Pre-Fan Faire
Jitters
Atlanta, GA - 2006, courtesy of Sony
Online Entertainment
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Thinking about going to Fan Faire for your
first time? Getting excited about what you will be
seeing? How about wondering what new events and
information will be passed out? As a first time Fan Faire
participant, initially you will be overwhelmed when you
attend the SOE Fan Faire. Each year that the Fan Faire
event is held, it gets more and more exciting! This is
just a guide of what to expect when you get there! When
you arrive at the hotel, you will be anxiously looking
around prior to registration pickup and wondering if
there will be anyone you will see from your server. First
and most important… go get your room! Relaxing prior
to the event is a must as you will be constantly busy
once the event starts. After you take time to rest, take
a short tour of the hotel event area. Find out where
everything is located…. More importantly… find
the registration area. When registration opens, you will
stand in a line to get your SOE Fan Faire Pass as well as
a bag of goodies. This is also where you will receive
your t-shirt.
After registration is complete… you wonder what
is next. Open the goodie bag and look at the schedule.
Sign up for game time at the computer area set up…
you can’t miss it! Make preparations for forums that
you want to attend. Get your questions answered... but be
sure to write them down. It is better to get a list of
questions from your guild mates prior to going to
Fan Faire so you aren’t there struggling to come up
with questions yourself.
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Normally registration will take some time as hundreds of
people will be going through the lines. At this point, go make
yourself known to other players! Don’t make it a habit to
run around and look at people’s badges to find out what
server they are from…. It wastes time and quite frankly
makes you look goofy. Socialize and discuss current gaming with
the other players. Take a look at the demo booths and sales booth
areas. If it is open… head to the bazaar and get those SOE
gift ideas and souvenirs!
Sometime during the event, make sure you introduce yourself to
the staff. Even though they are the head honchos of the game you
play… they WANT to meet you! Seriously, the gaming staff
welcomes you to talk with them and associate yourself with them
regarding the current issues in the game of choice. The SOE staff
are gamers just like you… so meet and greet!
Ballroom times are fun! Brenlo (normally the MC) will
entertain you as you sit around a table with your guild, server,
or new friends you just met! Be sure to participate in the crazy
contests he has… you won’t regret it! Prizes are given
out constantly throughout the event! Brenlo’s number one
event he runs - remove is the Best of the Best event and the EQ2
Event.
These events are different from the Live Event so don’t
be confused. The Best of the Best is just as it says. Players
from Everquest Live sign up to go one on many in the Everquest
Arena! If you are lucky enough to beat everyone in the event…
a prize will be waiting in the end. The Atlanta Fan Faire Best of
the Best winner was a ranger who won an LCD monitor! So
definitely get involved!
| The EQ2 event started in Atlanta. The
Nest of the Great Egg race was indeed a race against time…
by groups. Several grouped players raced to be the first
to the Egg. The winners received a wonderful prize. The
other contest mentioned earlier was the Live Event.
People dressed up as NPCs throughout the hotel assist
your team in solving a particular quest series in which
you have to use live action roleplay in order to advance.
It is a race against everyone else… and again…
another prize at the end.
Another favorite contest of the Fan Faire is the
costume contest. Many creative people put their skills to
work in creating the most vibrant and yet entertaining
costume designs based on an in game character. The
costume contest is normally held on the last day… so
don’t plan on skipping out early! You won’t
want to miss this!
Other areas of interest at the Fan Faire would be the
vendor area, silent auction area, and the 21 and over
party! The vendor area is an area for those who want to
get associated items to go with the game that doesn’t
violate any EULA. From software to paintings to custom
signatures for the forums… you can find it in the
vendor area! The silent auction is another part of
excitement where people bid on items that will be
displayed throughout the Fan Faire. This silent auction
will cover anything from the banners hanging up
representing your server… to normally a rare item of
SOE’s choice. Be sure to stop by there and take a
look!
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Las Vegas, NV - 2005, courtesy of Sony
Online Entertainment
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The 21 and over party is one heck of a party to not miss…
that is if you are 21 and over. SOE knows gaming… and they
know how to party! Be sure to make this party if you can…
nothing else more will be said about this. Don’t want to
spoil the fun…. be sure to go!
In closing, make sure you prepare yourself for a weekend of
fun and excitement. Prepare to be pampered in the world of SOE…
'cause once you are here… you are definitely “in SOE’s
world now"!
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