Quick
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(08-13-2012, 08:01 AM)

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Fan Expo Toronto 2012 |OT| We Party Rock! Pt. 2 #1



Previously on Fan Expo...Toronto-Age unites?!

In case the thread title isn't making sense, the Just Dance demo last year kept playing Party Rock Anthem for the entire four days.

Where is it?
Fan Expo will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto from Thursday, August 23rd to Sunday, August 26th. The Convention Centre is right beside the CN Tower, and easily accessible via public transit. If you're somehow lost, just find the CN Tower (hard to miss) and make your way there.

Map (via Google Maps)

How much are tickets?
Buy Tickets Online | On-Site Box Office On Convention Days.

Thursday (16:00 - 21:00) - $25.00
Friday (10:00 - 19:00) - $30.00
Saturday (10:00 - 19:00) - $45.00
Sunday (10:00 - 17:00) - $35.00
All 4 Days - $95.00

Child Pass - $10
Children Under 5 - FREE
*HST included

Jay & Silent Bob Get Old Performance:
Friday (19:20) - $39.00

GAF Meetups:
- Grindhouse Burger Bar on Sunday the 26th with a 4:30-5:00PM -
isny
Quadratic
Fugu?
krae_man
stn
zorbsie (yes lurkers are welcome!)
lostconfused?
AlphaTwo00?





Featured Guests | Special Guests | Also Appearing | Attractions | Schedule





Featured Guests | Also Appearing | Authors | Attractions | Schedule





Featured Guests | Also Appearing | Authors | Attractions | Schedule





Featured Guests | Also Appearing | Attractions | Schedule





Featured Guests | Video Game Guests | Also Appearing | Gaming Attractions | Gaming Schedule



There's plenty to do at Fan Expo, but why not take some time to plan things out? Here are some resources to help you get through the weekend.

Money
I'd say about half of the exhibitors will accept VISA, Master Card, or Interac, but CASH is probably the most efficient way to pay. It might even score you a better price on your purchase. Keep the cards as backup. If you need more, there are ATMs outside the exhibitors area, and banks outside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Getting around
There will be plenty of people, especially at the exhibitors area. It may be difficult to get around, so be sure to take a FREE Fan Expo guide scattered around the area. If you are a mail subscriber, your copy should be arriving by mail.

There is also a floor plan available to download (click), as well as the official schedule (click).

Mobile users, check out the Guidebook app. A very handy app to keep with you during the convention, which shows you the map of the show floor, reminds and details you of events, a Twitter feed that keeps track of the convention, a shared photo album for people to share their own photos, and other stuff. The app is available on the App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices. On Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry devices, a fully-featured web version is available on m.guidebook.com

Transportation
It's very easy to get to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. See the Map above for directions if you're driving. Public transit users, simply depart at Union Station, make your way to the Skywalk heading towards the Rogers Centre, and there will (probably) be Fan Expo volunteers that will direct you to the Convention Centre. Unless you're lugging around a huge costume, or plan to scrape every inch of the place for things to buy, it's probably a lot easier to just take public transit, rather than drive. Parking will probably cost you a lot, too, if you can find a spot.

Food
If last year is any indication, food selection will suck and be overpriced. Don't get suckered in; bring a snack, a refillable bottle for water, a granola bar, something light and leaves little to no mess. There are restaurants outside the Convention Centre, and downtown Toronto in general has plenty to offer for great restaurants. The Toronto-Age thread is your one-stop resource centre for all things Toronto (thanks EvilMario). Take advantage of Toronto-GAF's knowledge and recommendations, as well. Who knows the city better than us?

Baggage
You're going to buy a lot. Or, that's your plan. If you're there for just one day, you're going to want to buy everything you see before the end of the day. Along with a backpack, bring another bag to carry your stuff with. Alternatively, Silver Snail and/or other exhibitors will (probably?) offer giant bags hanging off their table free of charge, like last year. I'm unsure of lockers, so you might be out of luck if you plan on storing your things in one.

Other Tips
Try to stay inside. Leaving the Convention Centre means you'll have to line up if you want to enter again. They've done a better job last year managing the lines, but you'll never know this time around. Stay inside, and leave only if you're absolutely done or if it's important.

Keep it moving. Stopping in the middle of the exhibitors' area is a dumb idea, since you'd be holding everyone up. People who want to take pictures of people in costume will crowd the space up, too. Watch out for those crowds.

FUN
Have a lot of that. At the end of the day, you're going to be dead tired, but at least you had a really fun day. You may be heading back the next day, or you may just go for one, but remember to enjoy yourself. Marvel at the costumes, take pictures, try the speed dating, whatever. Might as well indulge.

