GottaCon 2012 Gaming Convention Returns for 4th Year- February 3 to 5, 2012

[Carson Upton]

GottaCon 2012 Ticket Packages On Sale October 24, 2011

GottaCon tickets will be available for purchase from our website as well as at numerous retail locations (see list below) starting Monday October 24, 2011.  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 2012 t-shirt and dice set (more on this later).  Also there is a special promotion on the purchase of Magic: the Gathering weekend packages (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 $35 instead of $45).

Once you have purchased a ticket and our warhorn site goes live in late November you will be able to sign up to our Warhorn site 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.

Pre-paying for your ticket also gets you past the lines at the door as we will have an advance tickets line especially for you.  Once you arrive just look for this line to get your convention pass, swag bag, program and get directly into the action of the vendors and events.

Here are the ticket pricing and special packages available (all pricing in Canadian dollars, HST is included):
*Full weekend preregistration: $35.00
*Full weekend registration at the door: $45.00
*Friday admission only: $17.00
*Saturday admission only: $24.00
*Sunday admission only: $17.00
**Single Day Family Pass: $55
**Full Weekend Family Pass: $115
*Package 1 - Full Weekend Pass + VIMC Magic: The Gathering Open Tournament: $60
*Package 2 - Full Weekend Pass + World of Warcraft TCG Spectral “Kitten” Safari + GottaCon WoW TCG Sealed: $60
*Package 3 - Full Weekend Pass + Warhammer 40K North American Championships Qualifier: $45
*Package 4 - Full Weekend Pass + Warhammer Fantasy North American Championships Qualifier: $45
*Package 5 - Full Weekend Pass + Warhammer LOTR North American Championships Qualifier: See Note Below
*Package 6 - Full Weekend Pass + Warmachine/Hordes GottaCon Championships: $45
GottaCon 2012 T-Shirt and Dice Set (only available online or at Skyhaven Games, this does not include a weekend pass): $25
Premium Video Game Pass Add-on (does not include a weekend pass): $15
* ** For terms and conditions please visit our website.

For a list of local participating retail locations where tickets can be purchased please visit our website.

Magic the Gathering Weekend Package Limited Promotion

As a thank you to the continued support by the following brick and mortar stores on the island and mainland we are offering an additional free Mini Master event to the first 16 people who purchase a MTG full weekend pass at these locations. These events will be run at the store you purchased your ticket between January 7 and January 20, 2012 (date to be selected by the store). The event will follow the same mini master structure as described in the events below. Stores are encouraged to provide a prize to first place but are not required to.

The stores that will have this special offer are:
- Yellowjacket Comics and Toys located at 649 Johnson St. Victoria, BC Phone: 250-480-0049
- Magic Stronghold located at 7709 Royal Oak Ave. Burnaby, BC Phone: 604-568-6030
- Skyhaven Games located at 3458 Tillicum Rd Victoria, BC Phone: (250) 477-1519
- The Connection Games located at 2945 Renfrew St. Vancouver, BC Phone: 604-327-4585

Similar to what MTG fans experienced on Magic Celebration day, this format is a fast fun way to play Magic! Each participant will received two boosters of Magic 2012 and have 15 minutes to construct a 30 card minimum deck. Participants will then be paired in a single elimination format with 50 minute rounds. The winner of each round will receive an additional booster of either Magic 2012 or Innistrad and will have 10 minutes to modify their decks with these new cards to a 40 card deck. Participants will then be paired for the next round. This pattern will continue until there in one overall winner.

For more on our Magic: the Gathering Lineup at GottaCon 2012 please visit our website.

GottaCon 2012 T-Shirt and Dice Package

Once again GottaCon is happy to offer a T-Shirt and Dice package to our attendees. The package includes one t-shirt (colour and design to be announced) with GottaCon 2012 graphic on it and a set of Chessex dice (seven pieces) which will match our promotional die that is given away in swag bags. Also if you purchase a full weekend ticket or full weekend package and the t-shirt and dice set package you will be granted early access to GottaCon 2012 (Friday February 3, 2012 at 4:30PM instead of 5:00PM). This package will only be available until January 7, 2012 and only online via our website and at Skyhaven Games. This package will not be available at the convention.

