Demand for Standalone JagFest

[minux]

Good morning, all.

 

With the present calendar year winding down to a close, I am posting this as a feeler for interest in a forthcoming Atari Jaguar only gaming exposition. The exposition would be free and be in the Baltimore-DC area.

 

Let me know if anyone would be interested in a solid weekend of classic gaming.

 

Michael

Edited October 14, 2012 by minux

[the.golden.ax]

You mean not stuck in the corner near the mens room / drafty exit of a major show like an unloved step child?

 

*cough* sorry MGC... I love you but the JagFest kinda deserves a little better location.

[minux]

Well, the room to be used would be large enough to accommodate about 50 people. Presently, it accommodates 30 people at board meetings. While the room is fairly simple, it is rather large and has ample power and tables to more than suffice for about fifteen Jaguar stations.

 

The food would be provided free or a plethora of options are within a two mile distance.

 

In a nutshell, it could be a very nice event and I have zero problem setting it up.

[Jag_Slave]

The question is when??? I would love to go and setup a stand there, and hang out

[goatdan]

You mean not stuck in the corner near the mens room / drafty exit of a major show like an unloved step child?

 

*cough* sorry MGC... I love you but the JagFest kinda deserves a little better location.

 

Honestly, the other option that we have is to not have it. I know you weren't able to make it this year, but thanks to how busy the show has gotten, it is like half of the show is in similar locations to this. Vendors were in hallways everywhere, there were arcade games in hallways everywhere... and it was so crazy that we are getting some hotel rooms to try to fit SOME stuff into for next year already.

 

Jagfest is awesome and the reason the event exists, but it isn't quite enough to fill up a big room with, so we have to use the space that we currently have.

 

The answer is we need a bigger space, but that is way easier said than done, unless someone has a spare $50k+ sitting around to help us move. It's not like the MGC makes much money still

[minux]

The question is when??? I would love to go and setup a stand there, and hang out

 

I would be thinking the Fall of next year, around this time. I do not want it to conflict with Summer vacations, bad Spring weather, or Winter holidays.

 

Let me know, all.

 

Michael

[minux]

Honestly, the other option that we have is to not have it. I know you weren't able to make it this year, but thanks to how busy the show has gotten, it is like half of the show is in similar locations to this. Vendors were in hallways everywhere, there were arcade games in hallways everywhere... and it was so crazy that we are getting some hotel rooms to try to fit SOME stuff into for next year already.

 

Jagfest is awesome and the reason the event exists, but it isn't quite enough to fill up a big room with, so we have to use the space that we currently have.

 

The answer is we need a bigger space, but that is way easier said than done, unless someone has a spare $50k+ sitting around to help us move. It's not like the MGC makes much money still

 

The question becomes, Dan, would you like to attend the topic?

[goatdan]

The question becomes, Dan, would you like to attend the topic?

 

Would I like to attend? Well, yeah. Is there any way I can at this point in my life? Unfortunately, no.

 

Stand alone Jagfests were great, and as someone who both attended one (99) and organized one (01), the thing that was great was getting together with Jaguar fans to actually discuss and play the console that we really liked.

 

If you'd like to borrow the official Jagfest banner, I own it now because the MGC is the place where even though it isn't a huge event focused around it, the event still takes place there every year. It also takes place at some other shows in similarly limited capacity (VGS comes to mind). Point is that I have the banner, and would be happy to loan it out

[minux]

Would I like to attend? Well, yeah. Is there any way I can at this point in my life? Unfortunately, no.

 

Stand alone Jagfests were great, and as someone who both attended one (99) and organized one (01), the thing that was great was getting together with Jaguar fans to actually discuss and play the console that we really liked.

 

If you'd like to borrow the official Jagfest banner, I own it now because the MGC is the place where even though it isn't a huge event focused around it, the event still takes place there every year. It also takes place at some other shows in similarly limited capacity (VGS comes to mind). Point is that I have the banner, and would be happy to loan it out

 

Dan, in the coming months, depending on how much feedback is received, let's talk one night about it.

 

A great offer and it is appreciated. It is an offer that I hope to take you up on.

