If you are nerdy enough to read a blog about esports (not a bad thing, I do too!), then you will probably go to a huge video game convention at some point in your life. For me, my first major event was this past weekend at Dreamhack Summer, the largest and most famous LAN party in the world. After attending, I came back with a greater understanding on how to get the most out of your experience. With MLG Anaheim right around the corner, I thought it would be timely to take a break from Fantasy LCS and post these ideas for everyone to see. Here are my major tips on how to Dreamhack:
Do not only play video games at a video game convention: This sounds counter-intuitive, does it not? Yet we can all agree that if you wanted to play League of Legends for an entire weekend, you could just stay home and save your ticket money. Go out and watch the pro-gamers play. Browse the vendors and see if there is something you may want to pick up for purchase. Participate in some of the special events like musical performances, panel discussions, meet and greets, and prize competitions. Make your trip memorable, not just another weekend where you played video games.
Wear clothes you would not mind getting dirty: Gamers are not known for their cleanliness or personal hygiene, and Dreamhack reinforced that hard. Despite volunteers constantly sweeping, there was food wrappers and electronics packaging everywhere. I would not recommend wearing anything put tennis shoes, jeans/cargo shorts, and a t-shirt. Regardless, do your part to keep the event clean by picking up after yourself, reporting spills to volunteers, and keeping your hygiene in tip-top shape.
If you there are seats for 18+ and 21+, grab them if you can: My biggest regret this weekend was buying a desk ticket in the main hall and not in the 21+ area. Although there are many people who are over 18 at big video game conventions, you must remember that it is children who play the most video games every week. They also flock to these major events, and usually get their parents to buy tickets closest to the action. You always want to get tickets for the older people area because 1) middle schoolers are a pain, and 2) there really aren’t a lot of 40 year old virgins to worry about. Trust me, it’s a good investment.
Respect the crew members: Most people working at conventions, video game or otherwise, do not get paid. They do their work because they love the event and want it to succeed, but having difficult revelers diminishes their willpower and makes them unhappy. The less happy they are, the worse the convention runs. Please, be respectful and do what they ask of you.
If you are reading this blog, you also probably go to huge gaming conventions to meet the big names in video gaming. Perhaps these are pro-gamers, famous streamers, cosplayers, or even developers. Everyone wants to get those few moments with a famous star to get a picture and, most importantly, get an autograph. Here are a few tips and tricks for getting autographs.
Ask at opportune moments: There are good times and bad times to ask autographs, and your chances of getting an autograph vary greatly during these times. Obviously, a bad time to ask is during a match. Other bad times are right before a match, after a match when the player loses, in the bathroom or other more private spaces. Good times are after the players wins a match/set, when they are in transit from place to place, and when they are just browsing the internet in between games. Also, be sure to attend the times designated for players to sign autographs. It is almost a guaranteed signature, and the players are usually happier.
Signing a t-shirt can be quiet tricky: This is something I had to learn the hard way. Shirts do not often stay still even when placed on a flat surface. What’s more, there are two layers of fabric when you put a T-shirt on a flat surface, leading to a lot of sliding. It is very difficult to autograph a t-shirt when it is like this, and oftentimes the signatures come out sloppy and barely legible. You will want to either be wearing the shirt when it is autographed, or to place something hard inside the shirt when it is being signed (like a piece of cardboard or a book). Trust me, I learned this the hard way L.
Less famous people always give better autograph experiences: You are not going to get an amazing conversation from Bjergsen when you ask for an autograph. The reason is because he is always being asked for autographs, so much that it has become more of a nuisance than an honor. A less accomplished player, on the other hand, is more likely to feel happy about being asked and will gladly spend a minute or two to talk if they have the time. For the most part they can answer your burning questions just as well as a more famous player can, so the interaction is equally as valuable. Plus, they tend to be nicer to the average fan. Never overlook an autograph just because a player is “bad” or “so-so.”
People from different countries react differently to autographs: This can also be read as “Koreans as a whole seem more melancholy when asked for an autograph”. I do not know why that is, but it seemed to be consistent. Europeans as a whole tended to be much more open to autographs than Koreans, though I was only rejected once out of 50 signatures. Do not be bother by this; it can easily be explained by the cultural barrier between people from different countries and continents.
Be prepared for the occasional no: I do not know why niche celebrities would decline to sign an autograph. Pro-gamers are not widely recognized outside of conventions and tournaments, do not have the paparazzi after them, and can for the most part live a normal life. That being said, it is well within their right to deny an autograph. Sometimes they are having a bad day, and no one likes to be bothered on a bad day. It’s not a rejection of you as much as it is an indication of their mood. You can always try again later.
Next week I’ll be back with more specific Fantasy LCS advice. However, this is just as important, if not more important, for you as a gamer.
League of LCS 