Dice Set Colour for 2012

[Carson Upton]

Whether you're a beginner or a veteran, you're welcome to strut your stuff at the GottaCon Costume Contest, sponsored by IRL Events and Dragon Impact.  Compete with others to win a prize in one of several categories. Judging will be based on individual costumes. Skits will not be performed (sorry).

On Saturday February 4th, convention attendees can stop by the IRL Events booth and fill out a contest entry form. At that time their photos will be taken and each contestant will be assigned an entry number. Contestants will be eligible for all categories in their age group.  The winners will be announced Saturday evening at the IRL Events booth. Prizes will be handed out following the announcements also at the IRL Events booth.

Entry into this contest constitutes an agreement by the contestants to allow their photo to be taken by the contest organizers. Your photo may be used by GottaCon Conventions and IRL Events for promotional purposes at their discretion.

This will be the third annual GottaCon costume contest and we are very excited to host this annual event with the help of IRL Events!!

Categories:
Best In Show
Best In Show (16 & under)
Best Craftsmanship
Best Gaming Related
Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Anime

For complete details please visit our site.

[Carson Upton]

GottaCon is pleased to announce that it will be hosting Dice Bag Games miniature painting contest at this year's convention. If you are a fan of painting miniatures then this event should interest you. Dice Bag Games has kindly offered to hold this event and provide trophies for each category.

There are three categories that attendees can submit an entry into (limit of one entry per category per person) which include:
-Single Figure
-Large Figure
-Vehicle

There is a $5 entry fee for the first entry to GottaCon attendees plus $1 for each additional entry (max 1 entry per category) payable onsite at the Dice Bag Games exhibitor booth. Categories are open to any 25 mm to 35 mm scale model from any genre or manufacturer. Trophies will be awarded to the top three submissions in each category. Full details on this event which include competition rules and regulations, category size restrictions and judging criteria can be found on our site.


Entry forms will be available at the Dice Bag Games booth during GottaCon 2012 (February 3rd to 5th, 2012). If you have any questions regarding this event please speak to Colin Wheelock of Dice Bag Games by phone at 250-597-1992 or visit their facebook page and post your questions there.

GottaCon would like to thank Dice Bag Games for adding another great event to our exciting lineup. See you at GottaCon 2012!

[Marcus10kill]

Painting is one of the great parts of this hobby I look forward to checking out the painting contest. Keep posting information as things get closer to the convention date.

Douglas Lloyd

[Carson Upton]

I am happy to keep supplying you with all our GottaCon information needs. 

[Carson Upton]

GottaCon 2012 Magic: the Gathering Promotion Package Correction

Due to a communication error by GottaCon Conventions to Dice Bag Games regarding the promotional Mini Master tournament that was offered at the Dice Bag Games location we are unable to host an event at Dice Bag Games and as such the promotion will not be available at their location.

As an alternate to this unfortunate development GottaCon will provide the first 16 people to purchase their MTG weekend package at Dice Bag Games two complementary boosters for doing so. These two boosters will be provided by GottaCon Conventions to the individuals at the GottaCon 2012 event on February 3, 2012. These boosters can be picked up at the MTG tournament reporting station upon presentation of your MTG weekend pass. Your name will be checked against our record of sales at that location. These boosters will not be provided by Dice Bag Games or at their store at the time of purchase and will only be available for pick up at the tournament reporting centre the weekend of GottaCon 2012.

GottaCon Conventions takes full responsibility for this miscommunication and would like to apologize for this issue to Dice Bag Games. If you have any questions please email Evan Hatch at ehatch@gottacon.com.

Magic the Gathering Weekend Package Limited Promotion

As a thank you to the continued support by the following brick and mortar stores on the island and mainland we are offering an additional free Mini Master event to the first 16 people who purchase a MTG full weekend pass at these locations. These events will be run at the store you purchased your ticket between January 7 and January 20, 2012 (date to be selected by the store). The event will follow the same mini master structure as described in the events below. Stores are encouraged to provide a prize to first place but are not required to.

