Post all your comments and suggestions for 2009 here. I am planning on keeping this thread updated, which is why I'm starting another one. It's preapproved, you can lock Asuka's thread. Here's what the staff has recommended so far:
Power Strips, we need them!
Labeling Supplies, eg. Stickers, tape, etc.
Lockboxes: need a count of systems, engineering, and a date to build
Stock controllers (we need more N64 and GameCube Controllers (with RIGHT
batteries))
Systems (we need more Xbox360s, Wiis, and setups for brawl)
Printer w/enough cartridges
We need a budget for all of this!!!!(Good luck)
Signup sheets for tournaments
Master Memory Card for Saves.
Tournament bracket software
Trained/informed tournament organizers.
More than ONE tourny operators.
Printed version of game inventory.
COPMUTERS!
Waver documents for staff AND Con. people.
A written list of everyone belongings
Better sponcers
Relible staff. Never awsome people you dont knpow will show up.
Halo Tourny..... EVERY YEAR CANCLED!
Mutiple department heads.
During shut down time, you need more than one person running invantory.
Password pertected laptops.
Projector for the BIG tournys.
Better tv's
Personal bitch's (volinteers) (you need to go to con up)
Outside gamer table
Make sure the arcade is seperated from the computers.
Better people watching the door
Check badage numbers for FINALIST'S (not including the people we let in)
E-Gaming Manual
Better set up of info desk
make sure everything gets marked. (Masking tape.)
More moded systems. (FLIP TOPS!)
More Sharpys and Pens
Poker for staff during shut down.
Staff food and water/drinks.
Fog Horn
reserved post
Projector would be soooo nice.
Possibly a table for portable gaming tournaments?
Big signs so people understand the check out system. Some people were complaining they didn't know how it worked this year and didn't get to play.
Good point. I think also I don't know if it was in the list, but the system should be clear on the forums before Fanime.
If you help me with my (broken) modded slim, you guys could gladly use my blue PS2 (or the slim, if you want) for the weekend. It's no trouble at all for me to bring both.
Don't forget to put RF adapters on your list. Worst case scenario, you could get a bunch of those for the crappy non-composite TVs if new TVs are out of the question. Last I checked, those are only 5$ a piece or so.
The IIDX tournament I was able to pull out of the fire, last minute. But I thought it was funny that Kenchan and I pretty much had to run the tournament ourselves. ::)
Next year I would like to run full-blown bemani tournaments myself, with much more preparation and a bigger turnout (since I'll probably cross-post it on bemanistyle/ddrfreak/VJarmy/etc) Pop'n Music, IIDX, even Guitarfreaks and Drummania if you guys can find ASCs.
Quote from: Reikon on May 31, 2008, 07:38:14 AM
Big signs so people understand the check out system. Some people were complaining they didn't know how it worked this year and didn't get to play.
Yes. I was one of those people. Perhaps someone can clear this up for me? Was this the first year the Check-out system was in place? If so, it needed to be better advertised. I REALLY wanted to play SSBB this year, and it literally seemed to me that the only people playing were ones that had their own controllers. And I did walk around the gaming area multiple times throughout the con, never saw the sign to check things out. I only FINALLY found out about the system at closing ceremonies.
If you do the check out system again, BIGGER SIGNS. And have them facing each direction, so people will ALWAYS have a chance to see them.
Quote from: Xeluu on June 01, 2008, 02:51:15 AM
Quote from: Reikon on May 31, 2008, 07:38:14 AM
Big signs so people understand the check out system. Some people were complaining they didn't know how it worked this year and didn't get to play.
Yes. I was one of those people. Perhaps someone can clear this up for me? Was this the first year the Check-out system was in place? If so, it needed to be better advertised. I REALLY wanted to play SSBB this year, and it literally seemed to me that the only people playing were ones that had their own controllers. And I did walk around the gaming area multiple times throughout the con, never saw the sign to check things out. I only FINALLY found out about the system at closing ceremonies.
