CGE 2008 - What would you like to see?

[vectrexer]

WORKSHOPS:

One idea I've been kicking around for the past few years is some kind of workshop at CGE. At this workshop the participants could work out a design for a new homebrew game or even a piece of homebrew hardware. The workshop could also be about repair techniques, ..........



In concur on the workshop idea. Having some of the developers who attend the show put on a few development sessions might be a good thing. Not just for the people who want to do home brew, but also for the pros out there looking to do an emulation / port of a game to another platform.

A repair workshop for old and new consoles would be nice. Even the Security guard in the evening (I forget her name) was asking console repair questions. The simple ones related to cart and slot cleaning. I am sure the attendees both old an your would appreciate knowing there is more to repair than simply giving your cart the blow job repair trick.


The workshop also presents the possibility of bringing on some more blood for keynotes too.


Ben Who? What about Dave Kaplish! Dave mentioned he was ready to do even more on site work than just at the table. A workshop with Dave doing so on-site vacuforming??!! Great! (even with the fumes and fire hazards) ;-) If you don't remember Dave's booth he was selling the portable systems.

[Fighter17]

We need more importers or a bigger selection of imports.

The y-bot booth with the imports just had Nintendo stuff. I asked the Japanese seller "Megadrive" and he looked suprise. He pointed me to few games and that was it. They were few Saturn, Playstation imports, and etc.

It would be great to cover tons of imports from different systems. Famicom, Megadrive, and etc. Don't only focus on the cheap games, also get the major rares.

Some of the people at the swap meet has tons of crap, so much crap that they should become venders at the show (Dream TR if I remember correctly).

Also about the swap meet, I believe we should should follow this format: $10 for the first hour, then $20 for second, and $30 for third, and etc. We could use more tables at the swap meet as well. Also what about having small groups of people be at one tables (they could split up the bill)? Like we can have three different groups of people at one table, and etc. Also the guy who was in charge of the swap meet was very relaxed about the hour rule (on Sunday he could careless). While I was happy I didn't give him anything, he should enforce the rule with an iron fist.

Also the arcades machines weren't in good condition. Many of them had color issues on the screens, some weren't working correctly (Marvel Vs. Capcom 2), and a good number of them had burn-in. Can we get better condition arcade machines please? What about a bigger selection of 90s machines (Neo-Geo, and various shmups games)?

Oh, we need food nearby and chairs. My feet were killing me during the expo.

Oh yeah, announce when the keynote speeches are going to happen.

[swlovinist]

I have a great idea. I think that coducting a public survey on DP on what systems people would like more to be represented at the show. The answer might suprise us all.

[16-bit]

Well, that's why we have the trade room. If tables were priced cheap enough for everyone, you'd basically end up with a flea market. If you saw the organizers' keynote, you'd know there's no money to be made from running the show. No offense, but running a show like CGE isn't the same as running NWCGE. With a show that size, you're somewhat limited in what you can (and can't) do. Compared to what VGXPO is charging this year, CGE tables are pretty much free... so maybe they should be raised? ;)

As far as who has more product, there was less this year than in shows past b/c two of the biggest vendors (B&C and Telegames) couldn't make it. But people go to CGE for multiple reasons besides vendors (museum, keynotes, auction, etc.) so having more product doesn't necessarily translate to more attendees.

I won't question the point that the organizers make no money from the show, but let me tell you that vendors do the math too.

A $300 10x10 booth space for access to a little over 1000 attendees isn't exactly a bargain.
My fixed costs for attending CGE are comparable to the total costs of doing $12,000-$15,000 on eBay.

Why not scrap the alumni-dinner (which I am sure costs a fortune and has no direct impact on attendance) and use the money to cover transportation and hotel costs for a couple guests (which is all you need for a show at its current size) and then move the show to a part of the country where you are able to negotiate a better rate like northern NJ?
Most shows that draw 5,000-10,000 attendees typically only have 7-10 guests at most. Having 40+ special guests for show at its current size is overkill.

[DreamTR]

New Jersey? Atlantic City compared to Vegas? I dunno about that one...

[ubersaurus]

Wasn't the problem with working out on the east coast and midwest having to do with unions? Also Jersey vs Vegas? That's a no contest.

I like the sheer number of guests. Keep in mind that these people go to the expo out of their own pocket. They pay airfare and rooming. What's the sense in only inviting a couple that you're having to pay for vs. inviting a bunch and seeing who comes?

