rAge aftermath

[willbeonekenobi]

I honestly felt that this years rage was better than the past couple of years.

Although the 3 minor issues <1. steam connectivity issues, 2. IWNet for Modern Warfare 2 not connecting, 3. prices and quality of food as per usual> I had encountered didn't detract from my experience especially when for some reason this morning steam had been downloading an update for one of my games at around 500 kbps and increasing till it got to 1.1 meg a second.



and luckily I got home safe and sound before the rain started.

What was your experience?

[Cleric]

Can't say much for the LAN as I wasn't there, but the show was pretty cool apart from one problem: the layout. I really think that you guys need to get consultants in next year so that there can be a bit of flow to the floor. I attend many of the various expos held around JHB, and rAge was unfortunately the worst I've seen in this regard.

But some rad games on show, particularly at the Megarom and PS3 stand. I was convinced to order Dark Souls day 1. Thanks to the guy doing the demo for recommending that I get it on PS3 as the 360 version apparently has some compression issues as well as the very occasional slowdown.

Oh, and Sony should maybe have chosen a better (or longer) Uncharted 3 demo.

Overall, well done to all involved.

sidenote: was rad to run into the QCF team on Saturday night at The Doors.

[NeoN]

Felt the expo was better than last year, but as Cleric pointed out, I too got lost a number of times trying to find the Learn3D stand - but it was on Saturday when the crowd was there in full force. The guyz didn't bring a camera this year, so we didn't have as much fun as we could have. :P

The LAN was fantastic, minimal drops during the six games I played in the DotA comp - three okes DC'd towards the end of the 1st game, but it could have been the host since he gave us a heads up at the start. My only gripe was the uber bright lights late Saturday night for the okes on ground floor, whereas Friday night was perfect - thought that was weird.

See you guyz again next year. ;)

[SC(+)PE]

Just went to the expo. It was pretty awesome with some great stands by Ster Kinekor and Telkom. I had fun, which is all I went for, so great success.

I would like to bring up the subject of age restricted games though. Next year the exhibitors might need to be a bit weary about allowing children (9 or 10 years old from what I saw) play games at their stands that are age restricted 18+. Sure if they get their parents consent it's fine, and personally I couldn't give a flying unicorn, but there might be a **** storm about it somewhere down the road. Nobody likes a **** storm.

[Kharrak]

I would like to bring up the subject of age restricted games though. Next year the exhibitors might need to be a bit weary about allowing children (9 or 10 years old from what I saw) play games at their stands that are age restricted 18+. Sure if they get their parents consent it's fine, and personally I couldn't give a flying unicorn, but there might be a **** storm about it somewhere down the road. Nobody likes a **** storm.

International guys doing private showings of Hitman and Tomb Raider were quite sensitive regarding the ages of the kids who came to watch - so I guess it's a local thing. I mean, I've not really seen many people locally really caring about age restrictions at all, locally.

rAge was fun, though. Enjoyed the private gameplay showings, avoided Mass Effect 3 and Assassin's Creed: Revelations like the plague, watched some BF3 from a distance, played a lot of Rhythm Paradise on Wii (love that franchise), and otherwise spent the weekend socializing with friends and played BERD GAEMZ!

Gears of War board game is absolute love, btw.

[D34thByCh01c3]

As per usual rAge was awesome, other than the network lag at the LAN and the Food being crappy and expensive (its a good thing there are plenty of restaurants around), I really enjoyed it, can't wait for next year.

[Toxxyc]

It will take me a long time to forgive the people responsible for me missing rAge this year. I've been looking forward to it since the date was announced, and a small amount of idiotic behaving made me miss the one event that was supposed to really turn the stress from work into a little relaxing time. I'm looking forward to you guys' photos though.

[rElentLe$$]

rAge can only be described as aWesUM!

The LAN epic! I liked the type of Mexican clap thing that was happening
The Expo! Lots of things to see and expercience (new titles), buy hardware (some impulsive buys, whoops!) and all the freebies! I lost my voice slightly...

Looking forward to the next year!

Juts a few things;
I'm not sure but I felt like the LAN Queue took longer this year (Only two guards to check the bags?), I was in the row for about 4 hours, not nice in the hot sun.
the lights that was on Saturday night, why switch it off on the Friday but not the Saturday?
the DC server that went down a couple off times. and we lost some power upstairs on friday, but that was sorted out quickly.