If you do the check out system again, BIGGER SIGNS. And have them facing each direction, so people will ALWAYS have a chance to see them.
Yes, this was the first year it was used. We tried to make it obvious because the check out table was facing the entrance. If you looked at that area, it would be quickly obvious that we rented out controllers (not to mention, didn't you see our huge collection of controllers in the middle?).
I'm sorry you didn't get to play, but even if you somehow didn't see the check out area, you should have at least asked a staff member about how you could have played. You could have also asked to share a controller with someone who was playing. We encourage people to share controllers so there's less checking in and out involved. I'm sure most people would have been willing to share.
Quote from: Reikon on June 01, 2008, 06:31:31 AM
Yes, this was the first year it was used. We tried to make it obvious because the check out table was facing the entrance. If you looked at that area, it would be quickly obvious that we rented out controllers (not to mention, didn't you see our huge collection of controllers in the middle?).
I'm sorry you didn't get to play, but even if you somehow didn't see the check out area, you should have at least asked a staff member about how you could have played. You could have also asked to share a controller with someone who was playing. We encourage people to share controllers so there's less checking in and out involved. I'm sure most people would have been willing to share.
Which entrance? There was more than one to the area, and I entered through both doors multiple times.
The other issue is that when it gets busy, it's harder to see what's going on in the middle. So, no, I didn't see the controllers, nor did my friends, and we were each there at different times. I figured it wasn't up to the staff to control the systems, but rather the players, as it seemed to be in the past, you simply showed up and more or less waited for your turn. I did ask at one point to share a controller, but the people were all over the place with whose turn it was to play and what not. *shrug*
I'd really recommend NOT checking controllers in and out next year. For the big games : SSBB, some of the other fighting games.... (my mind just drew a blank right now.... >_< ) just zip tie the controllers to the console like you have in the past? I'm not exactly sure why you changed that system. (Stuff got stolen 07 or something?) I think it's pretty safe to say I wasn't the only one confused by the system this year.
From what I've read, gaming was pretty under-staffed this year; not trying to rag on you guys; just trying to hopefully get things changed for next year.
Quote from: Xeluu on June 01, 2008, 07:19:15 PM
Which entrance? There was more than one to the area, and I entered through both doors multiple times.
The other issue is that when it gets busy, it's harder to see what's going on in the middle. So, no, I didn't see the controllers, nor did my friends, and we were each there at different times. I figured it wasn't up to the staff to control the systems, but rather the players, as it seemed to be in the past, you simply showed up and more or less waited for your turn. I did ask at one point to share a controller, but the people were all over the place with whose turn it was to play and what not. *shrug*
I'd really recommend NOT checking controllers in and out next year. For the big games : SSBB, some of the other fighting games.... (my mind just drew a blank right now.... >_< ) just zip tie the controllers to the console like you have in the past? I'm not exactly sure why you changed that system. (Stuff got stolen 07 or something?) I think it's pretty safe to say I wasn't the only one confused by the system this year.
From what I've read, gaming was pretty under-staffed this year; not trying to rag on you guys; just trying to hopefully get things changed for next year.
The check out area was facing the direction the entrances were in. It was closer to the one near the artist alley.
I don't know what we can do about forcing people to take turns without babysitting them. I guess it got a bit confusing at the Brawl areas about who got to play next.
The problem with tying the controllers to the system is that there aren't any dedicated systems for any games, and sometimes zip tying the controllers will block the DVD from being removed. We need to be able to change games and move controllers to other systems when we need them since we were often short on controllers (especially GC ones). The only way I see zip tying working again is if we don't have as choices for what games and consoles to play, and the plethora of choices was one of the only things we did well at this year.
Quote from: Khaistyle on May 31, 2008, 10:45:47 AM
The IIDX tournament I was able to pull out of the fire, last minute. But I thought it was funny that Kenchan and I pretty much had to run the tournament ourselves. ::)
If we spread these tournaments 4 hours apart, that would help prevent overlapping tournaments so i wouldn't be so stressed. 2 hours apart is for like 16 man tournaments on 2 systems.
