SDA Summer Marathon Topic (August 4-6)

2011-01-26 04:18:44 am

Visit my profile to see my runs!

UraniumAnchor: I kind of agree. I am not saying, as I perhaps originally suggested, that the runs should only compliment the winter ones. However, I think it will be more exciting for viewers if a good number of runs are of games that you did not see at the last. Since I tend to run obscure crap, and I'll only be attending the summer marathons, I don't think I'm going to run into much of a problem with this anyway. But those who were at a previous marathon maybe should try and run new or different games? Just an idea.

By the way, it kind of seems to me that we have about as many people who would be disadvantaged by an LA marathon as there are people who would be disadvantaged by a Denver one. Plus, I don't think we need quite sooo many people at this marathon as at the winter ones, since it will be relatively short, so even if there is a conceivable better location that would draw a few more people, I'm not sure that is as important here as it might have been for the winter 'thons. Of course, saying that goes against our goal of providing another opportunity for people to attend a marathon, and I'm not trying to exclude anyone. Always the more the merrier. However, I think the primary goal is to help people who have more time in the summer attend a marathon, as opposed to helping any and all that can afford it to attend.

UraniumAnchor:  I kind of agree.  I am not saying, as I perhaps originally suggested, that the runs should only compliment the winter ones.  However, I think it will be more exciting for viewers if a good number of runs are of games that you did not see at the last. Since I tend to run obscure crap, and I'll only be attending the summer marathons, I don't think I'm going to run into much of a problem with this anyway.  But those who were at a previous marathon maybe should try and run new or different games?  Just an idea.

By the way, it kind of seems to me that we have about as many people who would be disadvantaged by an LA marathon as there are people who would be disadvantaged by a Denver one.  Plus, I don't think we need quite sooo many people at this marathon as at the winter ones, since it will be relatively short, so even if there is a conceivable better location that would draw a few more people, I'm not sure that is as important here as it might have been for the winter 'thons.  Of course, saying that goes against our goal of providing another opportunity for people to attend a marathon, and I'm not trying to exclude anyone.   Always the more the merrier.  However, I think the primary goal is to help people who have more [i]time[/i] in the summer attend a marathon, as opposed to helping any and all that can [i]afford[/i] it to attend.

Aitamen

Edit history:

Aitamen: 2011-01-26 04:55:04 am

2011-01-26 04:53:37 am

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

^That's why I suggested 1080. Given the choice, I wanna split between diversity (strange games, uncommon/unheard of games, and the like), and games that people can identify with (Mario, Sonic, high-request games). I also want to, of course, give everyone a chance to play what they'd like to, as this is as much for us as for the viewers and the charity (Heidman, for example, is willing to come for the community, even if he wouldn't run anything. I'm willing to do this work for this marathon because I love SDA, etc.).

Lots of semi-conflicting goals (Letting people run unpopular/unheard of games makes SDA look more diverse, and makes those people get more spotlight, but may reduce donations, for example), so it's going to be a balancing act. Hopefully I don't disappoint.

More work done, I think I've narrowed the places down to 4-5 possibilities, each with problems/benefits over the others. I'm going to go get a walk-around and talk to a couple people at the one I think may be best tomorrow, if things go well, so hopefully I'll be able to have a price for people before long.

EDIT: I just posted this, it was in response to UA, and I wrote it about 4-5 hours ago... got caught up playing sonic >_<

^That's why I suggested 1080.  Given the choice, I wanna split between diversity (strange games, uncommon/unheard of games, and the like), and games that people can identify with (Mario, Sonic, high-request games).  I also want to, of course, give everyone a chance to play what they'd like to, as this is as much for us as for the viewers and the charity (Heidman, for example, is willing to come for the community, even if he wouldn't run anything.  I'm willing to do this work for this marathon because I love SDA, etc.).

Lots of semi-conflicting goals (Letting people run unpopular/unheard of games makes SDA look more diverse, and makes those people get more spotlight, but may reduce donations, for example), so it's going to be a balancing act.  Hopefully I don't disappoint.

