Post Fan Festival 2016 Experience, Thoughts and Suggestions

[LunaJoy]

Overall I thought the event was amazing.
I liked the activities, and the livequest. The concerts were probably my favorite part of each day!
All in all, just being among so many people who love Eorzea as much as I do, was a thrill beyond words. Such an amazing community that I'm sure Yoshi & the devs are proud to have cultivated!

No shock, my biggest disappointment and frustration was with the merchandise snafu. The lack of organization was atrocious. Employees gave us mixed info, were beyond rude, even demeaning at times.
Constantly being cut from lines,
Day 2 timed tickets & running out of items while letting people buy 10 pairs of moogle slippers at once was tiring.
Don't get me started on the Lore Book...

They should've done merchandise online. And do exclusive shirts with initial ticket sales so everyone has a chance to get one and in the size they want.

Hope they don't use Paris again. Awful employees. That long haired bearded guy the worst.

[CalamityXI]

Pros: - Badge pickup was fast and easy
- Live quest was entertaining
- Proto Ultima was fun
- Being on the strip was convenient for both food and hotels

Cons: - Merch line was TERRIBLE
- No shirt for beating the battle challenge (call it feeling entitled or whatever you want, but I find it pretty upsetting that you get a shirt for beating a challenge at E3, Pax, etc but not at their own con)
- Not enough seating for concerts and popular panels
- No set signing/picture area/schedule for devs (as someone who got Yoshi-P's signature I am glad that they all did roam and sign stuff/take pictures, but I think that in the future there should be set time(s)/place(s))

[CalamityXI]

Suggestions: - Please PLEASE get a second batch of the Fan Fest shirts for sale online. There are multiple ways you can do it so only Fan Fest attendees could take advantage of it. You could put them up and make it so you could only buy them via a code sent to attendees (like 1 of each shirt/hoodie per code). You could even have them up as a "pre-order" for like a month or something so that you don't have to worry about having too much overhead stock.
- Personalized badges. I would love the option to be able to have my character name/server/FC name or tag etc. If you're worried about it slowing down badge pickups you could also offer a mailing option for badges or have a separate badge pickup area for customized badges
- For the merchandise next time maybe have the option to order them ahead of time and be able to pick them up a the con. Or at least have that option for the convention shirts

[JaydeDancer]

The vast majority of people walked away from this fanfest.

I would like to respectfully disagree with this statement. The majority of your group may have walked away, but judging by how packed the convention hall was for The Primals concert, I would say most people stayed.

Staff members being extremely rude, threatening, being physical with attendees.

I wonder if it was just one or two people who were like this? Because my experience with the staff at the event was very pleasant. I know that there was SE staff mixed with temp agency workers. Perhaps it was a temp worker that was rude? I believe the temp workers were hired from Eastridge Workforce. They would have been wearing two badges.

I do agree with you that it would be nice if SE were to set up a merch website for those who attended FanFest so that they can still order the items that they want, but didn't have a chance to get at the festival.

[Avenger]

Pros - so many, but I'll just list a few!

• Dev team and SE folks working on the game are simply awesome - I always end up with a greater appreciation for the game in all of its dimensions!! Thank you to everyone!!
• Presentations and Q&A were excellent
• PvP tournament was way better than I expected - now I kind of want to try it out more than once or twice!
• I enjoyed pretty much every activity I managed to do
• Music was outstanding - Soken is my idol (not to mention Primals) - and the piano concert was a surprisingly nice addition as well
• Fans were friendly and enthusiastic (but see below)
• Lots of great merch!! Lore book is excellent (minor typos aside) and I'm so glad that I managed to get one!
• Paris hotel/casino is pretty cool (if horribly smoky in casino area) and the food (and dessert!) options were tasty; was easy to just walk outside and check out the famous Las Vegas strip (vs. Rio which is separated by a highway)
• Physical card games - triple triad cards and jumbo cactpot created by SE, and amazingly professional mini cactpot event created entirely by a player

Cons

• I didn't expect that the merch line could actually get worse than it was in 2014, but somehow it was... much worse.
• Like hunts in some patches, merch line brough out anti-social behavior, like people letting their whole FC cut in front of 1500 other people in line...
• Fewer in-game activities than 2014 (which had odin, speed runs, trials, and frontline - vs. proto ultima, trials, and the feast)
• No 72 player frontline - that was a great event!
• Trials line was so long that there was never enough time to wait in it between presentations (though you could watch from line)
• Non-SE temps just weren't as terrific as the SE people (or most fans)
• What happened to Mitsutoshi Gondai? He was on the anniversary broadcast and has been at other events but he was missing and I didn't hear any explanation as to why.

