The Joystiq Reader Meetup: Santa Monica, CA E307 edition

by Christopher Grant { Jul 15th 2007 at 12:30PM }

After rushing out of our own party at 9pm to catch planes to wherever it is we're from – and subsequently napping for twenty-four straight hours – we're finally ready to share pics from the first evar Joystiq Reader Meetup in Santa Monica, CA (sponsored by Mahalo.com). First, in a word: unmitigatedsuccess. Yes, we know that's two words, but we really wanted that adjective in there. Over 160 of you showed up with two days notice, ready to hang with your fellow 'stiqers, play some Guitar Hero II and Wii Sports, win swag (some good, some ... not so good), and remind everyone at Joystiq why we do what we do (whatever that is). Seriously, we were bowled over (and not in a Wii Sports kinda way).

We'd really like to thank Mahalo (of course) for loaning us their awesome space, helping arrange the entire shindig, and making sure you guys didn't go hungry or thirsty. We'd also like to thank Mojo for providing energy drinks, Activision (hey, Frankie!) for bringing Guitar Hero II and an awesome poster signed by Slash, and Nyko for a ton of swag that wasn't totally disposable -- they gave us real products to give away!

Most of all, we'd like to thank every single person that came. We met readers whose names we'd only read; we met readers who avoid the comments at all costs ("Comment name? Oh no, I don't go in there."); we met readers who are totally famous; we met readers whose work we ourselves read; and we met readers who actually make some of the games that we play. It was, to be sure, a humbling experience. It was also gobs of fun.

Even if you avoid the comments, make an exception to say hi on this post. And if you've got any really good pics, you can get them to us by sending a note here and we'll assemble them all in a gallery. Again, thanks. And let's not wait another three years to do this again, k?

Gallery: Joystiq Reader Meetup: E307 edition

Tags: e307, Mahalo, ReaderMeetup, SantaMonica

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Negativecool @ Jul 15th 2007 12:37PM

Sucks living in the midwest...it really does. I was there in spirit. *spills drink on the floor and choking back the tears I say, "and one for my homies."*

Christopher Grant @ Jul 15th 2007 12:50PM

We'll be sure to hold an event at the, uh ... Midwest Videogaming Expo-Con-athon? Alright, we made that one up.

rockeranimefreak @ Jul 15th 2007 12:44PM

wish i had gone XD but icouldn't find a ride.... i really really really wanted that rockband shirt............

BenjaminBreeg @ Jul 15th 2007 12:47PM

Sigh, I wish I could have gone =( But I live in upstate New York, which is pretty far away. If you guys ever did one of these in Syracuse or, even better, Watertown, I would defenitely be there. I would love to have been there, and I would also love to have one of the signature Joystiq T-shirts.

Christopher Grant @ Jul 15th 2007 12:51PM

We do have representation in Ithaca ... Ithaca meetup maybe? :P

BenjaminBreeg @ Jul 15th 2007 12:58PM

Its a few hours further but I'd still make every effort to get there.

hicodycodes @ Jul 15th 2007 12:59PM

nice pics, what happened to the pic with the guy with the grillz or the group shot after they passed out all the schwag.

Richard Mitchell @ Jul 15th 2007 12:59PM

Shout out to all the peeps who came for X3F (one of whom walked away with the Slash poster). It was great meeting you all.

The_Wind_Waker8 @ Jul 15th 2007 1:03PM

The party only would have been better had Metal_Link been there.

Yes, I know my name says The_Wind_Waker8... So I screwed up the first time I made a comment, sue me.

If you pay attention to DS Fanboy's Game Night, I'm there half the time. :P

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 15th 2007 1:32PM

Joystiq... here's an idea. I really wanted to go, but, of course, I can't go, because I live in Laredo, Tx.

I guess a lot of readers wanted to go, but its impossible for a lot of people.

Why don't you plan a mega Joystiq Meetup, in a place where everyone agrees, with a month of anticipation, like, for example, in Las Vegas or something like that (there are a lot of cheap flyes to Las Vegas).

