TMWCON '09 proposal

[Rotonen]

In the past there has been a lot of talk about organizing an event where our developers would meet face to face. With our approaching 5th birthday in April, I think this could resurface again. It would be indeed the most suitable timing for a TMW Convention. I would be willing to organize it in Finland.

I could get us cheap accommondation on our campus and AFAIK the computer science department of our university would be able to give us lecture/conference halls and other facilities for free. Of course the cheap accommondation means bunk beds and no service, but for a weekend, an extended weekend or a week it's not that bad in my opinion. Also you would be living together with TMW people.

For accommondation it would be around 25 € per night per a room of ~20. For food it would be wise to have at least 10 € per day per person. We could all settle with paying a bit ourselves or then I could try my luck with grant applications and local organizations. Transportation is of course a bit of a problem, but I can promise all the participants a guided escort from the airport to our campus. Either by cars or public transportation. A bus from the airport to the campus is less than 4 €. A taxi is around 30 € to 40 € from the airport to the campus.

As for the actual programme I have no grand vision right now. The schedule should not be too tight, though. For "after work fun", I can get you sightseeing and campus parties. If it is a longer event, of course we will have one night at a remote cabin by a lake. In any case you would not be able to avoid sauna.

The more serious side of it could include a round of personal presentations from participants, some discussions on the project, intense work sessions / brainstormings of both artistic and technical kind. All depending on the amount of participation we are going to mass. With a low amount of people it'd be more like just hanging out and casually occasionally mentioning the game.

If the flight prices are a problem, you can try to apply for your local grants or EU grants. You need to be a citizen of a Schengen country or obtain a Schengen visa, which is around 50 € AFAIK.

So far I'm just wanting to hear general thoughts and how many people could be interested in appearing if the stars are aligned right. I will be needing your ages too for the age distribution. With minors aboard (18 in Finland) the trip will be a lot less drinking oriented. Also entertaining a group of twenty-somethings is rather different from entertaining a group of thirty-somethings.

This invitation is open to everyone of our community, both old and new.

[Shaggy]

Sounds great... Count me in. For the record, I'm aged 40

[Matt]

Sounds nice, but before I spend ~300€ for a flight I would better donate them to Platinium

[Superkoop]

Yeah it would be fun, and I think it would be nice to go to Finland, but... 635€ is a bit much for a flight. And I don't exactly have any extra money; college costs a bit of cash.

[Bjørn]

Would cost a bit over 200 € for a return flight from Berlin when done in October (I can't search for prices in April next year on skyscanner.net), assuming you're talking about doing this in Espoo so we can fly to Helsinki.

I think a place like Berlin would be a bit more central and quite a bit cheaper to reach for most people (at least Crush, Matt and doener can simply come by train). However, personally I don't have a big problem with Espoo since I would be able to visit the headquarters of the company I now work at.

[Rotonen]

Well actually the airport is in Vantaa, but Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa have pretty much grown together. The downside of the airport is that there is no rail connection from there (I think besides the Tallinn airport, this is quite unique in major European airports).

The HQ you mentioned is next to the campus and has a nice sauna with a view over the gulf.

I think the main benefit of HUT (Helsinki University of Technology, actually situated in Espoo) is the cheap price of accommondation.

I'm quite open for other locations as long as this realizes itself. If an another plan pops up and is better, we'll go with that one. This is only the initial suggestion to get the ball rolling. For me it would be around 50€ to 100€ depending on the dates for a return ticket to Berlin, but I don't get free alcohol, food or even service with those crappy companies.

[Habari]

The main problem I see is that half the players are from Europe and the other half from America ,
transatlantic flights are always expensive no matter the city you chose

[Matt]

Well most of the important guys are in europe

[i]

I do like Finland, but IMO it's a bit too far from most of Us. I would rather vote for Munich (Germany).

[Platyna]

Yes, especialy that almost everything flies directly to Munich.

Regards,