[manofsteel6262]

First time posting, first time ACEN attendee. Let me just start off saying that ACEN 2010 was amazing, I enjoyed the whole weekend i was there from the AMV lounge, gaming room, live bands and DJ parties. THE ONLY SUGGESTION I would hope to see next year is to make a event each night specifically for 18 and up if you cant get a 21 and up event. I cant imagine how hard it is to put together a weekend like this as it is and the man power it takes to constantly run it. But being a 23 year old and going to everything where 12 year olds could get into got a little annoying. Dont get me wrong I love the fact that ACEN includes all of there fans in there events regardless of age, but if it were possible to hold a dance each night or some event where me and my friends could just be around people our age or the adult age would be the only thing we could think of as a way to improve ACEN next year. Other than this one thing ACEN 2010 was an amazing weekend and I wish we could do it twice a year just so I dont have to wait another 365 days to the next one.

[Alkaren Hyralt]

There are lots of 18+ events, and while different things are discussed about the dances we and the djs want the dances to be open to everyone to enjoy the music.

[Voxx]

^ There are a lot of 18+ events...but they are mostly hentai/yaoi panels and not everyone is into that. I would like to see more 18+ events but I know that pretty much depends on volunteers (for panels). I do like the idea of a 18+ Acen Main Event, but there's already 2 dances so another would be a bit rough to pull off (not to mention space wise). Also the only way to make an 18+ event 18+ is to check for ID's and with a main event it would be very difficult to check everyone for ID's. You could *wink wink* put together an 18+ panel to add more variety =D This is my input as a longtime Acen goer.

[Pau-chan]

I turned 18 a few days before ACen this year and I realized that the only panels I really saw for 18 and older was the hentai/yaoi panels and I'm not into that.
I would love to see more panels-depending on the subject for eighteen and older.

[manofsteel6262]

Yes I understand and am happy that you let the young kids contribute with the dances and everything, but like the others said, the only 18 and up events I saw or read about were the hentai/yaio panels or stuff of that nature and thats just not my type of fun 23 yr old event, sorry. I understand it takes alot for ACEN to pull off dances and all this in one weekend thats why this is only a suggestion from only 3 people that attended.

[kahad]

I remember two 18+ panels that were not hentai/yaoi - Censorship with Nabeshin and Let's Play Oregon Trail.

[Pau-chan]

kahad, on 06 July 2010 - 11:35 AM, said:

I remember two 18+ panels that were not hentai/yaoi - Censorship with Nabeshin and Let's Play Oregon Trail.

lol I remember playing Oregon Trail when I was in like...fifth grade at school-back when they still allowed it to be played there. XD

[Saturn's Pheonix]

to help figure out ages though besides carding since they need to check badges it could help to have a special mark or color coded part on the badge to help with age that way when checking badges they can determine age.

[MsLovelyCookie]

As an 18 and older person, not yet 21 but next year for sure, it would be nice to have events for the older people but besides the Yuri, Yaoi, and Hentai that's all I know about. The Soap Bubble could count too since I seen some intense couples making out on the dance floor, why not use your hotel room? And I don't think Acen would pull off an event for 18 or 21 plus since it would really depend on the event, who would show up to for it, and the staff to run the event as well.

This post has been edited by MsLovelyCookie: 13 July 2010 - 05:03 PM

[S1NN3R]

It may be a good idea, but keep in mind with anything other than an ID check, there are always ways around the markings. People who preorder could lie about their age and so on.

** Although, depending on cost, ID scanners would help speed up the process at the doors

This post has been edited by S1NN3R: 13 July 2010 - 05:56 PM

[Saturn's Pheonix]

S1NN3R, on 13 July 2010 - 05:36 PM, said:

It may be a good idea, but keep in mind with anything other than an ID check, there are always ways around the markings. People who preorder could lie about their age and so on.

