Can we FLY A FORUM MEMBER TO CGE? Thoughts inside.

[digitalpress]

You know, after the somewhat unsuccessful "bring a booth babe to Vegas", I got to thinking.

Why CAN'T we run an event wherein we fly (and if there's enough participation perhaps even cover hotel costs) for one forum member?

It's costing me about $300 to fly from NJ to Vegas, which makes me think that it's going to cost about $300 from just about anywhere at least in the USA.

If 30 people chip in $10, one person's trip is covered. Hotel stay is VERY cheap, $50 a night or so in the area we're at. So figure another $100. We'd need 40 people willing to part with $10. Once secured, we could run it like a raffle and draw the winner from that group. So it's a bit of a gamble, but the reward is pretty awesome. And you'd have a decent shot, unlike a real lottery.

What do you think?

[Anonymous]

Sure, I'd be down for it. I was planning on doing a cgeBay thing to raise money this year myself, but if 10 dollars will get another forum member down to the show, I'd be down for it.

Why don't you do it like purchasing raffle tickets. 10 dollars buys one ticket in the raffle, and extra cash can be used to purchase 2nd and 3rd place prizes such as tickets or a free room or games.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Very cool, but a couple of caveats...you'd want to make sure that anyone entering is someone who can go - you may or may not have to set an age limit there, and depend on everyone to be honest about that when they enter.

And again, we'll probably hear folks saying "Hey, I'm just trying to afford the trip myself, how can I contribute, etc.," like we heard during the whole thing about sending Janice to CGE.

Other than that, sounds like a good idea. Maybe sweeten the pot and add some CGE or DP homebrews/releases. Or maybe that's wishful thinking on my part. :)

[digitalpress]

Hmm. You make some valid points. Except the difference between this and the Janice thing is that if you participate, you are qualified for the free trip.

There is no age limit at CGE by the way.

And I'll kick in a free weekend pass, courtesy of CGE.

Am I missing other caveats?

[Six Switch]

I'd chip in. :)

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Well, by age limit I didn't mean the event - some forum members might need a parent flown in with them. I dunno, maybe that'd be an incentive for the parent to come too - half of the trip expenses, short of buying every game in sight, would be taken care of. :)

[Queen Of The Felines]

What if you've already bought the plane tickets and the weekend pass? Would you get the money anyway to help pay for it?

If so, I'm in. :)

Kristine

[digitalpress]

What if you've already bought the plane tickets and the weekend pass? Would you get the money anyway to help pay for it?

If so, I'm in. :)

Kristine

I don't see why not. I'm not sure there are 40 people who ARENT going that would consider taking a chance, so why not open it to anyone?

I'd like to hear from others who would be interested. No point in really starting this in earnest if there isn't enough interest.

[JasonMewes2001]

Someone try and get me there!!

I'll pitch in 10$

[Darth Vader]

I will give anyone who buys my plane ticket and hotel a years supply of potato chips and beef jerky! :D But if that don't work, I would be in on this contest/raffle.

Danny

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I'll see about chipping in too. If nothing else, somebody gets to come along and watch me spend waaaaay too much money. :D

[Atar1G1rl]

I don't need to take a plane there, but I'd be happy to contribute to the cause!

[stargate]

I'll be in. Here's my recommendation.......


open to 50 participants only. first 50 who Paypal $10 are entered. Then there is the raffle and the winner is announced. 1 in 50 chance to win this great prize is really cool. I think having $500 is a little safer to cover the hotel and plane fare. For example, I live in MA, might cost a bit more to fly. If it cost less from where you live, the extra money is a little "mad money".

Digipress will set the rules.....participants must be of legal age, etc etc.

If there are not 50 participants, Joe calculates how much money we have and buys a really cool prize or prizes with the money and raffles that off. Won't be as cool as the trip, but still very cool.

Well, those are my thoughts.

