[Deptheads] Demographics

[Tanya Aldrich]

I have cut and pasted suggestions and comments from multiple emails. I'm not claiming these as my ideas. This is the first true pass, so I expect suggestions, changes and additions.

1. What do we what to learn from the data?
Do people attend events hosted by different depts, if so what? (are there RPGers who also play Board Games)

What games people can't get into due to too much demand? I stopped by the RPG rooms at one point, there was a game that had so many people it split into two games. Good solution when there's room, which there was, so I think it was Monday.

Are the same people playing in the same game when offered multiple times? May only apply to Board Games, but who knows?

What games compete for players?

What games ran at one time and not at a different time? Also, if it runs at the same time across cons, what might have caused the decline? (ex. A competing game)

What games didn't happen? Was it no players, or not enough players? Again, has it run successfully in the past, if so, what might be the cause?

For RPGs and possibly other depts, What game system didn't run or needed more sections of? What GMs games didn't run or need more sections of? The latter does depend on the GM's willingness and ability to run more sections.

One use of this, to warn GMs that a particular event may not get approved or get revoked due too many being offered at time of submission, and may only be or remain scheduled as space permits. Or may get rescheduled to a different time slot as space permits. This is a challenging issue and I don't envy any dept who would be affected by this concept.

Another is to justify reducing the number of the same event, particularly if there are multiple tournaments.

2. What do we need on sign-up sheet?

Con name and date
Game name
Game Genre/Category (at minimum for annual awards) or System
Day and Time starting
Experience Level
Event Type (payout type)
List containing spaces for name, badge number, and a check box for who played.
For games with limited space, alternates. Our current signup sheet handles 30 names. I would say that the alt list be at least as many as the main list, provided the main list is less than 15. After all, if you get enough alts for a whole separate game, you have a good argument for another section of it.

3. What do we need on end-game sheet?

Con name and date
Game name
Game Genre/Category (at minimum for annual awards) or System
Day and Time starting
Event Type (payout type)
List of First, Second, and Third place with separate columns for place, name, badge number, signature, and amount
First Round # players
First Round # games
First Round Time played
Second Round, repeat
Third Round, repeat
These 9 answers can be in a 3x3 grid to save space.
Total Time played
GM name, signature, date
Notes.

Questions - All participants can be listed by badge #; their name and badge # should be on the signup sheet for any cross-referencing.
# players who brought the game
Who got turned away due to lack of space/game? Circle which.
Were there other games that compete with this? (include games that pulled people away mid-event) List game and time scheduled, who left for it, if possible.
Who were new to the game?

4. Pre-reg suggestions
Have the ability to be added to an alt list. This brings up a slew of issues. Assuming we can figure out the code behind this, my proposal would be. You can be an alt in as many games as you wish in the same time slot. Each time a person tries to add to an event in the same time slot as an event they are an alt in, they get a list to prioritize the events they've signed up for in that slot. This gives people the ability to  show their true interests. Enough people show the same interest, might be time for another section of the event. This also gives the dept head the opportunity to see if they can pre-emtively remedy the request. As soon as a person is approved for an event in a time slot, all alts below that event in their priority list become "interested in".

Have the ability to state that if there was room, I'd be in this game.

Alternatively, we could also add if it were at a different time, you never know, a game may get more traffic off peak.

Have the ability to request more games from this system.

Have the ability to request more games with this GM.

5. Post-con processing.

You do not have to be in LA to do the data entry, we will get the data to you somehow. :)

6. Other suggestions
Digital

Bar code

Have a questionnaire at the sign-in table in all depts. "Was there a game you wanted to play, but was full?  If so, which one and what time?" "What game would you like to see offered?" Badge number required to process.

More alt slots on limited space games.

7. Notes

The rule, no badge, no play will be enforced. This brings up the problem of friday night. Short of having the Reg Desk open until midnight, this is what I came up with; for events starting between 9pm Friday and 8am Saturday, names must be legibly taken for players with no badge. If any player with no badge places in an event, they must purchase a Friday or Full Con badge by end of Saturday to keep their placing and any payout claim. This means that the players placing below them must be informed of the possible adjustment and payout at end of game. This emphasizes that sheets must be complete. If a player has no badge number on the sheet for a Friday night event, they would forfeit possibly without knowing it by end of Saturday. This is also the only time that payouts may have to back enter player data.

We are also seriously considering incomplete forms will not count for GM hours. If they can be completed by the time reimbursements shuts down, they will be accepted. We have to get serious about this process. 

While I was in the RPG rooms I got several comments on me trying to get the badge numbers of the players. Once they heard why, I got at least two "about time" and a couple of "good idea". Also, I heard there were a pile of GURPS games offered from the people I was talking to, but my understanding is that all or nearly all ran. 

We encourage anyone to look around the convention, you only need a badge to actively participate in our events, not watch. Security is not necessary at this point.

Tanya

On Sep 19, 2011, at 12:14 PM, Tanya Aldrich wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> We decided after Gamex to gather more data in the hopes of being able to actually produce real game demographics starting Orccon 2012.
> 
> First, we need signup sheets, with names, badge numbers and a column for checking who actually played. Also, if it's an issue, a note next to who had to be turned away for lack of space.
> 
> Second, we need the winners sheets or game conclusion sheets (if that makes more sense), if your games don't have winners, we'll work something out, but the standard winners sheet has more info about the game run than just the winners. For those with no winners, keep this sheet in mind for MVP, etc. The point is, we need those questions answered for every game played.
> 
> We may also want a more general sheet for demos and pick-up games, listing the game, time, duration, the people who played (with badge number) and whether this was a filler for them because nothing of interest was on the schedule for that time.
> 
> I'd love some comments and suggestions on how to get the most out of this process.
> 
> We also need volunteers to process a lot of this new data, the payouts crew shouldn't be expected to do it all, they have plenty of work. These volunteers do not have to do it during the con.
> 
> Tanya
> _______________________________________________
> Deptheads mailing list
> Deptheads at strategicon.net
> http://mordred.punk.net/mailman/listinfo/deptheads