[mindue]

If they can't extend pre registration I think that they should change the will call price to 55 or something for the inconvenience. For some ACEN is way too far and too much money to not know who you're going to see.

[linlindesu]

Roark, on 07 March 2012 - 03:01 PM, said:

It's like asking someone from the US to do an international business trip Thursday December 21 through Sunday Dec. 24 when they have planned vacation December 25-29.

IF they work an office job. Retail, food, entertainment. Most of those people do not get Golden Week off. Theme Parks are still open, shops are still open , and concerts are still had.

[TheStrongJaeger]

mindue, on 07 March 2012 - 05:52 PM, said:

If they can't extend pre registration I think that they should change the will call price to 55 or something for the inconvenience. For some ACEN is way too far and too much money to not know who you're going to see.

And $5 is going to make a big enough difference to sway you when your other costs are so expensive?

[linlindesu]

TheStrongJaeger, on 07 March 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

And $5 is going to make a big enough difference to sway you when your other costs are so expensive?

I think it would just be a nice way for the con to try and make up for taking forever to release guests.

[chainedbyroses]

TheStrongJaeger, on 07 March 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

And $5 is going to make a big enough difference to sway you when your other costs are so expensive?

It's more a gesture than a big YESSSS MASSIVE DISCOUNTS SWEEETS kind of deal, really. I understand the principle -- kinda like when a restaurant really screws up your order & they offer you complimentary dessert. Basically, a small mea culpa.

[mindue]

TheStrongJaeger, on 07 March 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

And $5 is going to make a big enough difference to sway you when your other costs are so expensive?

No not really, I just think it would be nice if they tried to do even the smallest gesture to make up for guests being announced so late. I was just trying to find a alternative to extending pre registration because I don't know whether or not that would be possible given the time crunch. Pretty much what linlindesu and chainedbyroses said, it's merely to be a small "I'm sorry" type of thing.

[Darkspawn]

I don't wanna have to pick up my badge at the con. I'm not paying to spend 4+ hours in a line. The pre reg is more about convenience than price to me.

[Gaynor79]

Well, through bits of underground (and not so underground) sources, I do know that LittleKuriboh confirmed he was coming to ACen via his Twitter account.

I've also heard rumors of a couple other big names, but won't share those in public for fear of retribution.

[chainedbyroses]

Gaynor79, on 07 March 2012 - 11:08 PM, said:

Well, through bits of underground (and not so underground) sources, I do know that LittleKuriboh confirmed he was coming to ACen via his Twitter account.

I've also heard rumors of a couple other big names, but won't share those in public for fear of retribution.

LittleKuriboh just said he was coming to sell on his facebook, not coming as an invited guest.

As for rumors, even ancient Rome knew it to be a dangerous and fickle mistress....~

At any rate, nothing is official until the con posts about it here and updates the main site, so I'm not counting any chickens until they hatch, so to speak.

[Roark]

linlindesu, on 07 March 2012 - 06:58 PM, said:

IF they work an office job. Retail, food, entertainment. Most of those people do not get Golden Week off. Theme Parks are still open, shops are still open , and concerts are still had.

VA's, manga-ka, producers, directors, etc., are generally considered office jobs, even if they work from home or a studio. The guests people want to see at ACen use Golden Week as family time, not exhaust themselves for business time.

Edit: Office in this case means white collar, non service jobs. Yes, concerts still go on. However, actors shooting/recording may go on planned break.

This post has been edited by Roark: 08 March 2012 - 12:25 AM

[Hoshigumo]

Roark, on 08 March 2012 - 12:04 AM, said:

VA's, manga-ka, producers, directors, etc., are generally considered office jobs, even if they work from home or a studio. The guests people want to see at ACen use Golden Week as family time, not exhaust themselves for business time.

Add to this the travel price inflation and number of Japanese leaving the country to go to places like Hawaii. A good friend of mine flew out of Kansai during Golden Week to make it to my wedding. She paid twice the average price for airfare any other time of year. It was steep even five years ago.

[chainedbyroses]

Hoshigumo, on 08 March 2012 - 12:13 AM, said:

A good friend of mine flew out of Kansai during Golden Week to make it to my wedding. She paid twice the average price for airfare any other time of year. It was steep even five years ago.