Maybe all can we meet, I want to meet sheppy, Jody, Jonathan, Kye, even Jack of No Trades and a lot more people.

So, what you say? Maybe in December, its enough time to start saving for a trip, and enough time to SSBB its out, and we can play that game too.

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 15th 2007 1:37PM

*cheap FLIGHTS... jaja, sorry for my english...

Roland @ Jul 16th 2007 2:14AM

Yes, and have an ever bigger sausage party. Holy shit you guys were not dispelling any myths. I love gaming but judging by the pics this reeked of a comic book convention. P.S Slash hasnt been relevant for ages. (*Recants like Jim Carrey's officer buddy in Me,Myself and Irene) Never mind me .. it's just the booze talkin...

Sleezy C @ Jul 15th 2007 1:47PM

I would have went had it been in the same country as where I live. Bring a meet-up to Canada!

HELPeR_Bot25 @ Jul 15th 2007 2:05PM

Wish I could've gone, but well, I live in south Texas, so unfortunately, it was a no go.

Mr Khan @ Jul 15th 2007 2:03PM

How about Philadelphia, on say, August 15th?

meh, its a long shot, anyway

Imadogg99 @ Jul 15th 2007 2:11PM

Guys be quiet California was the perfect place, and it should always be here.

Too bad I couldn't go, would have loved to. Then the post would read: "We met readers whose names we'd only read; we met readers who avoid the comments at all costs ('Comment name? Oh no, I don't go in there.'); we met one reader who we've never heard of even though we read every comment and he says he's commented many times (coughimadoggcough);".....

Rubang B @ Jul 15th 2007 2:12PM

You guys played Guitar Hero II and Wii Sports? Huh, it's like you guys are secretly really into casual games. OH SNAP CASUAL.

Wish I could've made it. Work sucked. Did I miss anybody getting struck by lightning?

Negativecool @ Jul 15th 2007 2:20PM

Off base here but I get a kick out of it when C. Grant replies to one of my comments. I feel like the guy that met the guy who was famous. I mean...Chris Grant replied to ME?? ZOMG awesome!!

My week has been made.

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 15th 2007 2:24PM

Im jealous (really) =(

nawtyeravgjoe @ Jul 15th 2007 2:51PM

phew, i'm glad i didn't go. that lady with the tattoo'd arm looks scary.

Chris @ Jul 15th 2007 2:51PM

I'd appreciate names w/ the pics... like "here's sheppy" or whatever. Does jack even read this blog anymore?

I would NOT want to meet jack... I know enough egotistical assholes.

cwolf267 @ Jul 15th 2007 3:01PM

If you look at the gallery, I'm the guy in the hat on the sixth one (Not my best picture, guess I shouldn't make scrunchy gangster faces anymore)

I ended up randomly meeting a guy I went to Elementary school with, the event was great.

and I won a Gamecock shirt (!)

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 15th 2007 3:12PM

This is me...

http://www.hi5.com/friend/profile/displayHi5URL.do?nickname=fernandorocker

E.J. @ Jul 15th 2007 3:37PM

I'M N UR MEETUP TAKIN UR PRIZ3Z

Thanks for the Guitar Hero stuff! The Slash poster is totally awesome.

By the way, thanks for taking me one step closer towards my Lil Jon halloween costume with the UFC grillz!

Franx @ Jul 15th 2007 3:54PM

Hey guys,

This is Frankie. Just wanted to thank Joystiq for throwing such an entertaining party. Didn't mean to pull GH2 early from ya guys but Ratatouille rocked!

EJ: No eBay! (j/k)

Happy Sunday

sqwarlock @ Jul 15th 2007 4:10PM

I wish you guys had planned this earlier. I'd have made plans to drive out from AZ to go to this. I have a certain fascination with online meet-ups.

Oh well, maybe next year.

Imadogg99 @ Jul 15th 2007 4:46PM

Oh you don't wanna come to the one later this year??? I see how it is...

sqwarlock @ Jul 16th 2007 12:22AM

Later this year? What? When? Where?