[Vectorman0]

I won't question the point that the organizers make no money from the show, but let me tell you that vendors do the math too.

A $300 10x10 booth space for access to a little over 1000 attendees isn't exactly a bargain.
My fixed costs for attending CGE are comparable to the total costs of doing $12,000-$15,000 on eBay.

Why not scrap the alumni-dinner (which I am sure costs a fortune and has no direct impact on attendance) and use the money to cover transportation and hotel costs for a couple guests (which is all you need for a show at its current size) and then move the show to a part of the country where you are able to negotiate a better rate like northern NJ?
Most shows that draw 5,000-10,000 attendees typically only have 7-10 guests at most. Having 40+ special guests for show at its current size is overkill.

Regardless of the issue of getting alumni to come to the east coast (it's very difficult/not possible), I know for a fact that there is no way all of the CGE stuff (museum goodies, arcade machines, etc.) is going to move anywhere anytime soon. Prior to CGE07 I talked to John and Joe quite a bit about how much of a hassle it was for them and Stonic, and maybe a few others, moving it back to Vegas from San Francisco. It's going to be Vegas for a while.

[16-bit]

New Jersey? Atlantic City compared to Vegas? I dunno about that one...

...I don't know about the connection between legalized gambling and a video game convention. Maybe there is one and official attendance numbers could confirm it.

I was thinking more along the lines of the Meadowlands convention center which is 15 minutes from Newark International Airport and the DigitalPress store.

[16-bit]

Wasn't the problem with working out on the east coast and midwest having to do with unions? Also Jersey vs Vegas? That's a no contest.

I like the sheer number of guests. Keep in mind that these people go to the expo out of their own pocket. They pay airfare and rooming. What's the sense in only inviting a couple that you're having to pay for vs. inviting a bunch and seeing who comes?

Unions are everywhere (unfortunately). I've attended shows where unions were present and the booth fees were $300-$750, but attendance in every case was over 5,000. If CGE had attendance above 5,000 there wouldn't be any discussion in this thread about the lack of vendors. Trust me.

Regarding the guest costs, I specifically referred to the alumni dinner. If it is not a substantial part of the budget then my point is moot. I also do not know how well they negotiated the space, but even at their early bird price of $300, that seems high for a booth given the shows current size and comparing it to other shows. Of course you can subsidize that cost by buying up and reselling the exclusives (which is probably why there was a sellout on one title from all of the vendor purchases before the door opened).

Anyway, some suggestions I have for 2008.

-Invite other online web communities that may not focus on the precrash era, but maintain a passion for classic genres and systems (shmups.com, neo-geo.com, assemblergames) and give them space on the floor to annex--kinda like DP at E3. For example, check out this fantastic shooter setup at an event in France: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=15277

-Include 1 free admission with a table purchase.

-add a consignment table for stuff that is not quite auction worthy, but will encourage people to bring something worthwhile to the show to sell which could help subsidize their cost for attending.

-stagger pricing in the trade room for preferential time slots.

-...and have another NWC tourney with Thor Ackerlund. :)

[RCM]

I'm with Carlson on this one, bring CGE to Jersey! I've been to a few Anime Expos and Chiller in the Meadowlands and was generally impressed. I'd love to go out to Vegas for CGE but none of my travel buddies want to.

[DreamTR]

The problem is there is nothing IN JERSEY as a vacation type thing to do in the evening. Vegas has a whole slew of excuses to go to for adults, Jersey..well....not so much....

I don't think 5,000 is possible for something that is still very niche unless you move to other communities not classic, and more neo-classic and current generation. Not sure if that is what the organizers had in mind.

[RCM]

There's some stuff to do around the Meadowlands and Manhattan is 10 minutes away, I think there's enough for the average adult.

[nationgamesdepot]

I think Vegas is the right place for CGE as well. So many airlines have great deals and packages to Vegas as is, going to Jersey would actually be more expensive. I just checked and it would actually cost about $200 more for me personally.
~~NGD

[16-bit]

The problem is there is nothing IN JERSEY as a vacation type thing to do in the evening. Vegas has a whole slew of excuses to go to for adults, Jersey..well....not so much....

I don't think 5,000 is possible for something that is still very niche unless you move to other communities not classic, and more neo-classic and current generation. Not sure if that is what the organizers had in mind.

I'm looking at location in terms of cutting costs given what they are charging to to sell at their show given the attendance numbers in comparison with other conventions. If they feel that Las Vegas has a positive effect on attendance, then I defer to their decision.

