Omega Sektor no more...
By
Bris_Elfling,
Posted on: 2008-10-09 14:48 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Damn 
.
�How do I like my MMOs? I like them the way Paragon Studios used to make them.� - a fitting tribute from kiasa.org
EU, Union mostly.
:O
But... but...
But...
._.
Balls.
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As of 9/10/2008, we regret to announce that Omega Sektor's Birmingham branch has closed.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members, with particular note to our regular members, whom without we would not have been able to enjoy such a fantastic year of gaming.
Our sincere apologies to all of our members who enjoyed the centre and for any inconvenience this will cause
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Not really that surprising, it's very hard to make a gaming/internet venue of that size profitable, especially given recent economic factors.
Omnes relinquite spes, o vos intrantes
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We (company I worked for from 2k to 2k+4) tried a similar venture at a time when internet wasn't quite so globally common and we failed. TBH I'm rather surprised they lasted a year.
Still sad to see them go...
Aww bumsticks! 
... See now round-a-bout now would be a great time for some reassurance that something will be arranged officially for next year.
#Nice big 3-day-long weekend event, lots of food, drink, games and prizes.
#Funded by NCwest.
Its a real shame about Omega Sektor, I said hello to Omega Sektorian just the other week.
Damn, companies cutting back or going to the wall all the time now, this is really starting to feel like the worst recession since the early Seventies.
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... See now round-a-bout now would be a great time for something good to happen.
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Edited to summarise my feelings.
[url=http://vox-doom.deviantart.com]Take A Gander At This.[/url]
Aw [censored]. I really enjoyed Omega Sektor, was hopin' it would happen again..
I only hope there is another thing like this in the midlands (mainly so that those who live further North might be more inclined to come)
Weird... I was going past there last week and they were thriving - ads in the window and all sorts I will have to check it out when I am next there. Sad gnus tho
Thelonious Monk
The words "Aw Crud" come to mind. Again.
I agree. It's high time we were told something about community plans for next year.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
Hmm dont they have a branch in London or something like that?
*scratch that idea* was old news that google brought up.
for a game team, i don't see why something like this would be here anyway.
it's a waist of time and there are plenty of places to do the same..or even better, also the money isn't worth it if you consider that you need to keep a game running to.
Bottom! >_< I REALLY enjoyed the Hero Weekend as the people who ran it were awesome, and the venue really was something else.
**sighs**`
@Wolfybane
-Defiant Server-
H: Wolfsbane(50 MA/ReGen), Orthoclase(50 Stone/Axe), Dreamhunter (50 Ill/Storm)
Daybreak(50 Fire/Kin) Tygrrforce (50 Hooman PB), Tygrrstryke(50 NRG/NRG), EbonWolf(50 WS)
V: Spektor(50 Spiddy)
[ QUOTE ]
for a game team, i don't see why something like this would be here anyway.
it's a waist of time and there are plenty of places to do the same..or even better, also the money isn't worth it if you consider that you need to keep a game running to.
[/ QUOTE ]
From what i know, it was actually Omega Sektor who approached NCsoft for the event that happened this year.
I personally enjoyed meeting a lot of people who i hadnt met in real life ever. Yes i know i could have spent time travelling around the country for it, but player meet ups in the UK are strangely NOT well advertised that well around here.
It was more of a social event, and considering that NCsoft Europe paid for it out of their own budget (and NOT NCNC/NCsoft America), i think that the game development DIDNT take a hit (apart from losing War Witch for a few days, but i believe that she took holiday time for that).
Now, granted I can understand the situation from your point of view now that NCEurope and NCsoft America have merged.
But under that scheme of things, shouldnt they have cancelled the US HeroMeet as well?
And trade shows are FAR more expensive to show up to, as you basically pay for your floor allowance, and THEN you have to get the fixtures and fittings/computers (you provide your own), staff over there.
The Omega Sektor Event went *suprisingly* well as i know i handed out a lot of trial codes over the course of the saturday/sunday (and also help set up the accounts for the NEW players). Infact so well that the OS had to tell people that there were NO computers spare at all (rather suprising really for even though MOST of the people there were there for NCsoft, they still had their OWN customers show up and join in the fun.)