Next time on Fan Expo...Fan Expo Vancouver 2013 for Vancouver-GAF on April 20th and 21st 2013.
Last edited by Quick; 08-24-2012 at 03:27 AM.
whitehawk
leeches are the best bait when attempting to land bass
(08-13-2012, 08:10 AM)

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#2

I think I might just go this year.
Divvy
Canadians burned my passport
(08-13-2012, 08:21 AM)

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#3

I'll probably go this year. Need to buy things for consumer whoring purposes.
Quick
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(08-13-2012, 08:27 AM)

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#4

I spent a lot of money last year than I had planned. Never again. I'll be prepared this time.
spiderman123
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(08-13-2012, 08:28 AM)

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#5

BUENO!!!!
EvilMario
Will QA for food.
(08-13-2012, 02:10 PM)

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#6

Not attending, but I might just walk around the area and pick up some streetpasses. :P
DoctorWho
BOSS
(08-13-2012, 02:33 PM)

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#7

I'm most likely going again this year.
SpaceBridge
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(08-13-2012, 02:45 PM)

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#8

Going for the four days.
FairyD
(08-13-2012, 02:48 PM)

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#9

I'm going to check it out. Cyanide and Happiness will be there. I hope to join in on the Banana Pub Crawl
Brinbe
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(08-13-2012, 02:51 PM)

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#10

Going on Friday with some friends, should be fun.
criesofthepast
Overdue ROH inductees:
Pavel Bure
Sergio Momesso
Kirk MacLean's wife
(08-13-2012, 03:15 PM)

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#11

Would be cool to see Stan Lee and David Hayter.
TimeEffect
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(08-13-2012, 03:16 PM)

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#12

I'll only be there for the games.
Hope my friends are down, dont want to go alone

Will I see you Gaffers? We need a universal recognition symbol. Wear orange and black.
Quadratic
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(08-13-2012, 03:47 PM)

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#13

I haven't been in years. Just seems to be a whole mess of people and stuff I buy that will just add to my clutter. If there's an after event GAF meetup like last year I'd show up to that. I'm totally talking out of my ass though because I'm going to PAX the following week which from what I've heard is bigger than fan expo.
DoctorWho
BOSS
(08-13-2012, 03:52 PM)

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#14

Is Halo 4 multiplayer going to be there?
zephervack
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(08-13-2012, 04:09 PM)

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#15

Has it always been this expensive? last time I was there was back in 2009, I dont remember paying that much.

Anyway, I really want to go, anyone knows if they are cool with DSLRs?
DoctorWho
BOSS
(08-13-2012, 04:11 PM)

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#16

Originally Posted by zephervack: View Post
Has it always been this expensive? last time I was there was back in 2009, I dont remember paying that much.

Anyway, I really want to go, anyone knows if they are cool with DSLRs?
I used my DSLR last year without issue. Lots of people have them. Just be respectful when taking photos.

As for the price, it's jumped quite a bit over the last couple of bits. They see the event as the SD ComicCon of Canada at this point.
Roto13
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(08-13-2012, 04:12 PM)

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#17

Not only did my friend manage to convince me to actually go this year, he convinced me to wear a costume with him. (He's going to be tiny hispanic Wolverine, and I'm going to be Beast.)

I'd better get a thousand street passes.
Anth0ny
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(08-13-2012, 04:13 PM)

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#18

I'll be there Friday, all day.
DoctorWho
BOSS
(08-13-2012, 04:14 PM)

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#19

Originally Posted by Roto13: View Post
Not only did my friend manage to convince me to actually go this year, he convinced me to wear a costume with him. (He's going to be tiny hispanic Wolverine, and I'm going to be Beast.)

I'd better get a thousand street passes.
It was hard to keep up with the street passes last year. I really wish Nintendo would up the limit from 10.
Anth0ny
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(08-13-2012, 04:16 PM)

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#20

Quote:
Fan Expo Canada runs from August 23rd – 26th in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Ubisoft has revealed the games that attendees can expect to play at the event. At booth #1439, you can expect to see Just Dance 4, Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth, Rocksmith, ZombiU, and the Canadian multiplayer debuts for Assassin’s Creed 3 and Far Cry 3.
wat
krae_man
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(08-13-2012, 04:35 PM)

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#21

Originally Posted by Anth0ny: View Post
wat
Don't believe their lies. Fan Expo loves advertising not yet released systems to get people to go only to not deliver. 3DS, I'm looking in your direction.


I'll go for a GAF and/or Tsilon meetup and that's about it. Show is basically an overpriced flea market.

Originally Posted by Quadratic: View Post
I haven't been in years. Just seems to be a whole mess of people and stuff I buy that will just add to my clutter. If there's an after event GAF meetup like last year I'd show up to that. I'm totally talking out of my ass though because I'm going to PAX the following week which from what I've heard is bigger than fan expo.
PAX is a million times better then Fan Expo.
bPod
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(08-13-2012, 04:47 PM)

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#22

Love to get Snake's autograph; is there a schedule when celebrities will be signing?
Roto13
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(08-13-2012, 04:49 PM)

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#23

Don't all those guys charge money for their autographs? Fuck that shit.
DoctorWho
BOSS
(08-13-2012, 04:54 PM)

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#24

Originally Posted by Anth0ny: View Post
wat
No Halo 4, but potential WiiU action is interesting.


