Video Rooms

[dd4tlove]

Will there be any vid rooms this year?

[AshFangirlLisa]

I'd like to see video rooms. Ones that play anime for the whole duration of the con.
I rarely see video rooms at cons nowadays.

[dd4tlove]

Last year it was decided that there would be no vid rooms and I stayed, but this year I'll boycott the con if it does not!!! I told some friends of this and they agreed. I'm aware that the vid rooms are not occupied as much as you like, but that's why I attend in the first place. So, if there's no vid room or rooms I'll save my money for AWA

[FuzzyRedPants]

I honestly don't mind if there is no video room.  I watch a lot of anime at home, so I go to cons more for the cosplay aspect.  I might check it out though if there happens to be a video room.

[Gwydion]

Huh, I don't know that I've been to a con without video rooms.  I'll be in the AA so it doesn't really effect me, but having fond memories of seeing things I'd never seen before at previous cons makes me feel a bit sad to hear this.

[dd4tlove]

[size=12Last year Matsuricon was the first con I've ever attended that had no video rooms. I asked someone at their table at this years Ohayocon and was told to place my concern about none in this forum. So, I'm asking, no PLEADING that you have one or two video rooms this year. Let me make the choice of being in the vid room don't take the choice away from me.pt][/size]

[akumakun36]

The staff will be discussing this in the coming weeks, and we will provide an update for you on this. Video Rooms have long been a staple at anime conventions, However, in recent years many cons have started to eliminate the video rooms as other forms of programming have become more popular while the video room populations have dwindled. Two years ago I was among many staffers who witnessed our video rooms have nobody in them for hours. At one point we had groups asking to use our video rooms for completely different purposes since nobody was suing the rooms. WE will definitely take your thoughts into consideration as we debate over the matter. When we do reach a conclusion we will let you know.

Our largest concern for not having video rooms is that they no longer serve the same purpose they once did. Originally the video rooms were one of the few ways to view new anime that wasn't airing anywhere else. Now with how widespread distribution of anime has become, it has rendered the video rooms almost useless. Websites like cruncyroll openly stream anime legally for anyone to view the newest most up to date releases of various anime series. We also have a large demand for panels, guests, and events at our convention.

We will do everything we can to reach a compromise on the issue though. I would like to ask this. What if we had a period of time during the day say 4-6 hours that had the coolest new shows playing. Then after say midnight-2:00am until morning one room was dedicated to playing anime through the night would that work for you? In addition, what if during the day we had hours of panels/events, broken up by an hour of anime viewing?

[BoogieD13]

I really like the idea of set hours for anime showings. It might make people actually want to go the video rooms more because that would be the only time they would be on. I know I really enjoying when there is anime video rooms, that is usually one of the first things I check when I arrive at cons is check and see what is playing in the rooms. I really hope you all decide on way or another to keep video rooms somehow, even if they aren't open all day long.

[vrmlbasic]

I can't say that I'm broken up about the potential loss of video rooms.  I agree that they once served a purpose, I was exposed to shows that I might otherwise never have seen because of them, but that last happened back in 2007.

Now with the ability to stream practically any show we desire to our phones, computers, or the Hyatt's HD TVs via Crunchyroll/Funimation/TAN/Netflix/etc  I think video rooms have outlived their usefulness.

I don't mind having them, though if we can get more guests, panels, and events by not having video rooms then I'd throw the video rooms "under the bus" in a heartbeat.

[Rook]

Panels.
Cosplay.
Guests.
Crowds.
Art tables.
Market floor.
Anime on TV.

One of these things you can do whenever you want to without leaving your house.  And if said thing were to stop appearing at conventions in total, I wouldn't be shaken by it even an instant.  I can watch anime and movies any given day, with or without friends.  I would much rather spend my time at a con doing things I can only do at cons, or in a con-like atmosphere.

[dd4tlove]

The only thing I can say is that I don't have the opportunity to sit and watch anime as I'd like and I'm one of many that the cons still provide the opportunity for me to see new series. I work the vid rooms at AWA, in which there are five, and was introduced to Kenichi and at this years Ohayocon I was introduced to Penguin Diary and finally got to see Best Student Council. I may need them more than others, but I'm sure that I'm not the only one. As far as opening up a room for just certain hours I would like to nix that idea for at least one main vid room and maybe one or two more only open for a time

[KyThalice Strayte]

The Programming Department is trying its best to work around this issue, and we believe we may have found a solution that will keep everyone happy.  Last year we had a small handful of shows scattered for viewing throughout the schedule.  We plan to do the same thing this year, scheduling shows to air before and/or after panels and events surrounding that show.  In addition, after a certain point in the evening one panel room will be entirely devoted to showings.

[dd4tlove]

[size=12 That would be cool, but only if I can know before the con starts what would be shown and when so I'm not looking all over for a viewing room or drive all of the way to Columbus to see things base upon the panels when they are things I've seen before. I would like to see Persona 4, Phi brain among others that are with in this years or at least a year old if you don't mind. About what time would you open up one room for viewing? If it's late I can get a nap before hand.pt][/size]

[Prototype Axl]

It did feel like something was missing without a dedicated Vid room last year, but your 'rotating room' that was done was a good replacement.

[KyThalice Strayte]

I was informed during our last Director meeting that I will have access to an extra room in which to host video showings when autograph sessions and interviews are not running in addition to the scheduled showings we were already planning.