Wouldn't flying out a few days before and returning during be somewhat less than leaving during? Kind of how flying a few days before Thanksgiving is less "kill me now" than flying home ON Thanksgiving? Still not as great as booking WAY before the price spike, or just not flying in that time, but less than flying in the peak several days?

Golden Week aside, what about American guests - voice actors, translators, producers/deciders, industry people? I'd assume some 95%+ of this country's never heard of Golden Week if it's not celebrated in their community, so I imagine that'd not be a problem over here. And this is one of the first few years we're /not/ falling on Mothers' Day weekend... sooooo..............? :<

[Hoshigumo]

chainedbyroses, on 08 March 2012 - 12:34 AM, said:

Wouldn't flying out a few days before and returning during be somewhat less than leaving during? Kind of how flying a few days before Thanksgiving is less "kill me now" than flying home ON Thanksgiving? Still not as great as booking WAY before the price spike, or just not flying in that time, but less than flying in the peak several days?

Golden Week aside, what about American guests - voice actors, translators, producers/deciders, industry people? I'd assume some 95%+ of this country's never heard of Golden Week if it's not celebrated in their community, so I imagine that'd not be a problem over here. And this is one of the first few years we're /not/ falling on Mothers' Day weekend... sooooo..............? :<

It's my understanding that to or from doesn't matter, because there's festivals in Japan that foreign travelers are going to see, and relatives from outside Japan trying to see their families while they have holidays. Traffic is heavy both ways, and airlines price accordingly, even out from the actual dates. I know this because I worked with her ahead of time to reserve round trip tickets and was shocked at the jump in price. She explained what was going on and wryly suggested that if I ever wanted to vacation in Japan for my anniversary, I should reschedule my wedding. Alas, I did not.

I'm mainly offering our experience and an additional possible reason why Japanese guests might have been partially difficult to negotiate this year. Travel in general is only a hypothetical anyways, since El Ken has not (that I remember) said travel costs were a major factor in negotiations. And no, this timeframe shouldn't interfere with American guests' ability to travel, as far as I'm aware. It genuinely sounds to me that the parties involved are not in as big of a rush to give him whatever things ACen staff is contractually obligated to have before releasing any information...sort of like when we tried to apply for our first home loan. /shudder

However, I do hope that someone is able to work out some sort of goodwill offering, even if it turns out there's no "at fault" on ACen's side. It's generally good service to offer something when the consumer has been or perceives themselves to have been slighted.

[chainedbyroses]

Hoshigumo, on 08 March 2012 - 01:49 AM, said:

It's my understanding that to or from doesn't matter, because there's festivals in Japan that foreign travelers are going to see, and relatives from outside Japan trying to see their families while they have holidays. Traffic is heavy both ways, and airlines price accordingly, even out from the actual dates. I know this because I worked with her ahead of time to reserve round trip tickets and was shocked at the jump in price. She explained what was going on and wryly suggested that if I ever wanted to vacation in Japan for my anniversary, I should reschedule my wedding. Alas, I did not.

I'm mainly offering our experience and an additional possible reason why Japanese guests might have been partially difficult to negotiate this year. Travel in general is only a hypothetical anyways, since El Ken has not (that I remember) said travel costs were a major factor in negotiations. And no, this timeframe shouldn't interfere with American guests' ability to travel, as far as I'm aware. It genuinely sounds to me that the parties involved are not in as big of a rush to give him whatever things ACen staff is contractually obligated to have before releasing any information...sort of like when we tried to apply for our first home loan. /shudder

However, I do hope that someone is able to work out some sort of goodwill offering, even if it turns out there's no "at fault" on ACen's side. It's generally good service to offer something when the consumer has been or perceives themselves to have been slighted.

Ah, forgot about the "let's go TO Japan for festivities" part there, yeah. That might be a harder aspect of negotiating if guests only want a certain airline, or a particular time, or prefer 1st class, etc, especially if such things may have long been sold out. Would be nice to get actual reasons as to the delay though. American guests, at the least, don't have to worry about festival time or Yen-Dollar exchange rates, or anything of those sorts, so I'm not sure what's the hold up there. Again, would be nice to at least get a reason for the backup/delay, even if if they won't/can't give numbers or won't say anything else...

