Is anyone streaming the Xwing nationals?

Not yet. It would appear that every regional has already run more smoothly than Nationals. A friend of mine who's competing says there have already been two software failings delaying round 2 by about 2.5 hours.

Funny side note, ffg is using their tournament software which at this point is notoriously flawed. Meanwhile, Mr. Cryodex himself is in attendance.

Wow it seams like they have really dropped the ball this year!!

Wow. FFG knew their software was a piece o crap months ago and they haven't fixed it.

It was... not as smooth an experience as I hoped. I dropped out after round 3, with a 1-2 record and terrible MOV. It was about 5:15pm when my last match ended, and I'd been in the hall since 8am.

FFG can't even make working tournament software how are they going to stream nationals?

FFG can't even make working tournament software how are they going to stream nationals?

The layout of the hall isn't very friendly to mounting cameras, and there isn't really much space, either.

Internet is also not that great for streaming at GenCon.

The U.S. Nationals and they can't figure out how to stream it. Seams like FFG isn't that concerned about the Xwing game. First the debacle from worlds and now this. It will be a shame to have such a popular game get hurt by bad management decisions.

FFG doesn't have free reign in the gaming hall. I assure, setting up a side table with all the required equipment for streaming isn't going to happen.

The U.S. Nationals and they can't figure out how to stream it. Seams like FFG isn't that concerned about the Xwing game. First the debacle from worlds and now this. It will be a shame to have such a popular game get hurt by bad management decisions.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're just a weirdly angry new poster, rather than a troll.

Internet is also not that great for streaming at GenCon.

FFG can't even make working tournament software how are they going to stream nationals?

The layout of the hall isn't very friendly to mounting cameras, and there isn't really much space, either.

FFG doesn't have free reign in the gaming hall. I assure, setting up a side table with all the required equipment for streaming isn't going to happen.

There are serious obstacles in the way, starting with the physical space: they have very long tables set up, with mats set within a few inches of each another. So there's no room on the table for a rig, and the ceilings of the exhibit hall are... I don't know, 30 feet high? It could be more. In any case, it's impractical to consider mounting cameras up there.

Assuming they could solve that problem, you then have to consider issues of bandwidth. Cell signals are unreliable due to the concrete-and-steel construction of the convention center (as well as the bandwidth consumed by the literally 50,000 other people at the con), and there's no wired Internet. How are you supposed to get all that video you're recording out of the hall?

It's not a management decision, it's a set of challenges that would at least be very difficult to overcome.

The U.S. Nationals and they can't figure out how to stream it. Seams like FFG isn't that concerned about the Xwing game. First the debacle from worlds and now this. It will be a shame to have such a popular game get hurt by bad management decisions.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're just a weirdly angry new poster, rather than a troll.

Internet is also not that great for streaming at GenCon.

FFG can't even make working tournament software how are they going to stream nationals?

The layout of the hall isn't very friendly to mounting cameras, and there isn't really much space, either.

FFG doesn't have free reign in the gaming hall. I assure, setting up a side table with all the required equipment for streaming isn't going to happen.

There are serious obstacles in the way, starting with the physical space: they have very long tables set up, with mats set within a few inches of each another. So there's no room on the table for a rig, and the ceilings of the exhibit hall are... I don't know, 30 feet high? It could be more. In any case, it's impractical to consider mounting cameras up there.

Assuming they could solve that problem, you then have to consider issues of bandwidth. Cell signals are unreliable due to the concrete-and-steel construction of the convention center (as well as the bandwidth consumed by the literally 50,000 other people at the con), and there's no wired Internet. How are you supposed to get all that video you're recording out of the hall?

It's not a management decision, it's a set of challenges that would at least be very difficult to overcome.

The U.S. Nationals and they can't figure out how to stream it. Seams like FFG isn't that concerned about the Xwing game. First the debacle from worlds and now this. It will be a shame to have such a popular game get hurt by bad management decisions.

Came here looking for the typical sky is falling comment. Found it. Am not dissapoint.

But who decided the venue, if not management? I think this is what he means.

You're kidding right ?

GenCon picks the venue, not FFG management.

But who decided the venue, if not management? I think this is what he means.

