What happened?
I mean
A- why wasn't there a Livestream of the event, i was looking forward to watching those this weekend and even cancelled some plans to do so...
B- Also who won?
This was set up as this huge thing and thus far I have seen no coverage of it and that's kind of disappointing
there was some live report on twitter and tumblr by FFG and the 186th Sqd guys.
https://twitter.com/FFGOP
The winner was Piotr from Poland (Endor winner).
Here's the short story
A) basically, broadcasting rights - SWCE was the biggest Star Wars event of the year and broadcasting copyrighted materials in an environment like the ExCel centre are taken seriously. A "little livestream"still requires the proper permits. These permits were apparently applied for too late. (that is second hand information, but the source is trusted)
B) Piotr from Poland won. Some great games - Jesper Hills and Alex Birt live tweeted the event - you can see the results on the 186th podcast
FFG are aware of all the concerns. They've got 6 other competitive game systems they have to pay attention to as well, and are trying to please everyone across the board.
The system open had logistical issues beyond their control and the teams did what they could to provide the best experience possible for the players first and spectators second (as it should be)
Bottom line is that lessons have been learned and next year has every intention to be better
The 186th guys did a great job of trying to stay on top of 4 simultaneous games among an ever increasing crowd. Yes, a livestream would have been awesome, but even seeing the squadlists and pics from each game was better than nothing. The turn by turn pics from the last match really allowed you to see how it played out.
What was the winning list?
The power is out at my house and live streams and picture heavy sites kill my data usage thanks for understanding.
Edited by CubanboyLooks like Piotr had:
Dengar, Punishing One, PTL, Engine Upgrade, Gonk, Feedback Array, R5P8
Guri,Virago, PTL, Autothrusters, Sensor Jammer.
Considering the expense of hosting this event, the lack of any meaningful official coverage is quite surprising, and from a fans perspective, an enormous missed opportunity.
Frankly, the only way this could have happened is if there were no professional resources allocated to it. No marketing professional in their right mind would have not taken advantage of the opportunity presented here with one of their top properties.
I'm sure there is a lot more to the story than is being brought out, but it's nonetheless a shame these top players did not receive live treatment of some sort.
Considering the expense of hosting this event, the lack of any meaningful official coverage is quite surprising, and from a fans perspective, an enormous missed opportunity.
Frankly, the only way this could have happened is if there were no professional resources allocated to it. No marketing professional in their right mind would have not taken advantage of the opportunity presented here with one of their top properties.
I'm sure there is a lot more to the story than is being brought out, but it's nonetheless a shame these top players did not receive live treatment of some sort.
Hopefully Mynock, or Back to Dials, or S&V, etc. will pick some these guys up for a post-game interview.
Here's the short story
A) basically, broadcasting rights - SWCE was the biggest Star Wars event of the year and broadcasting copyrighted materials in an environment like the ExCel centre are taken seriously. A "little livestream"still requires the proper permits. These permits were apparently applied for too late. (that is second hand information, but the source is trusted)
B) Piotr from Poland won. Some great games - Jesper Hills and Alex Birt live tweeted the event - you can see the results on the 186th podcast
FFG are aware of all the concerns. They've got 6 other competitive game systems they have to pay attention to as well, and are trying to please everyone across the board.
The system open had logistical issues beyond their control and the teams did what they could to provide the best experience possible for the players first and spectators second (as it should be)
Bottom line is that lessons have been learned and next year has every intention to be better
I think that A) is pretty embarrassing for them regardless of the excuses and if it was within their control. This was one of their most unique events and they should have figured out how they were going to show it to people before they had even announced. I really appreciate FFG but I think it's hard to give them a pass on this one, especially shortly after another debacle of Worlds sign ups.
I think that A) is pretty embarrassing for them regardless of the excuses and if it was within their control. This was one of their most unique events and they should have figured out how they were going to show it to people before they had even announced. I really appreciate FFG but I think it's hard to give them a pass on this one, especially shortly after another debacle of Worlds sign ups.Here's the short story
A) basically, broadcasting rights - SWCE was the biggest Star Wars event of the year and broadcasting copyrighted materials in an environment like the ExCel centre are taken seriously. A "little livestream"still requires the proper permits. These permits were apparently applied for too late. (that is second hand information, but the source is trusted)
B) Piotr from Poland won. Some great games - Jesper Hills and Alex Birt live tweeted the event - you can see the results on the 186th podcast http://www.186th.org/
FFG are aware of all the concerns. They've got 6 other competitive game systems they have to pay attention to as well, and are trying to please everyone across the board.
