GottaCon 2013 Gaming Convention Feb 1st - 3rd, 2013

[Tristan]

GottaCon 2013 Gaming Convention February 1 to 3, 2013

After a fourth successful year, GottaCon 2013 is set to take place on February 1st to 3rd, 2013 at the Pearkes Recreation centre in Victoria, BC. The 2012 show saw an increase in attendance which exceeded 1,500 individual attendees and attendance for the 2013 show is expected to continue to grow.

GottaCon is a three-day broad spectrum gaming convention that is held annually on the first weekend in February in Victoria, British Columbia. GottaCon celebrates the science fiction and fantasy genres, covers many related hobbies and offers a one stop experience for the fans and enthusiasts of those genres.

The vision of GottaCon is to host something for everyone including free-play and tournaments in board games, collectible/non-collectible miniatures, collectible trading cards, role-playing games, and electronic gaming as well as demonstrations, contests, information sessions, workshops, a variety of exhibitors.

Our goal is to deliver a high quality and exciting environment that will establish GottaCon as an annual destination that participants will return to for years to come. Our 2013 event, called GottaCon 2013, will be our fifth show. The convention doors open at 5:00pm Friday and do not close until 7:00pm Sunday (around the clock gaming for an entire weekend).

GottaCon will take place at Pearkes Recreation Centre at 3100 Tillicum Rd. with over 24,000 square feet of floor space (for facility details, visit: [url]http://www.saanich.ca/parkrec/recreation/pearkes.html[/url]).

History of GottaCon Attendance
First show (GottaCon 2009) attendance: 600
Second show (GottaCon 2010) attendance: 900
Third show (GottaCon 2011) attendance: 1100
Fourth show (GottaCon 2012) attendance: 1500
Anticipated GottaCon 2013 attendance: 1800 to 2000 Individuals

If you still haven’t experienced what GottaCon has to offer then you should definitely check out our 2013 show. For more information, please visit our web site at [url]http://www.gottacon.com[/url] or e-mail one of the owners or our staff at the following addresses:

Owners
Carson Upton, Partner: [email][email protected][/email]
Evan Hatch, Partner: [email][email protected][/email]

Staff
Bonnie Beyea, Volunteer Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Mike Gruber, Role Playing Game Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Lee Guille, Board Games Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Jules Sherred, Special Events Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Paul Puhallo, Miniatures Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Alex Larente, Social Media Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Spencer Whitney, LAN Operations and Video Games Manager: [email][email protected][/email]

We will also be making numerous announcements over the next few weeks around sponsors, events and developments so please keep an eye on our website at [url]http://www.gottacon.com[/url], facebook group and twitter account to stay up to date.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our convention!

[Tristan]

GottaCon Launches Facebook Page with a Contest

GottaCon is pleased to launch our new official Facebook page! Like this page for access to all GottaCon news, updates, and things you really need to know! We have a goal and that goal is 1000 Likes, help us get to it by spreading the word.

Link: [url]http://www.facebook.com/pages/GottaCon-Gaming-Convention/215728625115238?ref=ts[/url]

Need another reason? How about a chance to win a full weekend pass with T-shirt and dice package add-on to our 2013 event! Like our page and then click [url]http://on.fb.me/Uyi1CU[/url] or use the "Enter to Win!" Facebook app on our page cover photo to enter. Please remember in order to qualify you must Like our page as well as a complete the entry submission. The Contest Period will begin at 12:00 pm PST on Friday, September 21st, 2012 and will end at 12:01 pm PST on October 22nd, 2012. Full rules etc can be seen below.

Our new page will be our way of releasing official announcements and requests for feedback not to mention contests sponsored by our sponsors!! We are asking all fans of GottaCon to please Like this page and invite others to Like it too! If you would like to share our page and let people know that we will be hosting contests etc via our page that would be fantastic too, but it is not required to enter into any of our contests.

We will continue to host our Facebook group as well as it will be the place our fans can chat about all things GottaCon and the many communities that GottaCon works with and/or who have supported us over the years can let us know about their events. We ask that group members not abuse this and keep family friendly.


Rules and Regulations

1. CONTEST PERIOD: The Contest Period will begin at 12:00 pm PST on Friday, September 21st, 2012 and will end at 12:01 pm PST on October 22nd, 2012.

2. ENTRY: Limit of one (1) entry per individual. Creating multiple Facebook Accounts in order to exceed the limits on entries permitted by these Official Rules may result in the disqualification of such entries from such accounts.

