by Savanja on Jul 27, 2006
by: Gloria Oliver
<!-- if (!document.phpAds_used) document.phpAds_used = ','; phpAds_random = new String (Math.random()); phpAds_random = phpAds_random.substring(2,11); document.write ("<" + "script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src='"); document.write ("http://ads.tentonhammer.com/adjs.php?n=" + phpAds_random); document.write ("&what=zone:25"); document.write ("&exclude=" + document.phpAds_used); if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer)); document.write ("'><" + "/script>"); //-->
The other day, while I busily harvested flashies and other items out on one of the islands of Kingdom of Sky , I received a tell. To my pleased surprise it was from Radar X.
I heard you're going to Comic Con, he sent.
I raised an eyebrow. Yeah.
Were you planning on going to the SOE Block Party?
The SOE what? Though troubadours are normally known for their deep knowledge of lore, history, and current events, I am of the uh usually more clueless variety.
Both Radar and my friend Tallika (He of the infamous Beard), quickly point me in the direction of the EQ2 forums (A diverse place of knowledge, fun, moaning, and amazement, which I, to my shame, rarely frequent). Faster than you can ask Vanna to give you a vowel, I am directed to the proper topic.
So after I've been educated as to what in the world is the SOE Block Party, Radar is able to continue.
If you happen to have time, and decide to go, would you mind taking some pics for me while you're there?
The prospect sounds intriguing, but I can make no promises, as I will be spending Comic Con in the company of the Gatcha Babes (Gatchaman Rules!) and don't know what plans they've made yet. But I assure him if the opportunity presents itself, I will give it a shot. After giving me his fondest wishes for the outcome, and some jibes to throw at appropriate parties, I prep an email to the girls about the party (so they can contemplate the concept), making sure to add the greatest incentive to party goers everywhere they'll be serving FREE FOOD and BEER!
I didn't hear back from the Gatcha Babes before my departure on Wednesday (most of them had left Sunday night to go to San Diego and do some sight seeing before the con) so I still didn't know if I would be attending, but was slowly getting more and more excited by the idea.
After three days of walking miles through crowds of convention goers, attending panels, ogling at TV and movie stars, artists, costumes and more, Saturday afternoon finally arrived. Humidity was high all week and it picked Saturday to be blistering hot on top of it. Deciding to skip some possible panels, my trusty camera, my notebook, and I braved the heat and milling throngs outside the convention center to look for the promised SOE signs, the signs which would guide me to the departure point of my noble journey.
After passing bus after bus after bus that had nothing to do with my quest, I spotted a brave soul in a yellow t-shirt holding up a sign. Our eyes met across the crowd. Instantly we knew we were what each other sought. With a few hasty words, I was pointed in the right direction and soon spotted another brave soul with a sign next to a welcoming bus, cold air drifting from the interior to cool out heated faces.
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=SOE-Block-Party&id=Gods_Heroes_Banner&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php">
src="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/SOE-Block-Party/Gods_Heroes_Banner.thumb.jpg"
style="margin: 5px; padding: 5px;" border="0">
Gods and Heroes!
I was greeted warmly and invited to enter. I grabbed the seat right behind the driver. Less than a minute later, one of the brave employees of the company sat down next to me as we set off toward our goal.
So while the bus driver bravely tackled the perils of gnarled convention area traffic and pedestrian waves to then speed along the highway, I got the pleasure of speaking to the lovely though sun beaten Vanessa. Vanessa is part of the EQ2 Community Relations group and deals specifically with the German community currently playing the game. She has the most fabulous accent.
She let me know one bus had already departed with partygoers and that they'd received over 600 RSVP emails from players who would be attending. So though SOE didn't have a presence at the convention itself, it looked like their Block Party was definitely a go.
After a short ride of about twenty minutes we reached our goal! I bid goodbye to Vanessa as she stalwartly remained with the bus to go back and fetch another load of brave travelers.
The Block Party was an external affair set up on one of the company's parking lots. Two tables were set at the entrance so eager SOE employees could greet the guests and pass over a bag of goodies. The treasures within were as follows: a Vanguard t-shirt, a Block Party t-shirt, The Art of EQ2 Book, an SWG 10-day trial, Champions PS2 demo disk, Matrix Online software with a 30-day trial, a map of Qeynos, several coupons for ten free music downloads at www.connect.com , Grip Shift stickers, and a Grip Shift remote control mini car. And last but not least, an SOE necklace, which you could light up intermittently or solid!
Two large tents in the back of the lot contained set ups and banners for games offered by SOE as well as work in progress games like Vanguard and Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising. The set ups comprised big flat screens on both sides of the upright stand, keyboard, speakers, with mice and mouse pads supplied by Razer. Razer is a local San Diego company and contributed to the event with peripherals and also give-aways of their new Krait high precision gaming mouse. www.razerzone.com (This troubadour might enjoy making others dance, but doing it in public in hopes of winning a trinket was more than I was willing to do, especially in that heat! Lol.)
Huge grills were going filled with hamburgers and hot dogs. There were buckets filled with sodas and water, and two tables with prepped beer dispensers. (Black wrist bands were dispensed at the entrance to prove you were old enough to imbibe.) Brownies, chips, and condiments were also there for the taking.
A dunking booth was in evidence and was quickly put to use as the DJ for the event called out the first name Chris Lena, EQ Live's Producer. Adults and kids alike quickly lined up to show him what for. More dunking victims followed John Smedley, SOE's President, and even Ryan Blackguard Shwayder, the main EQ2 Customer Relations guru.
A strangely decorated black and orange car grazed the lot as well advertising Xplod for car stereo systems and more. www.xplodsony.com A tarot reader was also brought in for the amusement of the masses. A local internet station called TheX.fm was on hand to report on the fun and do interviews with SOE's echelon. Sign up sheets were available for tours of the company and I was able to get my name down for group thirteen. An auspicious number.