Feedback to SE - Masquerade partyFollow

yeah that kinda sux that it's only in san francisco. i'm from hamburg / germany, so i can't check out the cool event :/

Great idea and I think they should have it every year and maybe in different states/countries if possible. I would do anything to go there but I'm in Florida. Would be fun dressing with a Pumpkin head :)

A bit off topic here, but, worth mentioning for those of you who choose to read it. (Note: I live in the US now, but, spent most of my life in Canada - and my kids and father still live there.)

I realize that many US residents think that the world ends at the end of the 'weather map', and beyond that, if there is anything, it is just a vast wasteland of ice and snow year round ... however, I have to laugh anyway at the above statement.

Just FYI, a few 'Canuck' factoids for ya: More than 60 percent (probably higher these days) live within 60 miles of the US border. Canada is a bigger country (size wise) than the US. Canadians along the border have about the same weather that US residents along the northern border of the US have. They also have just as much (more actually) distance to cover laterally as anyone in the US to get from one side of the country to the other.

Even in the Yukon (up by Alaska) they have high speed internet access these days - and in fact, many Canadians had access to higher than dialup speeds long before more US residents did (all hail, Silicon Valley North in Kanata, Ontario). Even in the Yukon it is not ice and snow year long - and the summers are very pleasant, and residents up there can grow THE largest veggies you have ever seen during their summers. The only (populated to any extent) places in Canada where there is 'ice and snow' almost year round is the eastern Arctic (i.e. Iqualuit, formerly known as Frobisher Bay). I have lived in both places so I know what I am talking about there.

There IS a distinct cultural difference between Canada and the US (thank goodness!), however, Canadians pretty well have access to anything anyone in the US has access to (and often better and earlier too), and do a lot of the same things as Americans do. I got my 'gaming' start in Canada way back in the 1970s. So, it would not surprise me if percentage of population-wise at least as many Canadians are playing FFXI (and other MMORPGs) as Americans. Perhaps higher - you know those cold winters you talked about, well, hockey ain't the only thing to do then! ^^

At any rate, Canada is not some 'foreign land', guys. Wave to your Canadian 'friends' - they are not very far away. I drive 20 hours between Ottawa and western NC. I drive 20 hours between western NC and the CT/RI border. I drive 16 hours between western NC and north-central TX. From the southern US, in other words, it is about the same distance/driving time to most US cities as it is to most Canadian cities.



Edited, Mon Oct 25 12:31:31 2004 by Alumni

Regional parties would be an awesome idea. Maybe something to think about for Christmas.

It wouldn't be too tough to find people who were willing to help out in exchange for free admission, t-shirts, etc. like a lot of anime conventions do stateside, and they would just need to fly one or two employees out as coordinators and supervisors to each location, barring that they didn't hire a contractor locally. Living in Texas, I'm close to nothing, but it would be a lot more feasible for me to drive to Dallas, Houston, Louisiana, etc. than to Cali. I at least don't have the problem of parents not letting me go :) Were I still living at home, I probably wouldn't be able to attend even if it were held in my home city.

Me and the wifey may head up to SF for this event. I live in Southern California and will be driving up to get a tattoo finished the same weekend if I can so I might go. It seems like it would be fun. If my Tattoo artist was not close to the event I would not drive 7 hours to go, and I feel bad for ppl that really want to go but just can't make that hike.
If they are going to make the effort to do a NA event why not make it something people around the country can go to and enjoy?
SE. Though you are based in Japan remember all the money brought in by the NA and Euro Consumers the pay monthly fees to play this game. Make an effort to reach out to a larger number of these people. Just a thought.

Edited, Mon Oct 25 12:50:00 2004 by srekal

I think the problem here is that America is freaking BIG.
Bunch of people who live in Canada like me won't possible be going... unless... there are free transportation and somewhere to stay...

I can't even think of it coz im in asia!! argh..

My thoughts exactly! I live on the east coast and would go for sure if they had one nearby.

Also seeing how this game is meant to bring the whole world together. Having them in multiple locations along with a way we can view the other parties around the world, they should set up some kind of via satilite things where we can see them and they can see us.

Edited, Mon Oct 25 13:09:05 2004 by Poesghost

I'd love to go, if it weren't so far away. If I went, I'd probably dress up in a custom RDM AF outfit, including either making my own pimp hat or getting a hatter to do it. (Preferably out of leather. I have the design kinda mapped out, without numbers or a full-size model. Might have to make the hat regardless. If I do, I'll be sure to post pics )

I just hate that practically all the big events are in San Francisco. While it's a great city, it's expensive to travel to there and is so far away. Why not coordinate events in most of the major cities, like Memphis, Atlanta, NY, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and New Orleans? (I'm sure I'm forgetting a few, so whatever major cities there are, there should be events.)

I think the major problem (as everybody else has said) is that it is singular in nature and location. A "roadshow" or whatever term a similar event goes by in the United States, would be more appropriate. The main point is that, in a game which completely disregards national and international boundaries, lots of people will want (and do wish) to participate in such an event, but because of the nature of the world, a vast majority of FF11 players will be left disappointed.

Edited, Mon Oct 25 13:18:08 2004 by Mieck

Why is there just one party in all of North America? This might be okay for Japan, but 3000+ miles - with only about a month's notice - is a bit far to travel for a costume party.

SE needs to consider the size of the geographic area for NA, and the common modes of transportation (i.e. no high speed bullet trains). And airfare is expensive.

Even just one party on the west coast isn't enough IMO. To cover the country and keep the travel distances somewhat reasonable (meaning you can get there by car in 24 driving hours or less in most cases), you'd need most of the following cities or similarly located ones in addition to San Francisco:

-Vancouver, BC
-St. Louis, MO
-Denver, CO
-New Orleans, LA
-Detroit, MI
-Savannah, GA
-Baltimore, MD or Washington, DC
-NYC, NY
-Toronto, ON

Maybe Chicago instead of Detroit, or Houston instead of New Orleans... but the same idea. I picked Savannah instead of Atlanta because it is a little further south, making a trip for folks in Florida a bit easier. You'd probably want at least one more spot in Canada, too.

While SE is at it, they can plan some shindigs in Australia and Europe, too.

If you're only going to have one party for the entire continent, more notice would be nice. More notice would be nice, period. I'd be lucky to be able to attend even if I lived in San Francisco. Being in Baltimore, MD makes it pretty much impossible unless I win the lottery tonight.

Having the party on the West Coast only - not even one on the East Coast - kind of annoys me. Reminds me that SE seems to forget there's more than one time zone in the US and Canada.

Edited, Mon Oct 25 13:34:46 2004 by iniadelphinae

If I get the chance to meet any of the gil farmers or the S-E reps who don't do anything about them then I think the event is a fabulous idea.

I live in London, Ontario... it's about 2 hours southwest of Toronto if you're not fround around here. So I can't go, although I think it would be cool.

All you folks talking about your RDM AF outfits... hah! Personally I'd be all about the WAR AF... with 2 axes on my belt. I'm no Arnold, but it would be pretty cool to walk around showing off "da pipes" in my Figher's Lorica.

Of course... You RDMs know I love you guys, right? Those paralyze spells really help me get my shadows back up!