[Needle]

Count me in. I know I definitely don't have the funds to make it to the CGE this year, but I can give up $10 of what I do have to give myself the slightest chance of going. It's $10 I can separate myself from, and if it helps one lucky person get there, theen hey, that's cool! Although I'd like to be that lucky person. :)

[Sniderman]

What a GREAT idea! I think the 50 entries for $10 each is sufficient. That's Airfare and hotel. If the pass is free, then some lucky slob would just have to worry about eats, alcohol and spending dough.And, if it's someone (like myself) who already has hotel and air arranged, then it can be a cash/credit prize at the event.

I wish there was someway of just insuring it would go to 1. someone who would be unable to go otherwise and 2. someone who actually WOULD come out if they won. But put me down for $10 - hell, $20 for this great idea.

[NESCollector75]

I would be in, but Im not sure if it would be enough to cover a flight from Toronto, so is this guna be a USA only contest or is Canadian fourm members going to be included?

[Darth Vader]

I would be in, but Im not sure if it would be enough to cover a flight from Toronto, so is this guna be a USA only contest or is Canadian fourm members going to be included?

Please, no carry on baggage from Toronto though. Make sure you leave the SARS back at home! :D I look forward to seeing you in Vegas! Joe I will definitely be in on this contest.

Danny

[fcw3]

I'm in. Might be my only chance to go. How do you want the $10 ? Paypal ?

FRED

[Achika]

I'm in too. Can you shuffle that $5 that I send for Janice over to this & I'll sent another $5.

[punkoffgirl]

I'm definitely in. This is gonna be one majorly tight trip for me either way, between car repairs and getting a new apartment, and donating $10 for the chance of getting $500 can't hurt!

We most DEFINITELY need a time limit on this. The sooner this gets started/ended, the better for booking!

[oesiii]

Sounds like a novel idea that should work, I would send some money in :)

[YoshiM]

Sure, I'd chip in as well.

[anagrama]

I'd imagine this offer wouldn't be open to international DP-ers, right?

[punkoffgirl]

If there are not 50 participants, Joe calculates how much money we have and buys a really cool prize or prizes with the money and raffles that off. Won't be as cool as the trip, but still very cool.

Well, those are my thoughts.

Almost. No one sends any money until we have enough people willing to participate first. Hence, you don't have to worry about not having enough.

[digitalpress]

It looks like we're gonna do this!

In fact, there will be more in it for you if you win than just plane tickets and hotel stay. If you've been following along so far, consider this your "inside tip": we'll announce the full plan and open this up for real tomorrow night!

Something I'd like your opinion on.

- Since this is for "forum members", should there be some minimum number of posts or a latest date joined on the forums to qualify?, or is it OK to open this up to the world?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Nah...what better way to get folks into the fold than the possibility of winning a trip to CGE? Come one, come all, I say.

I've got my ten bucks ready.

[ghsqb]

I agree with PDF, you may attract new people to the community with this idea.

One thing though Joe, are you going to open this to Canadians?
If so I'm in.
I'm not sure the $500 would cover a flight from Canada, but it could be like one of those holiday packages that those travel companies are giving away.
"Departure from....."
How you get to the Departure point is up to you.
Even if you decide not to allow Canadians, I will give $10 so another member has a chance to go.
Count me in.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I'm not sure the $500 would cover a flight from Canada

Whatchootalkinbout, Willis? With the currency conversion? I think it'd do.

[JasonMewes2001]

If you could raise enough for my mom to go, too. I'd go, and pitch in 20$ :P

[CX2K]

I love this idea!!!!

Just to make things interesting, I'm gonna kick this up a notch!!!

Aside from airfare and hotel, CGE Services will provide you with free admission to the show. Not only that, but you will receive a VIP badge that will let you get in early. Warning though, if you show your face while we're setting up on Friday, we'll try to put you to work. :)

But.... that's not all! The winner will also be invited to the special Alumni dinner/cocktail hour on Friday night from 7pm - midnight. This dinner is only open to the numerous alumni who will be attending and a few select friends. Not even the media is invited to this event. Imagine dining on the finest cuisine while Alan Miller, David Crane, and Garry Kitchen discuss the good old days at Activision a few feet away. Or maybe you'll be slamming down the drinks with Bob Polaro while he tells you about the secret Easter Eggs in his games. It could happen to you!!!