PS if you know a location that could fit 400 people onto computers WITHOUT having to bring their own then please suggest it. I am sure that us other people would LOVE to hear about it (especially if its in the UK)
[ QUOTE ]
for a game team, i don't see why something like this would be here anyway.
it's a waist of time and there are plenty of places to do the same..or even better, also the money isn't worth it if you consider that you need to keep a game running to.
[/ QUOTE ]
It was an important event in a good location, it brought people who had never played the game into it and allowed people who were already fans to meet not only the local NCSoft staff Rockjaw et al. But also some of the actual developers.
In terms of customer good will and advertising it was incredibly cheap, indeed as Gangrel says find somewhere else with 400 PCs so people can just show up and try out an MMO. while other venues are no doubt possible having a venue not only with the facilities and the PCs is a tall order.
My god, I was only there on saturday, and while I hadn't made the last meet the venue had impressed me enough to want to try and make subsequent ones. A shame indeed.
[EDIT] And I should like to be associated with the remarks made by the previous 2 speakers. 
Kneeling girls! Statues driving cars! What's going on? Ten years ago a man was arrested in the area for driving statues around in a car. Was it him?
@Ted Maul - The Echelon
Gah curses, even my eternal optimism takes a blow with this news...
Ahhh well at least we had that one time.....we can all gather...those who were "there" and tell tales of the late night Team Omega attempts, the stack of pizzas, the strange themed sumo wrestling, the shrillness of Karensky's voice over the speaker system. War Witch getting mobbed by us eagre players with endless questions...it was the best of times, it was the wierdest of times etc etc....
Let's hope something suitably eventful replaces it
I don't wanna save my soul now,
I just wanna lose control,
And even if it takes a lifetime, to learn:
I'll learn!
Well... balls. By the way folks, I heard on the news the other day that the recession will last for about two years. Spoken by a spokesman for the Rothschild (who own most of the world's banks. Funny how he knows in advance how long it'll last, and he works for the banks, isn't it...)
Look out for more gaming venue closures. And other things.
back on-topic: Well... balls. We need another venue to hold our player meetup for Easter I 'spose. Any ideas?
^ says it all, though less eloquently than others
@Wild Red
"In the Rogue Isles, loyalty goes to the highest bidder." Wild Red
Well at least I won't have to face the security guard that walked in on me while I was changing again. So I suppose that's a positive.
But I really need something to look forward to next year now. It makes that event look even better in retrospect. And the floors were comfy too! 
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
[ QUOTE ]
Well at least I won't have to face the security guard that walked in on me while I was changing again. So I suppose that's a positive.
[/ QUOTE ]
Secretly you enjoyed it, you old tart! 
But yes, it does make the memories of that first OS meet all the more precious now...
Formerly @Crimson Archer, now @CA
The Militia - Protecting Paragon City through roleplaying since June 2006!
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Well at least I won't have to face the security guard that walked in on me while I was changing again. So I suppose that's a positive.
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Secretly you enjoyed it, you old tart!
[/ QUOTE ]
I merely regret not striking a pose with my hands on hips and saying, "Can I help you with something officer?"
Now I may have to go and look up all the old pictures from Flickr that were uploaded.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
Damn.. that is bad news.. I had a ball.. Even if I had to come all the way from the Netherlands...
Lets all look around and see if a location like this can be replaced. I am sorry that the game center here in Scheveningen is hardly big enough to hold 400 pc's. But then again.. that is probably the reason why they are still there.
I would have been there this year... and I am planning to come to any next event that has a setup like the Omega event.
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It's far too early to say anything about next year, unfortunately. Having said that, however, we'll be looking around to see if there's a suitable venue for an event. This year's Omega Sektor Minicon was a huge success and it's the sort of event we enjoy doing and get great value out of.
Well folks, looks like any earlier talk about whether next years CoX/NCSoft Gamers Convention would go ahead is now a moot point.
As of today Omega Sektor in Birmingham closed its doors for the last time...
RIP Omega Sektor.
Formerly @Crimson Archer, now @CA
The Militia - Protecting Paragon City through roleplaying since June 2006!