Quote from: Reikon on June 01, 2008, 07:42:29 PM
Quote from: Xeluu on June 01, 2008, 07:19:15 PM
*snip*
The check out area was facing the direction the entrances were in. It was closer to the one near the artist alley.
I don't know what we can do about forcing people to take turns without babysitting them. I guess it got a bit confusing at the Brawl areas about who got to play next.
The problem with tying the controllers to the system is that there aren't any dedicated systems for any games, and sometimes zip tying the controllers will block the DVD from being removed. We need to be able to change games and move controllers to other systems when we need them since we were often short on controllers (especially GC ones). The only way I see zip tying working again is if we don't have as choices for what games and consoles to play, and the plethora of choices was one of the only things we did well at this year.
I don't expect staff to babysit. That's a waste of people who could be helping out elsewhere. It was a bad on the attendee's part. And understandable about the shortage for controllers and what not, but if you have popular games like that, in my opinion, it would make sense to just zip tie the controllers to that system since they're liable to be used all con.
As for the sign, I dunno, I NEVER saw it. I'd seriously recommend making more if you continue the system next year, even if it's just someone bringing a few pieces of posterboard in bright colors and writing something along the lines of
"CONTROLLER/GAME CHECK-OUT THIS WAY
<-------
"
Or something of that sort. It was a shame I didn't get to play this year, but not the end of the world. But I'd definitely like to see something changed next year. It seemed like you had a great selection of games and consoles, you just didn't have the staff and since it was a new thing this year, something was bound to go wrong. Oh well.
Hopefully all I've said makes sense?
on bleach blade battlers, when it got to like 5 people playing they decided to do "we're passing the controls around, even if u win". i just won, so naturally i wasn't happy and i walked away. >:(
Quote from: JTchinoy on June 01, 2008, 08:56:59 PM
If we spread these tournaments 4 hours apart, that would help prevent overlapping tournaments so i wouldn't be so stressed. 2 hours apart is for like 16 man tournaments on 2 systems.
You could always just get omre people to help run the tournaments. The tournaments do need to start later though. Maybe start around 12 and end later in the night.
Quote from: Xeluu on June 02, 2008, 12:02:14 AM
I don't expect staff to babysit. That's a waste of people who could be helping out elsewhere. It was a bad on the attendee's part. And understandable about the shortage for controllers and what not, but if you have popular games like that, in my opinion, it would make sense to just zip tie the controllers to that system since they're liable to be used all con.
As for the sign, I dunno, I NEVER saw it. I'd seriously recommend making more if you continue the system next year, even if it's just someone bringing a few pieces of posterboard in bright colors and writing something along the lines of
"CONTROLLER/GAME CHECK-OUT THIS WAY
<-------
"
Or something of that sort. It was a shame I didn't get to play this year, but not the end of the world. But I'd definitely like to see something changed next year. It seemed like you had a great selection of games and consoles, you just didn't have the staff and since it was a new thing this year, something was bound to go wrong. Oh well.
Hopefully all I've said makes sense?
As we admit, there were a lot of problems this year because of the new system. The first post in this thread will show you that we ARE trying to fix a lot of the organization issues we had this year. We just need better planning, which we sorely lacked this year because the system was new. Hopefully, we'll have enough active staff to do everything planned.
Quote from: Reikon on June 02, 2008, 05:28:39 AM
Quote from: JTchinoy on June 01, 2008, 08:56:59 PM
If we spread these tournaments 4 hours apart, that would help prevent overlapping tournaments so i wouldn't be so stressed. 2 hours apart is for like 16 man tournaments on 2 systems.
You could always just get omre people to help run the tournaments. The tournaments do need to start later though. Maybe start around 12 and end later in the night.
I'll probably be sure to train at least 4 other people in tournament running for 2009. The people who helped me run the tournaments did a decent job for their first times, so I'm proud of that.
