PAX East 2012 Catch All & GWJ Meetup

Demyx wrote:

This is largely how Shop and I felt on the matter.

About time you showed up in this thread :p

Exception to the above: The Top 10 and Pitch Your Game idea have been fun the last two years. The localization presentation last year was really interesting I thought. Retronauts was, in hindsight, a bad idea (I liked it, Demyx was bored.... and then I stopped listening to the podcast about 6 months later). I think we tried to get into Antiques Roadshow, which is an awesome idea for a panel, but gave up after seeing the line and I realized I could get a recap on Game|Life within a month.

padriec wrote:

And here's another one we might all have to go to:

Strategy Games: What's Changing. What Needs To.
Cat Theatre
Sunday 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Is there more to the modern strategy game than yet another round of Civilization and Starcraft? There darn well better be. Join the hosts of the Three Moves Ahead podcast, Rob Zacny, Julian Murdoch and Troy Goodfellow, as they discuss the innovations that are changing the face of the modern strategy game. They'll be joined by special guests representing two poles of strategy games - Chris King (Paradox), a hardcore strategy dev targeting niche PC strategy gamers, and Rob Daviau (Hasbro), a board game designer trying to reignite the masses with daring (even blasphemous) twists on old classics.
Panelists include: Rob Zacny [Columnist, PC Gamer], Julian Murdoch [Contributor, Kill Screen], Troy Goodfellow [Publisher, Flash of Steel], Rob Daviau [Game Designer, Hasbro], Chris King [Designer/Producer, Paradox Interactive]

That's a hell yes

I actually enjoyed a few of the panels last year, in particular the Twisted Pixel one (and I still have yet to play any of their games!). I got to meet Shamus Young briefly after the Women in Gaming panel, which was a delightful discussion to hear. Though truth told, those are my highlights.

Which is probably why, this year, my focus will be more on panels focused on upcoming games (Rain Slick, the Bioshock Monster one (which I saw Rabbit is going to be a part of), and the Bioware Dragon Age panel) or some of The Escapist ones.

On the whole, though, I'll probably be going between a handful of panels and the show floor. I regret last year that I stayed quiet while waiting for panels most of the time and not participating in discussion with new people. I hope to correct that this year.

I'll have to see about making it to the board game area, though.

That reminds me, what are the plans for a general GWJ meet-up? I know we met at that really expensive hotel restaurant that had delicious but too-big-for-me-even-though-I-ate-it-anyway pizza.

We didn't get to see the Twisted Pixel panel but Demyx and I got to chat with their music guy for a little bit in their booth while trying out Ms. 'Splosion Man which was insanely cool. I was sad they didn't have any PC port plans at the time, and then MS bought them

I know this year I'm bringing Zombie Dice with me as a thing to play in line. It's the perfect PAX game, as demonstrated by the copious numbers SJ Games sold.

Are we settling on the Stan pins as a way to identify ourselves? I'd love to have an easy way to determine who is One Of Us, especially when wandering the board game area.

(For that matter, I'd love to get in on a one-shot tabletop RPG. I spend most of my time on the other side of the screen.)

Anyone receive their badges yet, by the way? I feel like mine should have arrived by now.

ccesarano wrote:

Anyone receive their badges yet, by the way? I feel like mine should have arrived by now.

I think the Twitter feed has stated the badges go out early March. So hopefully by end of next week.

In all honesty, despite having done a ton of PAX panels over the years, I've never been as excited (or nervous) about one as I am about this years. I live in fear that we get up on stage for a GWJ branded panel and nobody shows up. I had a dream last night that the audience literally consisted of my wife and Levine's assistant, so we cancelled it and went to the Arcade (where I will personally end up spending most of PAX).

Please come. Please bring friends. I'll bring cookies to pass out.

Asside from the GWJ and Three Moves Ahead panels, I'm moderating the Irrational Games panel on Saturday. I'm pretty sure people will come to that one too, and I'm stoked because Ive been really working on prepping the topic and getting fun stuff to show:

Irrational Games: Making a Monster
Manticore Theatre
Saturday 12:00pm - 1:00pm
What makes a good bad guy? Join the creative team for Irrational Games' upcoming BioShock Infinite as they explore the game's unique antagonists, enemies and villains. In this engaging discussion, you'll see what goes into making a world class monster, from the initial sketches to combat animations and sound effects. Learn how everything from SHODAN to Big Daddies to the Songbird fit into the tradition of classic bad guys from cinema, fiction and games, and get a glimpse of what surprises may lie in wait for you in the world of Columbia.
Panelists include: Julian Murdoch, Ken Levine, Nate Wells, Shawn Robertson, Pat Balthrop

TheHipGamer wrote:

Are we settling on the Stan pins as a way to identify ourselves? I'd love to have an easy way to determine who is One Of Us, especially when wandering the board game area.

