Recap of AX/Mikunopolis and PAX
Amazing news was given to me last week- a coworker had to drop out of an event in New York, so I was asked to take his place and demo a game next week. I'm very excited! PAX was extremely fun to work (though my feet and wrists were killing at the end of the day), so I'm so grateful for another opportunity to travel. This will also be my first time in NY; although, I'll be flying back home before NYCC starts.
I also realized I never summed up my previous trips...better do so before my memory fails me.
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ANIME EXPO 2011
SEGA owns Hatsune Miku, so our community manager, Julian/Clumsyorchid and our VP of Digital, Haruki were being sent to AX to check out the concert. Julian knew I was a fan of Vocaloid and somewhat knew about the franchise, so he was able to convince his bosses to have me come along as well. SO THANKFUL TO JULIAN. I asked if I could at least bring my Miku wig so that I can be a fan-girl, and he suggested that I bring my whole cosplay. AX was his first anime convention, so I got the pleasure of introducing him to the Otaku world.
The only actual work agenda for the day was the concert, so Julian and I spent a lot of time in the Dealer's Hall (spent +$130 at the Mikunopolis booth alone @___@). I also ran into so many familiar faces, including chiiyo_rin, kio_kasuke, airyokama, and merli!
Left: Only a very tiny portion of the attendees; Right: Danny and me!
Gayle had an extra ticket to the Kalafina concert, so I got to come along. I had only heard their song from Madoka Magica, so I wasn't sure how the concert would be...it turned out to be amazing. Their voices are so powerful and moving live- very memorable! I wish we were able to take photos, but no cameras were even allowed on site.
After the concert I met with Julian and Haruki to get out Mikunopolis tickets. We got some flimsy glowsticks for free, but it was better than nothing; I wish I had gotten a leek glowstick though...
Left: One of the Toyota Miku's and me ; Right: The crowd getting pumped for the concert to start
The concert was really great- seeing the technology in person and feeling the crowd's enthusiasm was exciting. It was a great concert because it wasn't just a repeat of Japan's concert; there were new song line-ups as well as costumes. I was very happy to hear "Romeo and Cinderella", "Just Be Friends", and a small part of "VOiCE".
And just like that, the magical night was over; we flew back home the next morning. Getting an opportunity to travel, seeing so many friends, and being able to converse with our Digital VP about Hatsune Miku was really a blessing- almost surreal.
_____________________________________________________________
PENNY ARCADE EXPO 2011
Several of us that were never sent to work an event before had the opportunity to go to PAX! Day 0 was spent stuffing 2,000 bags into a smaller bag, then attaching the bags and 2,000 badges onto 2,000 lanyards! It sounds crazy, but it's fun when there's good company around.
Day 1-3, I was in charge of Sonic Generations 360, 3DS, and Shinobi 3DS. I was also right by the House of the Dead Overkill booth, so I heard lots of gun shooting and piercing screams throughout the day! Funny enough, it never got old. Before the day would start, we would make our rounds to check out the other booths and grab swag for the teams back home. The people of Nintendo are by far the coolest! We exchanged swag, met new people, and got to say hello to friends we made earlier during our Nintendo training time.
Day 2 was also the SEGA PAXtravaganza, an event open to the public at Gameworks. My role was a bouncer- I look so intimidating, right? RAWRRR!!
My supervisor (Stephen) and I- expert lanyard...handlers.
Julian stopped by and snapped this photo. I can't believe how small I look- he took this at his eye-level (he is at least 6'0").
The days were chaotic, as I ran back and forth between halls to demo, getting a 30 minute break between our 8-10 hour shifts. I was fortunate that Jeff would visit me daily to bring me yummy treats from Pike's Place- takoyaki hot dog, salmon and cheese pastry, bear claw, gyros, CHEESECAKE. My goodness, my stomach was happy.
Left: Jeff and I after eating delicious Seattle food!; Right: New friends I made (and I got recruited to be their Alicia for their Valkyria Chronicles group); Sakura Con 2012 here I come!
On the last night, several of us played games together at Gameworks! I played DDR until my legs died and did Purikura with a new friend I met there. On other nights we also got ice cream and wine, bar hopped, and got some pretty good dinners. These events are great because you get to have fun with the coworkers you know, get to know coworkers from other departments, and you get to see everyone outside of the work element.
_____________________________________________________________
These opportunities are definitely once-in-a-lifetime, I feel. I hope to continue to work hard and get sent to do more events. I've never "loved" a job before and never had specific career goals in mind...but these experiences are giving me direction. I'm finding joy and passion in something that I haven't quite felt before. A light bulb has switched on, eager to learn more and achieve something grand- it's nice to know what it feels like to have a dream.
