QuakeCon is held in Downtown Dallas in the Hilton Anatole, an absolutely massive and extraordinarily beautiful hotel complex that spans about four multi-story buildings. The first thing you notice as you pull up to the hotel is that there are a great number of cars with Halo, WoW, Nintendo and other assorted nerdy bumperstickers filling the parking lots. Then the discerning eye begins to notice the hordes of black t-shirted young gentlemen of dubious facial hair meandering about the grounds, many of them carrying modded-out cases and boxes with monitors, keyboards and the dollar meals from the local fast food restaurants. On a comedy aside, just because QuakeCon utilizes part of the hotel’s grounds does not mean that it rents out all of it, and this year, QC shared the space with the Mary Kay Pearl seminars as well as the Pentecostal Church (who arrive tomorrow). Such a motley crew has rarely been assembled!

The hordes of Quake Wars clad occupants only thicken on the walk through the hotel to the registration desks on the opposite side of the grounds, and the area around registration is chock full of computers and the aroma of excitement, energy drinks and perspiration. QuakeCon is very serious about baggage checking, and will examine your personal items on your way in, on your way out and in pretty much every fashion imaginable as you make your way around the BYOC area. BYOC is an absolutely gigantic room established as a LAN center for the duration of the convention. The floor is riddled with powerstrips and wires and every space is taken up by computers running every game imaginable. Pirate flags hang from some of the stations, and bizarre mod cases adorn the aisles. Last year, there was a lifesize Optimus Prime. The room is almost totally dark, except for the twinkle of screens and the huge announcement projections lighting up the walls.

Popularity: 1% [?]

CONTINUE TO PAGE: 1 2