The Gamer's Quarter

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I just posted my offer to my blog, but since it might reach an audience here I figured I would post here too.

I can host up to three people (two, comfortably) to stay at my apartment if you come to San Francisco for the GDC. I'll make sure you get up to the city every day, and provide some kind of food/drink (including vegan Japanese-style curry!) while you're here. Anna has already expressed interest and so I can probably fit one to two more folks here (more if you don't mind sleeping on the floor).

In addition, if more people end up coming I can still take you around to show you some of the neat stuff in the Bay Area including but not limited to:

- Some of the best arcades in the continental US
- The largest internet company in the world (and we can throw eggs at the second)
- Frys Electronics - The closest thing to an akihabara (without all the goddamn otaku) we have in the US
- The gayest street ever
- The Playstation Store where 700 schmucks lined up for PS3s
- A gigantic bow and arrow
- and more!

Also, there are other folks living in the area who you could meet up with (Aderack and Scratchmonkey I'm looking at you).

Bonus: If I still have my current car we can go ghostride the whip where the term originated!

This offer is also open to people for other major events in the SF area (Alternative Press Expo, MacWorld, Yaoi-con, etc etc) just let me know ahead of time to make sure I'll be around.

Confirmed people:

Andrew Toups
Anna Anthropy

SuperWes · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:57 pm Post subject:

I am absolutely interested. But I have to discuss it with my girl. Funds and vacation time are super tight with the wedding coming up, but I looooooove GDC so I might try to work something out. So yes. Tentatively I'm down if I'm invited!

-Wes
_________________

Winged Assassins (1984) · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:11 am Post subject:

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

No, actually all the big internet companies are in the south bay (ie: silicon valley) although there are probably a few startups which might be the next big internet companies with offices on the gayest street ever.

Pijaibros · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:30 am Post subject:

I've always wanted to go to this! Money is gonna be very tight for me because I'm moving to a new place just a couple of weeks prior to this.

I didn't know it was so soon!

Maybe if some nice people still live in the area next year I'd totally be down for going to the GDC.

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Uh, how are you planning to get into GDC? I used to write for a site that could get me in, only now I don't, so uh, yeah. I'd really like to go and could totally write reports/take photographs, if anybody is/knows of a site that I could leverage for press (free) access, I'd appreciate it.

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

My understanding was some of the folks here worked on an underground Snake/Otacon fanzine.

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:16 am Post subject:

<3

i will hopefully have my application sorted and sent in by next week. i am looking forward to gdcing with you!
_________________

Persona-sama · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:27 am Post subject:

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

I would absolutly love to go, but I really don't think I can afford it. Thanks for the offer though :(
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

ApM · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:37 pm Post subject:

So, wait, press access is free, but actual game developers have to put down over a grand to attend? What is this world coming to etc.

I just spent like a half hour looking over the GDC site and figuring out how much it would cost me to get down there, figured out that it was totally reasonable and would be awesome, and then realized that I'm out of vacation days until April. Argh! Curse you, GDC, for being in March!

(Although because we are a small company and no one actually tracks it or cares, I'm sure I could get away with taking a week off before I've technically earned it.)

Nana, would you be cool with hosting me if you had room and I did in fact decide to go?

Mister Toups · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:42 pm Post subject:

I definitely want to go to this but I'm not sure if I can afford it. Count me as a maybe I guess.
_________________
where were you when nana komatsu got a wii?

Winged Assassins (1984) · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject:

Ghostriding the whip down the gayest street ever whilst spotting all the new internet companies which might possibly be the next big internet companies. There is your action adventure America sightseeing tour worked out already.
_________________

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I think we should consider my apartment full between the four maybes.

Also, if people are interested there are three Mountain Goats concerts in SF that week and a Video Games Live symphony concert as well taking place.
_________________
resetbutton.net: videogames for unattractive people

Swimmy · . Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 990 Location: Fairfax, VA

I have no chance of going, but the Mountain Goats (John was soloing) was the best show I ever saw, so you people get on that shit ok?
_________________

"Ayn Rand fans are the old school version of Xenogears fanboys."
-seryogin

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:53 pm Post subject:

Problem! I'm not sure if Press gets in for free anymore. I tried to register as press online and was given the pass purchasing page. Someone clear this up for me ASAP!

