Open Complaint to Peter Adkison

[trancejeremy]

It seems to me that a lot of problems are because it's happening in a location where the company running it isn't located.

There's a reason it was held as close to the headquarters to TSR as possible, in years past.

They can probably only afford to fly a limited people in for the con from Seattle. The rest will probably be local temps, and not know much about what they are doing.

 

[Glyfair]

There's a reason it was held as close to the headquarters to TSR as possible, in years past.

Actually, I don't think this was the reason. GenCon (which, I believe, is short for "Lake Geneva Convention"), predates TSR and even D&D.

It's just that GenCon became the big convention because it was the closest to TSR. TSR supporting the local convention lead to GenCon becoming the premiere gaming & roleplaying convention in the nation.

Glyfair of Glamis

 

[JoeGKushner]

As far as Gen Con next year, I hate to say this, but I'll probably go. As you might be able to tell from my other Gen Con Report Post, I like Gen Con. I love the people, the products, the sense of "Hey, this is where the people with the same hobby go." type of deal.

It's really going to depend on what Peter's answer to me is because I sent him a copy of my letter as well.

If there's even the hint that it's my fault for not registering ahead of time or that indeed, I shouldn't be giving the Staff People any crap, then my readers, "It's On." so to speak. I've got the photos (not all of which were posted here) and I've got the thousands of witnessess.

 

[Cog]

Well, I just got back from Indy. While I managed to pre-book my tickets for GenCon (with the exception of the Generic Tickets, which were pretty hard to order online), I still intend to write Peter a letter pointing out the things that need improving at GenCon. The lines were awful. We passed by at 3pm each day, and there were lines out of the door still. I think that they a) need more staff and better equipment next year, and b) need to extend the exhibit hall's opening hours.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Indeed, while I also preregistered, the lines were quite rediculous. We wanted to get generic tickets for True Dungeon, but the computer was down from 2pm to virtually closing of the line on Wednesday. We gave up, even though it sounded incredibly cool.

My dad came up on Friday to meet us and go to the Con. At 2pm, the line was still out the door and down the block. Absolutely insane. Who wants to stand in line for 4-5 hours to pay $23 in order to look at the Exhibit Hall or Art Hall for 1 hour or less (since both closed at 6)?

That said, I personally had fun, but that was because I preregistered for everything aside from the generic tickets. One friend of ours signed up for three games and the DM failed to show up for each one. Bad mojo there. Very bad mojo.

 

[Dextolen]

I pre-registered so had none of the line issues that some of you did (although one of my friends did, he waited 4 hours on Thurs).

My problem is with the early closing times of booths and food vendors. I had a D&D Game (Dragons, Dragons everywhere) scheduled for 9:30pm and the DM didn't show. We waited for about 5 minutes before going to the refund booth, which was closed. I went to customer service for the rest of the group. The blue shirt signed my ticket and I asked her to come back with me and sign the other 7 players' tickets and she refused, telling me to tell them to come to her. She had two redshirts there at the desk and no one was in line, she could have come the 50 feet to the room but didn't.

ATMs ran dry, pop machines emptied, food booths closed at 9. What was a person to do for eats at night if they wanted to stay in the building? If they kept them open a few hours longer they would have made a ton of money at minimal cost.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I pre-registered so had none of the line issues that some of you did (although one of my friends did, he waited 4 hours on Thurs).

Please make sure that your friends read this post and write their own letters of complaint.

It is vital that this nonsense not be allowed to slip under the table as the ravings of one disappointed fan or a few bad apples. Only be being vocal can we insure that this is not an issue in the future and that if it happens again, that it's fixed at the time instead of a promise not to happen in the future (again.)

 

[Shag]

I am new here but I have a question.

Why do you have to pay to get into these things?
Isn't it basically like a big farmers market where you go in and buy things? So its like a really big store? I don't pay to get into my store.

And the people that work there are volunteers? So no over head there...

I've gone to few home and garden shows and you don't have to pay to get into those.

Why don't they just dispense with the whole badges thing and just let who ever in that wants to go... they'll probably just sell more stuff if it were free. Less hasle too.

Sorry but I'm a n00b.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Game conventions, as well as scifi conventions, usually have more than just vendors. They also have guests, seminars, and, in the case of game conventions, hundreds of games being run all day and night (but I believe you have to pay extra to play). It's not just a big flea market.

 

[Shag]

Okay but still a home and garden show has all of these things.

Sometimes I think they charge you just because you expect to be charged, and you don't seem to have a problem with it.

You are really paying for them to advertise to you.

Sorry didn't mean to go off topic or anything. I will go and relurk.