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[gwyndolium]

There actually was a warning about mobile phones and less accurate I-net connections on the live show that was in advance of the register.

[Suran]

There actually was a warning about mobile phones and less accurate I-net connections on the live show that was in advance of the register.

Yes, we saw that the day after the registration and well after everyone on the Bodensee Furmeet registrered using our 2 cellphones.

[gwyndolium]

There actually was a warning about mobile phones and less accurate I-net connections on the live show that was in advance of the register.

Yes, we saw that the day after the registration and well after everyone on the Bodensee Furmeet registrered using our 2 cellphones.

Bit ironic. It should have been mentioned on here I agreed. Though common sense helps alot too.

[Cookie]

And what about this idea:

Having the sponsors being able to register before the non-sponsors, like 1 day before?
That would bring you a LOT of sponsors more (as many would be a sponsor just to be sure to be able to join), and would relieve a part of the burden of the inscriptions... no?

They already do that for Sci-fi conventions, allowing "Diamond Pass" holders to register before the "regular attendants"...

(to give you an idea of what a Diamond Pass is: in this case it cost at least twice the amount of money from a regular attendee of the con, but with free signings from all the actors included, and sometimes even a gala dinner)

[Suran]

And what about this idea:

Having the sponsors being able to register before the non-sponsors, like 1 day before

I can imagine that idea to raise a lot of voices for being "unfair" and making this a "con for the rich people".

[redwolf]

It might be just worth two cents but...

I can't really agree with what Cookie suggested since I feel that basing the registration 'chances' on money would maybe bring a negative 'spirit' on the convention. For some people attending, paying the standard fare is already a lot of cash to find and putting them aside on that sole reason would seem a bit 'unfriendly' to me.
As I think it is 100 % normal there's pre-registration for the staff people who give their time to the convention and to (whom I think we are all grateful for all the work they do), I don't think people choosing sponsor option do it for 'bonuses' but more to help by putting a little extra money in to help financially the convention.
But as someone official mentioned (can't recall if that was Cheetah), they are looking for a bigger location to avoid the 'registration lottery' but it is for sure a hard task. We should better wish them luck for it!

[Nightfox]

Don't worry, there will be no early register for sponsors.
That would be more than unfair.

[Cookie]

Hey, it was just a question, as i saw it was in application in other types of conventions...

Never said it was fair or not (i actually think it is unfair)...

Just asking.. that's all

[Hyper Tiger]

T-mobile 3G datacard... 19 minutes of attempting to load the reg page... registration number 854... long waiting list... looks like I won't be able to go this year then
It appears that EF is now a con for those with proper broadband connections!

[Runo]

1. Only this time
2. You can still get a space if you sleep in another hotel in Suhl.
3.Well... your fault if you didn't tell anybody with a "real" connection to enter your data. It was clear there'd be a huge load on the servers

Jojo

[Cookie]

I wonder how many registrations were done by bots and other "automatic" means..

EF, convention for people with good connections and computer wizz?

LOL

[o'wolf]

I wonder how many registrations were done by bots and other "automatic" means..

None. The form data changes slightly every year, the URL components changed this year, and there is no way to test a script without us noticing. And there is no way to even see the form before we start registration.

However, do not underestimate the power of 800 monkeys^Wfurless apes hitting F5 at the same time.

[Zefiro]

I wonder how many registrations were done by bots and other "automatic" means..

I'd guess... none.

You can only (reliably) create a bot if you know exactly how the page will look like beforehand. Since it was at least slightly changed (and could potentially have been completely changed) since last year, creating a bot would have been quite a risk.

And those which had access to the system before that, i.e. staff, already did register.

But hey, we could always try new ideas. What about selling memberships on ebay? Or requiring to write an application, and having a jury select those which could best describe why they just need to be there at the con? Or doing it alphabetically? Ok, I wouldn't be too happy with the last one

*purrrr*

[Oddity]

If you tell us how to stop 800 people from simultaneously hammering their "f5" key, we might be able to resolve this situation But honestly, we're already looking for a new location that has more spaces, so it's no longer necessary to play the "registration lottery" like it happened to turn out this year. But it's not easy, and we haven't been able to get any good deal so far.

If you don't find a larger location, then I suggest that for next year you make it an explicit lottery. Perhaps the first hour of registrations or the first 1000 registrations could be assigned a random registration number, or something along those lines. This would hopefully lower the pressure at the start and make the registration go a little smoother.

[gwyndolium]

With some luck next year there will be enough spaces for all