[arg_discuss] ARGFest! Details!

[Brooke Thompson]

Hey ARG-SIG,

The dates & location for ARGFest 2010 have been announced! You're  
going to want to clear your calendar for July 15-18 and start looking  
for a flight to Atlanta because you're not going to want to miss it  
this year. Trust me.

ARGFest
July 15-18
Atlanta GA

Yes, you are seeing that right... it is four days! We've expanded the  
conference portion to two full days and added a two day game festival.  
The conference sessions will be on Thursday & Friday with the game  
festival taking over the weekend. There may be some blurring of it  
all, but that's the gist. And it's going to be a blast.

For the first time, we're officially accepting suggestions for panels/ 
sessions. We're really excited to see what comes in, especially now  
that discussions on ARGs (and transmedia as a whole) are really  
advancing. There's far less defining and more talking of issues and  
processes and possibilities. That's going to help make ARGFest amazing  
and one of the best conferences of the year for this sort of stuff.

We're also accepting games and other playful experiences for the games  
festival. Personally, I'm actually hoping that the festival is the  
bigger draw - I think it's a great way to bring folks in and introduce  
them to the alternate reality gaming integrating storytelling  
transmedia experience sort of world without making it complicated or  
requiring any long term commitments (or use of words like integrated  
realty transmedia story game experience). Plus, it's a really good way  
for us to interact outside of email and conference rooms (or, worse,  
conference calls!).

It's going to be a crazy four days - lots of fun, lots of thinking,  
lots catching up with folks and meeting new ones. But, in order for it  
all to happen... we need help!

Urgently and at the top of the list is money. If anyone is interested  
in sponsorship, let me know. We've got several great opportunities  
that we've thought of but would gladly work with you, your company,  
and/or your clients to find a great fit. Since we're practically, if  
not legally, a not-for-profit, we have no funds with which to secure  
venues until we open registration which we don't want to do until we  
have the venues secured. I have no doubt that this is all going to  
come together and that it's going to be great, we just need that  
initial boost to get it going. So, any immediate help is going to have  
the most impact and be most appreciated. Get in touch with me ASAP if  
you are interested and able on that front.

And finally - I cannot wait! It's going to be really incredible this  
year and I encourage all of you to attend. I can't explain it, but I  
just have a feeling that this is the year you do not want to miss. If  
you have any questions, feel free to ask. And if you want to get  
involved, let me know (especially if you have PR experience and/or  
contacts that you'd be willing to share ;))

links for your convenience:
      website: http://2010.argfestocon.com
      panel submission: http://2010.argfestocon.com/conference/submission/
      game submission: http://2010.argfestocon.com/festival/submission/

See you in July!


Brooke Thompson
ARGFest 2010
www.argfest.com

email: brooke at giantmice.com
mobile: 321.277.7613