I need your input...

Vannoth · Post by **Vannoth** » August 5, 2003, 4:56 pm

The event will most likely be free to everyone.

-V

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » August 5, 2003, 5:02 pm

Even if it is 100% free there needs to be some sort of...something to draw those numbers.

Any more info might be helpful. Are you looking for a one day event of a long weekend, week long bash? Section of the world/states?

In the end though, little more than a social gathering with food and drink is needed to get a group of people from a social based game together. Keep in mind though, that places like vegas and so. cal. are draws of thier own, that will help boost numbers.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » August 5, 2003, 5:02 pm

Then bring it to NYC already. Jesus, throw us a bone out here

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » August 5, 2003, 5:30 pm

Neost, setting people on fire is genious!

Post by **Xouqoa** » August 5, 2003, 5:32 pm

lolz noob u spelld genius rong

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » August 5, 2003, 5:37 pm

Vannoth wrote:I want this to be a huge event, 5x the size of a Fan Faire.

That leans even farther in favor of an outdoor fairground\track "carnival" type event. I'd stay away from water as you could get liability issues.

As folks have said, if there is food\drink and eq folks to socialize with you'll get a decent crowd no matter what, especially if you have it in south central CA somewhere. Or anyplace else with a high player density within a reasonable drive for that matter. Make it an all day event on a Sat, that will knock peoples expenses way down to attend. Free food and drink doesn't seem reasonable, but a $10 ticket that gets you a trip through a BBQ line or whatever should be doable.

Getting devs and other folks there would make it even better, and a more informal feeling than a fan fair, even if it won't be.

Put Smed in a dunking booth, that alone will draw 5000 at least

Knarlz · Post by **Knarlz** » August 5, 2003, 5:37 pm

Free customer service awarded Sword of War to the first 10,000 people!!!

Well maybe that isn't such a good idea .

Lets see ... how to draw 5-10k to a SoE event..

Named band ( must be SoE game enabled to get ticket might sell some games that way also), good cheap food stands, beer tents/bar ( cheap and monitored ) Free 3 months EQ 2, tons of raffled free stuff , games, vidio cards,shirts, foam fingers etc.

Of these you need some sort of trigger to generate a cross media buzz outside the on-line segment. I'm not sure of the best way to do that though.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » August 5, 2003, 5:58 pm

Lessee...

Outdoor + Nice Weather including covered areas
Free BBQ + Soft Drinks!
Snow cones + other festival foods
GIANT BEER GARDEN that includes CHEAP BEER in LARGE cups!
(shuttle buses to nearby hotels)
Dev/GM/SoE employee dunk tanks
Dev/GM/SoE employee pie-tossing booths
Music + Dancing in beer garden area
Karaoke
Games - frisbee golf, lawn bowling, volleyball
Prize games - bingo, casino games win/bet fake $$ for prizes.
Computer lab w/games, table-top games, etc.
etc.

I'm thinking wicked fun Oktoberfest-like party with an EQ theme (aww yeah can you say CHICKEN DANCE?!?)

Rojer · Post by **Rojer** » August 5, 2003, 5:58 pm

I think that something in the middle of the US would be good.. maybe like texas or something, mainly due to the fact that a lot of people live on the east coast, a lot on the west coast and then a lot in the middle. I live in Minnesota, unfortunatly I missed the Minnesota FF. The middle works because then more people can come as far as I can tell.

One thing that MIGHT be fun, and pardon me if was mentioned before, I am at work with not enough time to read every single post. I will prewarn you guys that I have never attended a fan fair, so I dunno if this is something that already happens at normal FF's.

Make a contest where each class gets to fight it out on the big screen with people watching. Make the top prize something HUGE like say 3k per class. That would draw in a lot of the high end players, and the high end players are the most widely known and can have an almost "famousness" about them. I mean I know growing up as a paladin on veeshan I always wanted to be kreugen. If you draw in a lot of these people with the lure of winning 3k rl cash, or maybe a nice class specific item or whatever, it would probably make a lot of people want to come. It would also be fun to watch this without lagging the players fighting, you guys could set it up with a virtual zone with only 3 people in it, but put it on the big screen so every one could see and fight in a lag free environment. I personally would LOVE to be apart of a contest with my fellow high end players on a grand RL scale. BOTB is awsome in game, but being able to brag irl would be even better especially with people who you could not duel on your server.

