Hauling in
(or: Spending a bit North of "a lot", and a bit South of "too much")
I'll just get it out of the way: here's my Botcon Haul in hastily photographed glory.
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| Kinda just looks like I took a dealer's table and brought it home, huh? |
I'll have more detailed pictures, thoughts, etc. eventually, probably over the weekend. Also planned is the blog review of the winner of my little poll: Generation 1 Triggerhappy! I have reprolabels on the way for the fig, so it'll be a couple weeks, but may as well announce the winner.
Some thoughts on this years convention
I'll break this into segments, as some parts of the 'con were great, others left opportunity for improvement. I will not mention anything "bad" without mentioning good parts and things done right as well - overall, Fun Pub does do a pretty great job all around with it and only mentioning opportunities can seem like an attack. I assure you this is not, in any way - I'm still a little abuzz about the weekend, so take any complaints with the correct tone (that is, I'm very happy overall).
Location
Dallas is pretty cool. Long drive, but driving was a choice. I don't like the on ramps in Texas and Arkansas, they're too short and unforgiving. Not enough restaurants in close walking distance to the hotel (due to hobos, long walking distances were not an option). The restaurants that were close were very good, so that helps. Hotel stuff was good too, but, you know, ouch on the wallet (as expected).
Lines
There have been years where the lines were extremely bad, others where they were extremely smooth. This year, most lines were handled very well, and were very orderly. The one exception to this was the Thursday club store for early package pickup.
Again, remember before this rant, that this line was the exception to all the others I stood in.
Candace and I lined up around 45 minutes before the Club Store was set to open for Primus Package holders. The first line we got in turned out to be the Package Pickup line. We were in that line, mistakenly, for about 15 minutes, just from not knowing any better (no signs, etc.). Staff did address this and we moved on to the store line, no big deal.
We stood in a store line for not long, I found out when getting my order form that it was the Credit Card line. No warning, had to ask, which was annoying, but again, just another small thing. I had pulled out cash because that line usually moves quicker and it helps me budget better having cash. So I went downstairs, to the cash only line.
Not being able to stand in the very short souvenir-only line (because I wanted a headband for SG Soundwave) was a bummer, but whatever, I got some posters anyhow so I don't have room to complain about that.
My complaint was the speed of the cash line. Holy cow, it just didn't move for quarter hour blocks at a time. We weren't even that deep into it and still had to wait over an hour once getting into it! Then, when Candace gets a chance to go up after me, the next open rep is suddenly only there for Credit Cards. Wait, what? I know there was apparently an issue with the machines upstairs, but it was frustrating nonetheless. Kind of felt like a third class citizen standing in the cash line, we could have stayed upstairs in the credit line and just used my damn card anyhow and gotten through much, much faster.
Custom Class
Two words: Never again. Well, maybe again, but I'm getting any "withheld" parts, taking my kit, and leaving and building it at home, at my leisure, for fun. This wasn't a class at all, it was a somewhat guided model kit building session where hard parts weren't so much taught as much as they were just done by staff members. We left early out of a combination of boredom and frustration, but mostly frustration.
Nice things about the Custom Class, since I said I would do that - kit is very cool, instructors were good at the beginning (before they got overwhelmed by the class size), and Shawn was cool enough to get out a separate table so Candace and I could sit together since all the large table spots were filled. Although it is worth noticing we were practically forgotten about once seated and given the basic kit (had to go ask for: Manuals, any tools I didn't bring, extra parts, stickers... if it was handed out after the class started, we didn't get given it like everyone else, we had to go get it ourselves from a swamped volunteer).
Dealer Room
Pretty much exactly what you would expect. Some awesome deals here and there, but mostly overpriced. Only had one unsavory type that wanted to charge me more than what they had marked on the toy (their sticker - not one from an 80s Kmart or something!). I laughed and walked off. Good variety, and still a good time even without the third party stuff (that's what hotel rooms were for).
Panels
Meh. Can we please stop asking VAs the same dumb things every year? I felt really, really bad for David Kaye. I wanted to learn more about Armada and the production, characters, etc., not hear Chalk and Kaye stumble through awkward fangirl requests. Oh well. Hasbro panel was very bleh, they just don't want to show the bulk of stuff until SDCC anymore. Seating was fine, sound was good, no complaints on the production.
Hall of Fame/Casino Night
Oh, there's Bingo? Fun. That was very cool, even though I didn't win anything (one space away from that SG Rodimus :( ).
Hall of Fame was just sort of "eh". Our table (which turned out to be a heavy portion of folks from Seibertron) got pretty neglected on the food, I think we were the last ones to have anything besides a salad. Oh well, it was free and pretty good regardless.
Videos seemed cool and the guests weren't bad, but the audio was nearly impossible to make out until the event was mostly over.
You People
Are awesome. Nice meeting lots of new faces, I'll see you around Cyberspace and hopefully at next year's con!
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