 

Check your store's e-mail, by the way.

 

Michael

[the.golden.ax]

 

 

Honestly, the other option that we have is to not have it. I know you weren't able to make it this year, but thanks to how busy the show has gotten, it is like half of the show is in similar locations to this. Vendors were in hallways everywhere, there were arcade games in hallways everywhere... and it was so crazy that we are getting some hotel rooms to try to fit SOME stuff into for next year already.

 

Jagfest is awesome and the reason the event exists, but it isn't quite enough to fill up a big room with, so we have to use the space that we currently have.

 

The answer is we need a bigger space, but that is way easier said than done, unless someone has a spare $50k+ sitting around to help us move. It's not like the MGC makes much money still

 

Don't misunderstand, it was only meant as a gentle ribbing of sorts. I have the highest regard for you and the MGC. Just a little tongue in cheek humor. While I could not attend, I actually spent the whole day that Saturday on the computer watching the live feed that Dan was streaming from the JagFest area. I'm glad that it is at the event, and I'm not complaining and saying that it should be gone (please don't do away with it!). I don't pretend to understand all of the work you put in to making that show a reality, the logistics make me dizzy just saying that. You do a fantastic job, it's bigger than life and quite the accomplishment. That said, if locations of some of the smaller niche stuff could be mixed up once in a while (much like vender booths are) that would be very cool. I feel bad for them having to watch people going in and out of the can for 2 solid days That should be like jury duty. One group gets bathroom / rear entrance duty each year. Like a razzie award.

[Clay]

35 - 50 people in the same place at the same time for one thing, the Atari Jaguar.

 

Fantastic idea but not sure you'll actually get that many. But I can guarantee at least one attendant, me.

 

Shouldn't be to hard to setup an in-room network to have an awsome multi-player game of BSG (I am currently not rich enough to own a copy though).

 

I live about 5 1/2 hours from Baltimore so might be able to come early to help out. I'd be glad to offer up my system and games for use.

[PFG 9000]

I'd love to see a standalone Jagfest, but I live 16-17 hrs from Baltimore, so that's just not an option for me. I do attend the MCG every year, and while the Jagfest there is cramped, I enjoy it each time.

[+Sauron]

Would be nice to have another standalone Jagfest here in the US again. Unfortunately I'll be leaving the country soon, so not much chance of me attending one.

[skip]

Australian Jagfest anyone? It could be in my lounge room with a backyard BBQ and beers... *hehe*

 

But seriously, I've been watching how these things unfold since the mid 90s (or around about then, whenever they started). They look excellent. They seem to go all out at the eJagFests.

 

Closest I've come to something like this was helping to run a retro-gaming gaming booth at a large (10K + people per day I think) anime and video games convention earlier in the year (10 or so consoles, arcade cabinet, classic gaming videos/ads). The Jag got some lovin' by many people, quite a few who were younger than the machine itself!

[+CyranoJ]

Australian Jagfest anyone? It could be in my lounge room with a backyard BBQ and beers... *hehe*

 

Put me down for bringing two systems and some goodies to playtest

[CrazyChris]

I'm not sure why JagFest even ended in the US.

[minux]

I'm not sure why JagFest even ended in the US.

 

Chris, would you be interested in attending?

[+Gemintronic]

Stand alone JagFest? I'm pretty sure I already attend that show in my apartment whilst I demonstrate CyberMorph to myself for the 1000th time.

[minux]

Announcement forthcoming.

[+Sauron]

I'm not sure why JagFest even ended in the US.

 

Lots of reasons, but namely that an event dedicated to a console with a miniscule userbase that occurred well after its commercial viability just wasn't going to bring in the numbers on an annual basis to sustain it year after year. The death knell of the standalone Jagfest here was the "Jagfest 2k3 on Tour". It was honestly the only way to keep Jagfest alive at that point, and there hasn't been a standalone Jagfest in the US since.

[Austin]

To the OP, have you considered looking into hosting a couple of tables at one of the larger gaming conventions? You could still have the Jag fans come out and support it (and help run it), but you also have the opportunity to reach out to people uneducated about the platform. MAGfest comes to mind and is also held in the MD area, with a lot of foot traffic.

