Early check-in

[ShadowOrphan]

Hi

I am shooting myself in the foot here by opening this, but here goes.

We are trying to see what we can do to streamline the registration process. We now everybody loves waiting in queues, but maybe too much fun is not good for you. One of the options that we are considering is to have early check-in’s on Thursday. That would mean a dedicated time slot, arguable from 14h00 until 17h00. If you bring your ticket, your PC and monitor, then we check you in as normal. There are however provisions. We will still be busy with setup, as will the Expo. Thus you will only be allowed access to the downstairs area. After checking in, you setup your PC in the bottom (Main arena floor level) and then you leave. If you do not make the 17H00 timeslot, sorry. Friday morning you come back, ticket etc and just walk in, no queue. Your PC will however need to stay in the bottom area.

This was one option that we are considering (meaning not implemented or obliged to implement).

We are also considering adding additional people for the check-in, but space is very restricted and will have a very limited effect.
Thus now the floor is open and I’ll gladly hear your ideas on how we may improve this. We are not in the queue and thus do not have firsthand experience of your frustrations. I prefer that we keep discussions civil, so please try your Sunday English when proposing something, and do not rant. State the problem and possible a solution that you consider viable.

If your posting is vaporized, then you may safely assume that your civil approach requires nurturing.

Please understand that from my point of view the LAN opens at 10H00. Thus if you wait in the queue from 4h00 that morning, and got checked in in 10h15, you waited 15 minutes in the queue.

[Z1OC]

Greetings forum

rAge is awsome the only aspect like you said is the long queues on Friday morning. The main reason it takes so long, is that they look into the bags thus creating the rAge queue.

Carrying a heavy pc, screen and bag is alot more work most nerds do in a year. Then when getting into the area before the stairs, and then have the security check the bags it can take 5 - 10 minutes, while having people move past you trying to get in as fast as they can. This can turn into chaos and mix ups happen tech is drops or bumped, like many have seen or had it happen to them. So this queue that can take 10 minutes max turns into a 30 -60 minutes wait which is alot. With all the place holding and push-ins this can get very frustrating for most when all we want to do is get into the lan area set up the rigs and have pwnage begin.

For the past 3 - 4 years i have only taken my PC into the queue: for this plan reason i skip the stop and go chaos and get into the check-in area have the PC tested and boom im in. Later we go out fetch the Screens and bags and then have security look at it then when it have died down. This allows you to move faster into the check-in and avoid having lost anything or anyone.

I dont know if many will go for the time gap from 14h00 to 17h00 and then the security issue when it comes to that, I would feel unsafe when i leave my tech alone. Stuff can happen for example someone takes the wrong pc or drops or bumps the others. This is a fact and can happen which is very unsafe, and there are alot of unknowns.

So how i think this issue can be sorted out with a simple idea.

Have two lines one with PC only and the other bags only.

Line One
PC only this will be alot simpler with the fact that you just have one item with you. Yes this will have a queue but it will move alot faster with not having the bag checking in the way. This will allow people to move faster into the dome to then collect the other items needed for 3 days of bliss. (Monitors I dont think there will be CRTs at rAge this year so no need to test Screens. I am not sure on the rules of Screen that can be used. Some people have 27" screens some bigger ><)

Line Two
The second line would have to then be the new comers, guys with just bags, or people who got dropped off to the dome with all the do-dats for the lan.

So how can this become stream line ? Well with 2 lines PC-Cases can be checked in faster. There is alot less to carry around at once. The Bag check in can be controlled better by security when there is say 5 - 6 checking the bags. This can eliminate the max chaos and have the check in and setup happen faster and make for more time spent at the PC than in a queue.

[MatthewFiber]

I agree with Z1OC, his idea is better of anything I could think of. Many of us aren't able to get there on the Thursday, making it slightly, I dont know how to put it, 'unfair'. Plus, not a chance I'd leave my PC alone :P

[Jawz89]

I also agree with Z1OC

[Z1OC]

Thanks guys. Well lets see what others think and maybe they might even put the idea into action if they like it ^^.

[ShadowOrphan]

Never considered that as an issue. Will see how to resolve that aspect or at least make it less painful.

[Jfr3ak]

I am all for the thurday check in (will be on leave that day and believe it or not i actually have to atend a wedding that afternoon evening) so this would suit me briliantly. Only thing is we are competing in the informal strategy which is usually in the upstairs gaming area, would we not be able to set up there? would understand if this is not possible.

