Joystiq @ the Austin Game Developers Conference

Shiner is my favorite beer.

I'm going to school in Austin to pursue a career in either film or game development (my major is Digital Media Management, I could go either route) but I'm leaning more towards the burgeoning game industry here.

It definitely had some evacuees here, they've been staging volunteers out of the Convention Center where the conference is. But, it's a HUGE center, and the AGDC isn't that big. Otherwise, you wouldn't really notice.

As far as the traffic goes, I went to UT several years ago, and traffic is most definitely worse. Plus you can see abut 5 or 6 cranes on the horizon downtown, putting up new high-rise buildings. So it goes, I guess.

Hear Hear!

That's the truth. Traffic is a nightmare already as it is. There's a reason I ride a bike to work.

At the Magnolia Cafe a few years ago someone wrote on the bathroom wall "Yuppies go home!"

No one listened.

So, if I'm understanding you right, Austin is a VERY cool place to live, but it's just that no one else should want to live there. Just the people who live in Austin. It's that kind of mentality that I sure hate running into.

"It's that kind of mentality that I sure hate running into."
I know you'll probably never re-check this comment, so what I'm saying to you is more than likely falling on deaf ears; however, if Austin were built up for the influx of people, then we would welcome them with open arms (its not). If these newer people weren't bringing with them a different type of mentality that is bringing in chains, letting local favorites run out of business, and changing the atmosphere of the city, then we would welcome them with open arms (they are doing all of the above).

Austin is like it is because of the people in it. So, yes, "just the people who live in Austin" should live here, unless you would fit in with what its already like. The problem with the people invading our home is that they are trying to take what makes Austin Weird and molding it into something different - thus making it not Austin.

It's that kind of elitist attitude that is making Austin not Austin, even before anyone moves there. Were you born in Austin? Or did you move there because you wanted to live somewhere cooler than you did? I'll wager most people in Austin weren't born there.

I may have not been born in Austin, but having been born just down the highway, I can appreciate the things that used to make Austin great. Having gone to school here, and never having left, I'd say you'd have a hard time telling me that I'm not from Austin. Austin is not Southern California, and I'm sick of people who have lived here less than a year trying to change into something it isn't. All the small town quirky shops and restaurants are being run out by large chains brought in to make these yuppies feel at home. Well, I hate to say it, but "You are not at home, deal with it!"

It's really an easy idea to grasp. If you don't like the way things are in Austin, don't move here. Simple as that.

So at what point does "down the highway" turn into "Yer an outsider, not get out"? You're peddling a very dangerous brand of elitism here. I was raised in Arlington and went to UT for school, and stayed a couple of years after graduating. However, I've been in Los Angeles for work for more than ten years. I might be moving back to Austin, and according to you I wouldn't be welcome. It's pretty blind (and stupid) to say that it's people moving here from California that are changing things. How do you know it's not Austin people doing it themselves?

It's really an easy idea to grasp. If you don't like the way things are in Austin, then move away.

the bigass bank building is in the way

I flunked out of UT because of Einstein's....

Kai,

Do you have a phone number for them? I want to call before I go by so I can take pix, get a tour, etc. You can email me at kevin AT joystiq.com.