Fan Faire: Are You Going?

[Amnerys]

<p>This year's Fan Faire returns to Las Vegas, at Bally's from June 25th until June 28th. Are you going?If you've never been to an SOE Fan Faire before, this is the year to make the trek to Las Vegas! SOE has a big bash planned for the EverQuest 10th anniversary, and players of all SOE games are invited to join the party! Fan Faire is a great place for SOE gamers to mix and mingle with each other, and meet some of the faces behind their favorite SOE games. Some of the fun events we're planning:</p><ul><li>Special announcements and sneak peaks of upcoming titles at the Third Annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley</li><li>Lots of in-game tournaments, and live, game-themed tournaments and quests</li><li>Developer forums and roundtables</li><li>Cool giveaways and other fun items!</li><li>Book signings and other special appearances</li></ul><p>For more information, visit the <a href="http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/" target="_blank">Fan Faire site</a>!</p>

[sENADIN]

<p>I am curious, I've never been to one. At this time i am not sure of my schedule for those dates, Assuming i am free, can one register at the door?</p><p>If yes, do we get all the goodies and access to events like someone who would pre-register?</p><p>Any other thing i should know?</p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Sen</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Nidanes@Oasis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I am curious, I've never been to one. At this time i am not sure of my schedule for those dates, Assuming i am free, can one register at the door?</p><p>If yes, do we get all the goodies and access to events like someone who would pre-register?</p><p>Any other thing i should know?</p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Sen</p></blockquote><p>As I recall, you can register at the door or get a day pass.  I *think* you get all the goodies for a full pass except the in-game item.</p>

[Zabjade]

<p><span style="color: #00cc00;">Not unless You guys give me a job, can't afford it, Being underemployed sucks rocks.</span></p>

[Dreyco]

<p>I'm going, and I can't wait <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Zabjade wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #00cc00;">Not unless You guys give me a job, can't afford it, Being underemployed sucks rocks.</span></p></blockquote><p>No kidding.  We hoard airline miles so we can go.</p><p>ATM the only thing that might keep us away is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Redoubt_(Alaska)" target="_blank">Mount Redoubt</a> keeping busy all summer like it did 20 years ago.</p>

[Zorastiz]

<p>If I can have a bailout I'll be there.</p>

[Tiegar]

<p>Hello,</p><p>Probably not going to go.  This would be the 3rd year in a row you've had the Fan Faire in Las Vegas.  Part of the reason I don't want to go there again is because of the truth of what someone said to me at the airport when I arrived and was looking for a "free shuttle" to the hotel, she said, "Nothing is free in Vegas."  Not only is it NOT free, it often costs more than any place else as well.</p><p>While I do enjoy fan faires, I probably won't attend until you decide to have it some place else.  I am certain there are others who are in complete agreement with me about this as well.  How many?  Well, I guess you will find out once you have this event, won't you?</p><p>Armous</p><p>Blackburrow Server</p>

[Yimway]

<p>I'll be in vegas at the time of the fanfaire, but I've not made the decision yet on the cost/benefit of spending time at the fan faire.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p>I'll be there! I love Vegas and am always trying to find an excuse to go. There isn't much better excuse than Fan Faire!</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Rawl@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> Part of the reason I don't want to go there again is because of the truth of what someone said to me at the airport when I arrived and was looking for a "free shuttle" to the hotel, she said, "Nothing is free in Vegas."  Not only is it NOT free, it often costs more than any place else as well.</p></blockquote><p>Its all about how fast you want to get out of the airport. If you call your hotel they'll radio their own shuttle to swing by your terminal. That can take 5 mins if the shuttle is already at the airport, or 30 minutes if they're already on the way back to the hotel. Either way, its free. I always grab a cab when I'm at the Vegas airport and scream out "Going to <insert hotel name>. Usually get 2 or three takers which makes $40 less expensive split up equally.</p>

[Lorzus]

<p>Me and my gf are planning on attending <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I'm looking forward to it!</p>

[Jethal]

<p>Elquin and Jethal will be there!</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Rawl@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>While I do enjoy fan faires, I probably won't attend until you decide to have it some place else.  I am certain there are others who are in complete agreement with me about this as well.  How many?  Well, I guess you will find out once you have this event, won't you?</p></blockquote><p>Not to start a major discussion or anything, but last year some 1300 people disagreed with you.</p><p>Vegas is no more expensive than any other city... if you get away from the Tourist stuff.  And Spyder is right about the free hotel shuttle, you gotta plan for it.  Me, the $12 round trip shuttle is convenient, not expensive (I'm cheap), and doesn't take forever.</p>

[SisterTheresa]

<p><cite>Zabjade wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #00cc00;">Not unless You guys give me a job, can't afford it, Being underemployed sucks rocks.</span></p></blockquote><p>Or make it NOT on other side of continent.</p><p>Come to Comic Con in NY one time.  I can make that!</p>

[maelona]