But in addressing the issue of the number of vendors specifically, I would encourage them to look at either cutting costs (perhaps the alumni dinner) or giving their progamming a complete overhaul to increase attendance because the exposure cost/attendance ratio is not in balance.

5,000+ is a very possible number for a ten year old convention if the convention was more of a reflection of Digitpress.com. I'm not saying that CGE should have 7 projection screens running halo 3 competitions the entire weekend, but having modern gaming/neo-classic gaming discussion has not damaged the classic gaming discourse on this site at all, and I think having competitions, and panels that focused on neo-classic and modern gaming would complement the current programing.

Furthermore, Neo-Geo/N64/Dreamcast would be considered classic by someone who is 20 years old, and GenY is a key market for conventions because they don't yet have a family, house, etc. They have the time to travel and they do.

[Deadman]

I've never been to a CGE, but I plan on finally attending one this year. And Vegas makes it much more palatable to the Mrs., as she can lounge or shop or something while I geek out. So, while I'm looking forward to my first experience this year, I have attended numerous other conventions over the years and here are some of the things that are great for the attendees:

1. Food, obviously. If the food is close by, less time and energy is wasted going to and fromthe eating area, leaving more time and energy for shopping and browsing the dealer room.

2. Room trading. Is this done here? Getting entire hotel floor wings and having the people who want to swap and trade just open their doors and lay their items on their beds. It's a great way to meet more attendees and promotes group activities. Plus, you can have a system hooked up to the room tv for playing - fun!

3. Art display/contest/sale - Another great way to promote interaction - meet the artists, get items signed, even get a sketch done? Maybe the artists can set up in the swap room and pay $25 - $50 for the day?

4. Big name sponsors. Sure, Microsoft may not come out, but perhaps some of the smaller NEW companies would like to come promote their new titles?

Just some ideas. Any idea when the time frame for 2008 will be?? (Gotta start planning now.......)

Holt

[vectrexer]

I want to see the Auction Night have the following:

* Better Pre-Staging and management of the items. I would not mind someone with a laptop collecting the details of each item before they are placed up for bid. Ok, so the paper method works "fine". But having the list in electronic form before the auction starts, and as the auctions are paid would be a good thing. Easier to post the results too. Sure, I volunteer to do this.

* Water and other drinks for sale in the room. Priced in such a way as to have a small amount go to charity. Or perhaps everyone who comes in gets a bottle of water?


* A camera on the current item under bid. Good for the people at the back of the room to see it!!!!


* A camera on the podium. John is such a crack up! Make it and HD Cam so we can see every sweat pore! NOT! John is the king! :king:


* Credit Card Acceptance! I volunteer my PayPal account and myself for the CC payment duties! Buyer pays PayPal fees for the right to use a CC payment. :frustrated:


* PayPal Acceptance! Or some other form of acceptance. I volunteer my PayPal account and myself for the PayPal payment duties! Buyer pays PayPal fees for the right to use PayPal for payment. :frustrated:


* The ability for remote bidders to bid on the auction items. However, the remote bidders must pre-register and be pre-approved for bidding. And I suggest they deposit their maximumbid totals they are willing to spend in escrow before the auction. I volunteer myself to manage the registration for this group of people.


* Broadcast of the Auction Night to the Internet. It would be nice if the Retro Gaming Radio poeple could do this, or wrok with me to get this done. Their mixer would be a nice thing to have at the Auction Night activities. Sound broadcast good. Video better.


* Keep the spokesmodel/presenter :pimp: (whichever one we choose). Have her move up and down the aisle more oftern if there is no big screen in the Auction Night. (more skin from the spokesmodel for higher bids? :vamp:)

* Have the local distributor provide support for the Corona Bucket as the final charity item. :cheers:

* Have someome from the designated charity make an appearance for the crown. The Special Olympics in person "thanks" at the auction in for the SF location show of the show was a nice touch indeed! You would think the Salvation Army could also add the touch. :cool:


* I liked the Snake statue. Anyone got a line on a full sized HALO Master Chief statue? Or better yet, a costume! :snipersmile:X_x


* And next time someone please give John's son John's wallet before the auction. That way we know his sons bid is serious! ROFL

[Kamino]

what we need at cge is some blue kool-aid.
or was it purple?

[vectrexer]

WII on the Beach? Thanks for your suggestion! I will take you up on it!

[Nitrosport]

I think it should be moved to somewhere like Florida. Preferably South East Florida. ;)