The system open had logistical issues beyond their control and the teams did what they could to provide the best experience possible for the players first and spectators second (as it should be)
Bottom line is that lessons have been learned and next year has every intention to be better
Don't get me wrong I still love ffg and will continue to buy their products religiously
But I think the community does have the right to be disappointed with them especially after they spent the better part of the year advertising this event and building up the idea of watching it
It was out of their control fine but they still are responsible for not getting the proper aproval ahead of time.
Still love yah ffg and I look forward to watching next years as I will probably not win a spot lol
Edited by TailsgodYeah it is most certainly odd the way it was run in the end, especially after they made a big song and Dance about the selection of the required ships and the amazing coverage at some of the qualifiers.
Additionally it seems almost comical that after all the effort the players put in to qualify, and the cost of FFG to fly them all to the event, the format was little more than a 3 game mini round robin with a single game final.
I was expecting something like a full 8 player round robin (7 rounds) followed by a best of 3 final pitting each of the top players faction lists against each other.
To think it was all over after 4 rounds was very strange indeed.
I know I am going on here, but ...
Wasn't the whole point of the fans selecting the ships so that the fans could actually SEE them in ACTION?
FFG manages some tweets??
FFG knew the time and place of this event for what, 1 year? Plenty of time to get anything sorted out, he'll, even picking a new time and place if needed.
Yet they didn't. Huge missed opportunity IMO.
FFG knew the time and place of this event for what, 1 year? Plenty of time to get anything sorted out, he'll, even picking a new time and place if needed.
Yet they didn't. Huge missed opportunity IMO.
I'm sure they're aware of that. Unfortunately, it's also FFG's first time directly running a major event in the EU, at an official Disney festival. They didn't even know there were specific guidelines they had to follow, otherwise I'm sure they would have made sure those I's were dotted and T's were crossed.
Picking a new time and place was never an option, though. This was to be held during Star Wars Celebration in London. Any other time or place would have meant not holding it at Star Wars Celebration in London, which was the whole point of the event.
Picking a new time and place was never an option, though. This was to be held during Star Wars Celebration in London. Any other time or place would have meant not holding it at Star Wars Celebration in London, which was the whole point of the event.
Given the actual choice FFG had: hold it at Star Wars Celebration with no streaming or hold it someplace else with streaming I fail to see what the benefit was for going with the first option. For generic star Wars fans (for whom the System Open series is unknown) any 8 guys demoing the game would have worked the same or better, but for the X-wing community, no streaming cost FFG at least some goodwill so it's not unlikely that the overall effect on FFG's image has been negative.
Edited by LordBladesLooks like Piotr had:
Dengar, Punishing One, PTL, Engine Upgrade, Gonk, Feedback Array, R5P8
Guri,Virago, PTL, Autothrusters, Sensor Jammer.
I believe that is right, except Guri had Lone Wolf, a key change.
Lone Wolf is the best EPT for Guri and I'm glad this was proved by winning.
At least Guri gets to win one major tournament before being sent back to 'just out of the cut land.'
Dengar is just amazing most any way you build him.
I'm sure they're aware of that. Unfortunately, it's also FFG's first time directly running a major event in the EU, at an official Disney festival. They didn't even know there were specific guidelines they had to follow, otherwise I'm sure they would have made sure those I's were dotted and T's were crossed.FFG knew the time and place of this event for what, 1 year? Plenty of time to get anything sorted out, he'll, even picking a new time and place if needed.
Yet they didn't. Huge missed opportunity IMO.
Picking a new time and place was never an option, though. This was to be held during Star Wars Celebration in London. Any other time or place would have meant not holding it at Star Wars Celebration in London, which was the whole point of the event.
Let's not pretend everything is ok - FFG marketing screwed up, even more so that they did not even bother with a "sorry", just acted like nothing happened.
Picking a new time and place was never an option, though. This was to be held during Star Wars Celebration in London. Any other time or place would have meant not holding it at Star Wars Celebration in London, which was the whole point of the event.
Given the actual choice FFG had: hold it at Star Wars Celebration with no streaming or hold it someplace else with streaming I fail to see what the benefit was for going with the first option. For generic star Wars fans (for whom the System Open series is unknown) any 8 guys demoing the game would have worked the same or better, but for the X-wing community, no streaming cost FFG at least some goodwill so it's not unlikely that the overall effect on FFG's image has been negative.
It's more than likely the effect was quite positive as their presence at SWCE gave them a ton of exposure to people who might otherwise never even have known about the game.
