Tortured Earth

  This weekend, we are in Council Bluffs, Iowa vending at O-Con Expo. It's a multipurpose convention located on the western side of Iowa.  Several things are playing into this convention. First, there's a flood. The Missouri River is inundated with runoff from a series of storms plaguing the area. Although there is a large number of people here, spending is not very generous. I have a feeling the flood has caused people to be a little more cautious with their surplus equity. For those not involved with the retail, it might seem this to be an unrelated event. However, for attendees, natural disasters will directly impact spending habits. This is a factor to which we cannot fault the convention organizer. Secondly, we have game sessions running throughout the convention. The crowd is very receptive to the game and its overall concept. The demos are stimulating interest in the game - making the convention a target for a return visit. We seem to have picked up a few fans and I'...

We are finally back on track. Last week was really rough for us. My father passed away on Monday as we were on our way to Montana and had to turn around to make it for the funeral. This week has been dedicated to cleaning up the financial and federal matters that always surface in the wake of death.  On top of this, on the way back from Montana, we hit a massive pothole in Shreveport and blew out a tire. Once we finally got back home, we find out a seal on the axle was blown. Of course, we had it fixed. While leaving for Jackson, MS, the other seal blows. We are waiting to leave, hoping the seals can be fixed by noon. Fortunately, we have a good working relationship with VXV events, so they are willing to stay a little late to allow us to finish setup. For those of you in the Jackson, MS take a look at the guests list: Mississippi Comic Con . This is one of the best shows we go to in the region. The vendor coordinator graciously gave us a spot to run game sessions, so we'll have at...

  One of the persistent requests made of us has been the development of instructional videos detailing the finer points of the game system. Our ability to produces these has been dependent on funds to outsource the project as neither Kevin nor I have any real experience in the process.  Fortunately, we live in an age where tools are being developed that will give independent developers a chance at producing quality videos. Understand, I'm not calling my work quality as of yet. However, with the development of AI voiceovers, we are hoping to transform the videos into something more presentable.  I recognize the fact I can write and visually design the production. However, my accent and annunciation of the English language has room for improvement. We are hoping to get a series of these videos out there with the intent of turning their production over to AI voiceovers. With any luck, we'll be able to modify the videos and improve the sound quality. As far as content, I feel...

I’ll start by saying that attending the Iron City Comic Con was well worth the effort. The show was packed with attendees, the crowd's energy remained high throughout, and the guests were both engaging and entertaining. Even the convention staff were friendly and helpful. Overall, it was an excellent event.  I believe the show will continue to grow and evolve in the coming years. The organizers have a track record of entering a new area, putting on a great show in the first year, and then spending the subsequent years refining and enhancing the event until it becomes well-rounded. The next few years should bring interesting changes to the Iron City Comic Con. It's definitely something to keep an eye on if you're traveling through the area. This week, we're preparing for Billings Fun Con in Billings, Montana, which takes place from June 14th to June 16th, 2024. Our plan is to create a few more mystery boxes for the show, send some flags off for printing, and leave on Sun...

Today we managed to get in early and complete the setup in a reasonable amount of time. The convention floor is not nearly the size of Momocon but the convention layout is familiar. One of the nice things about a smaller show is the ability of the attendee to experience all the show has to offer. The problem with a smaller show is the attendee can experience everything the show has to offer.  To compensate for this, the show runner is under a constant pressure to make sure the show is new and different every year. One of the reasons I enjoy vending at VXV events is for this reason. They do change things up and make sure the show is a new experience each time. Not only in rotating guests but also in the format of the show, panels, and cosplay personalities.  Of course, seeing familiar faces and having worked with not only the staff but the other vendors for a decade helps out as well. Most of the vendors here are counted among friends. We've become a sort of gypsy family that r...