For signs and lockboxes and the sort, we will be using meeting dates to gather staff to get these things made. I know a few signmakers, so we can probably get something professional put together. I'll be testing various forms of sorting people's stuff, see what's the least damaging and most effective. We didn't really lose a lot this year so far, so I don't think it's going to be a big problem next year.
Quote from: Reikon on June 02, 2008, 05:43:53 AM
Quote from: Xeluu on June 02, 2008, 12:02:14 AM
*snip*
As we admit, there were a lot of problems this year because of the new system. The first post in this thread will show you that we ARE trying to fix a lot of the organization issues we had this year. We just need better planning, which we sorely lacked this year because the system was new. Hopefully, we'll have enough active staff to do everything planned.
I know you're trying to get things fixed, sorry if it sounded like I was angry or accusatory. >_< Didn't mean it to be like that.
Just trying to give suggestions to how
I might personally have/would try to fix it.
speaking of ps2 flip top I think I want to bring my own next year, and maybe my entire collection of pop'n music with controller also.
would that be feasible?
STEPMANIA TOURNAMENT
I DEMAND A STEPMANIA TOURNEY!
...I ALSO SUGGEST A CUSTOM-STEPCHART CONTEST!
WHY AM I WRITING IN CAPS, IT'S NOT AS IF the key is... oh. Whoops.
Before I begin, I did find the equipment liablity forms we did use during 2006/2007 and be willing to give that to you guys.
I just looked at the OP/first post of the thread and holy *censor*, let me help you organize this. Anything in a "( }" is my commentary/recommendations:
QuoteGeneral
-Lockboxes (Didnt you have a idea for this?)
-More console systems, esp XBox360's/Wii's (Retro's one thing, new stuff is a another)
-A Printer (why tho?)
-Budget (Usually thats a internal matter)
-Signup sheets for tournaments (Wait WHAT? You didn't to do this ;_; )
-COPMUTERS! (You mean a PC section?)
-Waver documents for staff AND Con. people. (You mean the under-18/minor waiver thing? easily acquireable)
-Mutiple department heads (Actually in the FanimeCon staff world, it goes Department Head/Manager->Assistant Department Head/Assist.Manager->Staffer. I don't think you can have more than 2 leaders, but you can setup a team/section for say...PC section, Console section, Tournament. I can go into details if you wish via AIM)
-Password protected Laptop (Demand it inf act)
-Better TV's (Unless FanimeCon can somehow afford HDTV's and in a huge Volume or get a sponsor, that'll be hard to do. 720p or even 1080p on the next-gen consoles would be sexy...)
E-Gaming related logistics/supply
-WTB Power Strips
-Labeling Supplies (though, I thought you got blue tape?)
-Controllers, esp for the N64/Gamecube + batteries
-Master Memory Card for Saves (We did that for our years and it helps)
-Printed version of game inventory (It ended up in a binder of a written inventory)
-A written list of everyone belongings (see last entry)
-More moded systems. (Do realize that these systems do have a slightly higher breakdown chance)
-More Sharpies and pens (Logistics Request type of thing; I just brought my own out of habit)
Tournaments
-Tournament bracket software (You don't need it personally...there are brackets pre-made out there on the internet, use Google)
-Trained/informed tournament organizers (If a certain person comes back, he can help ya)
-More than ONE tourny operators (Oh we learned hardcore of using just one person. Get a Tournament Coordination Team)
-Halo Tourny...Cancelled Every Time (In 2007, we found out no one brought a copy, dont blame me! In 2008, idk what happened)
-Projector for the BIG tournys. (Tricky one to do. Contact me on this one...)
-Check badage numbers for FINALIST'S (Do this for all tournaments and all participants; Msg me for a detailed answer)
Other
-Better sponsors (I hear its being worked on...)
-More reliable staffers (in my time, we strived to be in contact with everyone and required them to appear at a meeting once a month, and then the critical meetings.)
