The Hoolies - Almost Live (Part 1)
Hey All,
Well I've been hounded to complete our journal even though we've been back in Australia since Saturday. I will start with day 8 as it was fairly eventful, but first I explain the delay.
Gen Con - WOW! It took up so much of our time that I just didn't get back to e-mail or the Live Journal. There was too much going on. That coupled with our adventures after dark - but that's another story ;) When I did have time, we were already in Las Vegas, and there were issues with the net connection at the business centre. I'll never go to the New York New York again.
The next opportunity I had was at the LAX, but they wanted some crazy amount of money to register, and I was only there for a half hour at the most (after we were slightly delayed at Las Vegas, thanks to the US security check - I tell you its easier to get in and out of the country than it is to move around in it - by plane anyway).
I only had a short amount of time at NZ, so I said blast it - besides I was stuffed and probably couldn't string sentences together anyway. So here we are, back safe and sound, and greeted by the lovely Queensland weather (humid, hot, etc). Was a shock having been in nice Autum weather in California (t-shirts during the day and jumpers at night).
Anyway, onto the ALmost Live Journal.
DAY 8
Gen Con. What more can I say but OMFG. It was a dream come true (to coin a phrase) for Felice and I, although from what I am told, only about a quarter of the size of Indy. Still it was big compared to our local conventions, and it was nice to see it in action.
Felice took the first turn of the morning getting in early and spending most of the morning with the registration and cusomer service people. This is her schtick, and boy did she have fun. The Thursday is usually their most quiet day followed closely by Sunday so it gave her a chance to absorb all the processes going on. She also met some really nice Senior Volunteers and made some now good friends.
The computer registration system used is very user friendly, especially considering it needs to be operated by non-gamers from a ticketing company called "Red Coats". They appear to be retirees who still have a need to be employed. It wasn't everyone's cup of tea though, as some people had to be let go on the first morning - some have it, some don't I suppose.
Lunch was at about 1.00pm, and for most of the con, continued to be TAG TIME for Felice and I with Ethan (i.e. I would look after him in the morning, and she would take the later shift). We still got time to chat and shop, but our main concern was keeping the boy amused.
I got to spend time on the floor, chatting with senior volunteers, the marketing staff, registration, and exhibitors. I wanted to emerse myself in the overall feel on the first day and get an idea of how it was all run.
At about 6.00pm, Felice came to collect me as we had been invited to a dinner with the guys from Upper Deck and Gen Con LLC (including Peter, the CEO). We arranged a sitter, who was very nice and whom Ethan took to well. We me the gang downstairs, got our introductions, and were picked up in a stretch Hummer - www.hummer.com. We were wisked (as much as a strech hummer can) away to a nice Cubian Restaurant just out of Anaheim. We somehome picked up another party along the way who were very friendly. Apparently they were from the Engineering conferrence next door to the Gen Con conference hall. Explaining what Gen Con and gaming was, was one of the highlights for me. "So you guys are the lords of the nerds then".
The night was a blast and much discussion was had about Gen Con Australia, politics, religion and all the things you aren't supposed to talk about. All in all it was a great night and went well for us - can't say much more than that.
We returned home at about midnight, relieved the sitter and went to bed.
Well I've been hounded to complete our journal even though we've been back in Australia since Saturday. I will start with day 8 as it was fairly eventful, but first I explain the delay.
Gen Con - WOW! It took up so much of our time that I just didn't get back to e-mail or the Live Journal. There was too much going on. That coupled with our adventures after dark - but that's another story ;) When I did have time, we were already in Las Vegas, and there were issues with the net connection at the business centre. I'll never go to the New York New York again.
The next opportunity I had was at the LAX, but they wanted some crazy amount of money to register, and I was only there for a half hour at the most (after we were slightly delayed at Las Vegas, thanks to the US security check - I tell you its easier to get in and out of the country than it is to move around in it - by plane anyway).
I only had a short amount of time at NZ, so I said blast it - besides I was stuffed and probably couldn't string sentences together anyway. So here we are, back safe and sound, and greeted by the lovely Queensland weather (humid, hot, etc). Was a shock having been in nice Autum weather in California (t-shirts during the day and jumpers at night).
Anyway, onto the ALmost Live Journal.
DAY 8
Gen Con. What more can I say but OMFG. It was a dream come true (to coin a phrase) for Felice and I, although from what I am told, only about a quarter of the size of Indy. Still it was big compared to our local conventions, and it was nice to see it in action.
Felice took the first turn of the morning getting in early and spending most of the morning with the registration and cusomer service people. This is her schtick, and boy did she have fun. The Thursday is usually their most quiet day followed closely by Sunday so it gave her a chance to absorb all the processes going on. She also met some really nice Senior Volunteers and made some now good friends.
The computer registration system used is very user friendly, especially considering it needs to be operated by non-gamers from a ticketing company called "Red Coats". They appear to be retirees who still have a need to be employed. It wasn't everyone's cup of tea though, as some people had to be let go on the first morning - some have it, some don't I suppose.
Lunch was at about 1.00pm, and for most of the con, continued to be TAG TIME for Felice and I with Ethan (i.e. I would look after him in the morning, and she would take the later shift). We still got time to chat and shop, but our main concern was keeping the boy amused.
I got to spend time on the floor, chatting with senior volunteers, the marketing staff, registration, and exhibitors. I wanted to emerse myself in the overall feel on the first day and get an idea of how it was all run.
At about 6.00pm, Felice came to collect me as we had been invited to a dinner with the guys from Upper Deck and Gen Con LLC (including Peter, the CEO). We arranged a sitter, who was very nice and whom Ethan took to well. We me the gang downstairs, got our introductions, and were picked up in a stretch Hummer - www.hummer.com. We were wisked (as much as a strech hummer can) away to a nice Cubian Restaurant just out of Anaheim. We somehome picked up another party along the way who were very friendly. Apparently they were from the Engineering conferrence next door to the Gen Con conference hall. Explaining what Gen Con and gaming was, was one of the highlights for me. "So you guys are the lords of the nerds then".
The night was a blast and much discussion was had about Gen Con Australia, politics, religion and all the things you aren't supposed to talk about. All in all it was a great night and went well for us - can't say much more than that.
We returned home at about midnight, relieved the sitter and went to bed.