Game Cons: anyone been?

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 10th May 2010, 6:49 PM

Has anyone been to game/nerd conventions in the US like PAX? cos I would like to go but have no idea on where to start

Duff Man · 11th May 2010, 6:55 AM

hmmmm... buy an airline ticket first????

Zerstorer · 11th May 2010, 12:34 PM

1. Wait for tickets to go on sale
2. Buy ticket
3. Buy plane ticket.
4. Book hotel room.
5. Think for yourself for 5 minutes.

supasaiyan · 11th May 2010, 1:11 PM

i went to E3 a couple of years ago... it was pretty good but only cos my friend works for square and got to go to the vip section

the actual show itself was ok, you have to wait like 30mins to play a game for 10mins and there is presentations 3-4 times a day

you do get a heap of free stuff though (lan yards, keyrings, t-shirts, demo's) and there is heaps of cosplay people which was awesome

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 11th May 2010, 5:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duff Man

hmmmm... buy an airline ticket first????

no DUH! LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerstorer

1. Wait for tickets to go on sale
2. Buy ticket
3. Buy plane ticket.
4. Book hotel room.
5. Think for yourself for 5 minutes.

I mean do you need a visa to enter the US? I dunno if you do.

Zerstorer · 11th May 2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

I mean do you need a visa to enter the US? I dunno if you do.

Clearly a game console forum is the right place to ask this, rather than just using Google and seeing in a matter of seconds that yes, you do need a Visa to enter the US.

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 11th May 2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerstorer

Clearly a game console forum is the right place to ask this, rather than just using Google and seeing in a matter of seconds that yes, you do need a Visa to enter the US.

awwww...man, boo to visas!

EDIT: had a look at the consular website and getting a visa looks complicated enough

trop · 12th May 2010, 7:28 AM

Umm pretty sure u don't need a visa if u have an aussie passport. I'v been to the USA 5-6 times in the last 10 years and I don't remember ever having to get a visa, unless the travel agent has just taken care of it for me.

Your best bet would be to pick up the phone and ring a travel agent.

You'd also have to check the shows website to see if its open to the public or not, the automotive shows I have been to in the US have been industry only.

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 12th May 2010, 7:43 AM

PAX (prime and east) is open to the public.

Zerstorer · 12th May 2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trop

Umm pretty sure u don't need a visa if u have an aussie passport. I'v been to the USA 5-6 times in the last 10 years and I don't remember ever having to get a visa, unless the travel agent has just taken care of it for me.

Ah, well this is a perfect example why asking here is stupid.

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 12th May 2010, 5:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerstorer

Ah, well this is a perfect example why asking here is stupid.

ok, though now i'll rephrase the question:

"to those that have been to game convention overseas, what were your experiences like?"

Franc · 16th May 2010, 8:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerstorer

Ah, well this is a perfect example why asking here is stupid.

Nah, if you sneak in via a submarine, you never need a visa. No worries.

Murmandamus · 19th May 2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerstorer

Ah, well this is a perfect example why asking here is stupid.

Yes, because my couple seconds googling finds that he'd be unlikely to need a visa

"Most Australians traveling on business or tourism for less than 90 days do not require a visa."

http://canberra.usembassy.gov/visa_waiver_prog.html

As mentioned, a travel agent will sort that stuff out for you.

Personally, I can't see it being worth a trip to the US just to go to PAX, but if I was planning a holiday and it was on while I was there I'd certainly consider working it into the schedule.

funkthis · 19th May 2010, 12:30 PM

Yeah, you don't need a Visa to travel to the US as long as it's under 90 days and you don't have a criminal record.

ni9ht_5ta1k3r · 19th May 2010, 5:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murmandamus

Personally, I can't see it being worth a trip to the US just to go to PAX, but if I was planning a holiday and it was on while I was there I'd certainly consider working it into the schedule.

well, it would give me the reason to visit the US for the first time. i also intend to stay at least 3-4 days after PAX to check out the space needle and other touristy things as well as do some shopping for blu-rays, PS3 games and the like hehe

then i don't get the ESTA thing as they say on the site "apply if you're visiting for 90 days or less and for business or pleasure".

10th May 2010, 6:49 PM	#1
ni9ht_5ta1k3r Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Slicin' & dicin'! Posts: 19,349	Game Cons: anyone been? Has anyone been to game/nerd conventions in the US like PAX? cos I would like to go but have no idea on where to start __________________ XBOX Live/Steam: The Gh0sts - PSN: TheGhosts - Origin: Th3_Gh0sts HTPC: Prodigy HTPC \| Main PC: Armor A30 Work & Gaming PC \| My Portfolio - KL-23 Media

11th May 2010, 6:55 AM	#2
Duff Man Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,847	hmmmm... buy an airline ticket first???? __________________ Intel Core I7 920 DO - Asus P6T - 6g Corsair 1600 - Windows 7 Professional - Noctua UH12p SE2 - 600w Modular PSU - Gigabyte ATI HD5770 - 1TB Sata - 500mb Sata - 360gb Sata - 160g IDE - 1 x Samsung KREON - 1 x Pioneer 112D DVD Writer - CM690 CASE

12th May 2010, 7:28 AM	#8
trop Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,566	Umm pretty sure u don't need a visa if u have an aussie passport. I'v been to the USA 5-6 times in the last 10 years and I don't remember ever having to get a visa, unless the travel agent has just taken care of it for me. Your best bet would be to pick up the phone and ring a travel agent. You'd also have to check the shows website to see if its open to the public or not, the automotive shows I have been to in the US have been industry only. __________________ Trades

12th May 2010, 7:43 AM	#9
ni9ht_5ta1k3r Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Slicin' & dicin'! Posts: 19,349	PAX (prime and east) is open to the public. __________________ XBOX Live/Steam: The Gh0sts - PSN: TheGhosts - Origin: Th3_Gh0sts HTPC: Prodigy HTPC \| Main PC: Armor A30 Work & Gaming PC \| My Portfolio - KL-23 Media

11th May 2010, 12:34 PM	#3
Zerstorer Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Central Coast, NSW Posts: 4,617	1. Wait for tickets to go on sale 2. Buy ticket 3. Buy plane ticket. 4. Book hotel room. 5. Think for yourself for 5 minutes.

11th May 2010, 1:11 PM	#4
supasaiyan Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 3000 Posts: 1,441	i went to E3 a couple of years ago... it was pretty good but only cos my friend works for square and got to go to the vip section the actual show itself was ok, you have to wait like 30mins to play a game for 10mins and there is presentations 3-4 times a day you do get a heap of free stuff though (lan yards, keyrings, t-shirts, demo's) and there is heaps of cosplay people which was awesome

19th May 2010, 12:30 PM	#14
funkthis Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Adelaide Posts: 601	Yeah, you don't need a Visa to travel to the US as long as it's under 90 days and you don't have a criminal record.