After Action Report: Social Media Tools at SDCC

Since this was the first year that Twitter was available at the SDCC, expectations were high that the social media tool (and others) would help deliver buzz for new movies.

One company failed horribly to create positive buzz: EA's "Sin to Win" contest (overviews here and here). The use of 'booth babes' at the con is questionable anyhow, but given the family-friendly atmosphere that SDCC is trying to create, EA's suggestion to commit "acts of lust" with any vendor's staff and Tweet a picture was downright stupid. Look for major backlash on Twitter at #eafail.

From what I saw, the publishers and video game companies did a better job in creating buzz than the movie studios. Variety reports their POV here.

Some creative uses of social media I witnessed:

• DC Comics offered contests before panels - you could text to win limited edition Green Lantern figures.
  
• The Attack of the Show panel encouraged people to Tweet why AOTS is awesome, and prizes were given out at the end of the program.
• If you were at a panel, adding "AP" (for 'at panel') to your Tweets gave your info more credibility.
• Retweeting info helped drive buzz. Most of the people I spoke with were RTing rather than creating new content.
• I saw a lot of bloggers with their netbooks out and posting live info (almost providing a complete transcription of the panels). This was nice when I was double-booked and had to make a choice between programs. (Flickr then provided the photos for panels I couldn't attend.)
  

As a con attendee, it was fun to keep an eye on the #sdcc Twitter feeds to see what was cool and exciting. While eating, resting or waiting for a panel, I kept up on all of the new information from panels I couldn't go to. In short, I was able to multitask the programming and stay up to date on what was happening real time.

I Tweeted anything that looked cool or exciting as well, but had many technological issues that prevented me from doing so. There were many spots within the hall that prevented me from getting data or cell coverage on my phone.

Here is the grab bag of phone tools I tried to use throughout the con:

• e-mailing pictures and posts directly to this blog using Gmail on my android phone.
• SMS'ing pictures and posts to this blog via my phone's messaging tools
• Using Pingdroid to status update Facebook and Twitter at the same time
  
• Leveraging Ping.fm (any time a new blog post would go up, it would automatically feed my Twitter accounts (danielscotolson and efrcc)
• Using the following Twitter apps on my android phone (in order of preference): TwitterRide, I Tweet!, Twidroid, TwitteRx, Twit2go
• Using Bloo to update Facebook status.

It was interesting to see how each of the programs worked (or didn't) based on my phone's battery levels or data reception throughout the day. Performance-wise, I was very disappointed with Ping.fm's post errors as most of the the links it provided were dead (I need to research to see if it was Pingdroid's fault or an issue with the RSS feeds going through ping.fm).

Nerd Rave at the AOTS Panel

At the conclusion of the Attack of the Show panel Friday, each audience member was given a glow stick so they could participate in the first ever (?) nerd rave. Now, thanks to the Interweb (which is a series of tubes), you can feel like you are there!

(I was standing just to the left and in front of the camera. I was too cool to break out the light stick since I thought the bit would be over in a few seconds. As it awkwardly continued on, I reluctantly joined in on the festivities).

Tron Legacy

Wow.

Day 3 at SDCC

Too tired to post pictures individually. Here's a photo album of pictures I took today.

Insert your own punchline here

Does this R2 unit make me look fat?

New Video Games

There were huge lines in front of this game, and there were just as many adults as kids waiting in line. This is the new Lego version of Rockband, and it is due to release in December. The song list that I saw was impressive, and had the best variety of bands to date.

Note how the notes are represented on the fret board with little Lego bricks.

I think this will be my favorite version in comparison to all the Guitar Hero and Rockband editions to date.

Pretty cool pre-alpha build of Iron Man 2. The programmers and design team were showing off progress to date.

More random photos

A constant danger at the con: photo opportunities of someone famous. A major traffic jam was created as everyone realized the cast from The Big Bang Theory was signing at the WB booth. Note the camera phone use.

It was nice of WB to put screens up of what was going on. It created more of a traffic jam.

The cast of 24 clogged up the works too.

This sign was made out of Legos.

Random pictures from around the convention floor

The crowds were not as bad today due to the interest in panels and other programming held in other rooms.

I thought this was a person in costume at first.

Lots of R2 units running around today.

AOTS Panel

The Attack of the Show panel was probably the most underestimated event today. I was surprised that the waiting line to get in stretched around the entire floor. Unfortunately, I was stuck close to the end of line with no chances of getting in.

Luckily, Larry had gone to the previous panel held in the room (Nick Jr.) and, like half of the room, did not leave when that panel dismissed. He texted me saying he had a seat waiting, and then got me past the security people and let me in through a side door. As I went in, I got to see Kevin, Olivia and Blair Butler getting prepped for the event. They were Tweeting and making jokes, and seemed to be surprised at the energy of the waiting room (it was loud and obnoxious).

(Fake) Steve Jobs did intros and explained (almost as if it were a new Apple product) that Kevin and Olivia were the greatest thing of all time.

He explained that they were a single product offering the best of both genders, etnicities, and interests.

He then demonstrated the (NSFW) formula of how it all works.

The room erupted as the hosts took the stage.

It turns out that Olivia swears like a sailor in real life.

We learn that Blair is the chief writer and is responsible for a lot of the ideas of the show.

Olivia getting mobbed on the way out.

Larry posing with Blair Butler before she left.

Be sure to tune in to G4's Attack of the Show website to see this panel. It was incredible!

Stargate Universe

I'm at the Stargate panel now, and I'm surprised on how solid this new show looks! I have been skeptical up to this point, but the previews look fantastic! It has a much darker and grittier outlook than SG-1 and Atlantis (almost like BSG).

I'm also glad to hear that Amanda Tapping will make an appearence in the season premiere this October.

More Pictures from Day 1 @ #sdcc

G-4's Alison Haslip and Blair Butler record a segment
for Attack of the Show. Here's breaking SDCC news:

Video Game - E3 2009 - Attack of the Show

Here are some more shots of the Iron Man armor located at the Stark Industries Booth. All of the suits from the first movie were present as well as a new one from IM2 (?).

24 hours to go!

Less than 24 hours until I get on the plane! I am so excited, I feel like I'm 6 years old and it is the day before Christmas!

There is so much to do and see at the show this year, I don't know how I will fit it all in! Check out the program schedule to see what I mean.

Here's a quick shout out to the BBY entertainment folks! Too bad you can't go this year! I will try not to make a fool of myself like when you introduced me to Amanda Tapping at the Stargate movie premiere last go-round).