Adkison's Gen Con report

[Mistwell]

Peter, assuming you are reading this, I'd like to offer a brief comment. The Gen Con website isn't particularly friendly to people after the pre-reg date passes. You cannot view the event schedule at that point, unless you attempt to trick the system into thinking you are pre-reged. In addition, near and at the date of the event, many of the pages still read "under contruction" (or something similar). This hurts entities like the press, who want to go there and get further information about scheduled events.

Hopefully by December's So. Cal. con, the web page will be up and functioning fully several weeks before the event, and the event schedule will be viewable by anyone.

Thanks.

 

[RangerWickett]

Peter Adkinson is the man. He should get an award or something.

ADKISON

 

[JoeGKushner]

I'm glad that he acknowledges the problem.

However, there are two issues.

1. He points out that the system couldn't handle the volume or that the volume contributed to the system issues. I keep saying this but we (the fans) were told it was moving because of this issue in Milwaukee.

2. I was in that line Saturday. Unless they were doing something outside, tor at the back, here was nothing goin on in my part of the line at 3:15 PM.

3. It still doesn't address compensation for heatstroke (which my buddy had a touch of), potential health problems, and other issues that people who had to wait in line suffered or those who want more than the refund.

I'm glad that he chose to come out and say X, Y and Z were bad and that it won't happen again though.

 

[diaglo]

great con.

but i too have some suggestions.

i'm a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). they have an orientation the first day where everyone has a meet and greet. although only ~10000 people it is still nice. multiple computers for messages only for those attending the con. and a place to plug in laptops if you want to go off site visiting. limited to 10 mins. when seminars cancel. signage. or move include a map to the new location. use the PA system more in the exhibit hall. a place to meet and greet set aside for that purpose. refreshments or entertainment for those in long lines.

all three of my events cancelled. none of the DMs showed. and i wish i had a chance to know beforehand. i would've found alternate events or seminars.

 

[kkoie]

I like what adkison had to say a lot. It sounds like next years con will be even better. As for the virus problem, I'm suprised they didn't have a firewall installed. Well I'm sure their system will be more secure next year.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Without being unduly negative, and not wishing to harp on about it, if he was this happy to work on GenCon Europe there would be even more happy gamers in the world.

Glad you guys all had such fun, just wish our event had been as well organised.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Peter,
Thanks for making my first GenCon great. Overall, I was very pleased with the way things ran, but I have a couple suggestions for next year.

1. Please staff the information booth with people who actually have information on events, or have access to find the information. I had a few questions to ask at the info booth over the course of the 4 days of the con, and each time I was told "Um, I don't know, but maybe he/she does", and when I asked the same question of the person I was refered to, was basically told "I don't know, but thats a good question" These were not difficult questions-Do you need a ticket to attend the various talks if you did not preregester for them? Where are the anime rooms? What time does x event start? I eventually found most of the answers I needed by looking deeper in the program booklet, but these are the types of things the info booth should be able to answer without too much difficulty.

2. E-mail computers-lock down the desktops with some sort of security software that doesn't allow for files to be saved to the PCs. This type of software is used on public PCs everywhere-libraries, internet cafes, etc. Also, basic virus protection software to monitor incoming email/files is a necessity on any PC, especially one that the public has access to, for exactly the problems you encountered.

3. Longer hall hours. Closing at 6pm was too early. I know they were long days for the vendors, but as a customer, I spent most of my time in the hall demoing games and shopping.

Thanks, I look forward to next year!
Rich

 

[Mistwell]

Next Gen Con is in 6 months (December). Why do people keep saying next year?

 

[Ed Cha]

I had a great time at Gen Con Indy and really enjoyed the city of Indianapolis! It was a fantastic four days of gaming, meeting people, etc.

Besides the long wait in lines for people to get in (which probably did affect sales), my only complaint is that the floors felt really hard. Maybe the carpeting was not thick enough. I heard some other exhibitors mentioning this problem, too, so I don't think it was just me.

Regardless, I think the move to Indianapolis was a great one! Next year it is only going to be better.

 

[der_kluge]

Diaglo, the cancelling of events has always been a problem, and probably is a problem for every convention. A Microbiology seminar is likely held by professionals, for professionals, and the seminars and "Events" as it where are being put on by professionals. At GenCon, any schmoe can run an event, and then know show - possibly for fully legitimate reasons. Also, a convention like the AMA one you describe probably has seminars and events for dozens of people, at GenCon, you run events for about 6-8 people, which means there are tons of events to keep track of, each being ran by different people.

In short, there may in fact be no way to know if a GM cancels or simply doesn't show until the event itself starts up.

The thing I've seen people do is "camp" at a table with generic tickets hoping to get into the event. If they can't, then they have to leave, and by the time it is resolved, there is nothing to play in for the next 4 hours. I know, I've been there and done it. That's why an awesome pick-up game area needs to be implemented - and managed. And this year, neither of those were true.