Seriously, a year doesn't go by without someone telling me why the costume contest was a disaster. The problem is you have to judge every costume prior to the contest, and that means limited judging slots. If we don't do prejudging, 90% of the experienced contestants talk about how our con's contest is an unprofessional joke. Could someone please explain to me what the heck we're supposed to be doing? You know I love you Anne, but seriously -- there's a point where I sometimes wonder why we bother trying to make anyone happy at all with that. At least no one went off at me about it in person this year like the year I was a judge.
Vendor room? I don't know why there weren't more clearance prices either. I think it's because a lot of vendors aren't selling as much in each show this year with the crowded con season, and so they can't afford to lose the margin on items. We actually had more vendors in there than last year (we added tables - there was a whole extra middle island) but two didn't show up (one canceled literally at the last minute and the other... who knows). So, yeah - a few empty tables, but more vendors.
As for the video game room... the big problem is just that there isn't another physical room to put the music games in. When we were in the Plaza, we had a separate Bemani room. The Ramada just doesn't have the extra room (although square footage, power and air circulation in the Ramada video game space is significantly better). We WANT a separate room for music games (which is why some stuff was put in 812 for some tourneys) but the upstairs rooms don't have the outlets for it, and neither do the rooms we use for the anime theaters (let alone that we'd have to sacrifice an anime theater). Sometimes you just have to say "This is what we can do, let's make the best of it"
But hey -- we added more fans this year, so at least it wasn't as warm. :P
I thought the Dance was great this year too (well, except my laptop crashing... geh... but that's not really anyone's fault besides the guys who ported mPlayer to OSX). That "20+ minute song" Anthony complained about was a live mix by Thor -- and I think it was great.
I concede that 2007 might have been better, but I'm sorry -- 2008 beats the pants off of 2005 and 2003. :P
I'm starting to feel a little guilty for hijacking Lau's eljay but I must respond to this lest I dwell on it any longer. I'm not a staffer for NoBrand and I never have been. The most I have done is put in some volunteer time here and there. Granted if I had it my way, I would have always been on staff but that's a mute point into my personal life and doesn't really matter in the spectrum. I think I bitch this year because it's the first con that was a struggle for me to afford and to get to. Three nights in a hotel plus almost 20 hours of travel time and I brought my fiancee with me. It was his first con ever and I have done nothing but explode and gush over how amazing NoBrand is as a convention to him. The one thing I did not want to happen was for him to have a bad time and for him to perhaps then pressure me into abandoning the con because I could not understand its worth.
Doug actually talked to me in great length about the video game tournaments and the lack of structure and was wondering if perhaps the staff might be interested in him designing some formatted tournament brackets. We would also be interested in writing up designated rules for some of the tournaments that would be enforced no matter what. No last second changes, no throwing out of sign up lists. We did literally sign up for SSBM 3 times and still did not end up on the final bracket and had to be re-added again.
I think that GH had it right with preliminaries. That was a fantastic idea and I commend everyone. Also the amount of fans in the game room was fantastic. The check out system of games was great.
I tend to forget to add in the improvements and kudos when I'm in a rant and I'll make a point to express otherwise in the future.
2008 doesn't win out 05 and 03 based solely on the fact that the awesome chemistry of original staffers wasn't there this year. I got to see Sean Orange briefly on Saturday night and again for his panel, but there was no Gogira being crazy, David being cynical, Kevin being Kevin, Pesso being insane, Garfunklett being all in charge, or others that stand out in my mind. Like I said to you at the con, your presence and your efforts mean a whole lot to me and to many others. It wouldn't be the same without you and I dread the day you step down for good.
Well, Josh was originally going to help with the video game room planning, but he got called back into service (he was able to come back for the con, but unable to help plan things) so that kind of affected things. I've always viewed the video game room as a slowly improving slope, personally.
I also take consolation in knowing that we have a pretty good room for the con's size anyways.
Sean and I always avoid each other at cons, and yeah -- I missed vinnk too -- but the 2005 con had some of our biggest disasters. We hid them extremely well, but they still happened (not to mention the Plaza falling apart every two minutes) so I guess that effects my gauge. I consider success a bit on that scale too.
*shrug*
And I do appreciate the trip you make to come. Seeing you was awesome. :)
2005 had the best -hiding in the stairwell, over tired, avoiding the commotion, random amazing conversation- moment for you and I of all cons. And of course...the legendary Vinnk Strawberry Pie video.
2006 was pretty hot because we formed TEAM SEERYUZ BIDNEZZ THAT NIGHT. It was just magical in some way. It was almost as good as Team Diglet. Ima go find that entry with all of our pics from NBC '06 :V
I still love the pic where CJ is throwing money at me with possibly the most terrifying facial expression of all time. And there was that MOTHERFUCKING DRAGON
Hijacking LJs is the cool thing to do now em I rite? :] I don't care if you hijack my LJ since I find it boring anyways so do whatcha gotta do.
Yeah I may have sounded bitter about all of this, but I really did have a great time at NoBrandCon. I understand that it must've been very hard for you guys to give a fair judgment during the cosplay contest. I just didn't expect it to end so quickly.
As for the VG room, I appreciate what all you guys could did (especially with the increase in fans this year). I just didn't like seeing SSBB everywhere and I don't know why they decided to start a new sign-up sheet for SSBM and SSBB. I think there are a few more tweaks we could work on to make the tournaments great. I did sound like I wasn't giving NBC a chance but maybe I feel like the people who run the VG room should at least be aware of what's going on. I believe only Cheesy knew about my tournaments and I didn't know whether or not I was allowed to use the mic because I was thinking someone might not like the idea of someone not staff using the mic.
