CivCon 09 Cancelled

[Thunderfall]

Below is a message from DanQ regarding the cancellation of CivCon 09:

Speaking on behalf of the CivCon '09 Committee, it is with regret that we inform you that this event has been canceled. The reason for coming to this unfortunate decision was due to low registration numbers, even during the 'early bird' period which ended this past Tuesday. Further, lower interest and availability still was received to participate in the multiplayer tournaments, which were to have made up a considerable portion of the event's itinerary.

Thank you to those of you who expressed interest in this event, and an additional nod of appreciation to those of you who did register. Refunds for registration payments, minus applicable PayPal fees, are to be issued within the next few business days -- contact Treasurer Joe "joebreeves" Reeves (joe.reeves@gmail.com) if you have any concerns in this regard. For hotel and any other reservations (e.g. airfare), you will need to cancel them yourselves. Check the terms of these bookings to ensure that you cancel before you are charged for the service.

It had been hoped that registration numbers would have been plentiful enough to see CivCon '09 realized, but unfortunately that has been proven not to be the case. Hopefully there will be further convention opportunities in the future, and that they will come to pass to ultimately become ApolyCon '06's successors.

 

[V. Soma]

Sad news

One of my hopes was this event to make some "noise"... (as for the case of cv5)

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

Is there any chance to make something like this in Europe? Or if possible make it on the east coast so dudes like me can actually seriously think about coming. Early October would be good time I think...

My bad IT WAS on the east coast!!!

 

[Moosezilla]

An idea might be to include it as part of a larger event. This was done with Dipcon as part of Origins and Gencon. (tms)

 

[jasonstarr]

civ con could be held at E3

 

[Rub'Rum]

Again, Firaxis needs to make some announcements to generate excitement.

 

[DanQ]

Sad news

Yep.

One of my hopes was this event to make some "noise"... (as for the case of cv5)

Before the event was canceled, Firaxis informed the Committee that they were not to be making any such announcements and I passed that on publicly thereafter.

Is there any chance to make something like this in Europe? Or if possible make it on the east coast so dudes like me can actually seriously think about coming. Early October would be good time I think...

July/August is prime time for such an event, in North America anyway, given that many have vacation from work and/or school during this time. The desirability to have it in Hunt Valley, Maryland was its proximity to Civilization IV developer Firaxis Games' headquarters.

When you say "make it on the east coast", are you referring to somewhere else than the United States? Maryland is on the country's east coast.

An idea might be to include it as part of a larger event. This was done with Dipcon as part of Origins and Gencon. (tms)

I don't think that's necessary -- a Civilization convention has come about before -- nor do I personally find that enticing.

civ con could be held at E3

I don't see how that would be feasible, or desirable even as it is open only to those with "direct, and current[,] professional affiliation to the interactive entertainment industry".

 

[TheBadSeed]

Sad to hear this was cancelled. I'm a little disappointed, though, that no announcements were made on the other CIV4 fan sites.

I think it's apparent that most of us stick with one site or another dependent on the nature of our interest regarding the game. We didn't hear anything about this in the multi-player community until late June, early July and even with such short notice, we had 5-6 people ready to go.

I know this wasnt deliberate exclusion, but it seems that someone could have popped over to the MP forums and made an announcement.

 

[DanQ]

Sad to hear this was cancelled. I'm a little disappointed, though, that no announcements were made on the other CIV4 fan sites.

I think it's apparent that most of us stick with one site or another dependent on the nature of our interest regarding the game. We didn't hear anything about this in the multi-player community until late June, early July and even with such short notice, we had 5-6 people ready to go.

I know this wasnt deliberate exclusion, but it seems that someone could have popped over to the MP forums and made an announcement.

Announcements were made on Apolyton and WePlayCiv in addition to here at CFC, but yes none was made at CivPlayers MP Ladder League -- that was indeed an unintentional oversight. How many of the people ready to go you note had registered?