So maybe this is a retardo idea, I dunno, and maybe if the prize money was only 1k that would be fine too, or maybe like a big tv or something. Something that would make people want to come for the chance to win.

noel · Post by **noel** » August 5, 2003, 6:02 pm

Rojer wrote:I think that something in the middle of the US would be good.. maybe like texas or something, mainly due to the fact that a lot of people live on the east coast, a lot on the west coast and then a lot in the middle. I live in Minnesota, unfortunatly I missed the Minnesota FF. The middle works because then more people can come as far as I can tell.

Not specifically directed at you, Rojer, but...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... no.

Where the fuck is that pimp Brittney to back me up when I say...

WEST SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 5, 2003, 6:22 pm

Vannoth wrote:
I want this to be a huge event, 5x the size of a Fan Faire.

If you're talking 5X's the size of a Fan Faire it's time to get the Celestial Tomb alumni organization involved!

Be aware that with huge events there's always going to be protestors though!

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » August 5, 2003, 6:23 pm

To get the biggest draw it's going to have to be cheap or free, and within a 1-3 hour drive of roughly 10x(?) your attendence target. I'm sure CS can pull that info from the account database.

SoCal, Boston, central Tx and maybe FL are the only ones I think that might meet that.

SoCal suxors btw

masteen · Post by **masteen** » August 5, 2003, 6:24 pm

Aranuil wrote:
Rojer wrote:I think that something in the middle of the US would be good.. maybe like texas or something, mainly due to the fact that a lot of people live on the east coast, a lot on the west coast and then a lot in the middle. I live in Minnesota, unfortunatly I missed the Minnesota FF. The middle works because then more people can come as far as I can tell.
Not specifically directed at you, Rojer, but...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... no.

Where the fuck is that pimp Brittney to back me up when I say...

WEST SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE!

Yeah, because everyone wants to visit Texas!

Texas is a sweaty scrotum of a state. It's only redeeming value to the body that's the USA is that it shelters the gonads. I'm 100 times more likely to fly to LA/SF/SD/Seattle than I am to see the fucking MidWest.

Unless we're going to sum o'dem kick-ass Texas titty bars! Now THAT would be a FF to remember!

noel · Post by **noel** » August 5, 2003, 6:37 pm

masteen wrote:
Aranuil wrote:
Rojer wrote:I think that something in the middle of the US would be good.. maybe like texas or something, mainly due to the fact that a lot of people live on the east coast, a lot on the west coast and then a lot in the middle. I live in Minnesota, unfortunatly I missed the Minnesota FF. The middle works because then more people can come as far as I can tell.
Not specifically directed at you, Rojer, but...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... no.

Where the fuck is that pimp Brittney to back me up when I say...

WEST SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE!
Yeah, because everyone wants to visit Texas!

Texas is a sweaty scrotum of a state. It's only redeeming value to the body that's the USA is that it shelters the gonads. I'm 100 times more likely to fly to LA/SF/SD/Seattle than I am to see the fucking MidWest.

Unless we're going to sum o'dem kick-ass Texas titty bars! Now THAT would be a FF to remember!

My point exactly. I was laughing at him suggesting that the middle of the US would be the place to have it if that wasn't clear.

MAYBE A FIELD IN NEBRASKA! WE CAN SPEND THE DAY MAKING EQ CROP CIRCLES!!!

Rojer · Post by **Rojer** » August 5, 2003, 6:39 pm

Yea get someone in accounting to find the exact city with the most accounts active in it, and hold it there =)

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » August 5, 2003, 6:40 pm

v,
just the fact that you're making it -free- should boost your attendance ridiculous amounts.
10k people will not fit on a cruise ship, but omfg that would be fun as hell.
as far as duration of the event, i saw a couple of comments about making the event last longer to make the trip worth it. honestly, at the couple of events i've attended several people weren't able get the time off work for a 3 or 4 day weekend, let alone a week long event. an extended weekend would be cool. plus, if you're not charging people, the budget for a 2~ish day event vs a 5~ish day event is going to be sick crazy-like.
and yeah, water + drunken gamers could be really, really bad. especially the ocean.
the bigass outdoor concert/bbq/other event type thing sounds like a blast (what sirensa and xou suggested).

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » August 5, 2003, 8:19 pm

Tantric lessons

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 5, 2003, 9:39 pm

2 words:

Butt Bongo

Stalker Vacio · Post by **Stalker Vacio** » August 5, 2003, 9:52 pm

Place + free food + free drinks + eq = pown

All the other shit you have at fan faire is lame like the costume contests and the scavanger hunt.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » August 5, 2003, 10:04 pm

Since my question wasn't answered...

