[Deptheads] Re: Computer Room Tourneys

Fri Feb 8 18:02:32 PST 2008

Video Zone will make sound like my local Blockbuster he he he

In a message dated 2/8/2008 5:58:06 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
mikeinva8 at mac.com writes:

Ok I  don't comment here much, but this one I feel  very strongly about, 
namely making the cons attractive to  family and kids.  I have been going to these 
cons sense 1982 and now as a  small percent owner I really feel we need to do 
more to get  the families back in.  Back in the mid 80's and through the  
90's there were a lot more family games like Monopoly,  Scrabble, Trivial 
Pursuit, Risk ect., and there for  the hole family came to the cons, which increased 
attendance. And now 20 years  later I see a lot of those "kids" at the cons 
with their families. So I  think adding more family games back in, which is 
something I have been pushing  for in that last year will really benefit the cons 
in the long run.  If we stop trying to attract kids and family like Pat said 
the cons will  die a slow death.  I really agree with what Victor said about 
parents  that just bring their kids to the con and not get a badge.  While 
working  the registration desk last con I saw dozens of parents come up and  pay 
for their kids to go to the con, but did not get a badge for them self,  they 
were just going to watch. If we could hook them in with games they liked  as a 
kid (The family type games), then that adds to  the attendance, which is what 
we need to do.    

As for a new name for the computer room, I would go with Video Zone, it  just 
has a better ring to it.  

Mike

On Feb 8, 2008, at 6:28 PM, Victor B wrote:

To  be fair...............
Robert  looks bad because he was not being politically correct.
Of  course we have families that attend. He never said we did not- he just  
implied that the convention does not have the facilities or staff that the  
other conventions do that cater to kids . How many of the families that show  up 
are staff? How many are convention regulars? Having kids show up and  being 
set up for many kids are not the same. Basically all of this  debate is based 
opinions that parents reading our website and  seeing "video game lounge" would 
not want to attend because strategicon  would appear non-family oriented. The 
families that come are not going to be  turned off  by a room named "video 
game lounge". In fact many families  that atend a convention (as mentioned) want 
to get their kids off of video  games. Why would you bring your kids to a 
convention to get them off video  games and then watch them hang out in the video 
game room playing video  games? The room name is not your concern for a family 
oriented con. The  programming available for you kids and tweens is. The 
teenagers are  ok.
Best  tween event we had last year was the live-action fighting circle. They  
stayed packed for hours on friday and saturday and always had people there.  
People like to smack each other with padded weapons or watch 2 other people  
do it. Good event.

Robert's  statement is correct- We are basically saying "just bring your  
kids". We do have mundane token kids events as he mentioned and  nothing special 
or a draw. No kid guests.. The wiggles are not attending. We  don't have a 
storytime room or daycare attendants like other  conventions. Liability and 
security issues are real and we all  know in this day and age a lawyer is 1 step 
behind a mishap. Catering to  family requires more than we have now which is 
just some games and a  volunteer watching the kids.

That  being said .....
Patrick  is also correct.
We  want to attract more families (not just the parents who bring the kids  
along) and we hneed to ave to have actual programming and set up for  tweens, 
not just run some kids games. Tweens are our future.
I  understand kids at con. Trust me I see the most of them during the weekend 
 and I WELCOME them.
There  are many ccgs that are from kids tv shows and japanese anime and  
every convention we have 1 or 2 that pile up the players in big numbers. We  have 
had over 125 in one event before. We will have 200+ in may for a  pokemon 
regional.
The  problems is not the kids (7-14 year olds). The issue for me is finding  
something for the parents to do that are not into gaming and are just  
dropping off kids.. I do makeshift parent's lounges . I put a veggie platter  in 
there with water and cups and peanut butter crackers with science  fiction/fantasy 
show themes playing as music. They loved it. Funny when you  have to cater to 
many parents who are not into gaming but their kids love  pokemon, naruto, 
magic or pirates etc.. I also took the time to talk to them  as a group and 
explain the convention and showed a few of them the  boardgames where alison, 
karl, patrick and others were there to meet  and greet them. Their smiles and 
upbeat attitude make non-gamers feel like  they are at a friend's house. They also 
like seeing the miniatures and of  course the dealer's room. Even rpg hq gets 
questions about rpgs and are  friendly and helpful. When they come back 
between tourney round I hear it.  All this usually gets a few parents to join the 
convention for the day  andsome for the whole weekend.

We  need a department to handle kids and tweens and all liability issues,  
logisitcs and programming for them. And those brave souls will need  plenty of 
drinks before and after the con.

Strategicon  is a fun friendly family oriented convention full of wonderful 
people.
That  is why I fly 3000+ miles to startegicon 3 times a year. You guys.

Now  let's get back to positive energy and enthusiasm for the con. Someone 
paint  a smiley face on grinch robert and lets get ready for a weekend of  fun.

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