<p>When SOE organizes World tour? If You come in France, I come <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Kendricke]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Rawl@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>While I do enjoy fan faires, I probably won't attend until you decide to have it some place else.  I am certain there are others who are in complete agreement with me about this as well.  How many?  Well, I guess you will find out once you have this event, won't you?</p></blockquote><p>Not to start a major discussion or anything, but last year some 1300 people disagreed with you.</p></blockquote><p>Not to be the one to point out the obvious here, but that was 1300 out of how many possible?  Just because 1300 people show up for an event doesn't mean there weren't at LEAST as many who didn't attend for various reasons.  I realize what you're saying about the 1300 who did actually attend, but what Rawl said and what you said are two different things.</p><p>As for me, I'm still on the fence this year.  For two years in a row, we brought a dozen or more guild members.  This year, I'm just not sure we're coming.  Waiting till March to announce a June FanFaire simply wasn't enough lead time for most of us.</p><p>  </p>

[Calthine]

<p>Dude.  The glass is half full, really!</p>

[PRALL]

<p>As Calthine said earlier... I have to hope that Mount Redoubt plays nice. It won't matter where it is if there's too much ash in the air. I <strong>REALLY</strong> hope we get to fly out though. I have a custom shirt for the event, can't wait to meet guildies, and can't wait to play golf on a <strong>REAL</strong> golf course.</p>

[eqaddictedfool]

<p>las vegas? no Ty. Bring it to Orlando though and we will talk again.</p><p>My spelling sucks</p>

[Ashlian]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Rawl@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>While I do enjoy fan faires, I probably won't attend until you decide to have it some place else.  I am certain there are others who are in complete agreement with me about this as well.  How many?  Well, I guess you will find out once you have this event, won't you?</p></blockquote><p>Not to start a major discussion or anything, but last year some 1300 people disagreed with you.</p><p>Vegas is no more expensive than any other city... if you get away from the Tourist stuff.  And Spyder is right about the free hotel shuttle, you gotta plan for it.  Me, the $12 round trip shuttle is convenient, not expensive (I'm cheap), and doesn't take forever.</p></blockquote><p>And a lot of people disagreed with YOU, as well, and agreed with the above poster. I've been to three Fan Faires, and I will never go to another one in Vegas. I live in Florida, and had they not split the Florida vote between TWO dates the year I went to the Vegas Fan Faire (wonder what that would have done to the Vegas vote had there been two Vegas dates?) then the Fan Faire might have been held in Orlando, where things ARE significantly cheaper and there's a lot more to do within walking distance of the hotel. Like buy nice cheap fast food as opposed to ten dollar hamburgers.</p><p>Of course, now they don't even bother with votes at all.</p><p>There are a lot of people who don't live within a day's drive of Vegas. Would be quite nice if we occasionally got a Fan Faire thrown in our direction as well.</p>

[Spyderbite]

<p><cite>Ashlian@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There are a lot of people who don't live within a day's drive of Vegas. Would be quite nice if we occasionally got a Fan Faire thrown in our direction as well.</p></blockquote><p>I used to organize similar events for Microsoft. Mostly product rollouts like MS Office, etc. I can tell you first hand, that Orlando is an incredible location for events such as Medical Seminars and the like. However, for a gaming event with a strict budget, Orlando is not even in the same ballpark for affordability as Vegas is.</p><p>Anyways.. I have never lived anywhere that was convenient travel to an event. Had to drive 8 hours to get to Comdex each year when I lived in Arizona. No matter where its held it will always be inconvenient for another group of folks. The cost for me to fly from here in the New England area to Orlando is about $25 more expensive than it is for me to fly to Vegas. We got round trip tickets to vegas for about $700 for two people, business class. Which in this economy is quite a hit to the pocket book but its worth it.</p><p>Bottom line.. it'd be great if Fan Faire were a road show and stopped off at every players house and setup in their backyard for a day. But, that's not how business works. Cheapest location while still offering enough to do to keep people entertained. If money were no object.. my vote would be for holding Fan Faire at Disney World in Orlando or Sea World in San Diego. But, I'm not going to get a $69 room rate in either of those cities. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Savanja]

<p><cite>Ashlian@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And a lot of people disagreed with YOU, as well, and agreed with the above poster. I've been to three Fan Faires, and I will never go to another one in Vegas. I live in Florida, and had they not split the Florida vote between TWO dates the year I went to the Vegas Fan Faire (wonder what that would have done to the Vegas vote had there been two Vegas dates?) then the Fan Faire might have been held in Orlando, where things ARE significantly cheaper and there's a lot more to do within walking distance of the hotel. Like buy nice cheap fast food as opposed to ten dollar hamburgers.</p><p>Of course, now they don't even bother with votes at all.</p><p>There are a lot of people who don't live within a day's drive of Vegas. Would be quite nice if we occasionally got a Fan Faire thrown in our direction as well.</p></blockquote><p>There are an awful lot of fan events held by other games that never give options as to where it might be held.  It would make more sense for SOE to have it in San Deigo but in the least having it in Las Vegas means it is still fairly cheap to fly to all around.  I think it's a reasonable compromise.</p><p>Now the EVE Online Fanfest held in Iceland every year, you'd think that'd be a trick to get people to and yet people still make it!</p>