3. PRIZE: There is one (1) prize to be awarded to the winner. This prize has no commercial value. Travel and/or transportation to the event and all other ancillary expenses are not included. The odds of winning the Prize will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period. The Prize is not redeemable in cash and is not transferable. The Prize must be accepted as awarded - no substitutions at the request of the winning entrants will be made. GottaCon and its organizers retain the right, in its absolute and sole discretion, to make substitutions of equivalent kind or approximate value in the event of the unavailability of the Prize.

4. GENERAL: On or around October 22nd, 2012 at approximately 12:00 pm PST, one (1) random draws will take place from all eligible entries received during the Contest Period. If the winner cannot be contacted within twenty-four (24) hours, GottaCon reserves the right to select another winner. To claim his/her Prize, the winner must pick up the prize during the GottaCon event scheduled for Februrary 1st to 3rd, 2013. GottaCon reserves the right to withdraw, terminate, amend or suspend this Contest at any time without prior notice.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to GottaCon Conventions and not to Facebook.

[Tristan]

GottaCon Proud to Introduce Management Team for 2013 Show

As GottaCon entered its fifth show year it was decided that even more help was needed to handle the ever growing workload associated in running and improving a gaming convention. We just wanted to take a moment and introduce the individuals that will be helping to deliver our biggest and best show ever. We are very excited to have these individuals onboard this year and we hope you are too!!

Alex Larente, Social Media Manager
Contact Alex regarding social media related questions and events at: [email][email protected][/email]

Bonnie Beyea, Volunteer Manager
Contact Bonnie regarding volunteering and related questions at: [email][email protected][/email]

Jules Sherred, Special Events Manager
Contact Jules regarding special events related questions and events at: [email][email protected][/email]

Lee Guille, Board Games Manager
Contact Lee regarding board game related questions and events at: [email][email protected][/email]

Marilee, Front End Office Manager

Mark Olsson, IT Manager

Mike Gruber, Role Playing Games Manager
Contact Mike regarding role playing games related questions and events at: [email][email protected][/email]

Paul Puhallo, Miniatures Manager
Contact Paul regarding miniature games related questions and events at: [email][email protected][/email]

Spencer Whitney, LAN Operations and Video Games Manager
Contact Spencer regarding LAN and video games related questions and events at: [email][email protected][/email]

Wilf Rondeau, Back End Office Manager

Once again we are proud to present our 2013 show managers and we look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our 2013 event.

To get to know the GotaCon 2013 team a little better visit our [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?p=1273]website[/url].

[Tristan]

GottaCon 2013 Exibitor Booths, Sponsorship and Floor Plan

This announcement is a quick update on the status of our exhibitor booth availability, sponsorship/advertising options and a first look at our preliminary floor plan for GottaCon 2013.

GottaCon Conventions is excited to release the preliminary floor plan for GottaCon 2013. As you can see, via the link below, this year we continue to host events in over 24,000 square feet of space and we have modified some of the areas to meet demand! Some of the features new to GottaCon 2013 that you might notice from this floor plan are as follows:

• We have expanded our board game, trading card game, video game and role playing game areas to keep up with demand.
• Warhammer 40K and Fantasy as well as Warmachine/Hordes championships are back and bigger than ever!! We continue to up our capacity to accommodate.
• Video games were a huge hit last year and in response to that we will be dedicating a lot of effort this year into improving it. This year the video game console area will be back featuring Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii with lots of great casual as well as competitive tournaments and freeplay.
• We have expanded our computer LAN capacity an additional 50% to a total of 120 BYOC seats. As always attendees are encouraged to bring their own systems and jack into our LAN at no extra cost but seats can be reserved by purchasing our new full weekend BYOC pass. The LAN will feature casual as well as competitive tournaments and freeplay. We will not have public play systems available for tournament play.

[url=http://www.gottacon.com/components/images/gottacon2013floorplan.png]Floor Plan[/url]

GottaCon exhibitor booths, for the first time, are currently sold out. We have a waiting list available and encourage you to place your name on it if you are interested in promoting your business and the many fine items you have for sale at our 2013 show as booth space may open up or expand. Also if you know of a business you would like to see at GottaCon 2013 please let us know and we will contact them. Below please find a link to our exhibitor information package.

[url=http://www.gottacon.com/components/exhibitor_info_package_2013.pdf]Exibitor Package[/url]

Are you looking for ways to market your business/product to the gaming world? Well becoming a sponsor of GottaCon 2013 is a great way to do just that. Our sponsorship/advertising packages are very affordable and reach the audience you desire. For more information please see our sponsorship and advertising information package.

[url=http://www.gottacon.com/components/gottacon_advertising_packet_2013.pdf]Sponsorship Package[/url]

As always please visit our website for more information on our 2013 event! See you on February 1, 2013.

