Hello, all.
I sincerely thank you for visiting my neighbourhood and hope Stratford didn't eat anyone. I can't believe how much money I spent. Still, I'm happy. I have lots of new t-shirts and a signed copy of the RPG. Plus new in-game decals and a paint-job, which is very pleasing.
By far and away, the best part of the day for me - even more than the big ED reveals - has been seeing and interacting with the ED community in person. Decent people, as mad as anyone would expect - but also so much more diverse and civilised than I would have believed from this forum.
To the Wolves of Jonai and Majorm3ss, if you're reading this, it was very nice meeting you - and I sincerely thank you for your entertaining company at different times. Lovely people!
To all the trolls out there: you are not who we are. You are, at best, the cold, unloved voice of fears and bile and bitterness, amplified above their true measure. You are not the truth of us at all. We're better than you pretend, however loudly you screech.
I have met the normality of us: the charitable spirit, the casual kindness and respect for others, the love of the game that is our unifying strength. Today, I'm proud to be a part of the ED community.
I raise my finest glass of Yamazaki to you, one and all. Cheers.
- - - - -
I forgot to hand in my feedback form at the end. D'oh! No collector's coin for me. Oh, well. Mostly for FD's benefit...
I definitely enjoyed myself. I'm not good in crowds, so it was a bit of a culture shock for me, but if you come back to London next year, I'm definitely up for another go. The best bits were the presentations and speakers - and especially the ED reveals at the end of the day.
FD, you've made all the right noises for Beyond. I know you're paying close attention. If you have doubts, take heart: today, I - like most of us, I'm certain - have the greatest renewed enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.
Some things could have been better. More games and things to watch, aside from the things that were there, would have been pleasing.
That was a long eight hours, a great deal of it standing motionless. For me, that's after a week of being constantly on my feet at work. Somewhere more comfortable to rest that wasn't in front of a game would have been good.
More seats for viewing the main stage would have been preferred, but I appreciate that might be a regulatory issue. Perhaps some proper rails to lean on and take the weight off? A covered smoking-area, possibly with benches or something, that would have been kinder, as well. No-one much likes being soaked with rain in the cold.
Speaking as someone in catering, that really wasn't a good experience. Man, who was in charge of that? My wallet's still bleeding, the choice was poor and my guts are still making grim, threatening noises from the alleged hot-dogs. They actually ran out of Mars bars, which is quite the special achievement at those prices. No whisky that I could see, only bourbon.
All in all, that wasn't so much a catering effort as an unholy revelation of Chef Hell. FD, if you're coming back next year, please try and make sure the food and drinks are a little less like comedy terrorism!
- - - - -
That's that. Roll on 2018.
I sincerely thank you for visiting my neighbourhood and hope Stratford didn't eat anyone. I can't believe how much money I spent. Still, I'm happy. I have lots of new t-shirts and a signed copy of the RPG. Plus new in-game decals and a paint-job, which is very pleasing.
By far and away, the best part of the day for me - even more than the big ED reveals - has been seeing and interacting with the ED community in person. Decent people, as mad as anyone would expect - but also so much more diverse and civilised than I would have believed from this forum.
To the Wolves of Jonai and Majorm3ss, if you're reading this, it was very nice meeting you - and I sincerely thank you for your entertaining company at different times. Lovely people!
To all the trolls out there: you are not who we are. You are, at best, the cold, unloved voice of fears and bile and bitterness, amplified above their true measure. You are not the truth of us at all. We're better than you pretend, however loudly you screech.
I have met the normality of us: the charitable spirit, the casual kindness and respect for others, the love of the game that is our unifying strength. Today, I'm proud to be a part of the ED community.
I raise my finest glass of Yamazaki to you, one and all. Cheers.
- - - - -
I forgot to hand in my feedback form at the end. D'oh! No collector's coin for me. Oh, well. Mostly for FD's benefit...
I definitely enjoyed myself. I'm not good in crowds, so it was a bit of a culture shock for me, but if you come back to London next year, I'm definitely up for another go. The best bits were the presentations and speakers - and especially the ED reveals at the end of the day.
FD, you've made all the right noises for Beyond. I know you're paying close attention. If you have doubts, take heart: today, I - like most of us, I'm certain - have the greatest renewed enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.
Some things could have been better. More games and things to watch, aside from the things that were there, would have been pleasing.
That was a long eight hours, a great deal of it standing motionless. For me, that's after a week of being constantly on my feet at work. Somewhere more comfortable to rest that wasn't in front of a game would have been good.
More seats for viewing the main stage would have been preferred, but I appreciate that might be a regulatory issue. Perhaps some proper rails to lean on and take the weight off? A covered smoking-area, possibly with benches or something, that would have been kinder, as well. No-one much likes being soaked with rain in the cold.
Speaking as someone in catering, that really wasn't a good experience. Man, who was in charge of that? My wallet's still bleeding, the choice was poor and my guts are still making grim, threatening noises from the alleged hot-dogs. They actually ran out of Mars bars, which is quite the special achievement at those prices. No whisky that I could see, only bourbon.
All in all, that wasn't so much a catering effort as an unholy revelation of Chef Hell. FD, if you're coming back next year, please try and make sure the food and drinks are a little less like comedy terrorism!
- - - - -
That's that. Roll on 2018.