More work done, I think I've narrowed the places down to 4-5 possibilities, each with problems/benefits over the others.  I'm going to go get a walk-around and talk to a couple people at the one I think may be best tomorrow, if things go well, so hopefully I'll be able to have a price for people before long.

EDIT: I just posted this, it was in response to UA, and I wrote it about 4-5 hours ago...  got caught up playing sonic >_<

Sunblade

2011-01-30 08:55:22 am

Only Offense Will Survive

Interested.
I could do Resident Evil 4 (~ 1:40) and Dead Space 2 (~2:50)

I am a runner from Germany, one of the last I guess, Im in the same community as Stefan Mahrla and LLCoolDave but I am less active here in the forums. I got the WR in Resident Evil 4 a few times, now Derek Taylor is the strongest one, for now. Metroid Prime would be a possibility too, 1:50 for 100% should be fine, lol.
Dead Space 2 is a very new project of mine, there is a big event in Germany going on and I got the advise to play a new game there. Dead Space 2 was my decision bc I speedrunned DS1 also. I dont know what time is possible there but I will let you know. =)

InsipidMuckyWater

Edit history:

InsipidMuckyWater: 2011-02-01 11:55:25 am

2011-02-01 11:54:56 am

Visit my profile to see my runs!

We seem to have many people suggesting to play five or six games. We may want to reduce the number that people should anticipate playing, or increase the projected length of the marathon.

Also, I wonder for what times over a Thursday-Monday period would everyone interested be able to attend. I would probably have to be scheduled over the weekend due to work, but I could maybe request off if that is generally the story for everyone else.

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2011-02-01 12:10:57 pm

2011-02-01 12:09:06 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

If I'm driving out to Denver, then I'm most likely leaving LA early Thursday morning and arriving approximately 16 hours later. Then leaving Sunday some time. I would be getting vacation from work for Thursday, Friday, and Monday most likely. That's what I envision at least.

Are we going to consider offsite runners for this marathon? It'd be a good time to do a trial run for this idea before the next big marathon.

InsipidMuckyWater

Edit history:

InsipidMuckyWater: 2011-02-01 12:37:52 pm

2011-02-01 12:37:40 pm

Visit my profile to see my runs!

I probably will try to visit during the weekend (arriving early Saturday, leaving late Sunday), but I may still try for time off at some point. We'll see. I'm trying to save up time off from work for other things.

^ That's a really good question actually. This would be good testing ground, because we are not gathering as many people and the point of this marathon is to expand accessibility for those with travel difficulties.

Aitamen

2011-02-01 02:10:54 pm

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

Re: Offsite runners, I'm all for it, and in fact may have a couple lined up. It depends on how many are coming, who wants to run what, and how much time we have to fill for what actually makes the schedule. Also, I don't want anyone disappointed if they don't get to run everything they signed up for, as this will be a much smaller event than the most recent marathon.

Until I know more of who is going to be able to make it, and what everyone wants to run, I can't really say anything about the schedule except that I'm going to try to do my best to give everyone some limelight.

tjp7154

2011-02-01 02:15:18 pm

#Casual

Now will this be a charity marathon, or just an entertainment marathon?

Aitamen

2011-02-01 02:42:38 pm

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

I guess I'd just assumed it should be a charity marathon, and was working with that presumption. I've already put together a list of charities and the like.

Since it's shorter and smaller, I'm not sure whether it should be or not. If it's not, it certainly leaves less distraction for those wanting to donate during the winter marathon...

InsipidMuckyWater

2011-02-01 07:01:56 pm

Visit my profile to see my runs!

Aitamen, do you have any details on the possible marathon locations yet? Like, what kind of rules they have, what space they have available, amenities, and so on? No rush or anything, I'm just curious if you have found anything interesting.

Aitamen

2011-02-01 08:39:01 pm

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

I'm looking for a place that has solid internet, allows overnight stays, and is somewhat cost efficient, first and foremost. I figure everything after that will be cheese and cherries.

