Improvements they could make for Fan Fest 2015

[Phoebus]

Please have at the same time and place every year. This would allow people to plan their vacation time and hotel accommodations easier. I know my FC is already planning a get together around October in hopes fan fest will be around that time again. Also, Vegas is great as air fares there tend to be more economical from more locations.

Also, thank you Camate and FFXIV for this year's fest. I watched the stream and it was a blast.

[Martin_Arcainess]

Maybe more game activities for the london Fanfest as well? After doing Batlle Roullete 3 times and Odin 3 times I found my self nowt to do after doing everything else. They had about 3 rooms for the same thing so maybe make each room different?

[Arioche]

Womens sizes for shirts would have been nice. The Small for men is still gigantic :/

[Avenger]

Echoing everyone else:

1. Fix the registration line - many more stations, scan QR codes rather than slow manual data entry, basically do the smart thing that other conventions (blizzcon, comic-con, etc.) do to get everyone through in an hour rather than a crazy 4+ hour wait. First day was almost entirely wasted due to long and slow registration lines.

2. Fix the merchandise booth - allow pre-orders/on-line orders of merch (limited to one item per person so you don't run out of goodies) so you can pick it up any time during the weekend; fix the stupid credit card machines and have multiple lines. It was also a mad free-for-all as people cut into the front of the line.

3. Fix the priority system for first-timers on each line; first-timers (at the very least) should be able to register for a time slot. The priority system was poorly organized and didn't really work well.

[Avenger]

4. Fix the ticket system - web site crashed/melted every time during presale, regular & vip sales!! Ideally you could use a scalable venue like a convention center and expand fanfest space as necessary to meet demand over like a month of ticket sales, rather than a crazy internet rush where everything sells out in a minute or two.

5. Create a bigger area for server meetups with movable signs for each individual server!! People tried to meet up spontaneously at the reception, but a more organized approach would have facilitated things over the whole weekend.

6. Optimize communication - some things went out over e-mail, others were in the printed schedule, other things were on the web site, other things were announced over the PA, and still other things weren't announced at all!! I would have preferred to have more information in printed form and the web site, and to have updates on all channels including e-mail, twitter, web site, and PA.

[Avenger]

7. I felt vaguely dirty about the VIP pay-to-win system. It is awesome if you can get it but kind of sad for everyone who didn't. Maybe get rid of it and be more fair to everyone, or make it an option that anyone can buy when they buy their tickets first?

8. The raffle items weren't as awesome as they could have been. I didn't win anything, but it would have been much more exciting to have the raffle items get better and better to super grand prizes - something like trips to the London and/or Tokyo Fan Festivals!!

9. Can we get an Eorzea café at the fan festival like the one in Japan? That would be totally awesome!!

10. One unfortunate guy (my paladin in in-game event) had his Moogle stolen while he was watching a presentation! Maybe clarify rules and penalties?

11. Can we get access to the stream archives?? Please?

[Avenger]

In case anyone is unclear about it, the FFXIV Fan Festival is really awesome and you should go (and bring your whole FC in costume if you can!)

Huge props to everyone who helped to put this on - it was immensely fun and I just wish my whole FC had been there to enjoy it!! Thanks especially to the magnificent Yoshi-p, Mr. G, Soken, and Koji Fox, as well as all of the members of the Primals!! Thanks also to the 3+ star crafting cosplayers and to the friendly and helpful fans who made the lines more tolerable and who were also terrific in the in-game events!!

[Daeris_Mormerileth]

agree on all accounts of previous mentioned items. My group that went was excited because NONE of us had ever been to vegas and was planning to check it out on friday after registration. We got there at 9:30am and the line was so long that when we walked up they told us we couldn't get in line and to come back later. we decided to check out the casino and get food and when we came back we were again told we couldn't get in line and to come back (i believe it was about 1pm then) but luckily the line moved and they let us in. But by the time we FINALLY got through the line, the line for the opening reception was starting so we got in that line and waited too. So our entire day Friday was ruined by lines. As well as Saturday... I spent about 4 hours in line for merch and the one thing i wanted most was sold out already (the soundtrack).

cont...

[Daeris_Mormerileth]

I was really disappointed when i saw pics of the London fan fest all over the Facebook page (where the Vegas fest didn't have any pictures posted except the photobooth) and their event seemed to have a LOT more decorations (would've LOVED to have an Aetheryte to have pictures with!) and according to the people that attended they got WAY more different kinds of merch at the merch booth. Felt we got kinda jiped on that end.


And i agree that since we already paid to attend the fan fest but due to lines didn't really get to see the panels and such, that we should get the premium stream for free for attending. I already paid $120 for my ticket to be there and missed out on stuff because of lines.. i shouldn't have to pay another $20 to watch it.