I'll assume it's a go nuts budget...

Open Bar, Free food (Ask them if they can do free Sushi, Pizza, and Burgers!) are nice...

Large place...

Contests are good, giving away stuff is better...

Lots of flashy stuff, make it look like E3 and/or a Disco...(Put a huge Dragon at the entrance, lots of statues, etc...)

Music...

Put a few computers in a the corner hooked into EQ...(Some people will probably want to go "Hey I'm at Party X, it's cool!"

Publicize it as the biggest event in EQ history, that's good...

Get some of the Devs to speak there, maybe you can get some of the media interested...

Lots of tables!! People will want to sit down, drink, talk, etc...

That's about what I've come up with so far...

Hmm...something unique is yet needed though...

-=Lohrno

Acies · Post by **Acies** » August 5, 2003, 10:16 pm

I would be entertained to see SOE employees associated with Everquest compete against eachother and/or players for goodies.

Also though, if we are talking about something this huge, it goes without saying it would require an outdoor setting. The only indoor (Semi) areas that can hold ten thousandish people is stadiums, which may be an idea in and of itself.

A theme park can get expensive for 10k plus people with SOE footing the bill, especially if you tack on food and drink. Think a coll million plus, unless Vannoth uses his uberest power of bargaining for group rates

Rasspotari · Post by **Rasspotari** » August 5, 2003, 10:43 pm

have the event in france someplace, free french phrases dictionary for everyone, free french cuisine cooking classes, free french customs lectures.
oh and devs have a free peeping tom show, french kissing.

10k show up .. easy. i'm sure of it.

Deneve · Post by **Deneve** » August 5, 2003, 11:12 pm

free elemental BPs and AAs for all

Drustwyn · Post by **Drustwyn** » August 6, 2003, 12:06 am

I apologize in advance for sounding like Pils:

I study PR in collegio: The idea of having a free event for all is great PR.

Mainly because you will be reaching your two big audiences: your current players, and the media (as I'm sure that you will definitely leak news of the 'BIGGEST GAMING PARTY EVAR' to the press - imagine seeing Elf Girl on the cover of magazines and papers around the US), which will definitely draw new players.

My idea: LIGHTNING BOLT!!!!!!!!!!!!! REAL WORLD EVARQUEST!

Not really.

A gigantic BBQ seems sorta fun. Rent a big park for the day, supply some fewd, have a stage with sound system set up, have games, etc.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » August 6, 2003, 12:08 am

Drustwyn wrote: My idea: LIGHTNING BOLT!!!!!!!!!!!!! REAL WORLD EVARQUEST!

How about theater?

"Hugh Jballz! Thou hath stolen mine camp. I am most unsettled at this development!"

"Worry not, you were not strong enough to hold it in the first place. We are merely saving you from that horrible embarrasment!"

-=Lohrno

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » August 6, 2003, 12:11 am

Two words: Open Bar

Not sure if that has been posted as I really haven't read this thread.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » August 6, 2003, 12:14 am

Zamtuk wrote:Two words: Open Bar

Not sure if that has been posted as I really haven't read this thread.

Yes it has...give away toy swords, staffs, etc.

That would make an interesting party.

Especially if the developers are there...
Especially if they're not really toys..

-=Lohrno

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » August 6, 2003, 12:53 am

Lohrno wrote:
Zamtuk wrote:Two words: Open Bar

Not sure if that has been posted as I really haven't read this thread.
Yes it has...give away toy swords, staffs, etc. That would make an interesting party.
Especially if the developers are there...
Especially if they're not really toys..

-=Lohrno

Cardboard Tube Samurai irl

Deneve · Post by **Deneve** » August 6, 2003, 1:27 am

Lohrno wrote:
Zamtuk wrote:Two words: Open Bar

Not sure if that has been posted as I really haven't read this thread.
Yes it has...give away toy swords, staffs, etc. That would make an interesting party.
Especially if the developers are there...
Especially if they're not really toys..

-=Lohrno

that could be it, giving away mock EQ weapons for people based on their class and then we could film SW kid videos ala EQ

Truant · Post by **Truant** » August 6, 2003, 1:51 am

Sunserae wrote:
Lohrno wrote:
Zamtuk wrote:Two words: Open Bar

Not sure if that has been posted as I really haven't read this thread.
Yes it has...give away toy swords, staffs, etc. That would make an interesting party.
Especially if the developers are there...
Especially if they're not really toys..