Bemani room in 2005 was an excellent idea, and it was a huge success as well. My friends Nate and CJ helped contributed a lot to that room with their bemani equipment and it was great to have all the music/dancing games in another room. I don't blame you guys and I understand that you guys can't find a room. I still blame mostly myself and I didn't expect people to bail out on me during the SC2 tourney. The people who signed up obviously didn't show and thats the main reason why I got so upset. I'll discuss this with the VG staff regarding people not showing up for their tourneys.
"20+ minute song" Anthony complained about was a live mix by Thor Don't get me wrong I thought it was a great song for the first 10 minutes but then it just got kinda repetitive. I still liked the dance though (Trains + Pyramid = Solid).
You guys did a fine job regardless of my complaints I'll see you guys next year :]
Vendor room? I don't know why there weren't more clearance prices either. I think it's because a lot of vendors aren't selling as much in each show this year with the crowded con season, and so they can't afford to lose the margin on items. We actually had more vendors in there than last year (we added tables - there was a whole extra middle island) but two didn't show up (one canceled literally at the last minute and the other... who knows). So, yeah - a few empty tables, but more vendors.
As for the video game room... the big problem is just that there isn't another physical room to put the music games in. When we were in the Plaza, we had a separate Bemani room. The Ramada just doesn't have the extra room (although square footage, power and air circulation in the Ramada video game space is significantly better). We WANT a separate room for music games (which is why some stuff was put in 812 for some tourneys) but the upstairs rooms don't have the outlets for it, and neither do the rooms we use for the anime theaters (let alone that we'd have to sacrifice an anime theater). Sometimes you just have to say "This is what we can do, let's make the best of it"
But hey -- we added more fans this year, so at least it wasn't as warm. :P
I thought the Dance was great this year too (well, except my laptop crashing... geh... but that's not really anyone's fault besides the guys who ported mPlayer to OSX). That "20+ minute song" Anthony complained about was a live mix by Thor -- and I think it was great.
I concede that 2007 might have been better, but I'm sorry -- 2008 beats the pants off of 2005 and 2003. :P
PS - you know I think you're awesome Anne. :P
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Doug actually talked to me in great length about the video game tournaments and the lack of structure and was wondering if perhaps the staff might be interested in him designing some formatted tournament brackets. We would also be interested in writing up designated rules for some of the tournaments that would be enforced no matter what. No last second changes, no throwing out of sign up lists. We did literally sign up for SSBM 3 times and still did not end up on the final bracket and had to be re-added again.
I think that GH had it right with preliminaries. That was a fantastic idea and I commend everyone. Also the amount of fans in the game room was fantastic. The check out system of games was great.
I tend to forget to add in the improvements and kudos when I'm in a rant and I'll make a point to express otherwise in the future.
2008 doesn't win out 05 and 03 based solely on the fact that the awesome chemistry of original staffers wasn't there this year. I got to see Sean Orange briefly on Saturday night and again for his panel, but there was no Gogira being crazy, David being cynical, Kevin being Kevin, Pesso being insane, Garfunklett being all in charge, or others that stand out in my mind. Like I said to you at the con, your presence and your efforts mean a whole lot to me and to many others. It wouldn't be the same without you and I dread the day you step down for good.
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Well, Josh was originally going to help with the video game room planning, but he got called back into service (he was able to come back for the con, but unable to help plan things) so that kind of affected things. I've always viewed the video game room as a slowly improving slope, personally.
I also take consolation in knowing that we have a pretty good room for the con's size anyways.
Sean and I always avoid each other at cons, and yeah -- I missed vinnk too -- but the 2005 con had some of our biggest disasters. We hid them extremely well, but they still happened (not to mention the Plaza falling apart every two minutes) so I guess that effects my gauge. I consider success a bit on that scale too.
*shrug*
And I do appreciate the trip you make to come. Seeing you was awesome. :)
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I don't care if you hijack my LJ since I find it boring anyways so do whatcha gotta do.
Yeah I may have sounded bitter about all of this, but I really did have a great time at NoBrandCon. I understand that it must've been very hard for you guys to give a fair judgment during the cosplay contest. I just didn't expect it to end so quickly.
As for the VG room, I appreciate what all you guys could did (especially with the increase in fans this year). I just didn't like seeing SSBB everywhere and I don't know why they decided to start a new sign-up sheet for SSBM and SSBB. I think there are a few more tweaks we could work on to make the tournaments great. I did sound like I wasn't giving NBC a chance but maybe I feel like the people who run the VG room should at least be aware of what's going on. I believe only Cheesy knew about my tournaments and I didn't know whether or not I was allowed to use the mic because I was thinking someone might not like the idea of someone not staff using the mic.
Bemani room in 2005 was an excellent idea, and it was a huge success as well. My friends Nate and CJ helped contributed a lot to that room with their bemani equipment and it was great to have all the music/dancing games in another room. I don't blame you guys and I understand that you guys can't find a room. I still blame mostly myself and I didn't expect people to bail out on me during the SC2 tourney. The people who signed up obviously didn't show and thats the main reason why I got so upset. I'll discuss this with the VG staff regarding people not showing up for their tourneys.
"20+ minute song" Anthony complained about was a live mix by Thor
Don't get me wrong I thought it was a great song for the first 10 minutes but then it just got kinda repetitive. I still liked the dance though (Trains + Pyramid = Solid).
You guys did a fine job regardless of my complaints
I'll see you guys next year :]
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