Are you kidding me? I love having a proper European event. We're normally sidelined in favour of the USA, who get all the good gaming events.

I might actually go, if it didn't cost £100 for a train ticket to Birmingham.

I think a three man team from each country might have added some flavor and distinguish it from just being the "European World Championship"

As opposed to how many feel that Worlds is the US championship?

Am I the only one who is actually a little angry about this? So for the 8 locations we chose 7 European nations that can easily be hopped around to if you live in Europe, and 1 USA location that is, essentially, inaccessible for a good bit of the country unless you are willing to pay a small fortune to go.... Not to mention excluding Aussies, Asia, South America, etc. entirely...

Oh and the prizes are the best we have ever done, including for our own Worlds event, so don't miss it!

I am all for having a special thing, but #$@!...at least give me some hope...you can't schedule something like this 2 months out and at one, very limited location and expect people to be excited...

I know that sounds like an entitlement thing and all that, but it just sucks to feel like you cannot participate no matter how much you may want to....

Yeah a west coast and east coast location would have been better.

A bit better anyway. I think you can look at the USA and think of it as being the size of 3-4 European countries. Hell, I live in Texas and it was it's own country at one time... Unlike Denmark, I cannot drive from one end to the other in a day....

I would have thought, New York, NY; LA, CA; and Somewhere in the mid west (like KC, KS maybe) would have made the most sense. But even there it is hard for the in-betweeners.

Honestly, I think the European locations were a bit more important than a second US location. I mean, look at the issues with Worlds. So, the Open is a bit more of a European event, nothing wrong with that.

If this is a success, I'm sure they will look at a second US location. But, no matter how many locations they do, someone will always complain. See, Regionals.

To quote from their Facebook page, from a user comment of "Consider expanding this to more countries and continents next year and announce it much sooner"

FFG: "These are things we would like to do but couldn't this time around."

Oddly enough, I'm going to guess that they're aware of things, but had to fit into a time constraint. Not everything happens with as much notice as anyone would like. Having done event planning, you work with what you're given and in the time you have.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

Honestly, I think the European locations were a bit more important than a second US location. I mean, look at the issues with Worlds. So, the Open is a bit more of a European event, nothing wrong with that.

If this is a success, I'm sure they will look at a second US location. But, no matter how many locations they do, someone will always complain. See, Regionals.

To quote from their Facebook page, from a user comment of "Consider expanding this to more countries and continents next year and announce it much sooner"

FFG: "These are things we would like to do but couldn't this time around."

Oddly enough, I'm going to guess that they're aware of things, but had to fit into a time constraint. Not everything happens with as much notice as anyone would like. Having done event planning, you work with what you're given and in the time you have.

Oh, I know that they are. Anyone who was following Netrunner when the Plugged In Tour was announced knows exactly what the reaction was to that.

Am I the only one who is actually a little angry about this? So for the 8 locations we chose 7 European nations that can easily be hopped around to if you live in Europe, and 1 USA location that is, essentially, inaccessible for a good bit of the country unless you are willing to pay a small fortune to go.... Not to mention excluding Aussies, Asia, South America, etc. entirely...

Oh and the prizes are the best we have ever done, including for our own Worlds event, so don't miss it!

I am all for having a special thing, but #$@!...at least give me some hope...you can't schedule something like this 2 months out and at one, very limited location and expect people to be excited...

I know that sounds like an entitlement thing and all that, but it just sucks to feel like you cannot participate no matter how much you may want to....

Yeah a west coast and east coast location would have been better.

Unless you live in the midwest

Or the coast opposite from the one that was selected.

Am I the only one who is actually a little angry about this? So for the 8 locations we chose 7 European nations that can easily be hopped around to if you live in Europe, and 1 USA location that is, essentially, inaccessible for a good bit of the country unless you are willing to pay a small fortune to go.... Not to mention excluding Aussies, Asia, South America, etc. entirely...

Oh and the prizes are the best we have ever done, including for our own Worlds event, so don't miss it!

I am all for having a special thing, but #$@!...at least give me some hope...you can't schedule something like this 2 months out and at one, very limited location and expect people to be excited...

I know that sounds like an entitlement thing and all that, but it just sucks to feel like you cannot participate no matter how much you may want to....

Yeah a west coast and east coast location would have been better.

Unless you live in the midwest

Or the coast opposite from the one that was selected.

Or Hawaii or Alaska.

I think a three man team from each country might have added some flavor and distinguish it from just being the "European World Championship"

As opposed to how many feel that Worlds is the US championship?

Didn't say it wasn't man. There is very little European representation at the world tournament but until you guys build us a transatlantic autobahn (oh please god build a transatlantic autobahn) it just isn't feasible. I'm just saying it would've given the event more depth and distinguished it.

EDIT: Just want to say that the "us" is referring to US & Europe and not just "build stuff for the US because we are better than you" or anything silly like that.

