FanFest 2023 was an awful experience

[AphelionXll]

First let me start with my love for the ffxiv community and its developers. I have been playing since the start off ARR and this game is very special to me and always will be.

Fanfest was not worth the price of the tickets and the travel expenses. They were aware of how many people where coming to this event and even limited to so many and still they didn't even have enough seats for those who showed up. If you wanted to get just a seat you had to be there at 4am wait until 7 before the opened the doors for you to just be qued up until 9am. Most of the event was 60% of the people there sitting on the floor.

Also there source of entertainment was like 5 carnival games that you waited in line for about an hour or two each and if you did want to play them. The staff in the location was unorganized and did not communicate with one another. They were rude and mean. Just one of those experience was someone yelling and I quote "Its 4 vs 1000s of you and were tired of everyone's shit l, so take your fucking items and go"

I cant even fully blame the staff because people there were rude, pushing, and aggressive. I was very disappointed with the community.

They didn't hand out shirts if you were able to clear the battle challange, which I was told occurred in past events. The merchandise store closed down both days within 30min of the event starting.

The Piano and Primal concert were awful. They are all amazing musicians but the venue just made all the sound echo and sound muddy.

I didn't even have a chance to meet some of my heroes like Yoshi or Soken. Honestly if you were at home relaxing and watching the stream you got about everything we got without all the stress of this unorganized event.

Then the cherry on top of that whole shit storm was getting covid and so did many other people.

Was not an experience to remember and all I got to show for it is a bag with a pen, sticker, magnet and a key chain.

I would highly suggest not going to one of these events in the future unless Square does some serious rethinking.

On the bright side, those who cosplayed did an amazing job

[Stormpeaks]

It's pretty obvious that fanfest was an absolute mess really, there is no denying it, however

Then the cherry on top of that whole shit storm was getting covid and so did many other people.

By going to such a big event you are literally asking for it.

[Ranaku]

Then the cherry on top of that whole shit storm was getting covid and so did many other people.

Always remember, getting Covid is not covered by your whitemage insurance.

[LianaThorne]

It's honestly ridiculous how far the ball was dropped with FF on all parties involved the more I hear about it. I really hope SE offers some form of communication on it for those who are rightfully upset over it.

In terms of covid though, I really don't think it should be shocking that going out in crowds = high chance of getting covid. People literally are boasting on social media about how they're going out to events and concerts being covid positive. Feel better soon.

[MsQi]

Since when do gamers like being in close proximity to each other?

They are all amazing musicians but the venue just made all the sound echo and sound muddy.

The art of live sound mixing has been dead for several decades now.

[Gortys]

So you would have enjoyed it better if you personally had a good seat and everyone else had terrible seats? This is typical of big events. I have to assume some people don't leave the house enough, go to events, or have ever been to any live show.
The shows were not bad at all, but there were some mixing issues occasionally. I think for Primals there was feedback and it was always when the camera boom would get too close to a microphone. A big event hall isn't ideal acoustics for a concert so I lowered my expectations appropriately.

I also went into this not using past events (which I did not attend) to set my expectations. I accepted it as it was and had a great time.

As for Covid? You are in Vegas. You had to fly through a busy airport, take transport, crammed yourselves into the crappy rail system, likely walked through smoky casinos with poor air circulation so I'm not sure how you are all able to know you got it at the LVCC. You are exposed to so many people traveling there, going to Area 15, etc that you really have no clue when or where you got it.

[DamianFatale]

It's pretty obvious that fanfest was an absolute mess really, there is no denying it, however



By going to such a big event you are literally asking for it.

Con crud is real. I mask up at cons now, since I’m a traveling performer. Always sleep, always take your vitamins. Wash your hands. You can never be too safe. You likely will get some form of con crud.

[Batbrat]

Even before Covid, I remember going to Anime Expo and coming home absolutely sick and feeling on the verge of death. That's just what happens when you go to largely crowded areas. You're very very likely going to get sick. and it's gonna suck lol. but yeah, the rest sounds about right. I noticed the sound thing even watching the stream, when they first showed the 7.0 trailer. The sound was so weird. Like blown out or something?? I dont know how to describe it. If it was like nails on a chalkboard to me at home, then I'd hate to think how it sounded in person. Sorry to hear you didnt get to meet anyone cool though. Looked like dang near EVERYONE met those two based on all the pictures they took with people.

[Arill]

So you would have enjoyed it better if you personally had a good seat and everyone else had terrible seats? This is typical of big events. I have to assume some people don't leave the house enough, go to events, or have ever been to any live show.
The shows were not bad at all, but there were some mixing issues occasionally. I think for Primals there was feedback and it was always when the camera boom would get too close to a microphone. A big event hall isn't ideal acoustics for a concert so I lowered my expectations appropriately.

I also went into this not using past events (which I did not attend) to set my expectations. I accepted it as it was and had a great time.

As for Covid? You are in Vegas. You had to fly through a busy airport, take transport, crammed yourselves into the crappy rail system, likely walked through smoky casinos with poor air circulation so I'm not sure how you are all able to know you got it at the LVCC. You are exposed to so many people traveling there, going to Area 15, etc that you really have no clue when or where you got it.

He didn't say that at all, more like if the venue and tickets were limited they already knew how many people would show up, but from the looks of it still failed to appropriately setup the facilities to accommodate the number of people that they KNEW was going to show up, so no real excuse here honestly.

People have every right to feel they should have a similar or at least on par experience to past events. This wasn't sold as "maybe just as good FanFest in Vegas", the marketing and advertisement was probably the largest ever, so if anything the organizers got their priorities a bit wrong. It's ok if you want to settle for mediocrity but it's not fair to ask that from everyone else, it's not their first rodeo.

[Gortys]

It wasn't sold as "better than previous FanFest in Vegas" either. I never saw that advertisement so please link it. It was bigger, but bigger doesn't mean better. My brain tells me this from experience. Also, knowing that they increased the number of tickets should have made it apparent it wasn't going to be the same as previous.

It wasn't mediocre for me - I don't expect duty support at a live event though. I expect things to go wrong occasionally from my life experiences. And I'm sure all of these people will be trying to get tickets for the next one.