You're kidding right ?

GenCon picks the venue, not FFG management.

I think he meant that FFG management decided to hold the US National X-Wing event at GenCon.

They would be stupid not to.

Not streaming is not gonna hurt the game at all.

As long as the top games actually get recorded, I'm happy.

Having Mr Cryodex Himself present doesn't mean much unless he helpfully set up a laptop alongside them and managed to collate and organise the results faster than the official software did, to make a point and/or a touch of marketing.

VorpalSword: How does three games take 8 hours? This is an honest query, because there are difficulties, and there are difficulties. Was this one of those things where delays led to even more delays in getting people back on task, or?

Anyone know whether Team Covenant, FFG, or an independent party will record the last few rounds. Would table space open up by that point? If they only record the final featuring Fat Han vs Fat Chira I can pass on that, I would rather see the highest tier possible of games that utilize new/oddball lists.

VorpalSword: How does three games take 8 hours? This is an honest query, because there are difficulties, and there are difficulties. Was this one of those things where delays led to even more delays in getting people back on task, or?

I showed up at 8am, thinking it was dials down at 9am. It turned out I mis-remembered, and registration opened at 9 for scheduled dials down at 10am. They opened registration early, but the timer didn't start for Round 1 until 10:15-10:30 anyway. Then there was a long, unscheduled lunch break until 1:15 as they resolved otherwise unspecified technical issues; they didn't put up Round 2 pairings until about 1:45, and then had to redo them after an input error. Then they had to redo the pairings for Round 3. The actual end time for Round 3 was about 4:50.

So, from opening registration to the end of Round 3 took from 8:20am to 4:50pm. I don't know how much of the generous lunch break was due to technical issues and how much was just a generous lunch break, and I could have showed up later and still registered without problems, so there's some padding around the estimate, but it was definitely a rough start to everyone's tournament day.

Both of the regionals that I went to somehow managed to stream games. I haven't been to Gencon yet but I can't imagine it would be hard to find a cat 5 cable somewhere. Even if it had to be in a side office or something. The U.S. Nationals should be prime time for ffg.

Worlds is on a Wednesday with half the people from last year. This along with the software problems are all issues that are issues that ffg has dropped the ball on. And oh let's not forget the ffg mats rule. I really like this game so I'd like to see it run better.

The gaming hall is a large gymnasium, essentially. The places for cords are limited. And Gencon gets very fussy if you try to do anything outside your assigned area. Whether or not you can stream games is really a bad decision on whether or not to use Gencon as your location.

At the very least, the top games will be recorded, like they have been in the past.

Seen some pics. They are definitely recording. But their set up is pretty small, and not likely able to set up an actual stream.

Seen some pics. They are definitely recording. But their set up is pretty small, and not likely able to set up an actual stream.

Yup team covenant recorded finals for most games it appears.

Mr. Cryodex here. That title never gets old. Yes I was in attendance. I was not playing or helping, not for lack of trying. I had other commitments that prevented me from playing and FFG OP wouldn't let me help if I wanted to. I made my presence known to the TO team just to say hi and offer my help in anything they need for what seems like the thousandth time. Gotta keep trying. Did get to meet the writer of TOME who was running the software at the event. He didn't seem excited to meet me

When their software caused the huge delay, my phone was blowing up. There were rumors that they switched to Cryodex at one point. This was not true. They did switch to some other software, I assume their pre-TOME software. The pairing output changed, but it was not mine. I did my best to stay non judgemental in the situation, though Lyle "Sozin" and I did lose it a little bit when he interviewed me for the Scum and Villainy Podcast. If I were actually playing in the event, I may have lost it.

Still trying to stay positive and hold out hope they will work with me or come out with a good product on their own. Eventually it will happen and I'll get to retire Cryodex and move onto something else. I wish they would hurry up on that. I figure it will go into widespread distribution for store championships next season and it could be bad if it's still not working correctly. I guess we'll see how Worlds goes.

VorpalSword - I'm mad you were there and we didn't get to meet. I tried to hit all the people that I knew who were there. Maybe next year in South Bend for the Campaign Against Cancer. Hopefully you can make it this time!