Discussion: Massively. com Covers the Meet n Greet
By
2Negative,
Posted on: 2007-12-05 19:44 in News, Events and Announcement Discussion
Odd... My computer insists to not let me see them.
I want to say yet again, what a great event.
PLEASE have more. Make them bigger, in better venues, a little more expected planning (like having globals on the name tags, server preference maybe, etc). But they're well worth having more and more of.
And again as a vetran of 26 years of San Diego Comic Cons: PLEASE have a big room there. A BIG ROOM. Not a corner of one small floor section, mashed up next to Blizzard and whoever else. A place for your own games to shine. Given that the SDCC is the biggest of its kind in the Western World, that should give you a bigger base to draw from when enlisting new players and reaching your existing audience.
So in other words: MOAR PLEASE!
Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed
It was a definite pleasure covering the event, and I'll be at as many more as I can possibly manage.
"I'm not just a reporter, I'm also a player."
So from the NCSoft Q&A all character names, server location and costumes are displayed via the vault regardless of the in-game settings?
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. As noted back on the 20th of November, "you will have the option of hiding your Statistics, Powers, Badges, and Friends list from inclusion on the public web page." You'll have to live with knowing your character's name, image, level, server, archetype, and origin are searchable via the Vault
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Joss Whedon is still my Master. The Event was awesome we need more!!! Hotel venue next time. I will sooo pay for a room if i have to.
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Unfortunately, as a minor, I was unable to go to the Meet n' Greet. However, after looking over the picture galleries and articles there is but one thing I must say:
Sexy Jay, the only thing sexier than your costume designs, is that Jolly Roger belt buckle.
EDIT: Forgot to add, Ghost Widow is also very sexy.
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So from the NCSoft Q&A all character names, server location and costumes are displayed via the vault regardless of the in-game settings?
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From what I was led to understand, yes. At least that's how it was explained to me.
As far as I can see -- and this is my take on it, not the official word -- it's a two-fold application. It allows you to showcase your creations (while controlling the private information people have access to), but it also allows individuals thinking of creating (x) character the opportunity to see if it already exists on a given server. It's also a marvelous way to track down friends ... and keep track of mortal enemies.
Hmm... Some of the pics are a little, how shall we say, unflattering.
Some tips for the photographer:
Avoid taking pictures from behind people, especially in the dreaded rear 3/4 angle.
The 3/4 front view is not quite as bad, but also not particularly kind. You could have gotten a MUCH better piccy of Positron if you'd been standing maybe 15-20 degrees closer to his center line.
Most people have a 'good side'. If you're not immediately sure, try to get a shot from just left and just right. Use the one that looks better. (35mm film is relatively cheap. Flash RAM is cheaper.)
Get a diffuser for that flash.
If you HAVE to shoot from in the crowd, try to avoid bouncing your flash on the back of people's heads. It ruins your exposure.
I must ask this, who is the foxy lady in the blue shirt in this picture?
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Some tips for the photographer ...
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Those are all excellent points, and I'll do my best to try to set up the shots more carefully during the next event. I can't guarantee anything, obviously, but I'll do what I can.
I appreciate the suggestions!
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I must ask this, who is the foxy lady in the blue shirt in this picture?
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You'd be rather put out if I sad "an attendee," wouldn't you? Yes. I thought you would.
Actually, I didn't catch her name. That was taken during one of the whooping and hollering spells, sorry.
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I must ask this, who is the foxy lady in the blue shirt in this picture?
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You'd be rather put out if I sad "an attendee," wouldn't you? Yes. I thought you would.
Actually, I didn't catch her name. That was taken during one of the whooping and hollering spells, sorry.
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Oh I thought she was a Dev or NCSoft person I didn't know about...
Is this Vince D'Amelio?
Vince is a CoH Cryptic Developer. I didn't know he came over to NCSoft (or is he attending as a fan of the game who happens to be Cryptic employee?).
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Some tips for the photographer ...
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Those are all excellent points, and I'll do my best to try to set up the shots more carefully during the next event. I can't guarantee anything, obviously, but I'll do what I can.
I appreciate the suggestions!
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It looks like you had both pretty dim restaurant-type lighting, which will always give you grief, and a pretty crowded environment, which limits your movement opportunities. You're still doing pretty well.
Also, if you're there for the event and just happen to be taking pictures while your cheering (which I would have been!), it can be difficult to get any *opportunity* for good shots.
If you plan to be at any given event for a while, you might check to see if the staff will let you set up an impromptu 'press area' where there's a little better light. You can grab people as they walk by and get them to mug for you. While 'photography' lamps are expensive, work lamps are cheap and easy to use. A work stand with a clamp-on shop lamp or two is worth twenty times the $15 you'll spend on them. Don't shine them in faces unless you're good at diffusing them. Even then, do that VERY judiciously. Instead, use them to light up the floor and walls around where you're shooting to help eliminate shadows and create a more ambient environment.
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It looks like you had both pretty dim restaurant-type lighting, which will always give you grief, and a pretty crowded environment, which limits your movement opportunities. You're still doing pretty well.
