Vanguard: VANGUARD Community Summit – October 8, 2004

Okay, hold onto your hats for some reeeeeeelly big news. Sigil Games Online (Sigil or SGO) is throwing open its doors for a day of huge previews of its pre-beta game Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. On October 8th, a select group of 20 people will converge on the Carlsbad, CA offices of Sigil to meet with the Vanguard team, ask all the burning questions they have hidden in their writer-greedy little hearts, and give feedback on the product so far (which means we get to play Vanguard, right?)

Who all are going? Well, Cindy Bowens, the Community Manager for Sigil and mother of the EverQuest Fan Faires, has been a busy little beaver pulling this all together. It's going to be a potpourri of representation of the Vanguard community, and the community members have a say. Here's how it will work:

1. The first 10 members are the site managers (or their representatives) from each of Sigil's ten Vanguard Affiliated Sites. You will notice that this does indeed include Vanguard Warcry.

2. The final 10 members will be chosen by you, the Vanguard and online gaming community. Sigil is urging you to choose wisely-to find someone who will truly represent your interests at this great Vanguard Summit. Your representative will get to schmooze with the fan site reps and the Sigil team, ask questions too, and get to test the product. If you know of someone whom you would like to see at the Vanguard Community Summit (also being known as Vanguard game worker for a day), send an email to Sigil. Email details are on the official Vanguard site. Sigil also advises there are certain criteria when considering your candidate:

"Please keep some things in mind. This is not a contest. So it isn't about getting the most emails to suggest someone. We are looking for people that will really represent the Community...people that are in a position to hear a lot of player feedback and speak on behalf of a group of players. We will be accepting emails with your suggestions for one week - until September 14th. We will announce our final list of attendees by September 24th.

"There are some limitations as well. Those accepting our invitation must be over 21 years old and must live in North America. They cannot be an employee of any other game company. Each attendee will also be asked to sign an NDA and will agree that they will not disclose anything they see or hear that is not already public information without permission from SGO."

That's it for the invited members of the Summit. But Sigil doesn't want you to feel left out, so they have arranged to hold the Second Fan Event the evening of the Summit. This is open to anyone who is in the San Diego area. You are invited to join the Site Managers and the Sigil team members at Dave & Buster's in San Diego, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m., for an evening of a few drinks, games, prizes and LOTS of chat (face to face even). You think, "Prizes, yeah, right, a mousepad with a Vulmane on it, right?" - okay, listen up, my buddies and colleagues. The prizes are...drum roll, please...ten keys for the first public beta of Vanguard. Here's what you have to do to be eligible:

"This will be done in a random drawing of entries from those in attendance. You must be a registered member of the Vanguard Forums and you must be present to win. Employees of Sigil Games Online, any competing company or any of our Affiliated Sites or their immediate family members and are not eligible to win."

I was talking to Cindy tonight to clarify that the Fan Event was open for everyone. Yup, she said, open to all. She also clarified that registration is required. The registration form for the Fan Event is located on the Vanguard site - go here to register. And she added, with a gleeful little lilt: "This is sooooo much fun. I am so looking forward to it!"

Me, too, Cindy...me, too!! And looking forward to meeting you all too. See ya in San Diego!!

Notes: Dave & Buster's does have a dress code and some house policies - click here to check them out.