** Although, depending on cost, ID scanners would help speed up the process at the doors

thing about scanners is if staff was not paying attention people could sneak past the scanners without getting scanned. Or can a friends badge.

Its like at my old university, we were required to go to chapel 3 times a week or risk our gpa dropping. I knew a couple people that would go and grab their friends' ids to scan with theirs. Even with the chapel commitee at the door.

I was one of the good kids who took their homework with and spent the time doing homework while getting chapel credit.

Anyways the point with scanners is security is lax with them. People at the doors on the other hand, looking for badges with certain marks can run quicker and smoother. If they have an issue where they still do not think you are the age, your badge would say they can card you then but if you look the age or older than the badge marks then they can keep the line moving.

[-JUNK-]

i think it would be pretty snazzy but it all depends i enjoy ACen either way.
honestly since i already know my way around i can leave youngins that are not in my room or my responsibility
behind so they cant follow me everywhere and scream every 10 seconds =D

This post has been edited by -JUNK-: 14 July 2010 - 02:39 AM

[manofsteel6262]

even if ACEN says hey, keep your license on you, would that be soooooo terrible to get into one event at night or whenever theyd hold it, 99% of us probably kept our wallets in our pockets the whole day for food and buying stuff. All I'm saying is it would be nice to have one non sexual non porno type of adult event besides oregon trail. And theres no way I would by that ACEN couldnt pull it off because there low on personell power, you have 19,000 ppl there this year, one more event wouldnt cause the destruction of ACEN.

[SongstressLenne]

A lot of panels are attendee made so those panelists that are looking for an inspiration, here it is and I bet manofsteel would be able to assist with a few ideas.

A lot of the events during the day are kept family friendly and towards the evening is when the age required panels are placed [departments please correct me if I am incorrect].

IDs will never fade out, it is the best form of identifying who someone isand making sure they of age.

[manofsteel6262]

I just want to remind everyone that I am HAPPY that ACEN lets the younger kids participate, they have every right to come visit and enjoy ACEN as much as I do, I'm not asking for anything drastic here just one event friday and one event saturday where its only for the older crowd and it doesnt even have to be a dance or anything huge that would cost money just something where a regular 18 yr old or 21 yr old could read in the schedule and go ok thats something id like to stop by or go to thats not XXX rated. Am I really being so unrealistic here?

[SongstressLenne]

manofsteel6262, on 14 July 2010 - 12:43 PM, said:

I just want to remind everyone that I am HAPPY that ACEN lets the younger kids participate, they have every right to come visit and enjoy ACEN as much as I do, I'm not asking for anything drastic here just one event friday and one event saturday where its only for the older crowd and it doesnt even have to be a dance or anything huge that would cost money just something where a regular 18 yr old or 21 yr old could read in the schedule and go ok thats something id like to stop by or go to thats not XXX rated. Am I really being so unrealistic here?

Nope, as I said brainstorm some ideas for panelists to work with to have an extra 18 or 21+ panel get submitted.

[Saturn's Pheonix]

SongstressLenne, on 14 July 2010 - 11:28 AM, said:

A lot of panels are attendee made so those panelists that are looking for an inspiration, here it is and I bet manofsteel would be able to assist with a few ideas.

A lot of the events during the day are kept family friendly and towards the evening is when the age required panels are placed [departments please correct me if I am incorrect].

IDs will never fade out, it is the best form of identifying who someone isand making sure they of age.

well IDs backgrounds may never fade but fyi the printed part does, my mother was released from the hospital only to return to the hospital, I had my badge fresh from opening the mail on the table and my mom vomited on it. I quickly wiped it off and found the ink and paper to be browned on the side and part of my name was lighter in hue. When I arrived at the con many staff were constantly looking at it and asking for a closer look. All it took was my mom getting sick to fade the ink. maybe supplying the plastic holders to the mailed ones like issued in previous years to those who waited in line could have prevented that.