Agreed on the good service note. (If even fast food joints can remedy errors, so can we.)

[Otaku Otoko]

50 days left!

[Sayuri-chan]

^ That sounds so cheery...and yet maddening at the same time. D: As one of my friends put it (and he never really notices these things, but is going to ACen with me and a group of our friends), "Just wondering if anyone else is getting irritated with the acen websites complete and total lack of updates. I mean, I know it's going to be amazing just out of principal, but I'd like to know who and what is going to be there. Anyone else feel the same way?" :<

[Darkspawn]

"Irritated?" I passed that stage weeks ago. Try "foaming at the mouth."

[JujuFox]

Don't know if you guys saw this thread, but the panel programming DH just said....

Bloo09, on 08 March 2012 - 12:23 PM, said:

We just finished scheduling panels this week. We just need to meet with GR and make sure we have enough guest panel slots assigned before we post the schedule. The meeting is this weekend so I'm hoping to post the schedule Saturday night or Sunday. We atm have 241 panels (not including guest and industry panels)

Maybe after this meeting an announcement will be made? Also, if the other staff members who have posted/read this thread are going to be in said meeting maybe the concerns posted here will be brought up? I don't know if El Ken has had time to read this thread after he last posted in Feb and told us the announcement was coming "soon". I'm sure he would want to post an explanation and calm everyone down, but perhaps there are extenuating circumstances preventing this? It is all speculation , but hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on this matter and get us an update on the guests after this meeting.

[Alkaren Hyralt]

DavenEvanXaviour, on 08 March 2012 - 12:54 PM, said:

Maybe after this meeting an announcement will be made? Also, if the other staff members who have posted/read this thread are going to be in said meeting maybe the concerns posted here will be brought up?

Us higher ups do read this thread and others as well. It is also my job as the manager of the forums to make sure stuff like this is brought to the attention of my superiors and the like.

[MandiPandi]

Darkspawn, on 08 March 2012 - 12:24 PM, said:

"Irritated?" I passed that stage weeks ago. Try "foaming at the mouth."

I am right up there with you. I'm still rooting for an extension of pre-reg. It isn't very fair to make us wait in a will-call line for hours on end because of an inconvenience caused by the con staff. As I mentioned before, I am one of those people who go to see the guests. Because of a prior agreement I have to go to the convention regardless of all this, but I don't find this convenient for any other attendee waiting to see what the guest list looks like so they can plan their travel and con budgets. This has extended beyond the line of "we're trying our best" and has gone right into the danger-zone of losing attendees and support for the future of ACen.

[Darkspawn]

MandiPandi, on 08 March 2012 - 01:08 PM, said:

I am right up there with you. I'm still rooting for an extension of pre-reg. It isn't very fair to make us wait in a will-call line for hours on end because of an inconvenience caused by the con staff. As I mentioned before, I am one of those people who go to see the guests. Because of a prior agreement I have to go to the convention regardless of all this, but I don't find this convenient for any other attendee waiting to see what the guest list looks like so they can plan their travel and con budgets. This has extended beyond the line of "we're trying our best" and has gone right into the danger-zone of losing attendees and support for the future of ACen.

The only way I'm going if I CAN'T pre-reg is if they somehow managed to get...I dunno...a SUPER RARE POKEMON GUEST that I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to see. Otherwise, no way. I'm not standing in those lines to get my badge.

[JujuFox]

Darkspawn, on 08 March 2012 - 01:26 PM, said:

The only way I'm going if I CAN'T pre-reg is if they somehow managed to get...I dunno...a SUPER RARE POKEMON GUEST that I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to see. Otherwise, no way. I'm not standing in those lines to get my badge.

The real Professor Oak?

[mindue]

I'm stressing out too, so much to finish x.x. My dream guest would be Haruko Momoi XD, but she usually only goes to conventions in Germany and California. Also it would be awesome to see Wendee Lee, who I consider a voice acting GOD. Also Johnny Yong Bosch, Steve Staley, Dan Green, Greg Ayers, Luci Christian, Hilary Haag, L'arc en ciel, Dir en grey, The Pillows. To me that would be the dream convention, alas at this point I'd just settle for anyone that I recognize to be announced. It's driving me insane not knowing who's coming x.x!

