VGXPO 2007 - Official DP Thread

[portnoyd]

I think stonic is going to have a stroke, lulz. Pure awesomeness.

[kaedesdisciple]

I miss the Philly Classic. Shame how a good thing dies...

[ubersaurus]

I think stonic is going to have a stroke, lulz. Pure awesomeness.

I think Ed's gonna have a stroke over all the bad PR :P

[rolenta]

That's what I thought, too. "It must be some kind of preview," I thought. The place looks dead. When you combine that along with people who say they felt like they were ripped off even though the event was free -- drunken organizers not withstanding -- it just seems like a poorly executed show

For the record, the show was free in 2005, and the attendence was pretty good (in Philadelphia at least - The D.C. and Texas shows were dead).

Last year people had to pay to get in and those are the ones who were ripped off - in my opinion. However from the vantage point of my table in the back, not too many people appeared to have been 'ripped off'

[nimbus2]

deleted

[Cyan]

However from the vantage point of my table in the back, not too many people appeared to have been 'ripped off'

I was simply referring to this:

Last time I went to VGxpo, I felt cheated even though admission was free.

In the interests of full disclosure, I've never been to VGXPO, nor will I ever be. My post above is literally heresy. However, given the gravity of the situation that Mr. Fleming has put himself into, I think it's somewhat appropriate

-RS.

[intvsama]

VGXpo's Wikipedia entry was deleted today.

[16-bit]

As P-A recount the incident:

1. He was partying ALL NIGHT, but the movie theatre was still open.

2. He was taking pictures and social engineering ALL WEEKEND, but had his badge revoked Saturday morning.

I'm not calling shenanigans, but lack of clarity in the timeline intrigues me enough that I'd like to hear Ed's side of the story before I draw any conclusions.

If he does have an issue with alcohol, I hope he gets help. Alcoholism is a terrible and devastating disease that knows no age, class, or race. If you've never experienced it in your family or friends, consider yourself BLESSED.

[Apollo]

Being an alcoholic isn't a disease. It's an addiction.

Now I have that episode of South park stuck in my head...

[Sniderman]

VGXpo's Wikipedia entry was deleted today.

No it isn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America's_VideoGame_Expo

[mezrabad]

I think that's a really good point. Have we heard Ed's side of the story yet? Anywhere? There's a difference between "hitting on" a woman and "schmoozing" an event organizer, but I'd bet alchohol can blur that distinction.

As for promoting VGXpo, regardless of his reported behavior: how many people who hadn't heard of VGXpo now know about it because they read P-A? I'd say that's a pretty good job done promoting, despite the negative publicity he's receiving for his actions as an individual.

I don't care if he's the biggest jerk on the planet, what does that have to do with a videogame expo? I mean do people go to CGE because the organizers niether drink excessively nor have an appreciation for attractive women?

That being said, I don't know the history behind Ed Fleming and the VGXpo. It sounds like many of you have bad blood towards the event. Other than someone acting like an ass when they were drunk (oh, and I'm sure NONE of us has ever done that...) what's the real story here? Point me to some threads if you don't feel like typing.

[Sniderman]

Personally, I could care less about the drunken tomfollery. Who here hasn't gotten drunk and done something stupid? But to get drunk, do something stupid, and then immediately identify one's self as a competing con's organizer? And, at the same time, shit-talk the con you're curently at to one of the con's movers-and-shakers? Oh, that's just galactically stupid.

And, before all of this happens, to be identified as someone who is looking to take notes, snap pictures, and - in effect - copy "what works" at the con he's attendingfor his own con later in the year? You now enter "Death-Star-Level galactic stupidity."

So, as I said, the drunkeness doesn't really come into play. But antagonizing the con organizers, then IDENTIFYING himself as a competing con organizer? "This is where it's at" indeed.

what's the real story here? Point me to some threads if you don't feel like typing.

Oh dear heavens. Pop "VGXPO" into the thread search above and read some of the older ones for what you're looking for. It started with DP being banned from the first VGXPO event, and went downhill from there.

[Cyan]

I think that's a really good point. Have we heard Ed's side of the story yet? Anywhere? There's a difference between "hitting on" a woman and "schmoozing" an event organizer, but I'd bet alchohol can blur that distinction.

But that's the point entirely, really. By deleting any forum post on his site that mentions the event, by cowering in his hole, wherever he is, he's speaking volumes about what really happened.

If what happened was materially different than what Gabe represented, then we would've heard about it by now. Anyone in the type of business that Mr. Fleming is in knows that it's important to clear the air as soon as possible. Make a statement on the web site, explain what happened.

Or, at the very least, if it did happen as Gabe describes, it's time for Mr. Fleming to do the right thing. It's time for him to man up, admit that he did what he did, and do the honourable thing and resign from VGXPO.

Instead, if he continues to hide and be a coward about the incident, then the show will always be known as "the show represented by that drunk guy at PAX." At least with Mr. Fleming gone, the show can continue on its own merits.

Saying that Mr. Fleming and VGXPO have nothing to do with one another is like saying Bush has nothing to do with Iraq.

-RS

[intvsama]

No it isn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America's_VideoGame_Expo

Yes it is.

