Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

Counterpunch wrote:

Va'al wrote:Feel free to let us know what you make of this series of unfortunate events in the Seibertron Energon Pub, and we will keep you updated as soon as some news makes itself known about registration!

What is there to say at this point?

I'm not being ugly about it, but there's no more shock, indignation, or disappointment for me to express.

This is what we have. This is what we have had. It doesn't change from year to year.

I've tried to contribute my voice to the whole ordeal, much like others have, to no effect.

So I just shrug.

This is the best pot i've seen for awhile, it feels like something the Nihilist Arby's twitter would post

I'm surprised there's not more bitching... it's rather deserved

Poor Brian.

MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:I'm surprised there's not more bitching... it's rather deserved

Except it's like Counterpunch said; it's par for the course, every single stinkin' time. We're used to it.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:This is the best pot i've seen for awhile

Well, don't just stand there, man. Roll one.

I never got it and I still dont get it...

Why does only THEIR website have problems ? Maybe they should just contract the whole registration process to BBTS or someone with a website that never breaks...

F**k it, im not going anyways and dont even want the entire box set.

morphobots wrote:

MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:I'm surprised there's not more bitching... it's rather deserved

Except it's like Counterpunch said; it's par for the course, every single stinkin' time. We're used to it.

If anything that makes me more pissed off ya know. I can't believe they still have their license after a decade of this, when Glenn was canned after 2 Cons when he A.) had a full time job doing something else (so he was just a fan putting on a fan convention), B.) was a one man show (he was doing everything by himself verses FunPubs team), and C.) Hasbro took forever to approve Sentinal Maximus which is why it wan't at the show, and the plates weren't his fault either. FunPub in my eyes is a bigger trainwreck... if Glenn was given a few more years we would all be attending a MUCH better show than the ones we are now

That was wordier than I anticipated... guess I got on a roll!

Counterpunch wrote:

Va'al wrote:Feel free to let us know what you make of this series of unfortunate events in the Seibertron Energon Pub, and we will keep you updated as soon as some news makes itself known about registration!

What is there to say at this point?

I'm not being ugly about it, but there's no more shock, indignation, or disappointment for me to express.

This is what we have. This is what we have had. It doesn't change from year to year.

I've tried to contribute my voice to the whole ordeal, much like others have, to no effect.

So I just shrug.

Planned attendance at BotCon also puts a personal investment into this. People are who aren't attending aren't going to care as much. It's easier to just shrug when you aren't attending.

As a programmer who has developed and programmed hundreds of e-commerce/shopping cart, event module, and multimedia websites over the past 15 years, I can assure all of you that the 4 primary websites associated with Fun Publications (both Club websites and both event websites) are relatively easy to program. There is nothing overly complex going on with BotCon registration website. I'm sure other programmers out there would be happy to back this statement up.

Either the development company has fooled Fun Pub into thinking that this is complex, or Fun Pub believes it is complex (which is a fair statement to make for people who work outside of the world of programming) which the development company is flat-out taking advantage of.

If you're reading what I wrote and you're thinking, "No Ryan, it really is complex. You just don't understand how complex it is." then that is where the problem lies and there is no helping. However, I assure all of you and everyone at Fun Pub that this is not relatively complex.

Regardless, the "event registration" website for BotCon is ultimately just a customized shopping cart module with specialized rules. If "Item #1" is placed in the cart, the customer can also purchase Items #2, #3, #5, and #9 (for example). Item #11 can only be purchased if Items #2, #4, or #9 are placed in the cart. Setting up the rules is the only time-consuming part, but not from a programming stand point. The rules should all be easily managed from an admin tool that the client can control.

I'm offering to help them resolve these issues. I would be happy to provide consultation, point them in the right direction, and if no solution is available or affordable, then I might be willing to toss my hat into the ring to resolve their problems with their websites. I'm sure between my associates and other people in the Transformers and GI Joe fandoms that a solution can be found. They just need to reach out to the communities who are passionate about these brands and ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength.

Albert Einstein said it best and, unfortunately, it really applies to these ongoing problems with Fun Pub's websites ...

