to sort by user on the Buttoneering! website and I'll even have a fast entry field where you can simply type in the number on the button to mark it as collected.


    As always, this is completely voluntary (just like using the website is!), but I hope that you guys like the idea. I tried to take as much pain as possible out of it, by providing the information for you, and PureButtons will add the text for you. If you prefer, you can still do it yourself, and if you order from somewhere else, you'll definitely want to do it yourself.

    No this isn't my own unique idea, and thanks to the people who suggested it. Also thanks to PureButtons for offering to do extra work on our buttons while still providing us with a coupon code! I'm going to work on the site this weekend, and on Monday I'll post the coupon code along with the site changes to support this idea.

    Let me know what you think!

    jonxp on
    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
    3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
    PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    I like it. Let's get started!

  • ramen215ramen215 Registered User regular
    Sounds great to me! I have a few ideas for designs in mind so I'm gonna get going with that :)

    Track Record: ~Prime '12 Prime '13
  • Knight_Knight_ Dead Dead Dead Registered User regular
    Oh geeze. I have to come up with another idea again already? I'm beginning to see the flaws in East/Prime both having buttoneering! :P

    Thanks for organizing this again jonxp, buttoneering is the best!

    aeNqQM9.jpg
  • InfidelInfidel Heretic Registered User regular
    Yay buttons!

    OrokosPA.png
  • KellyShepard087KellyShepard087 Myrtle Beach SCRegistered User regular
    New idea sounds great to me! I usually put my forum name and Pax Prime year on mine. So moving to the rim is cool for me.

    I already have a great idea for my button, just gotta get to work on making it.
    For those who may remember mine from last year. I have about 50-75 of my N7 buttons left over. They are going to be my bonus buttons this year. So brush up on your Mass Effect trivia if you want one! ;)

    - Biting's excellent! It's like kissing. Only there's a winner.

    Pax Attendee/Enforcer:
    Prime - '11 Attendee, '12 Enforcer, '13 Enforcer
    East - '12 Attendee, '15 Enforcer
  • SerenitySerenity Registered User regular
    edited April 2013
    John, I like it! Good compromise for the 'avatar on your button' problem.
    Although that being said, what I usually do is change my avatar each year and make that my button.

    Edit: don't get me wrong though, all for this new idea!

    Serenity on
    qxd8or7ouox3.png
  • BaghdadBeanBaghdadBean Wrench Wench Scio-Lacomb, ORRegistered User regular
    Sheesh, you mean I don't have to keep changing avatars each year to match my buttons? Well... okay.

    Seriously, it really is great of the guys-n-gals of purebuttons.com to go the extra mile on putting the rim text in there for us. I heartily approve of this idea.

  • kemikalkemikal Registered User regular
    Nice solution to the problem many people had last year, jonxp. It certainly seems a lot less complicated than some of the suggestions being tossed around in the Buttoneering thread after last year's Prime. :)

    Also, I'm actually seriously considering making my button a QR code now.

    Assassin's Ball, Prime '13: @CowboyVerse
    TWDT '13: Hufflepuff OotP
  • KodiSirKodiSir SeattleRegistered User regular
    Wow this is such a cool idea! Has anyone come up with a design yet? Figure I'll make something cool and change my avatar to that.

  • InfidelInfidel Heretic Registered User regular
    Went through to find my button images from previous years, spoilered for huge!
    2008
    button.jpg

    2009
    paxbutton09.jpg

    2010 (and bonus)
    button10.png
    button10bonus.png

    2011
    button11.png

    2012
    button12.png

    Damned if I know what I'll do this year, but I'll think of something.

    OrokosPA.png
  • contrefaitcontrefait Registered User regular
    @jonxp awesome idea and awesome work getting PB to help out

    PAX East 2016 Checklist
    Passes: ▬ Hotel: ▬ Flight: [color=red]☑[/color]
  • EnigmasEnigmas Registered User regular
    I was waiting for this thread so I could change my signature for 2013.
    Yay Buttoneering!