In case your heart hasn't stopped beating yet, let me finish you off. Worried that your airfare and hotel will use up all the prize money and leave you with nothing to spend? Well worry no more! The winner will receive $100 in cash to spend at the show however they see fit. So now you're guaranteed to be able to pick up a few nifty souvenirs to show to all your friends!

I wish everyone good luck and we look forward to meeting you in Vegas!

Regards,
John Hardie
Organizer, Classic Gaming Expo

[Tetsu]

SOunds like a keen idea! I'll gladly part with $10 for this one.

[Ed Oscuro]

it is said that the CG master one spoke thus:


I love this idea!!!!

Just to make things interesting, I'm gonna kick this up a notch!!!

Then many wonderful things followed.

Now here's a thought...instead of the $100 prize money, could the winner perhaps opt to get a table or something to set up at instead? Heh :D

[y-bot]

I think I could spare $10 for a chance to go to Vegas.

Y-bot

[Darth Vader]

This is going to be a great contest! I will throw in a 12 pack of beef jerky and a case of potato chips (your choice of flavor) to the winner. I know all of you need something to go with your mountain dew (or bud light) while you play video games until midnight. :D I will PM Joe about this.

Danny

[Quazick]

I'd like to chip in!

This is awesome I hope the lucky guy takes lots of pics for the site!

[Ed Oscuro]

Heh, if it was me...yes, there would be pictures. I'm pretty good with a 5 MP digital myself :D

Say, when IS CGE 2k3, anyways? O_o I haven't been able to find anything on the main Digital Press site.

[Quazick]

Heh, if it was me...yes, there would be pictures. I'm pretty good with a 5 MP digital myself :D

Say, when IS CGE 2k3, anyways? O_o I haven't been able to find anything on the main Digital Press site.

Maybe you should check the CGE official website then. ;)

CGE.com if I'm not mistaken.

[Ed Oscuro]

Heh, YOU try cge.com...I dare ya. (Just watch for that "would you like to set your homepage to...)

Anyways, found:

www.cgexpo.com

August 9 & 10 this year.

By the way...I think this is a winner as far as promotions go. If nothing else, it helps keep the CGE in our minds (and I think it does more, like get people who didn't know about it interested and so on).

I did notice, though, that there isn't much up about CGE on the digital press site. What's up with that?

[punkoffgirl]

I dunno about opening this up to everyone else..
I'd prefer to keep it to a "limited" (with the limiting factor as of yet undecided) group of members only.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'd feel better about not winning if I saw someone I knew winning instead.

[Ed Oscuro]

Well, you don't know me very well. If I won (Just a hypothetical situation since I'll be somewhere in July and will need to be back at work to make some, ah, money) would that make you feel bad?

I did join last year, and I've been posting quite a bit recently. So what sort of guidelines should there be? Would anybody who's not a CG freak anyways be interested in this anyways?

[digitalpress]

I did notice, though, that there isn't much up about CGE on the digital press site. What's up with that?

Would you believe we are two different organizations and that I wear two different hats? Digital Press has been here since 1992, CGE since 1998... I'm their greatest supporter and since 2000 also an organizer, but there are differences between the two that it seems have grayed out over time.

Looks like we've got a big-time promotion ready to roll tomorrow with John's commitment to the "VIP" badge, free attendance and $100 spending money.

Stay tuned.

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, I know you're a big supporter...that's why the lack of mad linkz was such a puzzlement. Glad to hear that it's all going through, though.

[asharru]

this is awesome!

[Sylentwulf]

Definitely, I'm in for this one, Great idea!

[autobotracing]

I will chip my $10 in

[Gamereviewgod]

Count me in for $10

[bargora]

*REQUEST APPROVED*

[digitalpress]

The doors, as they say, are officially open.

HERE:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14152