-=Lohrno
Cardboard Tube Samurai irl

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » August 6, 2003, 2:03 am

Deneve wrote: that could be it, giving away mock EQ weapons for people based on their class and then we could film SW kid videos ala EQ

Heh seriously, though everyone likes toys and novelties. Cool stuff with EQ printed on it...And people like to have souveniers. It's not so silly as it sounds.

Edit: An exclusive sneak peak teaser video for EQ2 woudlnt hurt either...

-=Lohrno

Mak · Post by **Mak** » August 6, 2003, 2:59 am

Vannoth wrote:You guys are always complaining about how SOE doesn't listen to you, and now's your chance to be heard.

Your ideas might seriously be used to plan something, so help me out here.

_V

One of the best parts of GenCon 2002 for me was talking with Scott Hartsman for awhile about some of the things I liked and disliked about the game. I'd like to see some sort of "meet-n-greet" with some of the people who's names we've heard about for so long. A big Q&A session wold be nice, and/or some sort of walk-through tour of the facilities would be awesome too.

Deneve · Post by **Deneve** » August 6, 2003, 3:36 am

Lohrno wrote:
Deneve wrote: that could be it, giving away mock EQ weapons for people based on their class and then we could film SW kid videos ala EQ
Heh seriously, though everyone likes toys and novelties. Cool stuff with EQ printed on it...And people like to have souveniers. It's not so silly as it sounds.

Edit: An exclusive sneak peak teaser video for EQ2 woudlnt hurt either...

-=Lohrno

hehe, was just thinking of the possibilities, i agree that novelty items would be good, it would own to have a toy set of fangs and an ulak

Clatis · Post by **Clatis** » August 6, 2003, 5:41 am

first i didnt know Vannoth = Saiphos...sup d00d havent talked to you in months n stuff.

Second i heard somewhere that in order to go to a FF you had to be a certain age?? im not sure if thats true or not but if you wanted to have a lot of people there i think it should be open to all ages knowing that a lot of people who play this game are between the ages of 16 and 21.

And there should be no age restriction on alcoholic beverages =) of course

I think someone said something about in a park, thats a great idea cuz a stage could easily be set up, and its easy to do, etc, but then the weather and all so yea

Turning the post over to my retarted"creative" side, 10k ppl might not fit on 1 cruise ship...but you could always tie two together.

And if the boats are sinking, i call a seat on the first life raft with all the ladies ^^

And yea, there was something else i was thinking of, but i got another brain fart, and im as lost as a acid addict in a carnavel

*EDIT* Oh yea...

PS - it is true that the less you play the more you post on VV ~

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » August 6, 2003, 6:19 am

Lowering the age to 16 and allowing them to drink, would probably scare a lot of people away. I know I wouldn't want to be at a party with 5000 drunk teenagers personally.

Clatis · Post by **Clatis** » August 6, 2003, 6:20 am

how bout 17?

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » August 6, 2003, 6:43 am

hmmmm. If you want to draw lots of EQ players you should include some sort of contest that rewards not just players but entire guilds in-game. This means that the more of your guildies show up the better chance you have to win. The reward should not be tangible (even virtually tangible) like magic items, it should be something prestigous like maybe a title or different colored names or a symbol or something like that. The event itself could take place in or out of game, and each server could have its own champion.

Basically, I think if you target guilds instead of players you will draw bigger numbers.

I would also like to say that the only way you're going to get my broke EQ retired ass to buy a plane ticket somewhere is a rock band, and a good one at that.

The whole legality thing negated 98% of my ideas, but they included free drugs, sex, gambling, and debauchery.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » August 6, 2003, 7:24 am

It should also be held at SOE headquarters. Give some of them angry players a reason to come out.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » August 6, 2003, 9:30 am

Second i heard somewhere that in order to go to a FF you had to be a certain age?? im not sure if thats true or not but if you wanted to have a lot of people there i think it should be open to all ages knowing that a lot of people who play this game are between the ages of 16 and 21.

And there should be no age restriction on alcoholic beverages =) of course

Of course, because everyone knows that teenagers handle their liquor with the utmost of care

BAHAHA

Seriously, west coast has had enough of these things. You can hold pretty cool parties down in Battery Park and there's more than enough space down there for a band as they hold free concerts there all of the time. There are even docks to launch "party boats" so long as the Port Authority goes along w/ it.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » August 6, 2003, 10:36 am

Do you think you could get the girl who modeled as Fiorona Vie to get back in costume and do a 10,000 man bukkake?