-During shut down time, you need more than one person running Inventory. (Duh!)
-Vol's when you need the help (edited to be professional; Dept head should request a certain amount dedicated if short on staff)
-Outside gamer table (What do you mean?)
-Make sure the arcade is separated from the computers. (In all the years I've done it, its been that way.)
-Better people watching the door (Door duty sucks. Long story short I ended up using Vol's and sometimes a Staffer for this.)
-Check badge numbers for FINALIST'S (not including the people we let in)
-E-Gaming Manual
-Better set up of info desk (In 2006 we developed this concept. There's ways to evolve this even more.)
-Poker for staff during shut down (For sanity's sake yes and even during the 'Con when it seems a little dead)
-Staff food and water/drinks (During the last set of meetings, coordinate this with your staff to pitch in 10-20 bucks so you're supplied for the 'Con. Do use mainly water but a bit of soda. That Exhibit hall can dehydrate you rather fast so take that as a factor)
-Fog Horn (Rofl)
Any better?
haha yeah x_x, my mom broke her leg so I'm her replacement for the next 6-8 weeks. When I get back from work tonight I'll address everything in that list, and get it back together again. Quickly, yeah, tournaments were not planned in advance, almost whatsoever. Printer is for said signup sheets, and whatever else we happen to need quick.
In general, most of this is improvements, however obvious. They need to be done because, well, they kinda weren't this year ): I'll IM you tonite if I'm not completely drunk over at the pad.
I should've mentioned this sooner, but one of the guys at E-Gaming brought some arcade scrolling shooter boards and ran them through a supergun or something. I got to play things like Blazing Star and Radiant Silvergun on Free Play.
To whoever did that: that was freakin' awesome. I hope you come back for Fanime '09! =)
Quote from: G.S. LXVIII on June 08, 2008, 06:32:21 PM
I should've mentioned this sooner, but one of the guys at E-Gaming brought some arcade scrolling shooter boards and ran them through a supergun or something. I got to play things like Blazing Star and Radiant Silvergun on Free Play.
To whoever did that: that was freakin' awesome. I hope you come back for Fanime '09! =)
heh, that person would happen to be the starter of this thread (David)
If I can muster the money, I'll be bringing multiple supergun setups next year.
I loved the way the gaming room was set up this year : D Free play and no set games/consoles is the way to go. Playing good old Mario Kart 64 and Perfect Dark was an unexpected but welcome highlight of Fanime 08.
So thumbs up to the people responsible and I am looking forward to 09 very highly C:
hopefully this gets a release date sometime down the line before next years' con(as well as console info), but....
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes
that is all for now.
Cameron reporting in here :D
I vote for old game tournaments like perfect dark or goldeneye, if we can get it ;3 And the more reliable staff thing would be awsome D= I saw so many names in the back of the book in '08 that I never once saw at the tables. Also no ghetto round table set up, That thing sucked muchly yaknow?
I request an ITG2 machine :D or DDRX or PIU. I was sad that 2008 was a SuperNova...
Too many brawl
Quote from: kanauru on September 02, 2008, 10:30:12 PM
I request an ITG2 machine :D or DDRX or PIU. I was sad that 2008 was a SuperNova...
PIU=Yes please. But which game in particular?
Quote from: Barnes on September 16, 2008, 10:44:22 PM
Quote from: kanauru on September 02, 2008, 10:30:12 PM
I request an ITG2 machine :D or DDRX or PIU. I was sad that 2008 was a SuperNova...
PIU=Yes please. But which game in particular?
NX2 Korean would be nice...or a PREX or Premiere. Only ones I have played are Pro and Zero.
i think you should have paper brackets printed out and ready just in case the tourney bracket software doesn't work. i remember the guy running the software saying something about how if you make a mistake, the software doesn't allow u to go back and fix it.
it's always good to have a back up plan if things doesn't work.
