buzy b

current mind of digiPax'09 PA (production assistant):

Plan for everything by picturing what is about to happen and figure out whether or not everything makes sense / is possible. Ask questions. It's funny, everything that we've just planned will be the same but different next year when PAX is at a different location.

Having social, mental, and physical flexibility when dealing with real time dynamic situations is good.

I've been talking to myself today. Here's what I said:
1. put together your own set of basic tools
allan wrench set
screw drivers (phillips and flathead, small and large size)
crescent wrench (small and large)
zip ties
duct tape
scissors (beefy awesome scissors)
post it notes
sharpie
pen
flash drive
trash bags
rubber bands (semi thick, not wimpy)
your phone charger (when PAX is on, don't leave home w/ out it)
and carry them everywhere

2. make Digipen get 'booth friendly tables'
-meaning easy to set up and take down

We have internet

All 10 computers are online. I set up the TAG computer in the Expo Hall. TAG's booth is right near Scribblenauts, if you are planning to see 5th Cell's game.

FAQ 1: "How did the games get chosen?"

The opportunity to do game-testing at PAX arose fairly suddenly, and without a lot of lead time. So the game faculty chose games that were: a) in top shape from summer GAM400, b) had members willing to do a ton of work in August, c) had strong IGF aspirations, and/or d) would make a strong showing for DigiPen.

We also set up a strong producer structure, with experienced RTIS producers from each game, and another one, Gabriel Serra, at the helm as a PAX Show Producer for the whole project.

DigiPen has not done a trade show of this size or technical commitment, ever. The logistics, on top of getting ready for the new school year, are hairy.

This is a trial run. If we like the results; if the game teams feel that the feedback is worth the effort; if the exposure is beneficial; if the stars align such that we are able to attend PAX in the future; if the budget can afford it; and if there are people willing to do this amount of work next year -- we will do a v2.

We are keeping post-mortem notes for "What we learned; recommendations for next time." The main theme is, Start earlier. Like, in April.

Internet progress

When we left the PAX floor this evening, the cable was laid, but it had no end on it. I just called. They said that now it's got an end, and the end is plugged into our switch.

Progress!

Heading back to the convention center to test stuff out.

In other news, I hear Ellinger, Mead, Mohrman, Klassen, and Peters rocked the incoming RTIS students today, with a 5-way jam in Plato. Math jokes. Physics demonstrations. Game proverbs. Lots of "Yeah, he's RIGHT, and you know what ELSE?" And, "You have to do the same things CS majors do -- but in 15 milliseconds. On standard hardware, or an Xbox. None of this, "We'll just get a faster computer" for you." Welcome to the big leagues.

Let's go see if the big leagues has internet.

Setting up

A pile of wires.


Van Gogh tables. Nothing hooked up.


Controllers for Block Breakers.


A glimpse of the Free Play Room.


The three TVs that will be looping 25+ game videos.


Black tablecloths. Looking professional now.


The internet guys working all day in the back of the room.


The finishing touches.


4-player Kinetrix mice, ready for the opening shift.

We're in! And setting up

Sean got a 17' UHaul truck. We brought all the gear over today, at a reasonable 10am hour with no wait -- instead of an unholy 6am hour with a 4-hour unload wait, thanks to Ray Yan's intervention. Everything arrived safely.

We are in a room like one huge (like, football-field huge) Pascal. One side has an ocean of Free Play computers, the other has an ocean of Bring Your Own Computer computers. We are in the aisle in the middle.

Unloaded.
Met at DigiPen at 8:30am.
Arrived.
Unloaded.
Tables up.
Chairs up.
Machines up.
TVs up.
Admissions materials in place.
TAG's machine set safely aside.
Power!!
Internet cables arrived.
Now waiting for them to make the ends of the cable (standard procedure), then hook us up.
Trucks driven away.
Downstairs to the Kinko's, to email the school and set up blog.
Email sent to Gordon.
A quiet hum throughout the blissfully vacant convention center, as everyone goes about the business of setting up.

Loading up

CPUs, cards, SDKs, built, installed, tested, updated, checked, ready.


Components accumulate in the staging area.


Computers moved to make room for more hardware.


A sweetpack of keyboards.


Speakers. One of the TVs.


Monitors.


Checklist.


Ready to go.