Given the actual choice FFG had: hold it at Star Wars Celebration with no streaming or hold it someplace else with streaming I fail to see what the benefit was for going with the first option. For generic star Wars fans (for whom the System Open series is unknown) any 8 guys demoing the game would have worked the same or better, but for the X-wing community, no streaming cost FFG at least some goodwill so it's not unlikely that the overall effect on FFG's image has been negative.Picking a new time and place was never an option, though. This was to be held during Star Wars Celebration in London. Any other time or place would have meant not holding it at Star Wars Celebration in London, which was the whole point of the event.
It's more than likely the effect was quite positive as their presence at SWCE gave them a ton of exposure to people who might otherwise never even have known about the game.
Personally, I'd guess 8 guys playing casually (even better, playing iconic ships like X-wings, TIE Fighters or yt-1300), even stopping from time to time to answer questions would have been better for exposure than times tournament games.
Edited by LordBlades
i reckon they got a ton of sales out of us playing in such a public space. i spent half the time talking to parents and kids about what we were doing. i'd love to blame that for my poor performance, but actually, i just played quite badly
the best was this really sweet little girl dressed in a brilliant Rey costume. she just stood next to me quietly and watched my entire first game, mumbling to herself and asking the occasional question. at the end, her mum came and thanked me, telling me that she is autistic and that she loves playing the game at home.
Edited by atr127
Their presence yes. Having Coruscant (as opposed to anything else) there I'd guess not.
Given the actual choice FFG had: hold it at Star Wars Celebration with no streaming or hold it someplace else with streaming I fail to see what the benefit was for going with the first option. For generic star Wars fans (for whom the System Open series is unknown) any 8 guys demoing the game would have worked the same or better, but for the X-wing community, no streaming cost FFG at least some goodwill so it's not unlikely that the overall effect on FFG's image has been negative.Picking a new time and place was never an option, though. This was to be held during Star Wars Celebration in London. Any other time or place would have meant not holding it at Star Wars Celebration in London, which was the whole point of the event.
It's more than likely the effect was quite positive as their presence at SWCE gave them a ton of exposure to people who might otherwise never even have known about the game.
Personally, I'd guess 8 guys playing casually (even better, playing iconic ships like X-wings, TIE Fighters or yt-1300), even stopping from time to time to answer questions would have been better for exposure than times tournament games.
Based on the FFG stand at UKGE, a few guys playing casually and being willing to stop and let passersby have a go themselves is the ideal format for demoing x-wing. They were getting a tonne of traffic.
And yeah, I am super disappointed that I couldn't stay in and watch this. I would have really liked to.
Edited by thespaceinvaderi reckon they got a ton of sales out of us playing in such a public space. i spent half the time talking to parents and kids about what we were doing. i'd love to blame that for my poor performance, but actually, i just played quite badly
the best was this really sweet little girl dressed in a brilliant Rey costume. she just stood next to me quietly and watched my entire first game, mumbling to herself and asking the occasional question. at the end, her mum came and thanked me, telling me that she is autistic and that she loves playing the game at home.
That's pretty cool. Saw some of those pics via the 186th and she looked adorable
As a fan and spectator lucky enough to be there (I watched the whole 3rd round of round-robin, mostly watching tom reed's table, you can see a picture of me watching that game on the FFGOP twitter, and the first half of the final -.) I think FFGOP probably did about as well as could be expected in the circumstances - Usually for these sorts of things, FFG are running the whole event (worlds) or are one of the biggest draws. That was very much not the case here, having to fit into a huge event with a small space within it. The hall was very noisy, highly trafficked (it was adjacent to the tattoo area) and setting things up for a stream needs the opposite of those things.
As far as the event format itself, I think it was the right one - keeping it to four games ensured a one-day event (the event halls closed at 7PM) which meant that the winners could actually enjoy the prize of spending time enjoying the event and not going to it but spending the whole time sat on a chair playing x-wing.
I guess another thing, regarding format, is that this event (if it continues next year) and Worlds now exist in a slightly uneasy competition with each other - Which is the premier event that carries the greatest bragging rights? You can make a strong case for either.
The following day I came back to the stand and played a pickup game with a guy from boston which was fun. got some admiring looks from passers-by (and the FFGOP staffers) for my custom-painted Poe.
The whole idea of moving the invitational out of the event misses the point - it was all about making it part of this huge festival with a million amazing SW things going on in each direction. At one point on saturday afternoon I heard a cheer from a distance away and a few minutes later checked my phone, and it had been the response to the announcement of Thrawn coming to Rebels.
I'm positive about the whole thing - X-wing as a game continues to grow and get bigger, and long may that continue.
Edited by RftThat's pretty cool. Saw some of those pics via the 186th and she looked adorable
This was my favourite one I took; everyone pauses while she dispenses some invaluable tactical advice. It was just too dang cute.
