Two REQUESTS For The CAX Staff

FrizzleFried

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Dear Powers That Be at CAX:


Loved the show! Thank you for again putting together a kickass show. I have a couple of suggestions/requests that I ask you consider for next years show... (note: these are only the opinions of one dumbass FrizzleFried... and do not reflect the opinions of KLOV or any of it's users (unless they chime in).

Suggestion #1:

Avoid inside "curves" as much as possible in the layout of the games. When there is an inside "curve" in the layout, it makes it all but impossible to play the games when they are all packed. 2-player games are surely out of the question. Perhaps, when required to have an inside curve, space the games a little more?

Suggestion #2:

NO MORE CUL-DE-SACS. The layout should FLOW. Ideally the place should be layed out in a circular pattern with a center cut out so there are rows of games in a huge circle, with a smaller circle inside of the larger one... and a smaller one inside the smaller one... and the vendors in the middle. This would all but eliminate cul-de-sacs and would minimize the inside "curves" mentioned above... If you're interested in a possible layout suggestion I have an idea and could put something together.

Perhaps someone could use GOOGLE SKETCHUP before the show using generic cabs to get a "feel" for the layout you want to achieve?

Those are my two gripes. I think with a better layout with less cul-de-sacs and less inside "curves" the over crowding issues wouldn't be as prevalent... but again, this is just one dumbasses humble opinion.
 
Suggestion #3: Limit the number of tickets sold per day. I'd pay double to have half the people there. Triple to ban the stinky unicorn...

Suggestion #4: Extend the preregister time to include a couple hours late Friday night (e.g. midnight to 2:00 a.m.). Give the ones who show a pen and notepad. Write down any issues with games and turn them in to be given to game owners before the show opens on Satday to (hopefully) address.

Suggestion #5: Create a separate "historical" wing for the protos and other rarities. Theses could be playable or for viewing only, owner's choice. Use the extra space to add multiples of some of the games that get played the sh!t out of on the main floor.

Thanks for all your hard work and efforts, it is appreciated!
 
Suggestion #6. Don't try and push exhibitors out in a hurry Friday night. That was really annoying and in the haste I forgot to set one of my games on free play. If I am treated like a criminal I'll pass on bringing anything or showing up.
 
suggestion 7, which i talked to jeff kinder about. allow more than a half hour of early time for preregistered people each morning. seriously, give us at least an hour or hour and a half. i probably only legitimately got 2-3 hours of playtime the whole weekend, despite dropping my $60 on the weekend pass. not to mention game hogging. i did hog games, but i kept an eye around me and i stepped aside a few times to let people play games that were waiting to get on whatever i was playing. a lot of the people weren't that considerate (and i'm talking non klovers.) we should be allowed to kick people off if they play more than 2 games of any particular game and someone else is waiting to play.

suggestion 8. a change machine, just in case some machines aren't set on free play - case in point wild western. i know todd wanted to play that but didn't cause it wasn't set on free play.
 
We needed some good 80's music. That big machine thing was cool, but it wasn't the same as having some good tunes playing all day long.
 
Suggestion #9. Don't discourage people from bringing seconds and thirds of games. Make the show space bigger if you need to. But some games had a person on it 24/7 and to have two or three of them lined up makes it nice for everyone.

Games that I noticed always had someone on them were just off the top of my head include: Berzerk, Zoo Keeper, Elevator Action, Baby Pac Man, Burgertime, Congo Bongo (just because of where it was, I'm sure).

I heard through the grapevine that the goal is to limit the amount of doubles and instead bring in more variety, and that people are actually told to not bring games because someone is already bringing one. Well, I like that idea, but there were a TON of games that I never saw anyone on. And, if a game fails, and is a popular game, there is no backup.

I loved it back in the day when I'd see 10 Pac Mans lined up. I loved it when I saw 4 or 5 Galagas or Donkey Kongs lined up. That was totally bitchin'. We should be seeing that.

Too much wasted space on games nobody plays. People just don't play all the prototypes. People just don't play the really old pins. It it what it is.

- M1A
 
Yeah, this is a good one. It was really hard to get play time on a lot of games which defeats the purpose of going in the first place. They really need to think about this for next year. It might have not been so bad without all the game hogging though. They use to give tokens out so you could put them on the machine for your turn. Not sure if they did that this year but I kind of doubt it.