I also realized I never summed up my previous trips...better do so before my memory fails me.
_____________________________________________________________
ANIME EXPO 2011
SEGA owns Hatsune Miku, so our community manager, Julian/Clumsyorchid and our VP of Digital, Haruki were being sent to AX to check out the concert. Julian knew I was a fan of Vocaloid and somewhat knew about the franchise, so he was able to convince his bosses to have me come along as well. SO THANKFUL TO JULIAN. I asked if I could at least bring my Miku wig so that I can be a fan-girl, and he suggested that I bring my whole cosplay. AX was his first anime convention, so I got the pleasure of introducing him to the Otaku world.
The only actual work agenda for the day was the concert, so Julian and I spent a lot of time in the Dealer's Hall (spent +$130 at the Mikunopolis booth alone @___@). I also ran into so many familiar faces, including chiiyo_rin, kio_kasuke, airyokama, and merli!
Left: Only a very tiny portion of the attendees; Right: Danny and me!
Gayle had an extra ticket to the Kalafina concert, so I got to come along. I had only heard their song from Madoka Magica, so I wasn't sure how the concert would be...it turned out to be amazing. Their voices are so powerful and moving live- very memorable! I wish we were able to take photos, but no cameras were even allowed on site.
After the concert I met with Julian and Haruki to get out Mikunopolis tickets. We got some flimsy glowsticks for free, but it was better than nothing; I wish I had gotten a leek glowstick though...
Left: One of the Toyota Miku's and me ; Right: The crowd getting pumped for the concert to start
The concert was really great- seeing the technology in person and feeling the crowd's enthusiasm was exciting. It was a great concert because it wasn't just a repeat of Japan's concert; there were new song line-ups as well as costumes. I was very happy to hear "Romeo and Cinderella", "Just Be Friends", and a small part of "VOiCE".
And just like that, the magical night was over; we flew back home the next morning. Getting an opportunity to travel, seeing so many friends, and being able to converse with our Digital VP about Hatsune Miku was really a blessing- almost surreal.
_____________________________________________________________
PENNY ARCADE EXPO 2011
Several of us that were never sent to work an event before had the opportunity to go to PAX! Day 0 was spent stuffing 2,000 bags into a smaller bag, then attaching the bags and 2,000 badges onto 2,000 lanyards! It sounds crazy, but it's fun when there's good company around.
Day 1-3, I was in charge of Sonic Generations 360, 3DS, and Shinobi 3DS. I was also right by the House of the Dead Overkill booth, so I heard lots of gun shooting and piercing screams throughout the day! Funny enough, it never got old. Before the day would start, we would make our rounds to check out the other booths and grab swag for the teams back home. The people of Nintendo are by far the coolest! We exchanged swag, met new people, and got to say hello to friends we made earlier during our Nintendo training time.
Day 2 was also the SEGA PAXtravaganza, an event open to the public at Gameworks. My role was a bouncer- I look so intimidating, right? RAWRRR!!
My supervisor (Stephen) and I- expert lanyard...handlers.
Julian stopped by and snapped this photo. I can't believe how small I look- he took this at his eye-level (he is at least 6'0").
The days were chaotic, as I ran back and forth between halls to demo, getting a 30 minute break between our 8-10 hour shifts. I was fortunate that Jeff would visit me daily to bring me yummy treats from Pike's Place- takoyaki hot dog, salmon and cheese pastry, bear claw, gyros, CHEESECAKE. My goodness, my stomach was happy.
Left: Jeff and I after eating delicious Seattle food!; Right: New friends I made (and I got recruited to be their Alicia for their Valkyria Chronicles group); Sakura Con 2012 here I come!
On the last night, several of us played games together at Gameworks! I played DDR until my legs died and did Purikura with a new friend I met there. On other nights we also got ice cream and wine, bar hopped, and got some pretty good dinners. These events are great because you get to have fun with the coworkers you know, get to know coworkers from other departments, and you get to see everyone outside of the work element.
_____________________________________________________________
These opportunities are definitely once-in-a-lifetime, I feel. I hope to continue to work hard and get sent to do more events. I've never "loved" a job before and never had specific career goals in mind...but these experiences are giving me direction. I'm finding joy and passion in something that I haven't quite felt before. A light bulb has switched on, eager to learn more and achieve something grand- it's nice to know what it feels like to have a dream.