    3DS: 4871-3908-4971
    Hungry? The Cookie Brigade!
    PAX Prime 2013 Buttoneer! Main Design! And the Creeper is still waiting for you...

    Slytherin House Elf for the Order of the Phoenix!
    Just because we're arrogant, doesn't mean we're (completely) evil.
  • Sharkey1337Sharkey1337 Registered User regular
    edited April 2013
    ramen215 wrote: »
    Just a BIT off topic (though still on the topic of Buttoneering), does anyone have the group shot of the Buttoneers from Prime '12 next to the Juicy Cafe?

    Finally found it in last year's thread:

    zerzhul on
  • Sleepy KittySleepy Kitty Registered User regular

    Was wondering when this thread was gonna show up , I usually have my forum name on the button, but I should be able to move it to the rim ... I'll make Draklan work on that part for me :) I already have my button all figured out just have to "make the design fit" and I'll be off to the races.

    I do have a suggestion tho for the meetup(s) :

    I loved the Saturday morning meetup last year, and suggest doing it again , as well as on Sunday morning, that way those that are not attending for all 4 days still have a great chance of hooking up for buttons. Just my $0.02

    Can't wait to see everyone's buttons

  • KodiSirKodiSir SeattleRegistered User regular
    Is there a set size you guys usually use for these?

  • InfidelInfidel Heretic Registered User regular
    The 1.5" round buttons are the typical ones.

    OrokosPA.png
  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    Hey, I did something slightly early! I'm pretty sure that's completely unheard of.

    The first change is live on the site now, on the bottom of your button's page, there's the info for the new rim text. As we get closer to Prime I'll be updating the Android app and the search function of the site as well.

    I've put our coupon code in the OP with the new set of instructions. Because this is new there are BOUND to be hiccups. PLEASE let me know if anyone runs in to any kind of issue, even a minor one.

    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
    3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
    PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
  • CaptainTapoleCaptainTapole Awesome in the Possum - Yee-Haw! Northern CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    Enigmas wrote: »
    I was waiting for this thread so I could change my signature for 2013.
    Yay Buttoneering!
    What she said. And I think I found my design this year (yes, still frogs ;P ) but I need to futz with it. Sadly, due to financial crunch, I will only be doing primary (avatar) buttons.

    The Girl Who Gave Everyone the Shortest Jenga Game Ever.
  • KellyShepard087KellyShepard087 Myrtle Beach SCRegistered User regular
    So, I have this really grand idea of putting icons of Doctor Who, Firefly, and Mass Effect in the pieces of the Triforce. Total nerd/geek overload. :p

    I present this question to you guys. Which icon fits best with which Triforce peace? Wisdom/Power/Courage.

    I was thinking;

    Wisdom: Doctor WHo
    Power: Mass Effect
    Courage: Firefly

    - Biting's excellent! It's like kissing. Only there's a winner.

    Pax Attendee/Enforcer:
    Prime - '11 Attendee, '12 Enforcer, '13 Enforcer
    East - '12 Attendee, '15 Enforcer
  • TalesofZTalesofZ Registered User regular
    edited April 2013
    < Well there's my button It's a bucktooth narwhal yelling PAX! Also I'm going to order buttons soon and I was looking how much the discount code took off and it said is was invalid?

    TalesofZ on
    nc5rz8hazxgz.png
  • elleecstaticelleecstatic Registered User regular
    So, I have this really grand idea of putting icons of Doctor Who, Firefly, and Mass Effect in the pieces of the Triforce. Total nerd/geek overload. :p

    I present this question to you guys. Which icon fits best with which Triforce peace? Wisdom/Power/Courage.

    I was thinking;

    Wisdom: Doctor WHo
    Power: Mass Effect
    Courage: Firefly

    *fangirl scream*

    anyways, im super excited for this! Already got a crap ton of ideas swirling around in my head....

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    edited April 2013
    So any tips on font/size to help make the writing more legible? I did this last year on my Captain America shield and it was hard to read. I would like to add it myself so I can see placement and font.

    adias.angel on
    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
This discussion has been closed.