[MonoTekETeA]

America's Video Game Expo my bootie. Lol, forget VGExpo, from every body I talk to, I hear about trashy this place is. I like to improve conventions, but in order to improve conventions, you need to have a good foundation. Last time I checked, Bill Cosby's Jell-O doesn't make a good foundation, which is what replicates Ed professionalism on all fronts.

[stonic]

As for promoting VGXpo, regardless of his reported behavior: how many people who hadn't heard of VGXpo now know about it because they read P-A? I'd say that's a pretty good job done promoting, despite the negative publicity he's receiving for his actions as an individual.

Mel Gibson did a "good job" of promoting himself as well... and look what it did for his career.

I don't care if he's the biggest jerk on the planet, what does that have to do with a videogame expo?

You'd be supporting the "big jerk" by going to his show. If you don't have a problem with that, then by all means go. I'll use another famous actor as an example- Tom Cruise. He did such a good job at self promotion that Paramount dropped him, and he's one of the most bank-able actors in the biz. You see this happen all the time in the entertainment world - some model gets caught doing drugs or an athlete is busted for cheating, sponsors can't drop them fast enough.

That being said, I don't know the history behind Ed Fleming and the VGXpo. It sounds like many of you have bad blood towards the event. Other than someone acting like an ass when they were drunk (oh, and I'm sure NONE of us has ever done that...) what's the real story here? Point me to some threads if you don't feel like typing.

Have fun:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67384
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56401
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90949
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97299

As I said in another thread, the fact that Fleming has said nothing publicly and has been busy erasing people's comments about it does nothing but reinforce the fact that it happened just as P-A reported. Otherwise he would have posted a rebuttal on his site last night.

And I can say that I've never acted like a drunken fool. Then again, I don't need alcohol to do that


PS: Here's some more interesting reading:
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=34142

[mezrabad]

As I said in another thread, the fact that Fleming has said nothing publicly and has been busy erasing people's comments about it does nothing but reinforce the fact that it happened just as P-A reported. Otherwise he would have posted a rebuttal on his site last night.

If he had posted his version of events (if his version differed any) then I think many people would just accuse him of perpetrating a different sort of damage control.

Regarding Mr. Ed: I'm sure there's a line somewhere which, if crossed, I might say, "well, fuck him and his crapxpo", but from the incident at PAX as described by Gabe, I wouldn't consider that undefined line crossed. If he starts eating babies, electrocuting puppies or systematically eliminating certain ethnic groups, I'm sure I'll hear about it here and will reconsider my stance.

Thanks for the links, I'm looking forward to reading about all the other the atrocities against humanity this guy must've committed.

Here in Texas, I'm feeling pretty damn far away from most videogame expos. The last one I hit in TX was VGXpo in Dallas in 2005, which my son and I enjoyed. Even though it wasn't nearly as good as OVGE 2006 or CGE 2007, it was quite a bit closer. If the success of an expo (even one promoted by an alleged jerk) presents a remote possibility of a recurring expo in Texas, even a mediocre expo, then I'd like it to succeed. After travel and lodging costs for CGE, I can't afford to hit another expo any further away than OK for the next few years.

[Sothy]

Ya I can kinda see what mezrabad is talking about. I like to drink and be an asshole. And did a bit of both at CGE.

I did not however Drunkenly try to bang Joes wife, call him an asshole and say the expo sucked and then give out business card for Sothy Squad Convention "which would fucking pwn by the way" but you know whatever.

[ubikuberalles]

But what's up with that ninja-like guy or, whatever he is, hitting the guy playing the arcade machine near the end of the video? The guy on the machine turns around and gives the biggest look of, "WTF?" I've ever seen

I figured he was a Monty Python Knight who says Ni! and he tried to cut down the mightiest gamer in the arcade with...A HERRING!

[Kid Ice]

Thanks for the links, I'm looking forward to reading about all the other the atrocities against humanity this guy must've committed.

He banned DP from his show, so that explains why we don't like him. It's really pretty simple.

[Vectorman0]

The wikipedia entry for VGXPO still comes up for me.

It doesn't show up for me. The deletion log says this:

• 18:04, 30 August 2007 TexasAndroid (Talk | contribs) deleted "America's VideoGame Expo" ‎ (CSD G11: Blatant Advertising)

I'm guessing since it was deleted recently, maybe certain people can still see it. (maybe those who do some wikipedia editing?)

[rolenta]

I was able to read it yesterday. Now it's gone.

[PapaStu]

I can read the Wiki article just fine right now (8/31/07 930 am PST) and i'm no Wiki editor or anything of that nature.

[intvsama]

I can read the Wiki article just fine right now (8/31/07 930 am PST) and i'm no Wiki editor or anything of that nature.

Try deleting your cache and reloading, it's definitely gone. If you can still view it, try to undo and older edit, maybe it will bring the article back online.

[digitalpress]

I don't care if he's the biggest jerk on the planet, what does that have to do with a videogame expo? I mean do people go to CGE because the organizers niether drink excessively nor have an appreciation for attractive women?

For the record, at least one of the CGE organizers drinks excessively and has an appreciation for attractive women.

*raises hand*

Maybe he's just trying to take a page from my book. I never shared my secret with him though: be a lovable drunk who is irresistable to the ladies