[Tristan]

Official Accommodation Providers of GottaCon 2013

GottaCon Conventions is pleased to announce that Howard Johnson Hotel Victoria, Ramada Victoria and Travelodge Hotel Victoria are our three accommodations sponsors for GottaCon 2013. Each hotel offers great services and special convention pricing to our attendees. Please find below a brief description of the rooms and prices at each of the hotels. For more details on each sponsor please visit the [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?page_id=68]hotel[/url] page on our website.

Please be aware that the hotels sold out of rooms last year so book your rooms as soon as possible! When you call to book your room at any of these locations please mention you are attending the GottaCon convention and quote the reservation code CGOTTO to benefit from our special room rates. The GottaCon 2013 room rates are as follows:

Standard Rooms
Howard Johnson – $55+Tax/Night
Two Double Beds or One King
Amenities include – TV, voice mail, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in room complimentary coffee/tea, work desk, high speed internet (Wi-Fi), complimentary newspaper, air conditioning
310 Gorge Rd East, Victoria, BC
250-382-2151 or 1-800-952-2151
Ramada – $60+Tax/Night
Two Queen Beds or One King
Amenities include – TV, fridge, free local calls, voice mail, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in room complimentary coffee/tea, work desk, high speed internet (Wi-Fi), complimentary newspaper, air conditioning
123 Gorge Rd East, Victoria, BC
250-386-1422 or 1-888-468-3514
Travelodge – $55+Tax/Night
Two Double or Two Queen Beds or One King Bed
Amenities include – TV, fridge, free local calls, voice mail, in-room safe, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in room complimentary coffee/tea, work desk, high speed internet (Wi-Fi), complimentary newspaper, air conditioning
229 Gorge Rd East, Victoria, BC
250-388-6611 or 1-800-565-3777

Mini/Junior Suite with Kitchenette Rooms
Howard Johnson – $65+Tax/Night
Two Double Beds or One King/Queen
Amenities include – TV, voice mail, full kitchen with dining area, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in room complimentary coffee/tea, work desk, high speed internet (Wi-Fi), complimentary newspaper, air conditioning
Ramada – $72+Tax/Night
One Queen Bed with Pull Out Sofa
Amenities include – TV, free local calls, voice mail, kitchenette with dining area, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in room complimentary coffee/tea, work desk, high speed internet (Wi-Fi), complimentary newspaper, air conditioning
Travelodge – $65+Tax/Night
Two Queen Beds
Amenities include – TV, free local calls, voice mail, in-room safe, kitchenette with dining area, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in room complimentary coffee/tea, work desk, high speed internet (Wi-Fi), complimentary newspaper, air conditioning

In addition to the room amenities above each hotel offers a range of other amenities. Please visit our [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?page_id=68]website[/url] to discover what each has to offer.

We urge all our in/out of town guests that require accommodations to use our hotel sponsors to help us forge lasting relationships that benefit everyone involved. Remember to mention you are attending the GottaCon convention and quote the reservation code CGOTTO to benefit from our special room rates.

Once again, we are pleased to have the Howard Johnson Hotel Victoria, Ramada Victoria and Travelodge Hotel Victoria as sponsors of our convention on the weekend of February 1st to 3rd, 2013.

[Tristan]

GottaCon 2013 Tickets Are Now On Sale

GottaCon tickets are now available for purchase from our Buy Tickets page on our website as well as at numerous retail locations (see list below). There are different prices for each day as well as a full weekend pass price, family package prices, special packages which include entry into some of the major events as well as the option to add on a premium video game pass and/or a GottaCon 2013 t-shirt and dice set (more on this later). There are a number of reasons why you should get your tickets in advance of the big show.

* If you purchase your ticket in advance you receive $10 off on your full weekend pass (you pay $40 instead of $50).
* Once you have purchased a ticket and our warhorn site goes live in November you will be able to sign up to our [url=http://warhorn.net/gottacon-2013] Warhorn Site[/url] where, once we approve your account, you can start to preregister for events in advance. You will also be able to change your events at anytime up until preregistration is closed. Preregistration helps to ensure your seat at the events you want as seating at most events is limited. It also avoids you having to stand in the event registration lines the days of the convention to sign up for the events you want.

!!!NEW AND VERY IMPORTANT!!!
* There are limits on the number of different passes this year. Limits are noted in each pass type on our website.
* If you purchase your tickets via Paypal you will receive a confirmation email and a separate email within 24 to 48 hours of purchase with a unique code. You must bring a copy of this email/code with you to gain entry to our event this year.
* If you purchase your tickets via a store location you will receive a ticket from the store with a unique code. You must bring this ticket with you to gain entry to our event this year.
* When you show up we will enter the code into our database and check you in. Without this code we will not be able to check you in and thus you will not be able to enter GottaCon 2013.
* This year we will have "Will Call" which means starting at 1:00pm Friday February 1, 2013 you can come to the entrance to GottaCon 2013 and check in, receive your badge and be told a location where, once the doors open, you will be able to enter the event simply by presenting your pass. Will Call is only available to advance ticket holders. This is in an effort to relieve the line congestion we saw at our 2012 show.