Suggestion #3: Limit the number of tickets sold per day. I'd pay double to have half the people there. Triple to ban the stinky unicorn...
 
They use to give tokens out so you could put them on the machine for your turn. Not sure if they did that this year but I kind of doubt it.

you know, i was thinking, i wish everything was on quarter play just for the sake of being able to put a quarter up and have people get that idea. but i would gladly pay extra to help with the cost of tokens if they were to continue that, and make sure everyone entering the show was well aware of that. i think if people are standing behind you waiting to play 2 games are fair (or one, if it's gonna be a real long one) and then you need to step aside. this of course would apply differently to games like star wars/tempest/robotron where there were many multiples of each.
 
not to mention game hogging. i did hog games, but i kept an eye around me and i stepped aside a few times to let people play games that were waiting to get on whatever i was playing. a lot of the people weren't that considerate (and i'm talking non klovers.) we should be allowed to kick people off if they play more than 2 games of any particular game and someone else is waiting to play.

Agreed. Two rules from the Pacific Pinball Museum that should be added to the CAX rules charter...

"Please do not hog the games. If a line is waiting, limit yourself to 2 games ONLY."

"No farting."
 
Wild Western was set on freeplay, but blew a couple of big resistors on PCB Late friday night which caused game NOT to coin up

Andrew

suggestion 7, which i talked to jeff kinder about. allow more than a half hour of early time for preregistered people each morning. seriously, give us at least an hour or hour and a half. i probably only legitimately got 2-3 hours of playtime the whole weekend, despite dropping my $60 on the weekend pass. not to mention game hogging. i did hog games, but i kept an eye around me and i stepped aside a few times to let people play games that were waiting to get on whatever i was playing. a lot of the people weren't that considerate (and i'm talking non klovers.) we should be allowed to kick people off if they play more than 2 games of any particular game and someone else is waiting to play.

suggestion 8. a change machine, just in case some machines aren't set on free play - case in point wild western. i know todd wanted to play that but didn't cause it wasn't set on free play.
 
My Dragons Lair was crowded the whole weekend every time I walked by somebody was playing it and the other one was down half the show

Andrew

Suggestion #9. Don't discourage people from bringing seconds and thirds of games. Make the show space bigger if you need to. But some games had a person on it 24/7 and to have two or three of them lined up makes it nice for everyone.

Games that I noticed always had someone on them were just off the top of my head include: Berzerk, Zoo Keeper, Elevator Action, Baby Pac Man, Burgertime, Congo Bongo (just because of where it was, I'm sure).

I heard through the grapevine that the goal is to limit the amount of doubles and instead bring in more variety, and that people are actually told to not bring games because someone is already bringing one. Well, I like that idea, but there were a TON of games that I never saw anyone on. And, if a game fails, and is a popular game, there is no backup.

I loved it back in the day when I'd see 10 Pac Mans lined up. I loved it when I saw 4 or 5 Galagas or Donkey Kongs lined up. That was totally bitchin'. We should be seeing that.

Too much wasted space on games nobody plays. People just don't play all the prototypes. People just don't play the really old pins. It it what it is.

- M1A
 
Too much wasted space on games nobody plays. People just don't play all the prototypes. People just don't play the really old pins. It it what it is.

Wow, diff'rent strokes! These are what keep me coming back.
 
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Didn't make it this year but can chime in from my past experience.

1. Agree eleventy billion on the dead end rows... can't tell you how many times I tried to make my way to another game only to be stuck because the row was a damn cul-de-sac. Curves are great on women, not for arcade game layouts. Stick with simplicity.

2. Game organization... It's a logistics hell with so many sources bringing games so I can understand how there may not be time to organize games based on manuf, but this year the pics show a bit more prep. I believe diversity and having oddball games vs common games is what makes CAX great. That said, having 8 Star Wars uprights as there were one year and not having room for an uncommon game is food for thought. How many of one game do you need duplicates of?

