unforum

[rose]

[xnbomb]

Ka-ching.

[vortech]

[Nighthawk]

Actually, to be quite honest, I prefer the "serious" days... After all, I am one who is still trying to make a name for myself in this industry, and since there aren't many venues for business development in this industry, the more opportunities we have the better.

If I was in any financial condition to be a sponsor, I most definitely would.

If there is anything you need from us (both myself and my colleague, Ineffabelle, will be there), do let us know.

[rose]

ARGFest press

[MovieViralDan]

hey, I wrote that!

[Pixiestix]

I for one am glad to see that argfest is ever growing. I remember {having never been to one before at the time} hearing about argfest years ago and suggesting here on the forums and in chat there be panels {i still have to assume i wasn't the only one to suggest it, since it was implimented}. I know for the past two years a lot of us begged for a 4 day event instead of 2 1/2. From personal experience, i know most of the people that go play games. not just args, but games. Munchkin, d&d, tag, hide and seek are just a few i've seen people get together informally to do over the past few years at argfest.

I think the argfest team did a hell of a job not just listening to the community , but observing us. They saw what we wanted, and dare i say needed, and are making it happen.

[October]

I don't see why corporate sponsorship of ARGFest would be a bad thing. The companies that sponsor our fun are also likely to employ people in the community (like Nighthawk) who want to get into the business, which makes it good for their networking; these companies make the games we're interested in and provide people for the panels; they help keep the costs low (as noted previously); etc.

Just because ARGFest is sponsored doesn't mean it's corporate. It's volunteer-run, and NO ONE makes any money off of ARGFest.

As for "advertising the format to the world in general": Why shouldn't this happen? "ARG" is already a term much more well-known than it was four or five years ago. When I joined unFiction, most of the people I talked to about storygames didn't know what an ARG was and had never heard the term. Now, about half the time, even people not very familiar with these times of games will answer, "Oh, yeah, like that one game..." and reference TDK or some other interactive, ARG-ish experience. Why should we not publicize ARGFest and the genre? It's not like we're keeping secrets here.

We all knew that this genre was going to grow and change. ARGFest has the potential to become the premiere conference on this form of storytelling - why would we not want that? If ARGFest stayed the way it has always been, it would be in danger of stagnating.

I'm excited about the changes and how ARGFest is growing. I'm thrilled that we've got four days instead of just a weekend to play games, attend panels, and spend time with friends. I love that the organizers are inviting game designers to submit their games. We're going to get to see all sorts of newly developed games (I hope) and help shape and improve them.

[DavFlamerock]

[October]

Yay, MtG!! And glad you're 100% confirmed, Dav. I'm testing and refining a beeeeyuuuuteeeful deck. I made my husband play five games against it last night, and he has pronounced it both annoying and effective. Now to build one or two more. ^^

[lifegospel]

[thebruce]

I will most certainly be taking my Star Munchkin deck hehe

I'll say I'm ~98% positive at this point. I haven't done the math on total costs yet, as I'm waiting for some final details about registration and accomodation, then I'll work on the travel plans... I already had everything booked by this time last year, so it's getting tight. I also have a friend's wedding the weekend following the 'fest in Alberta.

But on to another topic...
To be a bit of a devil's advocate, well ok first I'll say this:
I LOVE the way ARGfest is going. I am happy and glad that it is growing, and going through growing pains. This the refining fire that will help it find definition and purpose as the industry and community also changes.

That said, I think there can be legitimate sadness about its direction - from the perspective of those who miss "the good old days" of just fun community gathering, no real plans, just a social meetup. My first argfest was when that sentiment was showing up more... I remember the chats people had about possibility of a social argfest and the corporate argfest - should there be two?

That said, I don't think there's any reason that isn't or can't be the case now. ARGfest is moving in the direction that the community in general has been guiding it. That's a good thing. The past few years have seen more corporate interest - it's turned some faces and is starting to be recognized on a larger scale. Personally, I think as long as it always remains community-focused/friendly, then it will continue to grow in the spirit by which it was formed.
And we all know there's plenty of social gathering and meetup and hooliganry that accompanies the 'fest outside the 'official schedule'

That said (x3), to be a bit honest, I did raise an eyebrow on reading about all these overtly "game" oriented themes and submission requests... but only because that seems to be contrary to the 'traditional' sense of what "ARG" really is/was. Festquest seemed like a fun add-on, but now it feels like ARGfest is promoting games that aren't really ARGs in the traditional sense, but rather expanding the theme-set to include all these other forms of experiences and entertainment that have spawned (for lack of a better term) from the 'industry' in the past few years...
Again, NOT that that is a bad thing, but it did help contribute to the shift in feel and appearance, IMO, of ARGfest this year than in previous years.

Finally, to re-iterate - I am happy and glad and excited for ARGfest this year! Seriously, sincerely! And I'm really hoping to make it again. I'm just being honest about my first impression of ARGfest after its public revelation. None of this is a bad thing, in my opinion, it's just (an admittedly) clear shift (or honing?) in the perception of ARGfest, in its natural evolution for the community. And I completely understand the direction, and am extremely grateful for the support its received.

I am also considering the option of sponsoring ARGfest this year, but that decision'll come once finances for travel are also sorted out

[Pixiestix]

I did have one sponsorship question - will we have The Order of the Trout again this year?

[imbri]

Love the feedback! We do listen and it does help.

To add to the conversation and, perhaps, expand on a few of our decisions (for better or worse)...

[Nighthawk]

There indeed isn't much time left, and I'm hesitant to book airfare without knowing which hotel I'll be staying at.

Any ideas when you all will make that decision?