Of the places I have found, DU (Denver University) looks the most promising, though they haven't actually said whether they will or won't. I've been through the BS of calling them a few times, but people are frequently busy who need to be talked to. Rules will be rather lax, and I think it'd be a great place if we can get it.

I looked into a few other places, but either they're more expensive, don't have/charge too much for internet, or have an issue with our marathon. I've also done some looking into hotel rooms for each of the places, or if they'd be able to have us stay there (most aren't, but two did have deals with local hotels: set up our marathon there, get discounted group rates from the hotel, which may be what we wind up doing).

So no definite answers, but I'm keeping options open where I can.

I'm looking for a place that has solid internet, allows overnight stays, and is somewhat cost efficient, first and foremost.  I figure everything after that will be cheese and cherries.

Of the places I have found, DU (Denver University) looks the most promising, though they haven't actually said whether they will or won't.  I've been through the BS of calling them a few times, but people are frequently busy who need to be talked to.  Rules will be rather lax, and I think it'd be a great place if we can get it.

I looked into a few other places, but either they're more expensive, don't have/charge too much for internet, or have an issue with our marathon.  I've also done some looking into hotel rooms for each of the places, or if they'd be able to have us stay there (most aren't, but two did have deals with local hotels: set up our marathon there, get discounted group rates from the hotel, which may be what we wind up doing).

So no definite answers, but I'm keeping options open where I can.

Riskbreaker Y

Edit history:

Riskbreaker Y: 2011-02-01 09:11:05 pm

2011-02-01 09:10:27 pm

berserker status

I am very interested in coming. Seeing that I lost my chance this Winter to go to Mikefest, this would be great if it goes down. I would prefer to have a marathon happen in LA seeing that I'm less than an hour away from there, but beggars can't be choosers. The games I could run are: Paperboy (NES), Double Dragon 3 (NES), Vagrant Story (PS1), and Kagero: Deception 2 (PS1). Those are the ones I'm best at but I could easily pick up other NES games like Marble Madness and Jackal and become proficient at them with practice. I wouldn't expect to run every game I listed but they're there anyway for completeness' sake.

ZenicReverie: I'm down to carpool with you and chip in for expenses. I just need to get some days off from work and save some cash which shouldn't be a problem considering the summer's quite some time away.

InsipidMuckyWater

Edit history:

InsipidMuckyWater: 2011-02-01 11:08:56 pm

InsipidMuckyWater: 2011-02-01 11:08:32 pm

2011-02-01 11:08:00 pm

Visit my profile to see my runs!

I thought about messing around with Marble Madness too (my brother did submit the first accepted run, after all), but it occurs to me that my NES is across the country. Hmm. Man a Marble Madness two-player race would be sweetness. Or, TWO Marble Madness two-player races, thus a four-player race (would only take two TV's after all) ... though there'd be that weird timing issue if one of the players dies and thereby slows down the other person. Anyway.

Aitamen: Interesting, thanks for the update. What issue did some of the places have with our marathon? Did they know it was for charity? Are they just scared of guys playing video games, I guess?

Aitamen

2011-02-02 07:23:38 am

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

One guy outright called me a liar, and when I spoke with his superior, I was informed it was a religious bias. One group asked me what charity we were raising money for, and I informed him I was unsure, as each marathon will probably support a different cause, and I told him we had supported CARE and PCF, and he laughed at how much we raised for "Worthless causes". One guy doubted that I represented SDA because he actually knew about the marathon, and hadn't heard of me (so hey, people know us yay?), but he said he'd look us up and get back to me. He hasn't >_>

So three of twenty or so, which isn't that bad really.

ZenicReverie

2011-02-02 08:43:01 am

Waiting hurts my soul...

Laughed at how much we raised, or because it was donated to "worthless causes?" Religious bias? What're you telling these people? Why does it matter if we're with SDA or not? "Hadn't heard of you" is no excuse for not discussing arrangements even if we're random people just playing games 24/7 for a few days.