(For that matter, I'd love to get in on a one-shot tabletop RPG. I spend most of my time on the other side of the screen.)

Just an FYI with those buttons Certis said it was cool but we can't make money on them. I also am going to be making a pillow case flag to use in the boardgame area.

Momgamer, we are planning to bring our 7month old son with us and I have one of those backpack child carriers is that going to be cool for walking around for the weekend?

All I ask is you pour one out for us Londoners who can't make it. I had the best time with the GWJ boardgamers last year and sorely wish I could be there.

Maq wrote:

All I ask is you pour one out for us Londoners who can't make it. I had the best time with the GWJ boardgamers last year and sorely wish I could be there.

If I thought the internet was going to be more reliable I would offer to do a video conference but the wifi has been horrible every time I have been...

MonoCheli wrote:
Maq wrote:

All I ask is you pour one out for us Londoners who can't make it. I had the best time with the GWJ boardgamers last year and sorely wish I could be there.

If I thought the internet was going to be more reliable I would offer to do a video conference but the wifi has been horrible every time I have been...

I might be able to pull something off with 4G.

padriec wrote:

I might be able to pull something off with 4G.

I hope your phone is better then mine has been. Every PAX I have been to the cellular congestion has killed my reception dead. That being said I do have T-mobile... and that probably explains a lot.

MonoCheli wrote:
padriec wrote:

I might be able to pull something off with 4G.

I hope your phone is better then mine has been. Every PAX I have been to the cellular congestion has killed my reception dead. That being said I do have T-mobile... and that probably explains a lot.

Sprint didn't fare much better last year. I think Tigerbill had decent service with Verizon, though.

Tanglebones wrote:
MonoCheli wrote:
padriec wrote:

I might be able to pull something off with 4G.

I hope your phone is better then mine has been. Every PAX I have been to the cellular congestion has killed my reception dead. That being said I do have T-mobile... and that probably explains a lot.

Sprint didn't fare much better last year. I think Tigerbill had decent service with Verizon, though.

That's what I have, but I'm also worried about battery drain. My new phone has a sealed battery so no swapping.

shoptroll wrote:
Tanglebones wrote:

I think Tigerbill had decent service with Verizon, though.

I have AT&T and didn't have much trouble last year, however I think there's some spots in Boston where AT&T doesn't hit, and Verizon has a very strong presence here. Don't forget there's also the BCEC wi-fi. Not sure at all about 4G coverage though.

Last year, the BCEC wi-fi was even worse than 3G/4G service. I barely eeked out 28k modem speeds.

Tanglebones wrote:

I think Tigerbill had decent service with Verizon, though.

I have AT&T and didn't have much trouble last year, however I think there's some spots in Boston where AT&T doesn't hit, and Verizon has a very strong presence here. Don't forget there's also the BCEC wi-fi. Not sure at all about 4G coverage though.

EDIT: I wouldn't worry about an empty theater for the GWJ panel. If it's half as good a panel as a conf. call then I'm sure it's going to be a great experience.

That Bioshock/Irrational presentation is on my wishlist of panels to attend, really hoping it's not jampacked

Tanglebones wrote:

I barely eeked out 28k modem speeds.

Huh. Well I was mostly using it for checking the Twitter feeds for line/schedule updates... which isn't particularly sensitive to network traffic. Either that or maybe I should get that "Patient and Indecisive" tag

I had to use the wifi but it was very hit and miss. Mostly used for twitter and e-mail.

Now that I think about it, I still have ID badge laminate and dangly things for the neck (brain drain right now) left over from Halloween. I'll see about Photoshopping myself a template in case anyone wants to have a secondary GWJ badge that has their screen name and avatar on it.