Suggestions

• Online prepaid preorders (maybe exclusively on day 1) and designated times for merch item pickup (maybe even text people when their items are ready!) That way nobody waits in line for 6 hours only to find that lore books are sold out They can make sure that they have enough on hand to fulfill the prepaid orders at the very least. Getting your stuff at the actual show is much more exciting and rewarding!
• Longer primals set/second set!! Was left wanting much more!!!
• More in-game events and more capacity (maybe longer hours as well like 2014) so the lines aren't as long
• Maybe add a 3rd day so that there's more time to do the events and to meet people
• Ditto on more dev interaction, live Q&A and signing opportunities, if possible
• Bring back 72p multiple alliance PvP battles - they are really cool
• Bring back T-shirts and/or other cool rewards for beating battle challenges
• More organized meetups for servers and data centers
• To my fellow players/fans: We need more cosplay and art please!!! Was so good but seemed like less than 2014. I'll start working on my own plans for next time, maybe
• More fan-created events and activities
• Bring back the Retainers (player volunteers) - they would be more into it than random temps; this has worked well for other conventions;
• Post the Jumbo Cactpot results on the Jumbo Cactpot Jumbotron (huge screen at front) and Twitter
• Give attendees access to the stream video playback in case you miss anything or want to enjoy it again
• Dev PvP team needs to step up their game - get a full set of developers from Japan to join Yoshi-P and Nakagawa and show the players the true meaning of fear!

Random crazy suggestions

• Maybe more concurrent events where players and developers at fanfest interact somehow with remote players playing the game in the various game worlds, or simultaneous challenges across whole servers or data centers... I kind of liked it how the players on Mateus tried to interact with people preparing for the battle challenge.
• Maybe a third live music night, like string quartet or small chamber orchestra versions of music from FFXIV (maybe even sneak in a piece or two from other Final Fantasy games as well)
• PvP clinic to help people learn the ropes of PvP and improve their game
• Chances to meet the fan artists as well as game artists
• FFXIV concept art gallery with original works used in the game
• Performance by winners of FFXIV music remix contest
• Events and challenges for crafters and gatherers
• Triple Triad and Verminion tournaments
• Game dance (e.g. Manderville, mogdance, etc.), weaponskill and /emote clinic and contest
• Primals band/tour T-shirts
• Cutscene oscars/criticism, with viewing and commentary for the best/worst cutscenes

[Kytelian]

I, like several others, only have Fanfest 2016 to really go by regarding suggestions and whatnot. First off, I wanna give props to Brendan (Brandon? I don't remember his name and I forgot his name on the forums). From what I experienced, he did a very good job handling the griping and whatnot of the attendees regarding the merch line. (I was cut off from the line with literally two groups of people in front of me after waiting for 2+ hours. I was not happy, but I give props where props are due.)

Pros:
- Piano concert, especially Soken playing Equilibrium
- Primals concert, especially Sephirot x2 and Locus
- 4.0 mini-trailer was nice
- The announcements that were given were nice
- Tried The Feast for the first time because the Duty Roulette line was ridiculously long and it proved more fun than I though, even though I had next to no idea what I was doing.
- Proto Ultima was fun
- Got to run around in cosplay, always a plus.


[Kytelian]

Cons:
- I came down with a cold Thursday night. >:|
- This has been said before and I'm going to say it again: merch line. This was atrocious, mismanaged, and shouldn't've happened to begin with. If it's obvious that a line is becoming a fire hazard CAP IT BEFORE you have attendees waiting in line for 2 hours only to find out they're no longer "in line." My group got screwed over multiple times with the line. We didn't know it was being relocated inside the first time - the information was /horribly/ communicated. The second time we had people cutting in front of us and behind us. The third time we were cut off with only a few people in front of us from the cut off point. There was no sort of ticketing system the first time the line had to be dispersed, which was a MASSIVE oversight on the part of the staff in charge of the line. When it was implemented on Saturday, things went more smoothly.

[Kytelian]

Cons cont'd. (This word limit is dumb.)
- Trial Roulette line was massive and I think this had to do with very few other activities to do. The Battle Challenge was too easy/didn't have enough appeal, PvP had next to no appeal, and apart from the chocobo and mini games, all there was to do was sit and wait in line for merch that may or may not be sold out.
- Where were the "I beat Proto Ultima" t-shirts? I thought it was lame that we didn't get those. =/
- I'm seeing things about 72 man battles, organized server meetups, and I want those.
- No organized dev meet up times.
- There was more information given on Heavensward at the last Fanfest than there was on Bloodstorm at this one. That was a major disappointment.
- No personalized badges. =( I was rather looking forward to this.