[SongstressLenne]

Saturn, on 14 July 2010 - 02:53 PM, said:

well IDs backgrounds may never fade but fyi the printed part does, my mother was released from the hospital only to return to the hospital, I had my badge fresh from opening the mail on the table and my mom vomited on it. I quickly wiped it off and found the ink and paper to be browned on the side and part of my name was lighter in hue. When I arrived at the con many staff were constantly looking at it and asking for a closer look. All it took was my mom getting sick to fade the ink. maybe supplying the plastic holders to the mailed ones like issued in previous years to those who waited in line could have prevented that.

I should have clarified my post. I meant to say the idea of check government issued photo IDs will never fade out.

[Roark]

Saturn, on 13 July 2010 - 04:08 PM, said:

to help figure out ages though besides carding since they need to check badges it could help to have a special mark or color coded part on the badge to help with age that way when checking badges they can determine age.

Trading badges is very easy to do. How do I know that 21+ badge for GOKUFAN1137 really belongs to you?

There's a simple solution to this: keep your government-issued photo ID on you. This can be driver's license, state ID, military card, or passport. It cannot be a library card, student ID, SS card, or bank card with your photo on it.

Scanners are not a good investment; they're slower than just checking the bloody ID. Seriously, it takes bouncers at a bar/concert ~5 seconds to check the ID if everyone has it out and ready upon entry.

That said, what would these events be like? Normal panels, but the panelists can say fudge? What would you want to do that's not offered right now?

[Voxx]

@Roark- I think they would like an Acen (major) Event that is 18 or 21+ like the Rave/Soapbubble. Something that is headlined and not apart of just panels. I think the only way to really have something like this would be after a certain time (curfew) we heavily enforce checking IDs into the rave/dance. We can't really check everyone that is in there, though. Honestly, I would like to see something other than a dance or hentai panel.

[Lina]

I think we should do what Youma does and have something like Mario Party After Dark, which is an 18+ event. It's extremely entertaining.

This post has been edited by Lina: 14 July 2010 - 04:53 PM

[Valkyrie]

Ska_Toranpetta, on 14 July 2010 - 04:50 PM, said:

@Roark- I think they would like an Acen (major) Event that is 18 or 21+ like the Rave/Soapbubble. Something that is headlined and not apart of just panels. I think the only way to really have something like this would be after a certain time (curfew) we heavily enforce checking IDs into the rave/dance. We can't really check everyone that is in there, though. Honestly, I would like to see something other than a dance or hentai panel.

....This makes me think of that adults-only rave Reactor used to have. *shudder* Which in theory, wasn't a bad idea. Both times I went to Reactor, however, I stoutly refused to have anything to do with it. Maybe it was because of Reactor itself, however, and I simply did not get good vibes from the vicinity of the rave. (Especially the congoers going to said rave.)

Which leads me to ponder the same question as Roark: what kind of events, specifically, would you be looking for in terms of 18+/21+? Panels? Dances? Video rooms? Tabletop gaming? There are plenty of different options one could run through. I understand you're frustrated because you'd rather enjoy events without having the younger crowd around, and with the way the con is growing, I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. However, it also helps to have something more specific to go on. Are there certain panel topics you'd like to see that would be more adult-appropriate? How about certain anime/Japanese films you'd like to see? Are there any specific games (tabletop or videogame) that you'd like to play, in tourney or otherwise, that are geared more (or could be, in terms of tactics/general gameplay) toward the older crowd? We love suggestions, but in order to act on them, it helps to know exactly what attendees want to see more of specifically. ^^

[S1NN3R]

I need to clarify, when I stated IDs, I was talking about drivers license or state IDs. The scanners mentioned were in reference to what bars have. They can be rented from state department for $25 per day.

