The "before" photo of me. I'm sure someday the "after" picture will surface, much to my dismay!
I suppose the best way to start things out would be to introduce myself. My name's Julie and I'm a mid-twenties college student and avid gamer. R/C/S? High Elf, Illusionist, Unrest (at least for one of my EQII personas.) I've role-played, raided Time, killed Tarinax (been killed by Tarinax. x23). I've even been obliterated by TR forces more than once. Aside from gaming, I've made a plethora of posts detailing my desires and disappointments for various SOE titles. I've been to more Fan Fairs than I'll admit to my non-gamer friends; cornering devs with my concerned and eager questions. So attending the 2007 SOE Community Summit in San Diego should have been far from nerve wracking for me; I was a veteran and engrossed gamer. Yet as of January 16th, I became an employee instead of an outsider!
I came to SOE with a clouded vision of what it meant to be in Community Relations. Like a lot of people, I (falsely) assumed the majority of responsibility rested within the realm of moderating boards. Even this seemingly simple task appealed to me. Through the good times, the great times, and the 'wanting to pull my hair out' times, the SOE Community has always shown itself to be top notch. It was an honor to be able to join such a committed team as an Intern for fifteen weeks.
It was mentioned during my interview that there would be a Summit 'soon' and ever since hearing those words, I'll freely admit that I was completely giddy every moment afterwards. It's not often that you get to sit down with like minded people who know that cheap tequila gives you +15 charisma; people who have a deep understanding of your favorite acronyms; people who won't refer you to a head doctor when you mention that your weekend was whisked away in a dungeon killing Kobolds.
This year's Summit focused on Community, its strengths and weaknesses. Roughly, a group of about twenty players and a matching number of employees gathered at a fabulous hotel (too fabulous for me to stay at without feeling guilty!) and discussed how to improve the Community for everyone.
Before the brainstorming began, we had to have a night of proper introductions. If you've ever had the opportunity to converse with a few dozen gamers at once, you know that certain beverages can hepl bring about the chatter! I tried to contain myself. I met Alex and Rich, who play a healer and tank in EQ respectively. I wanted to unleash on them the stories I had about my first experiences in EverQuest, such as /reporting my vanishing 'No Rent' items in a fit of confusion, but instead I asked them questions about their own gaming experiences.
We're all having fun, but Coyote takes his cocktails seriously!
Meeting with the SWG players, I learned early on that the letters N G E were to be uttered with complete caution! Not because it unfurled unbridled hatred, but because it was obvious that these players were so passionate about their own games, just as I was about mine. Kindred spirits, even if I wore cloth armor and they were decked out in Assault armor or Bounty Hunter gear. Gaming doesn't recognize boundaries!
I had to cut out a bit early after a drink, a couple hours, and more than a few glasses of water. It was 10 p.m.; I had lectures in the morning, and the most important of those involved discussions with the gaming community!
The following day I eagerly arrived in the afternoon (amazingly, without a speeding ticket!) I missed a good chunk of the lively banter, but I was in time to plop myself down in-between Coyote and RadarX from Ten Ton Hammer and listen in on the Podcast/Blog/Fansite discussion. I was simply amazed at how the information was flying throughout the room. Hands went up and pens met paper as voices were heard, offering input and ideas on how to improve things. No one person really dominated the discussions, though Kendrick from WarCry certainly did try! (I jest!) Actually, even I was a little taken aback when I saw John Smedley engaging in these conversations with more knowledge and passion than I thought was allowed for company President.
Later that evening the group gathered in the 'living room' of the hotel for the nightly wine (and beer!) tasting before heading out to Dick's Last Resort, a sort of infamous restaurant popularized by the use of profanity and pesky waiters. It was there I found myself enjoying the company of Spare and Caswydian, an expressive player/critic of SWG and an EQ2 Paladin who plays on my home server. Adorned with hilarious (and not work safe) hats, we chatted away about the pleasures and pains of gaming, all the while being serenaded by the vocals of a classic rock cover band that couldn't have played enough cowbell! Smedley found himself surrounded once again, though probably asking just as many questions as he was answering. I think for every question posed, there was a shot of tequila bought to match! "Bring us your cheapest tequila!" was shouted throughout the night. The pure antics of Friday evening are hazily recalled in Coyote's NOTABlog.
This can be my "add your own caption" photo.
Saturday morning I managed to make it into 'work' before the busses arrived with the raid force of gamers that planned on pillaging the SOE offices. Okay, really they were here for a tour of the facilities and NDA NDA NDA NDA NDA that SOE has been conjuring up. I offered to lead the group, but I'm still a noob myself when it comes to navigating through the three buildings that make up SOE San Diego.
Discussing things I'm not allowed to discuss!
While all the areas here have individual character, trust me when I say that Community has the coolest office space ever! It's set up as a circle of open and overly decorated cubicles. Jason, (or Pex as you SWG fans know him) has the most incredible collection of art, comics, actions figures, books, and things I never knew existed! My desk area looks weak in comparison, but even so I've plotted to raid my workspace once the internship is over, looting the game posters and other shwag I find myself collecting on a daily basis.
After many hours of mingling, we headed back on the busses which (after several attempts) eventually took us to our destination of the docks. A few of us were peering around for a large brass bell to ring.
The only thing that could have made this yacht cooler, would have been a lan party. But I suppose laptops and the open seas don't mix?
Saturday evening was a night of firsts for me. My first time on a pirate ship (yacht I mean), my first time eating crab, and my first (and hopefully last!) time hearing a grown man sing along gleefully to the melody of 'Grease Lightning'. If I absolutely had to pick a favorite event during the Summit, it would have to be this amazing sail through the San Diego Harbor. (A huge thank you deservingly goes out to Jen who put together this amazing weekend, and 'Brenlo' who served as our raid leader, while somehow managing to not lose his voice a single time!)
I've spent the last few days recovering from what has possibly been one of the best weekends ever in my young life, reading the influx of email that recounts the events of the Summit. This weekend has solidified within me the thought that I was never really an outsider in this community. Being a gamer with passion and opinions (good or bad) opens the door for innovation, and you don't need to be an intern or a President to have an effect on this industry. I spend my time (work and personal) delving into discussions and complaints that are expressed on the forums and I can tell you nothing intrigues me more than seeing someone with a new idea or a way to improve on an existing feature. I know that the bonds that are made (whether over cheap tequila at a summit or online over many miles) will always be the driving force that makes SOE the strongest and most passionate community out there.