[Kytelian]

Suggestions:
- Merch pre-order, ticketing system, both.../something/ to make merch less of an issue. Maybe take a poll to see what people are interested in and make sure to have tons of stock so the lore book and moogle slippers don't sell out first thing on day 2.
- 3 day convention, please. 2 days simply isn't enough.
- Organized developer meet and greet times.
- Larger venue (there WILL be more interest for the next Fanfest given the people I've been talking to)
- Gauge which activities are more popular and which are less popular. Give less space to the less popular activities and more space to the more popular activities.
- "I beat..." t-shirts please.
- Make the Fanfest exclusive gear available to the people who attended Fanfest but weren't able to get it, please. I think it's completely lame that the merch was so thoroughly mis-managed and these items are no longer available.

[ExKage]

((Just so you all know, you can edit your posts to get over the 1000 character limit))

Having been to both FanFests I would like to compare the upsides to both and possible suggestions to take forward.



2014:
- The event schedule was up a near full week earlier which allowed for better planning of things.
- Hours open were longer (9am to 10pm)
- A Battle Challenge T-Shirt or a Swag Bag T-Shirt.
- Merchandise sheets listed the limited and exclusive items!
- Somehow the merchandise line went so much better even with less registers??
- The Merchandise line was NOT ALLOWED to be lined up during the keynote.
- Allagan Power Bank owo!

2016:
- Larger Venue than the Paris
- The registration and badge pick-up were so very streamlined, thank you.
- I didn't get to go to any of the events but the Any Way the Wind Blows event looked so fun!
- WAR. BEAR. SHIRT.
- I didn't get it due to having promised someone to help get them merchandise, but the hoodies!
- Allagan Tomestone of (Fanfiction) Poetics USB 2.0 Drive! Last tomestone of 2.0 with a 2.0 stick owo
- The DRG (3D) sticker.
- I didn't get to experience it, but FAT CHOCOBO!!!!

Suggestions or Considerations not related to those mentioned above:
- When capping lines, please please please, try to cap it at the end or try to manage the lines from the very beginning. The staff just did not want to manage the merchandise line from the very beginning and it spiraled out of control. If allowing people to line up during the very special opening Keynote, please manage the line. No one knew where it wrapped around or where (It snaked in the same place 3 times near the battle challenge area somehow). Please have the staff communicate this. It was very hard to hear on the mic that the line was 'capped' but no one knew where the cap was. We spoke to some staff who said 'you're fine, it's capped at the end' only to be told 2 hours later that we were in a non-existent, line for nothing. People were frustrated and I heard that some people were extremely rude to staff and got that treatment right back.
- Consider doing from the very beginning the ticket time slot system for the merchandise line or allowing those with fanfest tickets to make purchases online in a special store. This way we can order all of our merchandise and skip the point of sales and just pick up the items. You can still have a merchandise booth but also allow for us to spend time at FanFest away from it and do other things.
- Gauge how much time you have early on and notify people that the line after a point will probably not be seen. A staff member did this but by then it was 4 hours in into the Merchandise line. The same member also did this for the Koji line but people still lined up. He told my section early on that this was right around the time where Koji may not be able to see us; and he was almost right on. Koji asked to extend it 5 minutes just a few people before me. Thank you to this staff member, whose name I do not know. He had a mostly clean shaven face but long blonde/brownish hair. Thank you.
- PLEASE HELP US GET MORE MERCHANDISE THAT THE JP STORE HAS. I want, need those fat cat bowls and towel?scarf??!
- Possibly, a longer setlist for the Primals concert? I completely understand why Oblivion (Shiva's theme) or the lack of the right instruments for Brute Justice but I had hopes for more songs. Still, thank you, as the concerts were still very amazing.
- I think the non-personalized badges were streamlined very well, please allow us space to put our name and servers on with a Sharpie! I also appreciate how much more durable these are.

Overall, I had a positive experience that was mostly made through my own doing. 2014 I spent a lot of time by myself trying to defeat Line Duty Finder to beat Odin and get the T-shirt. This year, I was trying much more to spend time with people from the game who I've met or wanted to meet. However, the lines meant that I really only did a few things. All Friday I was in the merchandise line (due partly to an error in Judgment when entering. A line-con partner I had made and I thought since we had waited in line for entry for 5 hours that we should use the restroom and sit for the Keynote. Otherwise, we would have been about first 100 people in the merchandise line). From the entirety of the end of the Keynote to 6pm I was in line for merchandise. On Saturday, I attended the lore & localization panel and then got a picture with Koji. From there the Live Letter was going to start soon so I got seated for that. Then I wanted/needed food before the concert. I gave up some things (2Fat2Chocobo!!! T_T, making sure I got a good spot to sign the wall, Proto-Ultima Battle Challenge) but I also got one of the best experiences which was a 30 second to a minute meet with Koji and hung out with some amazing people.