Fanfest

Thanks to all of the wonderful bloggers for showing us how good FanFest was this year. I'm not going to link them all as the other blog pack members have already done that this week already - but Ombeve and Roc specifically had great reviews up.

I will be going next year, the g/f has approved it, and may do the Sisters of Eve thing, she noticed my sad-face all weekend and realized why, great person she is :) I hope CCP release the dates asap for Fanfest 10 - why? Well, work leave is the only thing that will prevent me making it next year, and both early October and early November (previous Fanfest times) are somewhat contested times to go in my team. My boss likes the Caribbean in Oct/Nov, and my other colleague is actually off this week on a late summer break.

Right now, its only a few weeks until my big Vegas adventure though, so have been setting up ready for this in-game...

I've not been online much though just simply moving minerals and building vast quantities of ships (taking 20 days to build is not uncommon). This is so that I can reduce the mineral stack just a little prior to holiday...

The other big thing, is my annual accounts are due for renewal in November and I'm based in UK. I done the maths, and I've worked out that at the moment its close in price to go back to Timecards compared to buying annually (added to fact paying annually hits wallet a lot harder in Nov). At current exchange rates, a year of time codes = $209 - compared to €131.40 a year on credit card = approx £120 a year. At my banks's current exchange rates, to pounds, time cards = £134 for 360 days (ie time cards = only a 15 quid impact). I think I'll be buying in batches of ETC's - as if the Dollar falls against pound, ETC's will again beat yearly subscription prices with a movement in exchange rates. Link to Shatteredcrystal for those interested in this - disclaimer, I'll get some referral funds - but if you feel like making me happy, click on this link before purchase... I'm taking a risk that dollar will fall relative to pound basically...

No fanfest for me

I'm annoyed.. well a little anyhow.

I'd planned to go to Fanfest this year - and given its usually start of November I'm a bit stuck for this year (despite date not even being announced yet). I'm going to Vegas instead for a wedding on the 5th November - with the pre-and post activities meaning I'll be there from 3rd-10th. Meaning of course I'll miss fanfest if it's at it usual time....

Seems strange to be sad about missing something in 10 months time - but fact is I'd planned for fanfest and had already booked the 2 weeks at start of Nov off - but you never can plan for wedding announcements. Being Vegas too, I doubt I'll even get much of a chance to keep-up on the blog-banter from the fanfest, as I likely won't be taking a laptop with me (instead taking my pap-style camera). As I really enjoyed just following Crazykinux's blog for the period this year - I'll end up having to have a mad recap when I return.

With the Iceland ecomony being a bad currently however, it would be good if CCP announce a fanfest for say Aug/Sept this year (when weather is warmer in Iceland I guess)... I suppose I can dream!

I'll also probably have to postpone any thoughts of being a CSM delegate for another year - without being able to speak to people in person at Fanfest - I don't think it'd be right to become a delegate. I don't want people to think I'm just there for the "free holiday hax" as some people put it!

Good news is I'm about to start booking the Vegas trip..

CCP - Please release fanfest videos

Okay, we have 24 hours downtime. Fanfest has just happened.

Why not... - release the videos from EVE TV of the fanfest presentations. It *may* just keep the EVE population from getting cold turkey withdrawal fever. At least it'll give all the Europeans something to do today. Call me crazy but the guys doing the server work will not be the EVE TV guys, nor the website content guys, so I really can't see why they can't do this.

Myself - well, I'm at work (this was written by email on the train on way to work), but er, once I get home, I'd love some fanfest videos in decent quality. Crazykinux done a great job doing videos and pics on his site during fanfest... but they are not the best quality, which I'm sure he'll admit.

If this doesn't happen, tonight/today I'll be doing non EVE related things for once, including catching up on the mountain of TV waiting to be watched on my Sky+.

What are you planning in downtime?