Albert Einstein wrote:The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results

Well, I don't know about any of us, but TFU.info is seemingly had enough with Fun Pub's shenanigans and is putting the hammer down.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 3997501476

Sabrblade wrote:Well, I don't know about any of us, but TFU.info is seemingly had enough with Fun Pub's shenanigans and is putting the hammer down.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 3997501476

Does anyone have a video of the GI Joe Collectors Club panel at this year's JoeCon? My post above is in specific response to a comment Brian made to a question at the end of the panel. He made a statement about how this isn't their fault, how the website is really unique and complicated, and that no one has ever stepped forward to offer to help them resolve these problems. I thought I had in the past (but maybe my offer to help was buried amongst criticism during heated moments), so now I want to take a different approach with this and let everyone else know that I'm offering to help. I want to be part of the solution to this. I'm sure there are other programmers out there who could also help and would be honored to help. We could make a lot of people happy and could potentially help Fun Pub make a lot more money. Both can and should go hand in hand. I want them to be successful so that we can continue to get really cool things out of all of this.

There have been plenty of programmers to offer fixes, FOR FREE, but they explicitly turn them down. I think FunPub has fun dry **** their consumers. It's sick.

Registration went back up and back down again in a matter of minutes this morning. They're a terrible company. Could you imagine if Amazon did this? People would completely boycott.

The application has crashed after no registrations have been processed. We will go back to the programming serving company. We are very upset as well and will be taking action.

We will have registration. I know you are worried and we understand.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian

MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:There have been plenty of programmers to offer fixes, FOR FREE, but they explicitly turn them down. I think FunPub has fun dry **** their consumers. It's sick.

Registration went back up and back down again in a matter of minutes this morning. They're a terrible company. Could you imagine if Amazon did this? People would completely boycott.

Unfortunately, that is what may (and usually does) have to happen to effect change. People have to vote with their wallets. Until the con is threatened financially there will be no incentive for change. The risk is Hasbro deciding to pull the plug altogether over that, which I think is what would happen, citing not enough return on the investment. But this hassle combined with the sticker shock has made me personally decide to stop attending. I am going this year because it is finally back within driving distance for me and I miss being able to attend, but it is no longer as much fun as it used to be. I don't care about area tours, I don't care about casino nights, I don't care about awards dinners. I care about my hobby and interacting with fellow fans, and FunPub is making that excruciatingly difficult.

Those who think there hasn't been outrage aren't reading the same posts I have. Now for me, a lot of it is coming from private FB groups but it is definitely there.

When it comes to people from Seibertron.com, I have been to more BotCons than all but a few people, especially consecutive BotCons having gone e every year since 2007.

So, to answer the criticism of "this happens every year" - well, no. The last time I remember them having a registration that was so late was quite a few years ago, whichever year it was that they went to online registration in the first place. Does that mean that FunPub hasn't had a bunch of other missteps along the way? Of course not, and a lot of it IS technology related. However, if you have gone to the show year after year as I have, you'll realize that these folks do put together a great overall event.

I definitely agree with Seibertron however that seeking some better technology help would be a great idea.

It's not just that this is expected (which, sadly, it is), but what really gets me is everything surrounding it. The already late registration. The lack of basic QA or testing before go-live. The continued deflection to their vendor, as if the vendor is at the heart of the problem.

Honestly, I'm embarrassed for the Club.

@ 1:37pm EST:

Brian wrote:They have spooled it up as fast as they can go. Hopefully this works or we will look at a totally different alternative. Last shot on this system.

Again I am sorry for any issues this has caused and this in no way should reflect on the brand,

Brian

It's a bit too late for that.

Even though Seibertron is willing to help, I don't think the club wants any help. If they wanted help for an issue they couldn't fix or alternatively understand on their own, they would've sought it by now, and this would've been a non issue. Like literally a non issue, this conversation would not be happening. Granted the club's QC is moot at best. Yes I'm using that word right, moot means debatable.

Delicon wrote:Those who think there hasn't been outrage aren't reading the same posts I have. Now for me, a lot of it is coming from private FB groups but it is definitely there.

