The Pico Day NJ 2024 meetup was dope. Huge thanks to @brandybuizel, @coby and @Tamago for organizing it! I don't envy you for the amount of work and pressure it's take to put on an event for 350 people.
The trip
This was my third NG meetup I've been to, after the Toronto meetups the last two years. With the increased scope and distance from home, this one pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit more. In fact, this was mine and my brother @DavidBurt's first time on American soil! The trip would've been too overwhelming without 'em, so I'm thankful he was able to come with me.
I give USA a light 6/10. There was hair in my hotel towels and IHOP eggs, but I'll add points for all the NYC street art.
The event
I met a lot of people at the event and got to catch up with some folks from previous meetups. I got to chat about gamedev / programming with @ninjamuffin99, @MSGhero, @squidly, @Dungeonation and @GeoKureli. Gamedev can be pretty isolating for me, so it was great to meet these guys who I've been inspired by and even learnt from. I ran into @Broly and @TeraVex, who contributed to Bird Tapper but I'd never talked to before. @Zals was really cool to meet as I've been inspired by his art for awhile now.
I'm trying my damnedest to shoutout the people I met. Let me know if I missed you!
@Sirmi, @jack, @indigo-bluez, @ant, @cartersterling, @connorgrail, @thedyingsun, @Karlestonchew, @GoodBoyEthan, @nicksenny, @pukebomb, @Droid, @disconnecty, @blakenator9872, @EmperorKatuunuXVI, @houndkidz @StudioYGKrow, @GoodBoyEthan, @hollaartyourboy, @OviManic, @leroyalmess, @TallBird, @crafteri, @EpithetSoup @Lolofyr, @RIVE, @Tornada, @EugeneDoesArt, @cacko, @ColonelCheru, @devoidgazer, @VimHomeless & @Sirmi.
Feel free to reach out and stay in touch! I'm hoping I get the chance to collaborate with you guys some day.
Here's @ninjamuffin99 kneeling for the flag in protest of Tom Fulp's many war crimes:
One of the most memorable moments of the event was when the screening started. For a few minutes the sound wouldn't work, so they kept replaying the first cartoon while they tried to fix it. Metal Gear Awesome 3 will forever be burnt into my mind along with the energy of the roaring crowd that got more ecstatic every time it restarted, chanting "ONE MORE TIME!" That was magic.
8 hours seems like a lot of time, yet it's not nearly enough to meet and talk to all the people I wanted to. Some people I'd love to have met I didn't even know were there. I also wish I got more trading cards! I didn't know I could buy more 'til it was too late.
Here's my card / sticker haul! Thanks to everyone who handed out stickers. I only managed to hand out a fraction of the 100 Pico Day stickers I made.
Some sticky note doodles:
I also left my sketchbook out for anyone to doodle / sign:
The future
Some of you guys who chatted with @DavidBurt and are the first to hear about the game we're working on now. For everyone else, all I'll say is that it's more of a fun / silly project like Highschool Bathroom Simulator. We may do some devlogs about the project eventually.
NG 4 EVA.