So Thanks for Hosting a Awesum Event!

Will be posting some pics...

[kolle_hond]

My case mod actually worked quite well (I fastened the wheels and lever from a broken wheelie bag to it using the side-panel screws at the back). The wheels just seem to be a bit worn out now because of the weight, but nothing broke and that's all that matters :P
I should stop spending so much money at rage :/ I bought a red & black NZXT Phantom that looks like a ferrari, a msi mobo, some cheap ram and two innistrad fat packs (magic cards). (and a second-hand cpu if that counts)
Also, they need to host some mtg tournaments, what's the point of promoting the game when you don't try to keep the existing players?
the stands were cool, there was a lot of stuff, which is a good thing even if it feels a bit cramped.
I've realized this year that I'm over that stage where you have the drive to pursue free stuff (yelling 'AMD' and jumping up and down like a retard & then fighting the guy next to you for a lanyard isn't really my thing anymore)

All in all, it was a good rAge.

[cc4Spawn]

rAge was awesome! But... [LAN v] [Expo ^]

LAN was not as fun as last years, just have the feeling that they did not put enough effort in the organization of the LAN. Was not as fun and interesting as 2010. I must add that the network was more unstable. BUT not unstable enough to keep me away next year! :)

Expo was more fun than last year! Must be all the great titles releasing later this year COD3/BF3 etc...

problem: the layout. I really think that you guys need to get consultants in next year so that there can be a bit of flow to the floor.

It did get a bit crowded on Saturday and people were clogging up isles.

-I'll be back 2012-

[polisieperd]

Hey guys well rage was more or less better than shooting zombies in the back yard with rubber bullets but really NAG WHERE WAS THE ZOMBIES ????????? Anyway i made lil video of rAge enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRaPF1rGp4o

[ryuu-ki]

Thanks to the awesome team managing the LAN - as usual (this was year 6) it was great... awesome... your effort, most behind the scenes, is noted and appreciated..thank you from my clan!!!
.. as entertainment goes .. 3 days worth for R300.. the best bargain ever... also brought guitars & drum pad - linked with some other clan and jammed early morning hours - way to go
Thx for opening the line earlier on Friday morning - cutting 3 hours off the wait...
Must admit didn't do much expo - far too many people - got lost - needed a map!!! support layout design for flow as per above comments... awesome exibitors
- my favourite section was the legion ink stand.. my worst the android guys advertising one price and wanting 500 more when you want to buy (dodgy grey product, with only 10 months guarantee, no credit card facility, wants cash or bank transfer, really????).. not cool guys...
I too found this year's lan better.. less theft, no drug lords outside and no muggings that I heard of.. well done. CAN'T WE START ON THURSDAY????
The parking sucked though - too many fights - the dome management team must really jack up their management protocol - ..

[ryuu-ki]

Where were the Zombies???

Where you there and you did not see them?? they were snoring and drooling all over the floor and under tables, sprawled in the strangest positions .....

[polisieperd]

i thought u call those things freebee hunters?

[Cyrus]

thanks guys, was lots of fun.

Thanks polisie for the video :) I personally saw how many hours u spent filming that, while the rest of us had fun.

@ ryuu, one of my friends got his phone stolen out of his pants in his sleep, so not sure bout it being safer this year, but I guess theres not really a way to check people walking out with phones.

I agree on the expo floor layout though. It got way too busy and not much space to walk and everyone is trying to cut corners etc. due to the layout.

Overall it was better than the last 2-3 years, but still doesnt beat the experience I had at rAge 2006 (my first ever rAge).

One thing I would like to see more is getting those casual gamers in the expo more involved into eSports. A lot of these guys would love eSports but they either don't know about it or don't know where to start. Get TV's around the expo to showcase what is happening in the competitions (both NGL and DGL and what else there ever was) live at the event. When the blackops finals were played a lot of people were watching, people who didnt even know what COD stood for. If we could do something similar to that, but more often than just one hour on the Sunday, that would be awesome.