Also, if you say you're representing SDA, then you're probably being confused with the Seventh Day Adventists, so I'd suggest never using that acronym.

Carcinogen

2011-02-02 08:50:03 am

Hey, sorry to flake, but I may actually have other travel plans around that time, and outside of that, I'm going to be pretty busy this year... So take me off the 'definitely coming' list. That's not to say I won't change my mind in the future and actually come, but time to practice games for actual participation is kinda sketchy at this point.

And yes, from a business perspective, don't introduce us as the acronym SDA. Keep saying Speed Demos Archive instead, nobody identifies with the acronym "SDA" as a gaming site unless they follow competitive gaming themselves. =X

UraniumAnchor

Edit history:

UraniumAnchor: 2011-02-02 10:50:26 am

2011-02-02 10:04:29 am

Not a walrus

Anybody who thinks cancer prevention is a "worthless cause" doesn't deserve the time of day from us anyway.

Edit: Who was that so I know never to patronize them for anything?

Sir VG

2011-02-02 10:16:37 am

Fucking Weeaboo

Quote from Aitamen:

One guy outright called me a liar, and when I spoke with his superior, I was informed it was a religious bias. One group asked me what charity we were raising money for, and I informed him I was unsure, as each marathon will probably support a different cause, and I told him we had supported CARE and PCF, and he laughed at how much we raised for "Worthless causes". One guy doubted that I represented SDA because he actually knew about the marathon, and hadn't heard of me (so hey, people know us yay?), but he said he'd look us up and get back to me. He hasn't >_>

So three of twenty or so, which isn't that bad really.

He hadn't heard of you, yet knew about the marathon. Let's see, we only mentioned about you like, oh, EVERY SINGLE GAME THAT HAD A PERLER.

Humanity continues to prove it's stupidity.

Trekhaak

2011-02-02 10:24:59 am

Everybody's favorite monster

I hate people.

cyghfer

2011-02-02 10:32:37 am

Quote from Sir VG:

Quote from Aitamen:

One guy outright called me a liar, and when I spoke with his superior, I was informed it was a religious bias. One group asked me what charity we were raising money for, and I informed him I was unsure, as each marathon will probably support a different cause, and I told him we had supported CARE and PCF, and he laughed at how much we raised for "Worthless causes". One guy doubted that I represented SDA because he actually knew about the marathon, and hadn't heard of me (so hey, people know us yay?), but he said he'd look us up and get back to me. He hasn't >_>

So three of twenty or so, which isn't that bad really.

He hadn't heard of you, yet knew about the marathon. Let's see, we only mentioned about you like, oh, EVERY SINGLE GAME THAT HAD A PERLER.

Humanity continues to prove it's stupidity.

um, just because someone's heard about the marathon doesn't mean they watched it. and if they simply heard about it, there's almost no way they would know about aitamen.

anyway, i hope at least one or two SDA staff members will be able to make it out there, as it will seem odd if no one involved with the site's maintenance is visible during the event.

[quote="Sir VG"][quote="Aitamen"]One guy outright called me a liar, and when I spoke with his superior, I was informed it was a religious bias.  One group asked me what charity we were raising money for, and I informed him I was unsure, as each marathon will probably support a different cause, and I told him we had supported CARE and PCF, and he laughed at how much we raised for "Worthless causes".  One guy doubted that I represented SDA because he actually knew about the marathon, and hadn't heard of me (so hey, people know us yay?), but he said he'd look us up and get back to me.  He hasn't >_>

So three of twenty or so, which isn't that bad really.  [/quote]

He hadn't heard of you, yet knew about the marathon.  Let's see, we only mentioned about you like, oh, EVERY SINGLE GAME THAT HAD A PERLER.

Humanity continues to prove it's stupidity.
[/quote]
um, just because someone's heard about the marathon doesn't mean they watched it. and if they simply heard about it, there's almost no way they would know about aitamen.

anyway, i hope at least one or two SDA staff members will be able to make it out there, as it will seem odd if no one involved with the site's maintenance is visible during the event.