EternityInBlack @ Jul 15th 2007 4:48PM

It was nice seeing you guys there. Too bad we didn't talk for too long... and after going, I finally figured out who the "South African blogger" was (see "What's Madden?" post) haha. Thanks for a great time and hope to see you all again next year... if there's gonna be another E3 that is.

Eliot @ Jul 15th 2007 6:03PM

Sweet! That's my leet badge (that's also my leet truck).

Christopher Grant @ Jul 15th 2007 8:56PM

gonna steal Eliot's truck

/stealtruck

GenoBoost @ Jul 15th 2007 6:14PM

I had an awesome time! Got free swag, free food, free gaming, met lot's of cool people. I beat two of you bloggers at GH2 =D and me and one other guy accidentally said Rock Band looks cooler than GH3 to some Activision workers =[ they didn't beat us up for it though =]

Christopher Grant @ Jul 15th 2007 8:57PM

Just so everyone knows, we all lost on purpose. Yeah, that's it ...

E.J. @ Jul 16th 2007 3:03AM

I vividly recall a Joystiq Blogger saying, "Yes, it's true. We at Joystiq suck at Guitar Hero."

Mullet Man @ Jul 15th 2007 6:39PM

LOL, what a sausage-fest.

I really felt for that one lone female in the group - the guys surrounding her looked like a bunch of jackals coming off a 40-day fast gazing upon a vegas buffet table.

Franx @ Jul 15th 2007 8:10PM

E3 has been a sausagefest for years but try attending BREWcon, a mobile convention held in SD. If your a dude with manboobs you'd get guys hitting on you!

cwolf267 @ Jul 15th 2007 9:15PM

Wait, this wasn't a "NO MAAM" meeting?

Christopher Grant @ Jul 15th 2007 10:33PM

Haha!!!! I've been meaning to search eBay for a No MA'AM shirt for eons.

http://tinyurl.com/ypnjxm

And now I found one and I owe it all to you!

cwolf267 @ Jul 16th 2007 12:53AM

I'll have to remember to wear mine for the next meet-up I go to, that way you'll know it's me :-P

Purple Haze @ Jul 16th 2007 12:07AM

Can you point s towards whos who on joystiq? Especially the ones that have been on the Joystiq podcast so we can see if the sexy voices link back to the people.

Christopher Grant @ Jul 16th 2007 10:39AM

We'll get a group pic up real soon ... ish

samfish @ Jul 16th 2007 12:27AM

Man, you guys complaining about being in Texas and stuff...I'd have totally gone if I were that close! It's only about 16-20 or so hours. Alas...I'm in Cleveland, so it's about a 40 hour drive for me.

SecretPact @ Jul 16th 2007 3:06AM

Man that was so worth the traffic through downtown to get there. The only writer/blogger I talked to was Andrew Yoon, but I got to see everyone and that's always cool. Got myself a Joystiq shirt and a guitar hero shirt too =)

Christopher Grant @ Jul 16th 2007 10:39AM

Only? Some people would kill to talk with Yoon!

thevaj @ Jul 16th 2007 10:17PM

Good times! On behalf of the members of the Team Awesome Punchout Trailer who were able to make it, thank you for hosting such an AWESOME event. We will have something new around the end of august. Hint: You're in the jungle baby...and you're gonna DIIIIIIIIIIIIIE...about 30 times... Thanks to you all, we are creeping up on the million mark...there just may be a million view crack giveaway!!

LousyNixon @ Jul 16th 2007 2:37PM

Thanks Chris for throwing a groovy party, Glad I was able to meet you and have pump a beer for me. Woohoo!

machrc @ Jul 16th 2007 6:03PM

thanks joystiq!!!!!!

thank you for the book prize and controller prize for my girlfriend!!!

I see everyone I talked to in the pictures!!1

the mute tall man with glasses:) (i kidd)

the curlly hair fellow who noticed I was sweating like a pig after the chicken wings!

looking at the cover picture!!

I should be 1337!!
http://www.mbglaw.com/images/fan.jpg