PS. Guys post your pics and vids on the forums :)

[polisieperd]

Yeah Cyrus has a point , I know of Kaspersky(sponsors of impi) stand that always played some footage of impi and the BO finals on the big screen , that was all there was to see regarding competitive gaming. The NGL was on the upper Lan and the DGL was in the Basement lvl so its not like the expo people can watch you play and i think that would make the expo ticket holder's rAge experience better cause either he is going to buy games , join a clan , troll on forums or just be a noob but thats were we have to begin get the people involved , i know Cyrus introduced a thing called barcraft (Live streaming Starcraft in a bar) in the local Dros but i dont know how that turned out . Point is guys if we want to grow our gaming community(Ngl DGL) then rAge is the place where you show off what you did the past year and Footage was minimal.

[Reforged]

This years LAN was excellent, the few minor issues were sorted out fast and precise.

I cant see why people will complain that the LAN wasn't as "fun", because its not the admins that have to make it fun, its the people your with!

The expo has definitely improved, and as stated was crowded, but maby its not just the layouts fault but the increase of people coming to the expo?

All in all it was another epic rage and will be there next year for the 8th time and to see the rages 10th year anniversary celebration!

[[rJ] C0ST4]

I cant see why people will complain that the LAN wasn't as "fun", because its not the admins that have to make it fun, its the people your with!

I agree the admins should not be expected to make it fun, but i don’t think that is the complaint… I personally feel that organizing a lan is not just setting up tables, running network and power cables... no... It is a great start and i have to admit that those three elements were spot on!! The lack of communication started even before the lan started… We never received an updated list of what games will be hosted and I understand now it is because you did not host any game servers for the open lan. We asked multiple times on the forum for an update. At that point a VC could have informed us that there won’t be servers hosted and that we need to host ourselves. Not a problem, would have just liked to have it communicated beforehand. Nowadays you need an internet connection to play your legal games that you bought and registered online via steam or whatever. Servers should have been hosted and the internet should have been sorted out long ago. There must be fiber connectivity in that area... Can’t be that hard to get a decent fiber line from Neotel for the weekend. I’m sure you can afford it or they would even be happy to sponsor it... The main issue for me is that i was forced to play pirated games after i went out and bought original games because the updates we received was that steam would be 100% sorted and that we would have servers to play on... It’s awesome having the originals but it got me quite irritated when i first had to spend about 4 hours copying games from the network which i have actually already bought and updated. I went to a VC on Saturday night asking what’s happening with Steam and Quake Live. Both need internet connection but steam kept on crashing when I try and launch a game and Quake live just did not work at all. The VC responded with a “I have no idea” and “It’s Telkom hey…” I appreciate the fact that it’s not the VC’s fault and that the Telkom ADSL lines weren’t working properly but there was your first mistake…. Multiple ADSL lines for 2200 gamers is not the best way to do it. You probably fishboned it…… It’s quite expensive and very unstable. In NAG’s defense, I see this kind of thing happening quite regularly in Gauteng…. Cape Town lans are far better organized and communication is way better. It is just sad that you will never get 2200 players in an open lan in Cape Town…. I expected a bit more from a R300 lan ticket. Please also learn to switch of the lights at night like you did on Friday.

I would like to make it clear that I still had fun at the lan and that it’s a great concept. I just feel that it could be something so much better.

[kolle_hond]

Cyrus! Damn, it was the first time I've seen you in ages. We've just been wondering, since when has McDonalds been sponsoring Vitriolic Gaming? It seems to have been for a while now.

One thing I would like to see more is getting those casual gamers in the expo more involved into eSports. A lot of these guys would love eSports but they either don't know about it or don't know where to start. Get TV's around the expo to showcase what is happening in the competitions (both NGL and DGL and what else there ever was) live at the event. When the blackops finals were played a lot of people were watching, people who didnt even know what COD stood for. If we could do something similar to that, but more often than just one hour on the Sunday, that would be awesome.

Ever considered that there are gamers who just don't care? It's irritating to play against pricks who take their games so seriously. The sponsored tickets irritate me to no end, they should've gone to casual gamers who actually wanted to be at the lan, while the e-sports must be kept in the expo, on the other side of the fence where they can fully exhibit their ego's.

[polisieperd]

About the whole i net issue i know the "proper" i net connections was directed to the NGL and DGL area's were the rest shared some downie i net line but every 1 had issues the NGL and DGL had issues . Its not Nag's baby its the people they employed to do the networking . @ kolle dude if you are a gamer u care