Vannoth · Post by **Vannoth** » August 6, 2003, 11:26 am

Acies,

Fan Faire is open to all ages. If you're under 18 you just need parental permission to go.

All the infoz are at http://www.everquest.com/fanfaire

Assume the budget is crazy. Lots of good ideas guys...keep it coming!

-V

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » August 6, 2003, 11:34 am

I am telling you, if you want droves of people there, you must provide free transportation to and from the event and free lodging. Charge what you want for every thing else to blindly take back some of the funding that was spent on the Plane/Bus/Train what ever is decided on Tickets.

A large portion of us are working class people with a family and jaunting across country at our own expense is just not in the budget.

Post by **Sylvus** » August 6, 2003, 11:43 am

Hey V, can you give any sort of anticipated timeline for the event that is still in it's brainstorming stages? Like, is it something you guys are hoping to pull off sometime this year still, or will it be spring or something?

masteen · Post by **masteen** » August 6, 2003, 11:53 am

All right, here's my idea:

Since EverCrackers are spread out all over, instead of focusing on one venue, why don't you simultaneously have like 3 or 4? NYC, LA, and one or two in the boonies like TX, AR, ect.

Then you set up web cams everywhere, lots of big screens showing the other events, chat terminals, maybe some EQ rigs. Basically make the 3 big parties one HUGE virtual party.

If you rented out a convention hall in each locale, you could theme the decorations the same, so looking into big screens would show a very similar location, which would really add to the immersion factor.

Ah, screw it! I'm gonna have my own party. With blackjack. And hookers. On second thought, forget the blackjack!

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » August 6, 2003, 1:55 pm

There are a number of MLB players that play eq, perhaps organize some server/guild based softball tournement, the pros can hang out with us

Simple 4 or 5 inning games in a multi field park, blast through a couple games per team per day until the final game on the last day when the top server or guilds play each other and the pros can ump or something.

Evenings can be spent in bars, of course.

Moongrinn · Post by **Moongrinn** » August 6, 2003, 2:11 pm

BBQ at the Beach, Open Bar, get a low rate band to play for 10 hours straight, maybe get a couple sponsors(subway,arbys,kfc) rent a beachside gazebo and get 100 comps. Easy way to cut down the cost would be like BYOB+more, or Bring your own computers, maybe not free but like 15 buck admission fee, pay on arival, or 5dollar parking.

XunilTlatoani · Post by **XunilTlatoani** » August 6, 2003, 3:05 pm

When I saw what you were looking for, the first thing that popped into my head was, Jim Rome Tour Stop.

For those that aren't familiar with Rome, he is a nationally syndicated sports radio personality, and he makes about 4 "tour stops" a year in various cities. The whole thing is sponsored by AutoZone, so they get plenty of money from the advertising revenue, plus the only way to get the free tickets to the event is to go to a "ticket drop" at an AutoZone retail outlet (you have to go to the AutoZone web site to find out where the next drop is).

So with the costs covered from the sponsor, you rent out an arena or large outdoor area, have an insane tailgate party, bring in some "celebs", yadda yadda yadda.

Here's a specific suggestion. Have Metallica perform and tie it into a Lars and Ulrich McMannis, West Karana, thing

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 6, 2003, 3:40 pm

XunilTlatoani wrote:
Here's a specific suggestion. Have Metallica perform and tie it into a Lars and Ulrich McMannis, West Karana, thing

Metallica doesn't sit well with 90 percent of EQ players that steal music in the form of MP3s : ) There are close ties between EQ and Computer geekyness. Don't forget your roots!

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » August 6, 2003, 3:54 pm

Besides, they sound like a cum-gargling expo w/ guitars.

Mitzey · Post by **Mitzey** » August 6, 2003, 4:06 pm

I thought the idea of 3-4 events spread around the country is a great one. Even if the event is free travel costs are going to stop a lot of folks from attending. You could even have contests between the different locations going on. Im sure with all the modern technology there are some funs things you could do.

As far as locations you might look into using fair grounds. I dont know what its like in other states but Washington has a number of nice fair grounds that get used for all kinds of different events all year long. I don't know how many folks you can cram into them but i assume a lot. And there is a nice mix of outdoor and indoor space.

Will be interesting to see what you come up with.

Mitzey

VeeshanVault

I need your input...

ok since my question wasn't really answered...