AGDQ 2019 summary

AGDQ 2019

This was probably tied for if not my best GDQ since AGDQ 2017. Got to meet/talk with plenty of new and old friends this year. I mostly played Smash Ultimate and Initial D but also did plenty of other things such as tour the National Mall, play Trauma Center with a bowling ball, and watch the AWBW crew rack their minds over a logic puzzle game. I'll break down whatever I found significant of AGDQ in the paragraphs below in no particular order.

Transportation/Food/Hotel

Compared to 2017/2018 in Herndon, this was...a net positive overall. Having to Uber/Metro more often was a fiscal pain but not too inconvenient otherwise. The overflow hotel was surprisingly nice. There were plenty of food options near the overflow hotel and the event hotel. There was also a Safeway and a fridge in the room so we could store drinks/leftovers from wherever we got food.

Smash Ultimate

It felt like college all over again with how competitive and good everyone is at this game. I learned so much from playing many different people (shoutouts to PX and Zaheer). I got bodied in the tournament but it was still fun to participate. Initially I only liked playing Ness and Lucas (with the former as my main) but for now I've settled on Lucas as my main while still enjoying Ness, Robin, Ivysaur, and Inkling (I really wish you could just stay as one pokemon).

Trauma Center

As always it was fun getting to meet and hang out with more of the Trauma Center crew this GDQ. I can't believe how much it's grown over the past few years. Commentating for Trjnrabbit's UTK2 run was also interesting/fun. Part of me thinks I should have studied and reviewed more for it but I didn't want to overthink it and end up focusing on what I want to say rather than the run itself. I'm glad Trjn was satisfied with the commentary as well as his (deathless) run. Also playing Second Opinion with a bowling ball was....an experience. Funny enough, I think I could feasibly get used to it if using the forceps wasn't such a pain. Anyway shoutouts to Alta for bringing that silly abomination of a controller.

National Mall

I went with Trjnrabbit to tour around the National Mall. I'm really glad I did this year (especially since AGDQ is moving to FL next year). I had forgotten that I went to the National Mall on a field trip some 20 years ago. It was pretty surreal seeing the FDR memorial again and suddenly remembering a trip I had completely forgotten about. We went to the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. Thanks Trjn for playing tour guide. I had a great time.

Regrets

I think this is now the 2nd GDQ I've gone without doing a New Blood Co-Op run with Slurpeeninja. Sorry Slurpee, I hope to do at least one run with you the next time we meet at a GDQ. I also didn't get to play Advance Wars with the AWBW crew but there wasn't many of us there and I think we were pretty busy for most of the event anyway. Hopefully more of us will meet up at a future GDQ. And lastly Initial D this year felt kinda...dull. Most people I met were more interested in 2v2 rather than 1v1 which is ok but I'd much rather try to improve against actual players even if they're better than me. At least this year I didn't lose my Ver 8 card :).

Summary

This GDQ was awesome and I can't wait for the next one. I'm personally in favor of it moving to FL since I have friends and family I might be able to meet. I'm not sure about what I'll submit for SGDQ. I'm thinking about Second Opinion Extreme ops or even asking Thurler if he wants to do a race since he hasn't had a run in a GDQ or even been to one yet. It would be nice if Time Crisis got in but I think it's pretty unlikely. I'll probably have a better idea by February.