[GITS SAC Motoko]

mindue, on 08 March 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

I'm stressing out too, so much to finish x.x. My dream guest would be Haruko Momoi XD, but she usually only goes to conventions in Germany and California. Also it would be awesome to see Wendee Lee, who I consider a voice acting GOD. Also Johnny Yong Bosch, Steve Staley, Dan Green, Greg Ayers, Luci Christian, Hilary Haag, L'arc en ciel, Dir en grey, The Pillows. To me that would be the dream convention, alas at this point I'd just settle for anyone that I recognize to be announced. It's driving me insane not knowing who's coming x.x!

If JYB comes, then you have to invite his band Eyeshine with him as well. :3

[Lina]

mindue, on 08 March 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

I'm stressing out too, so much to finish x.x. My dream guest would be Haruko Momoi XD, but she usually only goes to conventions in Germany and California. Also it would be awesome to see Wendee Lee, who I consider a voice acting GOD. Also Johnny Yong Bosch, Steve Staley, Dan Green, Greg Ayers, Luci Christian, Hilary Haag, L'arc en ciel, Dir en grey, The Pillows. To me that would be the dream convention, alas at this point I'd just settle for anyone that I recognize to be announced. It's driving me insane not knowing who's coming x.x!

Yes! Hilary Haag! I loved her in BGC 2040!

[myrla]

mindue, on 08 March 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

I'm stressing out too, so much to finish x.x. My dream guest would be Haruko Momoi XD, but she usually only goes to conventions in Germany and California. Also it would be awesome to see Wendee Lee, who I consider a voice acting GOD. Also Johnny Yong Bosch, Steve Staley, Dan Green, Greg Ayers, Luci Christian, Hilary Haag, L'arc en ciel, Dir en grey, The Pillows. To me that would be the dream convention, alas at this point I'd just settle for anyone that I recognize to be announced. It's driving me insane not knowing who's coming x.x!

So glad I saw L'Arc En Ciel in 2004.

Dir En Grey was supposed to be touring, but one of the members got very ill I believe and they had to cancel. They were playing TWICE AROUND ME IN 2 DAYS. I WAS GOING TO BOTH. SOB SOB SOB.

[mindue]

myrla, on 08 March 2012 - 06:38 PM, said:

So glad I saw L'Arc En Ciel in 2004.

Dir En Grey was supposed to be touring, but one of the members got very ill I believe and they had to cancel. They were playing TWICE AROUND ME IN 2 DAYS. I WAS GOING TO BOTH. SOB SOB SOB.

I saw Dir En Grey once in concert. I loved it, the mosh pit not so much >.>.

This post has been edited by mindue: 08 March 2012 - 07:49 PM

[GITS SAC Motoko]

mindue, on 08 March 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

I saw Dir En Grey once in concert. I loved it, the mosh pit not so much >.>.

Did you see them at the House of Blues?

Dir en Grey would be awesome to get, it might be a little but it would be possible, I think that's where the "have musical guests at a separate place like the Allstate Arena" comes in. Because TOOOOOOOONS of people will be at ACEN then! Not a bad thing but still tons of people. I would absolutely love it if they came. One day...... XD

Though I'm still waiting for the day Home Made Kazoku, UVERworld and Maximum the Hormone come to ACEN. :3

This post has been edited by GITS SAC Motoko: 08 March 2012 - 11:28 PM

[Ashori]

GITS SAC Motoko, on 08 March 2012 - 11:26 PM, said:

Though I'm still waiting for the day Home Made Kazoku, UVERworld and Maximum the Hormone come to ACEN. :3

Bolded are definites for me. Especially Home Made Kazoku - they are my favorite Japanese band, so I'd love to see them at least once (likely die and go to heaven if I got to meet them and get their autographs).

[Roark]

mindue, on 08 March 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

I saw Dir En Grey once in concert. I loved it, the mosh pit not so much >.>.

The pit is the best part. Wear some steel-toed boots and a leather jacket. The energy is just amazing.

That's how I saw Front 242 when they played Metro last year. The pit just exploded during Body to Body.