The problem will be the fact that I don't currently have a high-res version of my own avatar.

ccesarano wrote:

Now that I think about it, I still have ID badge laminate and dangly things for the neck (brain drain right now) left over from Halloween. I'll see about Photoshopping myself a template in case anyone wants to have a secondary GWJ badge that has their screen name and avatar on it.

The problem will be the fact that I don't currently have a high-res version of my own avatar.

Some of us used this template from last year found here.

rabbit wrote:

I live in fear...

Personally, I would live in fear of someone making a finger -> butt joke.

In all honesty, despite having done a ton of PAX panels over the years, I've never been as excited (or nervous) about one as I am about this years. I live in fear that we get up on stage for a GWJ branded panel and nobody shows up. I had a dream last night that the audience literally consisted of my wife and Levine's assistant, so we cancelled it and went to the Arcade (where I will personally end up spending most of PAX).

GET OUT OF MY HEAD! Except when we cancelled, we went to the bar. Also Cory did a sexy dance.

I had good signal strength/speed with Verizon 3G last year. Didn't try streaming anything but it was good for Twitter and email.

MonoCheli wrote:
TheHipGamer wrote:

Are we settling on the Stan pins as a way to identify ourselves? I'd love to have an easy way to determine who is One Of Us, especially when wandering the board game area.

(For that matter, I'd love to get in on a one-shot tabletop RPG. I spend most of my time on the other side of the screen.)

Just an FYI with those buttons Certis said it was cool but we can't make money on them. I also am going to be making a pillow case flag to use in the boardgame area.

Momgamer, we are planning to bring our 7month old son with us and I have one of those backpack child carriers is that going to be cool for walking around for the weekend?

Carrier should be fine. I have some kid advice I did a couple years ago around here somewhere. I will find and repost here.

Elysium wrote:
In all honesty, despite having done a ton of PAX panels over the years, I've never been as excited (or nervous) about one as I am about this years. I live in fear that we get up on stage for a GWJ branded panel and nobody shows up. I had a dream last night that the audience literally consisted of my wife and Levine's assistant, so we cancelled it and went to the Arcade (where I will personally end up spending most of PAX).

GET OUT OF MY HEAD! Except when we cancelled, we went to the bar. Also Cory did a sexy dance.

Double nightmare.

I notice there are two solid panels from the arcade restoration folks too -- one on pinball, and one on arcades. For the first time I may actually have a pile of panels I want to go to.

Quintin_Stone wrote:
Elysium wrote:
In all honesty, despite having done a ton of PAX panels over the years, I've never been as excited (or nervous) about one as I am about this years. I live in fear that we get up on stage for a GWJ branded panel and nobody shows up. I had a dream last night that the audience literally consisted of my wife and Levine's assistant, so we cancelled it and went to the Arcade (where I will personally end up spending most of PAX).

GET OUT OF MY HEAD! Except when we cancelled, we went to the bar. Also Cory did a sexy dance.

Double nightmare.

I got some moves.

rabbit wrote:

Please come. Please bring friends. I'll bring cookies to pass out.

Er, this panel is the reason I decided to come to PAX. (I can get board gaming elsewhere, so I was on the fence. An Enforcer who works for me knew I was a goodger, though, and hinted the panel description when he found out; I had a ticket 10 minutes later.)

So I have some awesome to drop...
When looking for images to use as a table flag I was reminded of this amazing artwork by Bombsfall who does wonderful work. I asked him if I could use his image for a flag. After thinking about it he asked me not to do that but.

bombsfall wrote:

Actually, come to think of it, I don't know if we should use the print design as it was for exclusive sale and all. BETTER IDEA - give me the dimensions of the sign and buttons you are making and I'll whip you up a BRAND NEW DESIGN, one that maybe has a little less extraneous stuff, is a bit easier to get a nice print of, and is a bit more readable at a distance. Deal?

and here they are:
Button
IMAGE(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RZ1qaWfHIcE/T1SlO64Q8NI/AAAAAAAAtxQ/oxUCKzWlkvU/s800/gwjpaxeastbutton%2520Low%2520Res.jpg)
Flag (with the resolution lowered to not kill everybody's bandwidth. If you need a high res version PM me)
IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lJOFLLoX2Hw/T1SlQwxWFbI/AAAAAAAAtxY/FgaGS3eZE38/s1280/gwjpaxeastflag%2520Low%2520Res.jpg)

I want to thank Bombsfall for doing this (for free) and also if you like his work it can be found here.