-Wes
_________________

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Yeah there's nothing on the site that says either way if this is true or not. Maybe give them a call or email the guy listed? http://www.gdconf.com/register/pressregistration.htm

Also, Wes, assuming it is free and you can, I think I would like to go. I could write something for the magazine!
_________________
resetbutton.net: videogames for unattractive people

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Try mailing the people listed on the Press page. That's actually what I did when I went two years ago. When they stopped answering their emails 2 weeks before the conference with nothing having been set up, I just showed up at the Moscone center and talked my way into a press pass.

Admittedly, this could be a larger risk for somebody who isn't a short BART ride away from SF.

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject:

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

press, why anything else?
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Ok, so... I think I convinced my wife to go. The condition was that I wouldn't have to pay for a hotel. Is ... there still room for little ol' me?
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I ... think so? It may be a little cramped if it's you with wife, matt, toups and Anna but if you guys don't mind. Also I don't know how we're going to fit six people in my car -_-;
_________________
resetbutton.net: videogames for unattractive people

Mister Toups · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject:

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Uhhh....

it's just me.
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

Cycle · Mac daddy Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 2767

So! How is the "Send Cycle to GDC" fund going?
_________________

GSL · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

This obviously doesn't help with a place to stay, but I seem to recall a few years ago that there was some sort of student rate for GDC admission--something along the lines of $50? I'm not sure if that still applies, but anyone who's in college (or high school?) and finds the entrance fee to be a problem would do well to look into this.

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

dessgeega · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject:

i have been approved!

now i just need to figure out how i'm going to get there.
_________________

Cycle · Mac daddy Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 2767

fuck it, after i blow the socks off my editor with this article I'm just gonna ask for them to pay for my trip!
_________________

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

After you folks get approved and book flights, please email me (gothiclolita at the mail of g) with your flight details so I can figure out how to pick all of you up/drop all of you off.

I'll also update the list of people in the top post to include anyone confirmed in case my apartment starts getting full.
_________________
resetbutton.net: videogames for unattractive people

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Hey, there's only one airport in SanFran right?
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

SuperWes · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:59 am Post subject:

Hey fool. You want to fly together?

Actually, this brings up another good point. Who is going and when? I was planning on leaving on Tuesday night, as Monday and Tuesday are just all day workshops where, although you can learn something, you're in one room all day and can't maximize the awesomeness.

And I was maybe going to stay in town for the weekend too. Maybe at a hotel so as to not harass Alice.

So what's the deal?

-Wes
_________________

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

My plan is to leave on the fourth taking the cheapest flight, and leaving on the 10th, again taking the cheapest flight. I guess I could try to leave on the 11th if you want to cruize the town yo.

EDIT: I don't have funds for a hotel, so I will be harassing alice, and also skipping meals.
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

Mister Toups · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject:

alice urged me to fly in the weekend before so I can see the city (though I guess we won't be visiting fremont and definitely not fucking oakland), so I'm leaving on march 2nd and returning on the 10th.

I wasn't aware that the first two days were workshops!

oh well!

I guess I'll learn some things about the game industry then!
_________________
where were you when nana komatsu got a wii?

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:

steve meretzky is doing a workshop! it will be cool!

anyway, yeah, we hope to hit a few arcades before the conference. and i hear there's a giant bow and arrow.
_________________

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Fly into SFO (san francisco) or SJC (san jose). If you fly into OAK (fucking oakland) you're on your own.

I am sure there is plenty to do around here that we will be more than occupied.

Also, I highly recommend http://farechase.yahoo.com/!*

* I work for the company which owns Farechase and I regularly play Wii Sports with some of the engineers who work on this product. If you would like an alternative, I recommend Kayak
_________________
resetbutton.net: videogames for unattractive people

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Viral marketing is frowned upon.

Ok, I'll stay away from oakland. I'm buying my tickets on Monday. I'm pretty much 100% confirmed.
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Okay, I added a disclaimer to my last post.
_________________
resetbutton.net: videogames for unattractive people

SuperWes · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:27 pm Post subject:

Oh hey. When you buy your ticket make ABSOLUTELY SURE not to accidentally buy it for Feb instead of March. I screwed up last year and had to pay a bunch of money. Both Feb 4th and March 4th both fall on a Sunday.

Consider yourself warned!

-Wes
_________________

Mister Toups · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject:

dizzyjosh · . Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 64

i might be making it out, at least for the weekend to chill and monday/tuesday for the SGS. Work won't give me more time off for it, and I'll have a place to stay, but I'd like to meet some of you volk.