[walter_J64bit]

Way too far for me!

[Clint Thompson]

To the OP, have you considered looking into hosting a couple of tables at one of the larger gaming conventions? You could still have the Jag fans come out and support it (and help run it), but you also have the opportunity to reach out to people uneducated about the platform. MAGfest comes to mind and is also held in the MD area, with a lot of foot traffic.

 

That sounds like a good idea.

 

I do think the numbers of people interested in just the Jaguar as a whole has dropped off enormously over the years and the ones that are still into it to some extent are just scattered literally all over the world, making it difficult for such an event to be truly successful. The thing I see at MGC is there are only a small handful of people willing to pour what they have into it (thankfully they do!) and it's just not very much in the grand scheme of things and is easily overshadowed. Not to sound ungrateful at all either, Astropuff (sorry, real name escapes me) and Dan from AVC are always there and bring whatever they can and I wonder without them,what would there be? What is missing? There's no tournaments, no giveaways, no real focus at all other than "it's here, come check it out". you know? I do think the Lynx collection shown yearly is phenomenal. Not sure who does that but kudos to you for sharing all your goodies, that's really awesome!

 

The thing that stood out about the Jaguar section the most this last round was the nice amount of home brews that were setup and playable, that was pretty cool. It's a real shame that the Battlesphere thing is so scarce and hard to get a network of maybe 4 together, let alone anything crazy like had happened back in 2001, that was awesome and I'll never forget it. Jagfest at MGC could be so much more if there were more people that would come forward to help not only support it but attend. I guess it's the same reason you don't see me in California every year for their events, it's just too far for some people. The hallway was jam packed when I stopped by and with 7 or so people hovering around (not the mention the people passing by) makes it feel a little uneasy. It's not a big deal though, it's just a few Jaguar's anyway so there's no real need or expectation to be had to warrant any extra space.

 

What I think would be cool is to have some mini competitions setup and others come forward to offer prizes as giveaways. (Vendors I guess) It'll be nothing like 2k1 or others but it's worth a try. I like the idea of a standalone Jagfest but if people were to put half as much effort into making a Jagfest at MGC successful, there would be no need to create a standalone really. I enjoy checking out the countless other classic games, consoles, pinballs and arcades. It's definitely more appealing for more people as a whole and easier to convince others to go or as a reason to go. Sorry to derail the thread but you have to look at the real reason why a Jagfest at MGC isn't a huge success to begin with and I'll be the first to tell you it's not because it's a wide open event opposed to a closed one.

 

Why not put effort into doing something at MGC instead?

Edited November 2, 2012 by Clint Thompson

[minux]

To the OP, have you considered looking into hosting a couple of tables at one of the larger gaming conventions? You could still have the Jag fans come out and support it (and help run it), but you also have the opportunity to reach out to people uneducated about the platform. MAGfest comes to mind and is also held in the MD area, with a lot of foot traffic.

 

Austin, the idea is already being done, so I am going to state that to do so would be a bit OBE, currently.

 

The whole idea is to go ahead and throw it out there fore everyone and see what kind of feedback I receive.

 

Much of the material being contributed will be through my own collection. I will have at least three complete setups running, with two of them, potentially, being networked together for BS.

 

I have another person confirmed and dedicated. At the very least, it will be him and I doing some heads up Tempest.

 

I have been in talks with a few people about various announcements that can be made. I was thinking of creating a modern Catbox, for lack of better phrasing, and with parts for it costing, excluding a case, in the neighborhood of $30/piece, I am not sure how smart it would be to do a run of 100 of them, without a dedicate audience.

 

While the ideas and talents are out there, the concept of making it an announcement platform is someone viable, but that would most likely serve the purposes for a 2014 JagFest, sans a 2013 one.

 

To summarize, for 2013, expect a fun and frolic 2013 JagFest, in MD, as opposed to the historical, releases galore JagFest. However, if any developer wants to use the venue as a release platform, then I would be more than willing to accommodate. While it will not be USA Today, I would be able to get media coverage of the event, in the local newspaper. I am sure they would relish in the fact that anything was announced in this corner of the world.