Improvements they could make for Fan Fest 2015

[Fuma]

More merchandise, I was ready to drop more gil but the selection was limited and there is so much SE merchandise related to FF. Shoot I may have even gotten the rhythm game for the 3DS.

Also more shirt sizes appropriate for the region. I would have loved one of the meteor polos but the sizes available even at the start of the convention were just too small. I'm 6'5'' and not overweight but I still need to wear a 2XL or even better an XLT (I can understand not having T sizes).

[HakuroDK]

I was unable to go to Fanfest this year (and, not having a passport nor having the ability to speak Japanese, going to London/Tokyo fanfest would be quite a challenge), but I am a staff coordinator for an anime convention in Maine, and reading some of these suggestions from people who were actually there, I can impart some tips that I find to be useful as a coordinator.

1. If possible for lines, having chairs or benches where people can sit down while they're waiting in line for panels is extremely helpful!

2. Having line staff is critical. I'd say maybe one staffer for every hundred or so people in line, and one person at the very end of a line holding up a sign that reads "END OF THE LINE".

3. Try to keep folks who are mingling/loitering, but not in line for an event a good distance away from the actual line. A good distance away would be about 2-3 yards, just so anyone who needs to get through can do so without having to push their way down a hallway and so people can't magically insert themselves in the middle of a line they weren't actually in.

4. Digital Pre-Registration is absolutely critical to avoiding a "Linecon" scenario. How it would work is that, people would sign up online, print out a registration barcode, go to a registration booth on-site, scan their registration barcode, and get a badge printed right then and there. Gift bags can then be given out to folks at the end of the registration area for those who have gotten their badges. This greatly helps to expedite registration. That way, only the people who register on-site actually have to be in line.

5. I agree with Sramdi about a number ticket system for the gameplay events. That is a very good way to ensure that you don't have a swarm of people waiting for other people to finish when those same folks waiting in line could be doing other things.

6. A very important thing: Credit Cards are the modern way of paying for things. Every staff member who handles money of any kind should have a credit card reader.

7. Some of the entertainment, such as when The Primals came on stage seemed very rushed and awkward. I don't really blame anyone or anything other than a severe lack of rehearsal. It was kinda... uncomfortable for me to watch.

Here are some more personal critiques from myself as a premium livestreamer:

1. The awards ceremony for the cosplayers and the artists was very entertaining to watch, but the lengthy raffle session during Closing Ceremonies was very boring, especially knowing that no one in the premium livestream would win anything. I think it would be best if either that event didn't occur on the livestream at all, or if there was a separate raffle for the premium livestreamers. Even if it's just, like, one of the goodie bags that all of the attendees got.

2. The 2.4 and 3.0 trailers were played a little too often, and by a little, I mean a lot. Many of the replays were to fill space, I understand, but it would have been better to have someone coordinating a live feed to some of the gameplay events instead. Would it be possible to have a GM Camera spawn in certain areas in each of the maps to follow players around? Watching gameplay footage of the challenges would have been much much better than looking at a single image for what felt like most of the time. You could have, like, a "Battlemaster General" or something and showing off the various gameplay events and commenting on them to fill space between panels.

3. I felt that Grekumah did an absolutely wonderful job handling the livestream, and Koji was equally wonderful during all of the panels. Both of them especially deserve some kudos.

It is not my intention to hurt any feelings with any of my critiques or suggestions. I just want to point out things that could be improved and give credit where it's due.

[Enthy]

I don't know if this has been posted yet, but here are some suggestions;

Give different color ID tags for different servers and/or display server names bigger on ID tags.
The Meet-Up wall was too small and should have had borders for each server rather than data center.
Better line management (but i'm sure that's been said 100x already lol)

^_^ hope to see Fan Fest 2015!

[Vergil_Renata]

I agree that some of the lines could've been managed better. My friends and I had to leave the lines because we wanted to go exploring, needed to find good seats (I'm partially deaf and need to be someplace where I can hear what's going on), or needed to rest. Then we had this time on Saturday night when we were super close to doing the primal fights, but the line had to be cut off since it was too close to 10 PM. Next complaint is the 'wall' not being monitored, because we had a few instances of someone scribbling over others names and such.

Biggest complaint: Logitech G600s please...

[CalamityXI]

I agree that some of the lines could've been managed better. My friends and I had to leave the lines because we wanted to go exploring, needed to find good seats (I'm partially deaf and need to be someplace where I can hear what's going on), or needed to rest. Then we had this time on Saturday night when we were super close to doing the primal fights, but the line had to be cut off since it was too close to 10 PM. Next complaint is the 'wall' not being monitored, because we had a few instances of someone scribbling over others names and such.

Biggest complaint: Logitech G600s please...

Yes this. I know I was having a horrible time on the Odin fight because I am used to a different keyboard and using the thumbgrid on my Naga. I know it sounds like a petty complaint, but it just gets frustrating when you think you're hitting your shield lob and you're hitting fracture >.<

[Nel_Celestine]

might want to screen the VIP autographs better next time too, I heard a group of Non-VIPs snuck in and stole some of the VIP spots leaving them without autographs.

[Delmontyb]

I have to say I had a blast, and thanks to the whole community team for all their hard work. There were area's that could be improved, and if I have anything that comes to mind that hasn't already been said, I'll post it. But my whole experience was very positive, and I plan to attend future fan fests (hopefully still in Vegas)

[Vilhem]

One suggestion I would make on top of that is hold three Tiers of Cosplay Contest.

Reduce the total prizes sure, but give more people the spotlight and encouragement too. It was my first time in a contest and I got lots of help to plan for another one. Kind of sad I didn't make it on stage but next time!
Also, post in advance what the judging criteria for each tier will be so we know what to expect. Do we need to pose? Is it based purely on looks? It is based on what % was self made? etc etc. Clarity and plenty of notice.

Yes, please.

[JigsawComplex]

* More VIP tickets (at least for the chance alone at getting autographs/photos)

* Possibly different ticket system (Eventbrite just sucks. They just aren't able to handle the foot traffic)

* Better venue (The Rio had nice convention halls and casino, but others are nice while being located ON the strip)

* More/Better trained Staff (The crew did the best they could, and the retainers were a mixed bag. Some good while others would stand next to the Odin line and say "I don't know what that is")

* Charging Wall

* More Server Tables

* More Supervisors/Detail (Did you really need to take up huge portions of the wall with grafitti, Hyperion?)

* More chances for photos/autographs with Speakers/Devs and Cosplayers.

I LOVED the event. But my two biggest gripes were that I missed most of the events/Schmoozing with players and Devs because of the merch line fiasco, and those DREADFULLY annoying PVP Bros. Lol

[JigsawComplex]

If they continue what they did this year, I wouldn't worry about that. The judges put a lot of emphasis on whether you made your own costume or not. A couple of costumes (which I shall not name) that made it into the finals were known to be pure commission pieces, but did not win any prizes despite looking amazing.

The two Garlineans