When it comes to people from Seibertron.com, I have been to more BotCons than all but a few people, especially consecutive BotCons having gone e every year since 2007.

So, to answer the criticism of "this happens every year" - well, no. The last time I remember them having a registration that was so late was quite a few years ago, whichever year it was that they went to online registration in the first place. Does that mean that FunPub hasn't had a bunch of other missteps along the way? Of course not, and a lot of it IS technology related. However, if you have gone to the show year after year as I have, you'll realize that these folks do put together a great overall event.

I definitely agree with Seibertron however that seeking some better technology help would be a great idea.

I've gone to BotCon consecutively since 2000, when 3H was in full swing. I witnessed Glenn's unfair downfall at the hands of a lackadaisical Hasbro, and I've seen FunPub **** up since day one by not providing half the things they promised to do the first week in the entire first year. If it's not this, it's that. If it's not one thing, it's another. They took over in 2005... online registration should have been done straight off the bat. They are utterly incompetent.

I don't think it's up to Funpub. They're using Eventman, and you'd have to be in with Eventman.




Got my package.

Sustain wrote:I don't think it's up to Funpub. They're using Eventman, and you'd have to be in with Eventman.

Eventman.com is owned by Brian Savage, and is the same domain through which all of the online registrations of prior years have been done.

So... yeah.

Sabrblade wrote:

Sustain wrote:I don't think it's up to Funpub. They're using Eventman, and you'd have to be in with Eventman.

Eventman.com is owned by Brian Savage, and is the same domain through which all of the online registrations of prior years have been done.

So... yeah.

Wait so they're blaming their vendor who is actually his own company? what? wtf?

mooncake623 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Sustain wrote:I don't think it's up to Funpub. They're using Eventman, and you'd have to be in with Eventman.

Eventman.com is owned by Brian Savage, and is the same domain through which all of the online registrations of prior years have been done.

So... yeah.

Wait so they're blaming their vendor who is actually his own company? what? wtf?

Authorize.net is who they're blaming.

Others are saying it's finally up and running, having registered successfully.

It appears that after a number of several further misplacements, pre-registration for the 2015 BotCon event may finally have stabilised enough to at least process Attendee packages. In the past couple of hours, the following string of messages have been sent by FunPub, and received by potential convention goers.

Good morning,

We have now turned the registration system back on. We have been assured once again that it will work this time under load. It may take a few minutes for successive servers to spool up so I have made the time out 20 minutes. This will keep items in your cart until you finish or the registration times out.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian

The application has crashed after no registrations have been processed. We will go back to the programming serving company. We are very upset as well and will be taking action.

We will have registration. I know you are worried and we understand.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian

I apologize for the errors our vendor continues to cause us. Since they are our vendor, we take complete responsibility. We are going to try one more time with this system. They are doubling the servers we will be starting with from the last round.

To lighten the load slightly, we will only start with Attending packages. We have Non-attending sets and loose sets set aside for you guys and will allow Non-attending registrations after the load is past for the attending items. The Non-attending packages are turned off so there is no way you can pick one. Please wait until we give you the go-ahead.

If for whatever reason this system fails again, we will do registration a completely different way which is a semi manual system.

Registration retry email coming in a bit.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused,

Brian

And finally, about an hour ago:

They have spooled it up as fast as they can go. Hopefully this works or we will look at a totally different alternative. Last shot on this system.

Again I am sorry for any issues this has caused and this in no way should reflect on the brand,

Brian

What say you, Seibertronians - have you been able to pre-register your spot at BotCon 2015? Any further comments on the situation?

Clicking Non-Attending for registration appears to not be working altogether. It just sends me back to the start over and over again. I've been at it on and off since I got the most recent e-mail from Brian @ FunPub saying registration is up.

I can go through the whole process as an attending package but no dice with non-attending.

I sent them an e-mail about it.

Has anyone else tried? Attending Botcon since 2002 (minus 2010 and this year), I know it has its problems over the last decade for sure, no rose tinted glasses for me...but unfortunately Botcon is starting to lose a bit of its charm.