 

[Hygro]

I read the civcon alert briefly, but given the description, it looked like a lot of money for very little content, plus a lan party. Did anyone else feel this way?

 

[TheBadSeed]

Announcements were made on Apolyton and WePlayCiv in addition to here at CFC, but yes none was made at CivPlayers MP Ladder League -- that was indeed an unintentional oversight. How many of the people ready to go you note had registered?

3 claimed they registered and arranged transportation. A few others were making arrangements around the same time it was cancelled.

 

[RedRalph]

Again, Firaxis needs to make some announcements to generate excitement.

True. I reckon if this was planned after the next Friaxis game is announced, plenty would sign up for it

 

[Öjevind Lång]

I read the civcon alert briefly, but given the description, it looked like a lot of money for very little content, plus a lan party. Did anyone else feel this way?

Yes, I. I'm a confirmed single player, but I might be interested in a Civcom which wasn't all about playing games against others.

 

[Powerslave]

Speaking bluntly, it looked way too expensive for the meager amount of content. This is speaking as someone who is moving to Baltimore this week. I don't know. Maybe I would have attended anyways, since I could walk to the convention, but it seems as though it was merely an expensive LAN party with some non-celebrity guests (Jon Shafer? Who's he?).

Next time, get someone like Brian Reynelds, Sid Meier, or Soren Johnson.

Also, if there's nothing to do and nothing to discuss (such as Civ 5 announcements), maybe having a convention isn't the right action.

 

[DanQ]

Speaking bluntly, it looked way too expensive for the meager amount of content. This is speaking as someone who is moving to Baltimore this week. I don't know.

I agree that the registration cost was not cheap. However, that cost was as much as it was in order to recoup costs; had the number of registrants been such that registration fees were in excess of that, participants would have received a partial refund. Attendance at the previous Civ convention was ultimately used as a primary benchmark for projected attendance numbers.

The most expensive part of participation for most would have been travel and accommodation, not the registration fee itself, both of which the Committee had little-to-no control over. If the registration period had been able to start sooner, there would have been more time for planning time-wise and saving money-wise.

Maybe I would have attended anyways, since I could walk to the convention, but it seems as though it was merely an expensive LAN party with some non-celebrity guests (Jon Shafer? Who's he?).

Next time, get someone like Brian Reynelds, Sid Meier, or Soren Johnson.

At ApolyCon '06, Sid, Brian and Soren were all in attendance; unfortunately, that was not possible this time (though in Soren's case, his being on the West Coast now would have made his participation prohibitive regardless). The Committee recognizes that this was a significant factor in interest and commitment generation in the event. Jon Shafer was one of the Lead Designers on Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword, and has been with Firaxis since 2005.

Also, if there's nothing to do and nothing to discuss (such as Civ 5 announcements), maybe having a convention isn't the right action.

There was a Warlords preview at A'06, and that was a pleasant surprise to attendees including Committee members (that is, not known it was going to happen until it actually started to happen). There would have been no new game developments to discuss at this event, true, but there were things to experience and do as the to-have-been agenda outlined... it was a matter of personal preference as well as ability to attend based on it as is the case with any such gathering.

 

[cephalo]

There's been some expansion packs over the years, (Let's face it, Col was an expansion pack) but it's been a very long time since we had a new Civ. Expansion packs just can't hold people's enthusiasm forever. Some kind of exciting announcement might of done this event some good.

 

[RedRalph]

True. CivIV is a great game, but its been out for nearly 5 years at this stage. It's time for a new one.

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

There's been some expansion packs over the years, (Let's face it, Col was an expansion pack) but it's been a very long time since we had a new Civ. Expansion packs just can't hold people's enthusiasm forever. Some kind of exciting announcement might of done this event some good.

Well I did notice annoucements and advises for people interested in making a game so perhaps if anybody wants CIV5 then he has to make it!

 

[RedRalph]

Gamescon is coming up, maybe Firazis will announce something at that

 

[V. Soma]

Gamescon is coming up, maybe Firazis will announce something at that

When will be this event?