Tigger77

2011-02-02 10:47:30 am

I survived MIKE-Fest 1

Not want to sound like a jerk but if no SDA staff can make it it might be a good ideer to consider to name it different (Not SDA - Offical)

ZenicReverie

2011-02-02 10:55:41 am

Waiting hurts my soul...

Quote from Tigger77:

Not want to sound like a jerk but if no SDA staff can make it it might be a good ideer to consider to name it different (Not SDA - Offical)

Probably best, although a little sad.

Zeupar

2011-02-02 11:00:15 am

Sonical!

Quote from ZenicReverie:

Quote from Tigger77:

Not want to sound like a jerk but if no SDA staff can make it it might be a good ideer to consider to name it different (Not SDA - Offical)

Probably best, although a little sad.

Why? It is being planned by SDAers on the SDA forums, and SDAers will make it possible. I don't see why you would change its name just because no SDA staff is present.

ZenicReverie

2011-02-02 11:04:52 am

Waiting hurts my soul...

Well, we'd need someone that could be present during the marathon for updating the website. They shouldn't need to come down to the site, but should be able to lend a hand. Either that or get some temporary access to someone during the marathon.

Aitamen

2011-02-02 11:34:07 am

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

ZR: He considered cancer a worthless cause (probably a conspiracy theorist, if I had to guess). He also considered that CARE empowers women to be worthless. Dude was a total ass, and I really don't take his opinion for anything more than an opinion. He owned the campground, so I just scratched it off my list.

The religious bias was that said employee considers video games to be "of the devil", which made me laugh.

The guy who didn't know me, I'm guessing, was assuming I was lying about being part of SDA, or about the charity part of this, in order to get a better deal. Since he actually knew of the site, I bet he thinks he was pretty clever.

Carc: Bummer to hear you might not make it. Also, I introduce the site as Speed Demos Archive, which I get a lot of interest in, and usually end up fielding questions for. There will not be any mistake between us and the Seventh Day Adventists.

UA: It was a RV-park dude in Golden who rents a small-ish convention center. I reported him to the BBB for horrible service and hostile attitudes. I don't remember the name of the park, but his name was Alex Graves.

Tigger77: I believe that there will be SDA staff present. Uyama had mentioned that he might want to attend, depending on the specifics, and nate at least has interest, I believe.

I do want to ensure those with worries that I'm making every precaution to stand as a good representation of how awesome this community is. Also, most of the people have been very professional at least, if not quite polite/interested, it's just that those who are outright rude or disrespectful are the ones that stick in my mind. I may be making all of the stuff involved too public, I'm not sure.

ZR:  He considered cancer a worthless cause (probably a conspiracy theorist, if I had to guess).  He also considered that CARE empowers women to be worthless.  Dude was a total ass, and I really don't take his opinion for anything more than an opinion.  He owned the campground, so I just scratched it off my list.

The religious bias was that said employee considers video games to be "of the devil", which made me laugh.

The guy who didn't know me, I'm guessing, was assuming I was lying about being part of SDA, or about the charity part of this, in order to get a better deal.  Since he actually knew of the site, I bet he thinks he was pretty clever.

Carc: Bummer to hear you might not make it.  Also, I introduce the site as Speed Demos Archive, which I get a lot of interest in, and usually end up fielding questions for.  There will not be any mistake between us and the Seventh Day Adventists.

UA: It was a RV-park dude in Golden who rents a small-ish convention center.  I reported him to the BBB for horrible service and hostile attitudes.  I don't remember the name of the park, but his name was Alex Graves.

Tigger77: I believe that there will be SDA staff present.  Uyama had mentioned that he might want to attend, depending on the specifics, and nate at least has interest, I believe.

I do want to ensure those with worries that I'm making every precaution to stand as a good representation of how awesome this community is.  Also, most of the people have been very professional at least, if not quite polite/interested, it's just that those who are outright rude or disrespectful are the ones that stick in my mind.  I may be making all of the stuff involved too public, I'm not sure.