Topic: I'm hosting a Castlevania panel at a local con - suggestions wanted!

[Tuxedo Mark]

Today, I got the okay to host a Castlevania panel at the next CGA Show - Nature Coast Edition. CGA Show is a Florida-based convention that floats between three different locations throughout the year, visiting my county twice per year. It stands for Collectibles Gaming Anime. This is a small-scale convention, more of a taste of a con than a full con.

I've attended the previous three shows (October of 2011 and April and September of 2012). The one on Saturday, April 27, will be my fourth.

This will be my first time doing anything like this. I've sat in on panels at the previous cons, so I know how they work. I have no idea what my audience size will be or how knowledgeable that they'll be.

I'm looking to do a basic overview of the franchise, touching on the games, characters, music, artwork, etc., and have the audience participate in Q&A and trivia. Maybe hand out some cheap trinkets or candy glorious prizes for great glory.

I'm looking for any kind of suggestions regarding format, topics, etc.

I've requested a TV or projector with a DVD player. If that can be set up, I'm going to make a homemade DVD-R with some visual aids.

I plan to at least take pictures and make an audio recording, but I might break down and buy a digital camcorder.

Here's the event schedule (as it stands now) for the con:

http://naturecoast.cgashows.com/page.php?3

[Mystic Myotis]

Go into a little more detail about what you already plan to say and people can give you recommendations from there.

[Ahasverus]

Wow that would surely be exciting. Focus on what YOU feel while playing Castlevania, as that is what you would deliver in a stronger way, try to make them as passionate as you, talking with the same passion you hink about the series.

I'd try asking Konami for some support, their US PR seem to be nice!

[Shiroi Koumori]

I'd try asking Konami for some support, their US PR seem to be nice!

Would the US PR team answer immediately? The Con will happen within the month.

I'd suggest starting with simple facts about the series then from there, go into the deeper details. As Ahasverus said, show them the passion of a CV fan. But not too much passion that the audience would not like it.

[Tuxedo Mark]

Thanks for the tips. I've found out that all panelists will be provided with a DVD player and projector, so I'm putting together a homemade DVD-R of visual aids.

I've also bought a digital voice recorder with a USB output to record the panel.

[jestercolony]

If I could make a suggestion - please bring up the sheer element of challenges that -we- the fans enjoyed from the Castlevania series (Enemy Harassment/Pitfalls...etc.) and to also ensure that the series has two protoypes

The RPG/Exploration Element

and the Side Scrolling/Action Element that we all have grown up to love.

And make sure to explain that there is a huge difference between the two.

[Phoenix7786]

What about setting up stations (or even some emulators with PC controllers) to showcase the highlights of the series--like CV3, CV4, SotN, and AoS?

[Tuxedo Mark]

Thanks for the suggestions. I can't set up the stations. They're in the main room, and I'll be in the panel room, which will have just a DVD player and projector.

I'm finalizing the content of the DVD-R, and then I'm gonna export and burn it. I'm leaving for the con in about an hour. I'll be recording the audio.

[TheouAegis]

Why are you doing a panel on Castlevania? What is the motivation for the panel choice? What is the direction of the discussion? You need to decide these things. And I would say you should discuss where you personally think the franchise is headed. You can allow for feedback from the audience, but you need to establish some sort of basis for the panel and explain why you think Castlevania is an important enough panel. Of course, if you can get the actual Konami staff to join, then you could just ask them where the franchise is headed.

[Donvermicelli]

I am interested in how it went, did you get a lot of people interested? What did you show in the end?

[Tuxedo Mark]

In total, four people eventually showed up. I couldn't get the DVD-R done in time, so I brought some physical items as visual aids. The panel went on for 58 minutes. I recorded the audio and am currently making a video of it with subtitles to indicate the topic being discussed. Not sure if I'll illustrate it with artwork (to make it more lively) or leave it at subtitles only. Anyway, I'll post a link to the video when it's done and uploaded.

[Phoenix7786]

Damn only 4 people? I'm so sorry to hear so few showed up

[Tuxedo Mark]

Damn only 4 people? I'm so sorry to hear so few showed up

Actually, as it turned out, that was fairly good for just a panel. The two events that preceeded mine in the same room (The ABCs of Anime and The Otaku Dating Game) had large crowds, because they were games (and anime-related) that have a history at this con.

The panel after mine, a writing panel hosted by a published Florida-based writer, had around four people as well (including me), and the panel by another writer after him had just me as an audience member.

They did change the location of the panel room this time compared to previous times, but, if people crowded in for the games, I'm sure that they knew where it was.

Anyway, one of the guys (the only guy, actually) was really into Castlevania and even into the old horror films.

[Neobelmont]

At you got got some four is better than none but still. How would you go about this again if you had an other chance?

[Tuxedo Mark]

How would you go about this again if you had an other chance?

I'm not sure, really. I doubt I'd do another Castlevania panel at the same con, because it'd be redundant. If I ever do another CV panel elsewhere, though, I'd be sure to export the DVD-R on the day before, so I'd actually have it ready for the con.

Anyway, the panel is up and available for you to hear here:

Castlevania Panel CGA Show - Nature Coast Edition - Saturday, April 27, 2013