I have a headache.

Admittedly this is not really news but its a very head pounding experience setting up a convention when you’ve not done such before.  Anyway I’ve had lots of feedback recently on everything, and various questions/points have come up that need to be answered.

Q: “How much does it cost to get in?” / “I’m going to attend!”
A: The event is free to enter, however you must, must, MUST sign up and state your intention of coming on the Summer of Sonic website.  If you do not you may well find you are not allowed in due to the great demand on the hall - websites and press peeps need to do this as well! You will have to pass through a “checkpoint” where we’ll be checking you on the list - you’ll also (whilst stocks last) be receiving some goodies as well as a raffle ticket. More on this soon.

“…SEGA has organised…”
No. SoS is a concept not of SEGA’s but of the fans, SEGA are backing the fans and showing support by partly bankrolling/organising this event I say partly because the fans involved in the event themselves have invested their own monies into this in order to hire the hall, misc systems, etc.  Remember SoS was happening with or without our (SEGA’s) involvement!  Its got a lot of help from SEGA admittedly but there are a lot of fans out there bending over backwards to make it a success for everyone else and they deserve acknowledgement.  Because as you all know Sonic fans are THE BEST.

Q: “In which case why do you have a headache then?”
A: Because if you say the organisation of the event is a third Sonic Stadium, a third Sonic Wrecks and a third SEGA then two thirds of that is me! -_-*

Q: “When should I/we turn up?”
A: The numbers attending is expected to be large, so if you all turn up at once and stay for the whole thing we might have a problem.  Things won’t really start kicking into gear for at least an hour after the doors open anyway.  Once you get in we will mark you so you can leave and come back a bit later if you want to go off into town and get some lunch.

Q: “Ah yes lunch…”
A: There will be a selection of food available, but it won’t be a full scale banquet.  It’ll be lots of snack and nibbly bits.  If there isn’t a cheese and pineapple hedgehog I’ll be officially upset, considering.  A ready supply of soft drinks will be available.

Q: “Will I be able to show people just how good an artist I am / how much I OWN at game X?”
A: There will be contests in gaming and art, we’re inviting people to bring along fanart and we’ll have a mass wall of the stuff at the back of the hall in the Art section.  The art contest on the day will be to draw a subject matter within a strict time limit.  The best one will win a prize!

Q: “Will the prizes be good?”
A: Is Shadow a bit angsty?

Q: “If I need to ask someone for details at the event, who do I ask?”
A: “It should be pretty clear who’s doing what… however at the individual sections there will be at least someone around acting like the centre of attention. You can be sure by looking at the back of their hand as it will have been branded with the Sonic City logo by myself and/or Dreadknux.  This is someone you can trust to help out or who will be able to point you in the direction of someone who will be able to answer your questions.

Q: “Will I be able to play Sonic Unleashed at SoS??!?!”
A: Unlikely.

Q: “Is Richard Jacques coming?”
A: Alas, no.

Keep checking http://www.summerofsonic.com for details, more details should be going up soon.  We’ll probably do a supporting podcast at some point and we can go through all the sections and whats happening.  If you have any further questions, leave a comment on this blog and I’ll answer them next week.

Until the next blog - whatever that may be!

AAUK