Seattle Casual Connect

[Cartman]

It's that time of year again. The Seattle Casual Connect is almost upon us, and I thought I'd start getting an idea of who will be attending.

I'll be there. Anyone else?

Let me know if anyone is coming into town early. We can get some people together and talk before all the parties start. :)

[cyrus_zuo]

Will be there!
Tuesday-Saturday, but for all intents and purposes Wed-Friday :).

[Grey Alien]

Wish I could make it but I booked a family holiday the same week, doh! I'll be there next year.

[SteveZ]

Count me in: Tuesday till Thur. Whoot, can't wait!!

-Steve Z.

[Musenik]

I'm looking forward to it, and meeting with other indiegamerforumites!

[Ryan Clark]

I'll be there Tuesday-Friday.

[James C. Smith]

I'll be there Tuesday evening through Friday. On Tuesday a bunch of us are going to the Mariners Vs. Red Sox game. On Wednesday I speak at 11:00 AM about Making a Game "Just Right" Through Testing and Play Balancing (http://seattle.casualconnect.org/content.html#smith)

[Matthew]

I'll be there Tuesday-Saturday with one of our guys. Looking forward to seeing everyone! Is someone pulling the trigger on setting a time/date for the Indiegamer dinner?

[Cartman]

Any opinion on what night would work best? I haven't looked at the schedule in detail. We need a night that the most people can come to dinner. McCormick and Schmidts worked well last year and has the room for everyone to get together. If we can decide on a date I can get a headcount and make a reservation for us all.

Talk it up!

[berserker]

I'll be there just like past years :)

[luggage]

We'll be there as well. Momday to Sunday I think.

[Musenik]

Cartman,

Last year, did we meet after the conference but before the parties? I have a memory of meeting on Friday evening as well. Must be my current lack of sleep.

[Cartman]

Yeah. We all had dinner after the conference, but before the parties.

Tuesday (22nd)
============
Microsoft 7-11 pm
Mochi Party 6:30-10pm

Wednesday (23rd)
=============
EA Reception 6-8pm
Speaker Dinner 7-9pm

Thursday (24th)
===========
Showbox RealGames Party 8pm-2am
Awards Show 6:30-8pm
Nickelodeon Group Party 9pm-1am

It seems like for most of us, the least impact for a meetup would be on Wednesday night 6-8. I know some of you will be presenting and may want to go to the Speaker dinner. And the EA party does not accomodate very many people.

What do people think?

[ice]

I'll be there as well Tues-Fri... see you at the baseball game!

[cyrus_zuo]

I like the Wed night suggestion. I'm wary of the Speaker's Dinner simply because every one of my email addresses has received an invite, despite me not speaking...and as much as I like free food, I hate having to listen to a sales pitch to get it...

Anyway, the BFG reception is also on Wed night as is the Real party (8pm-2am) and the Zeeby awards are on Thursday night beginning at 6:30pm if anyone is planning on attending. Don't know if there is a PopCap party this year?

Personally, I MUCH prefer dinner with Indies to attending parties, which I find to be loud rambling affairs...but then I like (wait LOVE!) to talk games and the games industry and I find much more of that type of discussion at dinner than I do at the parties.

Seems like Wednesday at 6pm might be a good time?

[Musenik]

Wednesday night sounds good to me.

[Cartman]

Sounds great then. Wednesday night it is. How about anyone who is interested in attending give me their headcount in PM? I'll add about 5 to that number for straglers and make the reservation.

Hurry! Spaces are limited! :)

[Cartman]

I'm getting a reservation for us at McCormick and Schmicks today for Wednesday evening during the conference.
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com

Same place we met last year. Let me know if anyone else is planning on coming so I can get a good count.

[berserker]

as much as I like free food, I hate having to listen to a sales pitch to get it...


Hmmm... can't remember and sales pitches at any CGA Speaker/VIP party and I attended A LOT of them.

[cyrus_zuo]

Hmmm... can't remember and sales pitches at any CGA Speaker/VIP party and I attended A LOT of them.

Have they always been sponsored? I know that there weren't any at any of the Speaker parties in the past, but I also know that speaker parties in the past didn't invite everyone attending the conference to the party/dinner, but this one has.

Don't know for sure, of course, but I smell sales pitch :).

[Cartman]

OK. We've got a reservation for Wed. 23rd at 6:00 pm.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant
1103 First Ave
Seattle, Washington 98101

Map can be found here (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Seattle&state=WA&address=1103+1st+Ave&cat=McCormick+%26+Schmick's+Seafood+Restaurant#a/maps/l:Mc+Cormick+&+Schmick's:1103+1st+Ave:Seattle:WA:98101:US:47.605 436:-122.336918:address:/m::12:47.605436:-122.336918:0::/io:0:::::f:EN:M:/e).

[berserker]

Have they always been sponsored? I know that there weren't any at any of the Speaker parties in the past, but I also know that speaker parties in the past didn't invite everyone attending the conference to the party/dinner, but this one has.

Don't know for sure, of course, but I smell sales pitch :).

Yes, they always been sponsored but I don't remember any sales pitches except maybe one Sandlot party where they presented Cake Mania 2. But it was so loud that you had to walk over to listen, therefore it was completely optional and most of the people didn't care a thing about that. Usually it's just sponsor's branding over the place.

Hell, probably our own Enkord party at Casual Connect in Kyiv last fall had more advertisement than those VIP/Speaker parties :)

[cyrus_zuo]

Yes, they always been sponsored but I don't remember any sales pitches except maybe one Sandlot party where they presented Cake Mania 2. But it was so loud that you had to walk over to listen, therefore it was completely optional and most of the people didn't care a thing about that. Usually it's just sponsor's branding over the place.

Hell, probably our own Enkord party at Casual Connect in Kyiv last fall had more advertisement than those VIP/Speaker parties :)

You may be right :).
I'm still skipping it, you can let me know on Thursday if my spider sense was getting a false positive.

[Mike W]

I'll be at the Casual Connect Seattle this year. (Tues-Sat)

Still have room at the dinner? If so, I'm there. :)

[Cartman]

Still have room at the dinner?

Got you covered.

[Mike Boeh]

Count me in if there's still room :D

[Cartman]

Got you covered Mike.

[spinapse]

Saw this thread a little late. Do you still have room for 2 guys from Spinapse?

Thanks,

John Taylor

[Cartman]

We do. i anticipated a few straglers. Look for me at the conference.