Are you kidding me? I love having a proper European event. We're normally sidelined in favour of the USA, who get all the good gaming events.

I might actually go, if it didn't cost £100 for a train ticket to Birmingham.

Honestly, I think most of my reaction is that I will not be able to even try to get the prizes and having stuff like BB-8 as one of them makes it sting. I would be in favor of this if all 8 locations were in Europe but the prizes were the same ones from Worlds, or if they gave us Yanks the same prizes at Worlds this year.

It actually reminds me of Guri from last year. If they had given her out at multiple Cons across the country instead of at one Con with an "Oh by the way, this is happening" attitude, I would have been more on board even if I couldn't attend the events since I would have felt like I had a chance somewhere to get one.

I just want to note that, as they will be paying for the players to come to the event in London, it may very well have been a business decision to make the majority of qualifying rounds in Europe, as they can get away with paying much lower prices to get players in to London as opposed to if they had events in Australia and more in the US or South America, Canada, etc.

It would be awesome if someone from one of those nations wins one of the events in Europe and forces their hand to pay for what they had planned not to.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

What airline do you fly??? Does it involve sitting with farm animals because there's no $100 roundtrip ticket from CA to O'Hare. Especially with 2 months notice.

FFG: "These are things we would like to do but couldn't this time around."

It's a case of you shouldn't assume incompetence when outside factors are the real reason for the issue.

I mean they have to have LFL approve those alt art cards for example, so it's not like they have all the time they want.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

I agree in general, but you have a total of 2 months to plan/raise money/get time off, have to get a hotel, rental car,, etc. etc. will still cost it out for a vast majority of people.

I might still be able to make it since money is not a major problem for me luckily, but it's still really short notice for all the other factors.

I think it's fantastic what they're doing. Sure, call me an FFG Fanboy or Apologist or whatever, but I've been on the other side of the event trying to pull something out of a magic hat, with too little time, too many people involved all wanting things their way, and a whole ton of people who'll complain about something being done wrong no matter what decision is made.

So, kind of like this.

Being a teenager, I have no chance at being involved in this, I hope they do a good livestreaming it.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

What airline do you fly??? Does it involve sitting with farm animals because there's no $100 roundtrip ticket from CA to O'Hare. Especially with 2 months notice.

$116 on AirFareWatchDog.com.

That moment when you like a game but are still a darn student with no money and no time.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

What airline do you fly??? Does it involve sitting with farm animals because there's no $100 roundtrip ticket from CA to O'Hare. Especially with 2 months notice.

Even a ticket from Detroit is over $200. Or I could spend 5+ hours in the car. Gas is still cheap right?

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

I agree in general, but you have a total of 2 months to plan/raise money/get time off, have to get a hotel, rental car,, etc. etc. will still cost it out for a vast majority of people.

I might still be able to make it since money is not a major problem for me luckily, but it's still really short notice for all the other factors.

Sure, two months isn't a lot of time but if that is all you have to work with wouldn't you rather fly somewhere cheaper?

Two months notice to San Francisco or New York will cost you an arm and a leg.

An exclusive starfield playmat featuring the X-Wing logo and System Open corners! The next time an opponent is about to lay out their playmat, be sure to tell them to keep theirs rolled up. You have something better.

but it's still really short notice for all the other factors.

Sure, but is the other option of simply scrapping it until next year really a better answer? It's safe to assume this will become a yearly event so they'll have dates and the like ready sooner next year.

That said I'd like to see them do a east and west coast event for this, just so people stop complaining about it...

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

What airline do you fly??? Does it involve sitting with farm animals because there's no $100 roundtrip ticket from CA to O'Hare. Especially with 2 months notice.

Even a ticket from Detroit is over $200. Or I could spend 5+ hours in the car. Gas is still cheap right?

If you're going for lowest possible price you could probably jump on the Megabus and get in under $100. Otherwise, yes, driving from Detroit would save you the most money. Stay at an Airbnb when you get there and you could probably get in under $500 for the weekend.

You folks realize that O'Hare airport is one of the largest airports in the country and it's only 15 minutes from the site of the tournament? You can get <$100 round trip tickets to Chicago from just about anywhere in North America. It's centrally located, relatively inexpensive, and can handle large numbers of people.

Why would they consider taking this anywhere else?

I'm not as worried about the location as I am about the timing of the announcement. It's going to end up as a fairly restricted competition, simply because a lot of working adults can't schedule a week off work with so little notice.

That moment when you like a game but are still a darn student with no money and no time.

Imagine how it feels to be a parent!

but it's still really short notice for all the other factors.

Sure, but is the other option of simply scrapping it until next year really a better answer? It's safe to assume this will become a yearly event so they'll have dates and the like ready sooner next year.

That said I'd like to see them do a east and west coast event for this, just so people stop complaining about it...

You know people won't stop complaining about the locations.