[manofsteel6262]

Answering the ?s about what panels or events could we think up? I am only one person out of the thousands that go so dont take my suggestions seriously, ACEN would have to do a poll for ppl over 18 and what events they would enjoy, rave, video games, movies, dances, anything really. I'd even be happy with one big room where 18&up could go and its just games on one side, tables on the other to relax and converse with other attendees, or something a majority of people would find entertaining. I thought it was funny that whenever a girl came up and talked to me my first words werent hi or hello, it was, how old are you? lol

[manofsteel6262]

and whoever posts an idea or something please explain there ideas in details more, you say mario party after dark is fun, some of us have no idea what that is. Scanners would be great too, or just making people carry there license on them seems absolutely harmless to normal people.

[Roark]

So, I'll toss out a few ideas I've had kicking around or had suggested by friends for 18 and 21+ events:

Sake Tasting (21+): Basically, have some group come in to offer various sakes for taste. I'm ignoring any Hyatt issues for this, just to go with the idea. This would probably be an extra charge to cover the materials, but not for profit. The obvious motive here is to get people to buy said sake at some place. I know a few distributors, lounges, and liquor stores who would be happy to come in for these demos.

D&D Midnight Madness (18+): This could work for any RPG. Basically, the session breaks rules of decorum, deals with more adult topics, etc. Point is that the players don't need to worry about minors.

R-Rated movies/anime that aren't hentai: Battle Royal, Oldboy, Takashi Miike movies, etc. Bonus points if this gets into a "main beta" room for a larger screening.

Hardcore Synergy++: This goes with ideas to have a secondary dance area to cut down on Soap Bubble lines. 18+ or 21+ dance featuring the ACen DJs. Bonus points if it's 21+ and the hotel it's at runs bar service for the event. Potential issue with killing the party by sucking people away.

Party Floor: This is the most serious suggestion, given by a friend of mine. She goes to sci-fi cons, and they generally run this. Basically, one floor/wing of the hotel that's set aside for groups to come in and, well, throw a party. They're responsible for all damage to the hotel, liability for underage drinking, advertising the party, etc. ACen pretty much just helps with hotel stuff (room blocks, garbage pickup) and may put some notice on the website/program book about the parties. The parties bring in their own staff, booze, and decorations. The Hyatt even has a pretty good place for this to happen: top floor executive wing. It's limited access, has suites, and won't really disturb other rooms except maybe the people directly below.

The thing about 18 or 21+ events is that they need to be something legitimately off limits to younger people. It's hard to come up with ideas like that. The only reason I can see limiting off the dances is to solve the line issues. I do worry about killing the party in that case, though. I do think the party floor is a viable idea, though, especially as we pretty much just host the parties and don't take on liability.

[manofsteel6262]

all 5 of those ideas are each something I could see myself going to and enjoying

[Voxx]

@Roark- There was a Takashi Miike panel two years ago that I went to that was amazing. Granted I already saw most of the movies they showed, but the audiences reaction was probably the best part! I'd like to see something like that come back with trivia or something similar.

I was thinking of maybe hosting a gameshow kind of like The Dating Game where it would add more fun to trying to 'hook up' with someone. This would be probably 18+ or 21+ depending on the content(questions asked/replies). I would have a lot of fun putting together something like that.

[opimus.rm]

Ska_Toranpetta, on 15 July 2010 - 12:50 PM, said:

@Roark- There was a Takashi Miike panel two years ago that I went to that was amazing. Granted I already saw most of the movies they showed, but the audiences reaction was probably the best part! I'd like to see something like that come back with trivia or something similar.

I was thinking of maybe hosting a gameshow kind of like The Dating Game where it would add more fun to trying to 'hook up' with someone. This would be probably 18+ or 21+ depending on the content(questions asked/replies). I would have a lot of fun putting together something like that.

You could ask Convoy to do it1

This post has been edited by opimus.rm: 15 July 2010 - 01:08 PM

[Roark]

If I recall correctly, previous ACen attempts at dating-themed events were severely lopsided towards the Y-chromosome end of the male:female ratio.