3. The video wall is fun, but its a huge footprint and the selection is the same each year. I would ditch that, use the space for something else, and if videos are really needed, then go back to the old formula used in San jose CAX location and throw a data projector on the wall showing 80s videos. It's usually so LOUD in the convention hall that you can't hear the music anyways. As for ambient 80s music....great idea but again, it's hard to hear when all the games are pumping. Perhaps there can be a lounge on the outside perimeter where 80s videos and music are played....a place where someone can relax away from the games. The hallways adjacent to the hall might work for this if allowed.

4. The EM pins are boring! Great for diversity but how many EMs do you need? My opinion but the same could be said for the uber large redemption games. Again, since space seems to be an issue each year, maybe its time to look at what games CAX is about.

5. Fri night setup is huge for people bringing games that can't get into town until late. I remember last year I arrived close to midnight. After driving 5 hours, there were still people helping unload which was a HUGE help. Those that show up early, stay late to help out truly save a crap load of time. BUT, the security seems to get grumpy even at exhibitors just trying to set up their own shit. There's not much time in the morning before the crowds hit, and if you're thrashed from staying up late and driving the night before, just makes it harder to roll in and finish setup. Let the exhibitors stay as long as they need. Either keep a security guard on duty or have a sign up sheet to identify who is hanging out late, what they're working on.

6. Exhibitors in the hallway or somewhere else..... if in the hallway, they would get more exposure, free up hall space for more games, and you would pass by them each time you entered and exited the hall. That or designate an area that has all the exhibitors in one section.... I remember those gigantic wall dividers two years ago.... you could almost do a partial split and have the game room, and the exhbitor room. People will know what they want and go accordingly. It's crowded enough with people walking around finding games they wish to play w/o steering around those standing, looking at exhibitor booths.

7. A museum/proto section. This is a great idea and something that i feel worked well with CGE too. The proto games are always nice to have and I just wonder if they'd be better served put in a section all their own.

8. More of a web site thing but perhaps a simple form can be put together on the CAX site for those bringing games. Someone lists the games they're bringing and the data goes into the large inventory list. Seems like right now that method might be managed manually with only emails. In cases where games don't make it, then the list can be updated real time and allow late arrival collectors to potentially bring replacement games.

All for now.... oh and no more damn cul-de-sacs!
 
I'm not big on the protos but definitely like the old wood rail pins.

I enjoyed the old pins as well. Different feel, different sound, different experience.

I think it really just comes down to layout, but as many have mentioned, easier said than done. Especially when you have games coming at different times and days. But I can understand avoiding dead ends in the layout altogether.

I agree with possibly having vendors in an open area of the hallway or possible on the sides where there is more lighting. Or even switching and having the pinball tournament inside and using the space in the hall for vendors.

Reasons: 1. It's hard to read and see products in the dim lighting. 2. Vendors seemed to be trapped in their own tables so people were confused whether or not they could go inside. 3. Gives more room for games (or even more games). 4. It's hard to hear or make deals when you have to yell at each other.

But maybe some of the vendors could chime in with what they would prefer.
 
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I dont think it would be a bad idea to have the games accepting money instead. It would reduce games hoggers, encourage people to bring games in good working order, and extra money is always good.

But then again it could be a nightmare to deal with all the paperwork since people would make money..
 
I dont think it would be a bad idea to have the games accepting money instead. It would reduce games hoggers, encourage people to bring games in good working order, and extra money is always good.

But then again it could be a nightmare to deal with all the paperwork since people would make money..

Well, that and people wouldn't want to pay for admission knowing they have to pay to play games. And CAX won't run off donations. I think Jim just meant to have the option to drop coins in, but then you have to make sure everyone bringing games has their machines set for tokens of a specific size. That's not going to happen. Unless he meant actual quarters, in which people would just be donating money to the owner of that game. Not sure of the legality of that.
 
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The only "show" I've ever seen that requires you to pay is PAPA in Pittsburgh PA, but I think they own all the machines. The entry fee is low ($5?) but everything requires quarters, except the tournament. You have to purchase tickets for the tournament.
 
The only "show" I've ever seen that requires you to pay per game is PAPA in Pittsburgh PA, but I think they own all the machines. The entry fee is low ($5?) but everything requires quarters, except the tournament. You have to purchase tickets for the tournament.
 
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