For a full list of ticket types and prices, as well as retail locations where you purchase tickets please visit our [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?p=1504]website[/url].

[Tristan]

GottaCon 2013 Warmachine/Hordes Lineup

GottaCon is pleased to announce that it will be hosting larger Warmachine/Hordes tournaments at GottaCon 2013 on February 1 to 3, 2013. Come take part in what will surely be the largest Warmachine/Hordes event ever to have been run in BC. This event is sponsored in part by Privateer Press and One Stop Shop Cards and Games. Please visit our [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?p=1544]website[/url] for full details.

[Tristan]

GottaCon 2013 Warhammer Lineup
GottaCon is pleased to announce that it will once again be hosting Warhammer tournaments in Warhammer 40K, Warhammer Fantasy and War of the Ring at GottaCon 2013 on February 1 to 3, 2013. Come take part in an even larger Warhammer event then last year! This year we are excited to have KR Multicase as our headline sponsor for our feature events and Imperial Hobbies as our sponsor for our additional Warhammer events.

For full details please visit our [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?p=1551]website[/url].

[Tristan]

Solicitation for Event Coordinators

We are putting out the call for event submissions for [url=www.gottacon.com]GottaCon 2013[/url]. If you would like to run an event at GottaCon 2013 (become an event coordinator) please contact us at the related address below:

Mike Gruber, Role Playing Game Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Lee Guille, Board Games Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Jules Sherred, Special Events Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Paul Puhallo, Miniatures Manager: [email][email protected][/email]
Evan Hatch, All other events: [email][email protected][/email]

Once we receive your message outlining your interest we will contact you via email with information on what to do next.

Benefits for event coordinators will be the same as last year which was 33% discount off of a [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?page_id=682]full weekend pass[/url] (not including special packages) or $11.90 discount off of any ticket you purchase for each slot of events you run. Run three or more events get a free weekend pass (valued at $35.71). All discounts are valued before HST pricing, the maximum discount value is $35.71. If you are attending for the full weekend you will also receive a swag bag and be granted early access to the convention Friday if you show up between 4:00pm and 5:00pm. This is in an effort to get you in before the rush which will allow you time to check out the exhibitors and the rest of the convention.

This year we will continue to award draw tickets to those people that participate in events labeled as a demonstration in an effort to get people trying out a variety of games. These draws will happen at the end of each slot (from 9am to 11pm each day) on top of the door prize draws and other giveaways.

Also new this year is we will be shutting down the video gaming area at 4am each night. This is due to observed attendance levels in those areas after 3am for the last four years. Security will be posted in the area between 4am and 8am and only staff will be allowed access. It will also give us time to cool down the servers, reset the routers and deal with patching, hardware issues etc that develop over the weekend.

Thank you and if you have further questions please contact Evan Hatch at [email][email protected][/email].

[Tristan]

Pre-Registration of Events Now Available

The [url=www.warhorn.net/gottacon-2013]warhorn site[/url] is now ready for advance ticket holders to create accounts and start signing up for events. Please keep in mind that events will be continuously added over the weeks to come and we will provide updates on what was added on the site listed above starting November 9, 2012. On or around December 1, 2012 an excel and PDF version of our event listing will be available on our website as well.

In order to pre-register for events you must first purchase an advance ticket to our convention. To do this please visit our [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?page_id=682]website[/url] or visit one of the [url=http://www.gottacon.com/?p=1504]five retail locations selling our tickets.[/url]

How to Pre-Register for Events:
1) Pre-purchase a ticket via our website, warhorn site or store location
2) Go to the [url=http://www.warhorn.net/gottacon-2013/attendee/new.php]GottaCon 2013 Warhorn site[/url].
3) Create a user account
4) Wait for GottaCon Staff to clear you (remember only people who have purchased tickets can pre register for events). You will receive an email letting you know you have been cleared.
5) Once you have been cleared, you browse the [url=http://www.warhorn.net/gottacon-2013/schedule/day.php]event listing[/url] (while logged in).
6) Then you sign up for the events you want

If you are organizing an event, an exhibitor or special guest at our show please let us know which event or which exhibitor and we will clear your account.

If you don't get a chance to pre-register for events, there will be a registration desk at GottaCon where you can sign up for the event you want. But why wait when you can sign up now, get through the doors faster and secure your seat at the games you want to play!