[willbeonekenobi]

Well the thursday will be way out for me as like most other people I am at work (unless the check-in is at around 7 or 8 in the evening then I probably could)

[Toxicnitr8]

yeah last year i got there pretty late to the huge line , and picking up and putting down my massive pc, screen and all other stuff 100 times was insanely hard :P i actually bought a luggage trolley from north gate half way up the hill :P made life a million times easier :P i suggest that if early check in doesnt happen , that you guys do the same , it cost like 150 rand , and carried a huge case no problem :)

[DeepXenon]

Hi guys, newbie to rAge here, but from what my friends have said after I told them about this idea, it would be massively appreciated :D

[Z1OC]

i wonder how it will run this year. 3 more weeks !!

[Wesley]

ShadowOrphan, what's the status on the early check-in for the NAG LAN? Happening/not happening?

[Guardi3n]

ShadowOrphan, what's the status on the early check-in for the NAG LAN? Happening/not happening?

As soon as we have a viable and approved solutiion we will post details here.

[Novanod]

hmmm I wouldn't be able to sleep, worrying about my PC being all alone in the dome for about 15 hours, unattended.
besides, have you ever waited in long queues, with like minded people, for a huge rock concert like Green Day, RHCP, U2, etc... meeting new people and sharing the experience.
The wait, the buzz of excitement builds and builds, the anticipation of eventually getting in, setting up and turning on your PC. Starting up DC++ or loading your fav game checking out the servers and seeing there's plenty to do.

First people in basically have no-one to leech from or LAN with, waiting while your PC purrs for everyone else to eventually setup is soooo boring... u get hungry then spend big cash on a little junkfood.

Yeah u might get crappier seats when there's more people, but the whole experience will be remembered and new mates made - note how the queue and ticket sales is always a big discussion before and after... be a part of it, it ain't going anywhere...

See u there...

and yeah ill be in the queue...

[Toxicnitr8]

hmmm I wouldn't be able to sleep, worrying about my PC being all alone in the dome for about 15 hours, unattended.
besides, have you ever waited in long queues, with like minded people, for a huge rock concert like Green Day, RHCP, U2, etc... meeting new people and sharing the experience.
The wait, the buzz of excitement builds and builds, the anticipation of eventually getting in, setting up and turning on your PC. Starting up DC++ or loading your fav game checking out the servers and seeing there's plenty to do.

First people in basically have no-one to leech from or LAN with, waiting while your PC purrs for everyone else to eventually setup is soooo boring... u get hungry then spend big cash on a little junkfood.

Yeah u might get crappier seats when there's more people, but the whole experience will be remembered and new mates made - note how the queue and ticket sales is always a big discussion before and after... be a part of it, it ain't going anywhere...

See u there...

and yeah ill be in the queue...

^this man has a verry valid point :) i made some awesome mates in the que last time now im camping with them this year ! sure it may be long and a lil hard but it makes it soo much more worth while , if you wanted easy , y not stay home play on online servers , and just leech off the internet :) well played Novanod :) reminded me of how much fun the actual line was :P

[MatthewFiber]

Yeah, its all part of the fun......

I like the lines, and will stand there again, dont let people in early XD

[Karnalli3]

^this man has a verry valid point :) i made some awesome mates in the que last time now im camping with them this year ! sure it may be long and a lil hard but it makes it soo much more worth while , if you wanted easy , y not stay home play on online servers , and just leech off the internet :) well played Novanod :) reminded me of how much fun the actual line was :P

+1

[ShadowOrphan]

Hi. Having way too much fun playing with servers, testing games, making network cables and electrocuting myself on the new power boxes to visit often. Sorry :( The early check-in is not going to happen. Not as sought after as I thought, and quite a few interesting opinions about it. We’ll put in a bit of extra effort to get you through the doors as quick as possible.

[KyleVR101]

Hi. Having way too much fun playing with servers, testing games, making network cables and electrocuting myself on the new power boxes to visit often. Sorry :( The early check-in is not going to happen. Not as sought after as I thought, and quite a few interesting opinions about it. We’ll put in a bit of extra effort to get you through the doors as quick as possible.

I don't actually mind I quite enjoy the queue it gives you time to socialize with other gamers and make friends and don't know how I would have left my pc there over night