The stores that will have this special offer are:
Yellowjacket Comics and Toys located at 649 Johnson St. Victoria, BC Phone: 250-480-0049
Magic Stronghold located at 7709 Royal Oak Ave. Burnaby, BC Phone: 604-568-6030
Skyhaven Games located at 3458 Tillicum Rd Victoria, BC Phone: (250) 477-1519
The Connection Games located at 2945 Renfrew St. Vancouver, BC Phone: 604-327-4585

Similar to what MTG fans experienced on Magic Celebration day, this format is a fast fun way to play Magic! Each participant will received two boosters of Magic 2012 and have 15 minutes to construct a 30 card minimum deck. Participants will then be paired in a single elimination format with 50 minute rounds. The winner of each round will receive an additional booster of Magic 2012 and will have 10 minutes to modify their decks with these new cards to a 40 card deck. Participants will then be paired for the next round. This pattern will continue until there in one overall winner.

For more on our Magic: the Gathering Lineup at GottaCon 2012 go to our site.

[Carson Upton]

We are putting out the call for event submissions for GottaCon 2012.  If you would like to run an event at GottaCon 2012 (become an event coordinator) please contact us at the related address below:

-Mike Gruber, Role Playing Game Manager: rpgs@gottacon.com
-Dan Erickson, Board Games Manager: boardgames@gottacon.com
-Julia Sherred, Special Events Manager: specialevents@gottacon.com
-Paul Puhallo, Miniatures Manager: ppuhallo@gottacon.com
-Evan Hatch, All other events: ehatch@gottacon.com

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 full weekend pass (not including special packages) or $10.40 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 $31.25). All discounts are valued at before HST pricing, the maximum discount value is $31.25. 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 vendors 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.

Thank you and if you have further questions please contact Evan Hatch at ehatch@gottacon.com

[Carson Upton]

GottaCon is excited to announce part two of our great trading card game lineup for GottaCon 2012. We will feature two Legend of the Five Rings events (Story Line Name a Card Event and Salute to Celestial) which will be hosted by Magic Stronghold. Also we will continue to deliver World of Warcraft TCG events and will be featuring three major events (GottaCon Championship, Realm Qualifier and a Spectral “Kitten” Safari) which will be hosted by Skyhaven Games. AEG and Cryptozoic have both given us special events that are sure to please fans of these great games.


Events Hosted by Magic Stronghold:
If you have any questions regarding L5R TCG event please contact: sales@magicstronghold.com

“Name a Card” Story Line Event
Day: Saturday Feb 4, 2012
Start Time: Registration is at 10am and the event starts at 11am.
Price: $10 + HST.
Come earn you place in L5R history. Like many champions to come before you, you will compete among other hopeful prospects for the chance to win the ultimate prize: The honor of naming one of the first few cards of Emperor Edition. This means your card will stay in circulation for almost 2 years, one of the most prestigious things that can happen in a trading card game. The format is constructed 40/40, there will be a cut to top 8.

Salute to Celestial
Day: Sunday Feb 5, 2012
Start Time: Registration is at 10am and the event starts at 11am
Price: $5 + HST.
Maximum Players: 32
Say farewell to the Celestial block in style.  Each player will get one booster from the Celestial block and will make a deck with it. They will play a single elimination round. Those that move on will get another pack to use to remake their deck. All players will get one pack of the newest set; these cards cannot be used in this tournament.

Events Hosted by Skyhaven Games:
If you have any questions regarding World of Warcraft TCG Events please contact: skyhavenvictoria@shaw.ca

GottaCon 2012 World of Warcraft TCG Championship
Day: Saturday Feb 4, 2012
Start time: Registration is at 10am and the event starts at 11pm.
Price: $30 + HST. If you have purchased the World of Warcraft full weekend package entry is free.

Welcome to the World of Warcraft TCG GottaCon Championship - sealed deck event. Each player makes a minimum 30 card deck from the 6 packs they open, and can choose any Hero from the set used (we will be using the most recent set). The tournament will consist of swiss rounds. Prizes will be award to the top four or eight based on attendance.
World of Warcraft TCG Season 7 Ashenvale Forest Realm Qualifier
Day: Saturday Feb 4, 2012
Start Time: Registration is at 5pm and the event starts at 6pm
Price: $10 + HST.
Format: Core Constructed, Realm: Ashenvale Forest

Welcome to the World of Warcraft TCG Season 7 Realm Qualifier. This tournament consists of a Constructed format with Swiss rounds in which participants face off for prizes and glory. After the Swiss rounds, the top players will play single elimination matches to determine the final winner of this event. Decklists must be provided. Players earn qualification points towards a Realm Championship invite based on their standings. Players need 10 points to earn their invite to a Realm Championship: 1st: 10 points, 2nd: 10 points, 3rd-4th: 6 points, 5th-8th: 4 points, 9th+: 3 points

