AGDQ19 recap

In total contrast to last year, I ended up spending most of this GDQ by myself. I think most of the people I usually hang around were busy with other groups or other stuff in general (lots are on staff or have multiple volunteering positions). Only entered two tournaments, Puzzle Bobble and PPL, placed low as usual in both lol.

The handful of panels I went to were great and I hope the event continues to have them. The CGDQ one was a lot of feels especially with Uyama's mom talking about her experience, and seeing the behind the scenes videos. I think for AGDQ2020 I'd like to see a panel that's like, a recap of the best moments from the previous 10 years of events even though "best" is subjective.

Really missed there being a food room! Apparently the room that the shitty brekkist was in ended up being allowed for outside food? But I didn't want to risk it so I never got food to go. Also I understand that with the event getting bigger it's harder to get a free brekkist deal for attendees, but this one was pretty sad. Overall glad this was just a stopgap hotel for one event, considering that, the bad soundproofing in guest rooms (I shouldn't be able to hear TVs or people speaking that are at normal volumes) and the FF13 hallway (yes it was under construction but still sucked).

I felt weirdly on the outside of everything this time, and it sucks! I still enjoy speedrunning but I'm not a big memer or super active person and I'm not recognizable because I don't stream, and when I do I don't use a webcam (btw, really didn't like getting caught on the crowd cam during awful block. I sit in the back for a reason!). Guess I just need to do more stuff other than showing up in chats and hanging out?

Shoutouts:
ilikebeingsmart and empireship for rooming with me
halfcoordinated for the good anime talks and hugs. You're seriously one of the best people in speedrunning.
Puzzle General crew for being the only group I did dinner with
ZachSK for the memes and VG music game panel - you'll sorely be missed next year, and I think we should try to hang out sometime
pxmacaiah for teaching me Rorobutts any%
punchy for being unapologetically british and handling your first hosting gig super well
YKB, ella, skybilz, kungfufruitcup and anyone else from GoF that I spoke with
covertmuffin for the post-finale hug
LLK for the free art
Kari Fry for wearing that cool chicken hoodie and giving the traditional elbow bump
doctorswellman, caracarn, brossentia, PJ, dragondarch, puwexil...and everyone that I chatted to for any amount of time that I forget

Future plans:
I'll be at RPGLB2019, submitting Growlanser 2 and Shepherd's Crossing. If Shentok's MKR submission gets in, I'll be couching for that
Punting around the idea of a combo SGDQ/AX trip - I'd do the back half of the week for SGDQ and then fly out to CA for AX, but it really depends on money and if I'm even going to AX (which depends on guests, which get announced after SGDQ registration...)
I once again got an unrecorded Chocobo Racing PB at the event so I'll try to grind another one out. Gonna get a time in for Rorona Plus any% and I guess do a bad ending run for the memes too. Obviously gonna practice my RPGLB submissions just in case, too.
I'll be definitely going to AGDQ2020 despite needing to fly