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Thank you. You're spot-on about the lighting and the environment, by the way. It was somewhat dim and exceptionally crowded, but the energy was palpable, and even when things got crazy, everyone kept smiling. Heh. Unfortunately, they kept moving, as well.
As to setting up a small press area, that's a marvelous idea. I don't think it would've worked in this situation due to space constraints, but it's definitely something to look into next time.
Still, even though the images do need a bit more work, it was worth every minute and every muscle ache. I still can't beleive how much excitement and buzz there was with people cycling from area to area. Heh. I also can't count the number of times I got kidney-poked by a pool cue when I didn't move quickly enough. *laugh* And yes, there were a few times I forgot that I was there to report on the event, and wound up focusing on the delight of meeting the people who've created such marvelous worlds of imagination. All in all, photographic concerns notwithstanding, I think it was the perfect venue for the event.
Nipping back to the topic of photography for a moment, though, I do have a couple of soft flood lamps that were once used to light a pastel and oil studio. I may have to consider driving to these events instead of flying, as then I wouldn't be quite so limited in the amount of equipment I can take. Hmmm ...
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Is this Vince D'Amelio?
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I'm afraid I don't know, but one of the devs or community leads may well be able to answer that for you.
I caught the shot because I liked his smile, which is much the same reason I caught the shot of the mysterious "lady in blue" earlier in the thread.
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Nipping back to the topic of photography for a moment, though, I do have a couple of soft flood lamps that were once used to light a pastel and oil studio. I may have to consider driving to these events instead of flying ... then I wouldn't be quite so limited in the equipment I can take. Hmmm ...
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MMmm... Better than shop lamps by a leap!
While I hate to encourage ANYONE to fly right now, Talk to your airline and see if they check a well-padded duffle containing your lights and any electrical equipment. Don't travel with the bulbs in. Ask your check-in agent about carrying the bulbs with you in your carryon will present any problem with policy.
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I must ask this, who is the foxy lady in the blue shirt in this picture?
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You'd be rather put out if I sad "an attendee," wouldn't you? Yes. I thought you would.
Actually, I didn't catch her name. That was taken during one of the whooping and hollering spells, sorry.
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Oh I thought she was a Dev or NCSoft person I didn't know about...
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That would be Azrhiaz, head of the PVPEC. She shared a table with the City Scoop staff and was meeting with City of Heroes fan. She's incredibly knowledgeable, and I loved comparing my newbie knowledge of PvP with someone "in the know".
She confirmed it: Masterminds in Arena will always be an uphill battle. 
Also, under the link to "Impressions of Meet and Greet", you will see Marcian and J-Man! Clearly they are meeting for the first time, as J-Man has never read an issue of the City Scoop and Marcian would never stoop as low as to interact with the J-Force.
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I must ask this, who is the foxy lady in the blue shirt in this picture?
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You'd be rather put out if I sad "an attendee," wouldn't you? Yes. I thought you would.
Actually, I didn't catch her name. That was taken during one of the whooping and hollering spells, sorry.
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Oh I thought she was a Dev or NCSoft person I didn't know about...
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Azrhiaz - PvPEC Organizer
I saw her at the City Scoop table.
Heh. Great minds think alike Marcian?
Hmm. When I saw Manti I thought I was looking at Richard Garriott.
Is Sexy Jay sending a message? Dressed in red and black, a skull head belt buckle? He's a sexy villain! Yay! 
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Hmm. When I saw Manti I thought I was looking at Richard Garriott.
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But Richard would be in costume!
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I must ask this, who is the foxy lady in the blue shirt in this picture?
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You'd be rather put out if I sad "an attendee," wouldn't you? Yes. I thought you would.
Actually, I didn't catch her name. That was taken during one of the whooping and hollering spells, sorry.
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Oh I thought she was a Dev or NCSoft person I didn't know about...
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It's Azrhiaz (sp?), the PVPEC chair.
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Is this Vince D'Amelio?
Vince is a CoH Cryptic Developer. I didn't know he came over to NCSoft (or is he attending as a fan of the game who happens to be Cryptic employee?).
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Yes, it is.
From the Impressions article:
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There were several groups in attendance sporting supergroup t-shirts as proof of their solidarity.
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Guilty! 
If I could do this all again, I would! Especially now that I have the proper tire iron for my rims 
On a related note, my SG mate who flew in from VA got his rental car broken into and lost all his stuff, including the gift bag After talking with Ex, she's offered to send him a replacement bag 
So I couldn't agree more with the Impressions article:
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People flew in from Australia, Florida, Delaware, Minnesota, all over. When I asked them why they came all that way for a one night event, then all said the same thing. People. The game was great, they loved the game, but it was their friends online that drew them to the Meet n' Greet.
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If it weren't for the people, it would just be another game. But the people in CoX rock!
Please use this thread to discuss the below announcement:
Massively.com attended the recent player and developer Meet n Greet held in Milpitas, California and they serve up insider information revealed there, along with pictures and commentary. Follow the links below for all the information:
Notes on the NCsoft Q&A
Impressions of the City of Heroes Meet n Greet
Meet n Greet General Picture Gallery
Meet n Greet Q and A Session Picture Gallery
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Community Relations Manager
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