Top Prize – Deathwing the Destroyer Extended Alternate Art Card
Top 4 – Sava'gin The Reckless Foil Card
Top 8 – 2012 Hunter Deckboxes (+ 1 given out as door prizes)
Booster Packs based on final standings
Participation Card – Rosalyn von Erantor Foil Card (First 24 players)

World of Warcraft TCG Spectral Safari (Door Prize: Spectral Kitten)
Day: Sunday Feb 5, 2012
Start Time: Registration is at 10am and the event starts at 11am.
Cost: $20 + HST (free with World of Warcraft TCG ticket package)

The format is Class Deck Starters with 30 min rounds, number of rounds based on attendance.  You don’t need to own any cards to participate; you just need knowledge of how to play. Participants will receive one of the 2011 Class Starter decks. First to fourth place will receive an epic collections as well as product prizes based on attendance. At the end of the tournament, one lucky participant chosen at random will win a Spectral Kitten Loot card. Prizes are given based on participation and performance.

World of Warcraft TCG Beginners Sealed Events
Day: Friday Feb 3, 2012 at 7pm, Saturday Feb 4, 2012 at 1pm and Sunday Feb 5, 2012 at 10am
Cost: $10 + HST

Each player receives one random 2011 class deck and then one War of the Elements booster after each round. With 10 players, two rounds of 30 minute rounds are played.

We are happy to deliver an expanded TCG lineup at GottaCon 2012 thanks to our great sponsors. If you are a fan of these games we hope to see you out on February 3 to 5, 2012.

[Carson Upton]

The warhorn site 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 December 1, 2011. In a few weeks 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 website at or visit one of the eight retail locations selling our tickets.

How to Pre-Register for Events:
1) Pre-purchase a ticket via our website, warhorn site or store location
2) go here.
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 event listing (while logged in) by going here.
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!

[Carson Upton]

Today we announce our electronic gaming line-up planned for GottaCon 2012.  Below please find our list of game systems, games and tournaments planned for GottaCon 2012, which will be held February 3rd  to 5th, 2012 at Pearkes arena in Victoria BC (3100 Tillicum Road).

Public stations are free to use by any GottaCon attendees as long as they are not needed for our premium events. BYOC slots will remain free and available on a first come, first serve basis. We will have 80 LAN seats available. These seats will be able to be reserved on our Warhorn site but only if you purchase your ticket in advance. A new feature in the LAN this year will be a PC check where attendees that BYOC, if they want, can drop off their systems instead of leaving them hooked up or taking them home. This service will be offered free of charge but GottaCon and its partners will not be responsible if the system is damaged or stolen. We will have someone watching the systems 24 hours a day but again this is at the owners own risk and a signed waiver is required.

Also, this year we are doing something a little different. We will have two types of tournaments in additions to our public stations and BYOC seats; premium tournaments and secondary tournaments.

Premium tournaments will require the video game add-on package ($15 taxes included) to be able to participate in. Premium events will be more competitive, have higher prize payouts and will be sponsored by our fantastic video game sponsors.

Secondary tournaments are free to any GottaCon attendees but will have small or no prizes associated to them. These events are meant to be casual, fun and easy to jump in and out of.  Examples of these events include private Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source and Battlefield 3 servers as well as Left 4 Dead 2 Survival and Survivor vs. infected matches, Heroes of Newerth, League of Legends, Starcraft 2 2vs2 and 1vs1 single elimination pickup matches, etc.

This year we are pleased to announce that we have numerous major sponsors for our video games area including: Kingston Technology, Antec, Logitech, SteelSeries, Shaw Communications, Canadian Joystick, GUNNAR Optiks, Patriot Memory, Memory Express, Future Shop – Uptown Mall location, DTI Computers, Island Collateral, Game Deals, Play N Trade (Duncan), Stain Internet Café, LANcouver, CrossXover and BC Gamers.  All of these fantastic companies have provided substantial support in the way of prizes and technology.  Events sponsored by these companies are noted below.

For a full list of premium events and more details on the LAN please visit our site.

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