This is my 2 cents (could already be in the thread):
Trained staff, with paper brackets or laptops with bracket software (I recommend ALJ Tournament Maker, can download from Download.com)
To make it easy, you can use a big monitor or something of the sort to display who is up next for what game, or a projector.
The tournaments aren't exactly "high calibur" so the need for HD TV's aren't necesarry. As long as you can see what's going on its fine, also some games lag on HD TV's, I can pull up a list if needed.
Also a team is nice, one person to record what matches took place in the bracket, one for announcing games, and one for overseeing the games.
.
Quote from: otakuapprentice on June 21, 2008, 11:19:34 PM
hopefully this gets a release date sometime down the line before next years' con(as well as console info), but....
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes
that is all for now.
I missed this last time I posted. I don't think TvC is going to be out by then.
Quote from: AmazingKenchan on October 19, 2008, 04:32:51 AM
First staff meeting is over, we've started making some preliminary plans for eGaming in 2009. We'll have more space, we're taking over '08's Dealer Room, so look forward to a much bigger, more well-rounded room. Simply put, we will not disappoint ;D
So wait, where's the Dealers Room going to be, if you can answer that?
Quote from: Mizuki on November 02, 2008, 09:28:06 PM
Quote from: otakuapprentice on June 21, 2008, 11:19:34 PM
hopefully this gets a release date sometime down the line before next years' con(as well as console info), but....
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes
that is all for now.
I missed this last time I posted. I don't think TvC is going to be out by then.
The Wii JP version(which currently is the only confirmed console version of the game) will be out this December. As for the actual cabinet version, that part i don't know.
Quote from: HeeroYuy135 on November 02, 2008, 10:44:57 PM
Quote from: AmazingKenchan on October 19, 2008, 04:32:51 AM
First staff meeting is over, we've started making some preliminary plans for eGaming in 2009. We'll have more space, we're taking over '08's Dealer Room, so look forward to a much bigger, more well-rounded room. Simply put, we will not disappoint ;D
So wait, where's the Dealers Room going to be, if you can answer that?
im guessing they are just going to do a easy swap, with dealers and e-gaming switching rooms; dealers would probably be where gaming was this year and vice-versa.
So does that mean the Dealers Room will be smaller next year?
Actually no, because both rooms are 50k sq. feet, but one is square-ish and one is rectangular-ish.
Quote from: AmazingKenchan on October 19, 2008, 04:32:51 AM
First staff meeting is over, we've started making some preliminary plans for eGaming in 2009. We'll have more space, we're taking over '08's Dealer Room, so look forward to a much bigger, more well-rounded room. Simply put, we will not disappoint ;D
I haven't heard anything about this? Who did you hear this from?
Quote from: Mizuki on November 02, 2008, 09:28:06 PM
Quote from: otakuapprentice on June 21, 2008, 11:19:34 PM
hopefully this gets a release date sometime down the line before next years' con(as well as console info), but....
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes
that is all for now.
Ah, that's cool, I haven't payed much attention to the newer FG's.
I was looking for Richard, is he on this thread? I haven't heard from him since the meeting.
Thanks
BSaphire
I need to get a preliminary hand count of who may want to assist in tournament running this year.
Who's interested? I can teach anyone how to run a tourney. If you have access to a laptop that would be great.
Quote from: JTchinoy on December 06, 2008, 05:37:28 PM
I need to get a preliminary hand count of who may want to assist in tournament running this year.
Who's interested? I can teach anyone how to run a tourney. If you have access to a laptop that would be great.
I suppose I can try to help again next year.
I need to contact Richard so I'm actually on the staff list for next year, but he's pretty much impossible to reach. :D
For those who can't get a hold of Richard on the forums:
Try hitting his IM via Yahoo. If you guys still can't get a hold of Richard, contact me instead. I'll be able to forward any messages to him on behalf. Thanks. ^_^
I can pester him myself, thank you very much. :D
but forward to him this idea:
holding finals of popular video games at stage 0. if richard gives the yes, wendell from stage 0 is all for it too.