Originally Posted by krae_man: View Post
Don't believe their lies. Fan Expo loves advertising not yet released systems to get people to go only to not deliver. 3DS, I'm looking in your direction.


.
They did the same with Vita last year.
zephervack
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(08-13-2012, 05:53 PM)

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#25

Originally Posted by Roto13: View Post
Don't all those guys charge money for their autographs? Fuck that shit.
Last time I went, both Lou Farigno and Linda Hamilton wanted $20 a pop. Awful, they weren't even allowing people to take pictures from far away :(
Quick
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(08-13-2012, 08:43 PM)

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#26

Billy West won't be charging for his autographs. Score!
fna84
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(08-13-2012, 08:45 PM)

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#27

Say hi to Marissa Roberto for me...
-Pyromaniac-
(08-13-2012, 08:46 PM)

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#28

Still debating if I should go. I think I will but I don't know.

Originally Posted by zephervack: View Post
Last time I went, both Lou Farigno and Linda Hamilton wanted $20 a pop. Awful, they weren't even allowing people to take pictures from far away :(
hate stuff like this
Last edited by -Pyromaniac-; 08-13-2012 at 08:48 PM.
Hypertrooper
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(08-13-2012, 08:49 PM)

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#29

Originally Posted by DoctorWho: View Post
No Halo 4, but potential WiiU action is interesting.




They did the same with Vita last year.
Halo 4 will be playable at the FanExpo. I know some HaloGAFfers who are just coming for Halo 4.

krae_man
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(08-13-2012, 08:49 PM)

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#30

Originally Posted by Quick: View Post
Billy West won't be charging for his autographs. Score!
$40 for Amanda Tapping's Autograph? You could almost buy the Complete Stargate SG-1 series for that.
DoctorWho
BOSS
(08-13-2012, 08:50 PM)

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#31

Originally Posted by Hypertrooper: View Post
Halo 4 will be playable at the FanExpo. I know some HaloGAFfers who are just coming for Halo 4.

I wonder if Frankie knows anything.
Quick
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(08-13-2012, 11:24 PM)

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#32

Originally Posted by zephervack: View Post
Last time I went, both Lou Farigno and Linda Hamilton wanted $20 a pop. Awful, they weren't even allowing people to take pictures from far away :(
Anthony Daniels was charging $40 last year I believe, but that includes a photo of him to pick from. He didn't do any photo ops, instead he walked around the showroom and took pictures with anyone who recognized him for free. He was a really nice guy.
Roto13
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(08-13-2012, 11:31 PM)

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#33

I think Scott Bakula was charging like $80 for autographs at Toronto Comic Con. Like I want the autograph of someone arrogant enough to think their signature is going to light up my life enough to be worth money.
Kuro Madoushi
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(08-13-2012, 11:34 PM)

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#34

Originally Posted by Quick: View Post
Billy West won't be charging for his autographs. Score!
Offer money.

Get offer refused.

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
Quick
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(08-13-2012, 11:59 PM)

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#35

Originally Posted by Kuro Madoushi: View Post
Offer money.

Get offer refused.

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
Not sure if shut up and take my money

Or money and take my shut up.
whitehawk
leeches are the best bait when attempting to land bass
(08-14-2012, 06:21 AM)

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#36

Originally Posted by TimeEffect: View Post
Will I see you Gaffers? We need a universal recognition symbol. Wear orange and black.
lol I'll have my GAF ID card I got from the Toronto Meetup 3.
Quick
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(08-14-2012, 06:22 AM)

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#37

Originally Posted by whitehawk: View Post
lol I'll have my GAF ID card I got from the Toronto Meetup 3.
Damn, I want one of those.

Also, I might walk around with a "Free Shrugs" sign. I dunno.
whitehawk
leeches are the best bait when attempting to land bass
(08-14-2012, 06:25 AM)

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#38

Originally Posted by Quick: View Post
Damn, I want one of those.

Also, I might walk around with a "Free Shrugs" sign. I dunno.
They are the bestest.

Quick
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(08-14-2012, 06:27 AM)

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#39

Need a Fan Expo version for all of us.
AlphaTwo00
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(08-14-2012, 06:28 AM)

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#40

Originally Posted by whitehawk: View Post
They are the bestest.

Why are you posting the failures of NO SHOWING UP ON TIME!?!? :P

I'm thinking about whether I can go or not. Not sure whether I should spend my money for a chance to spend more money... GAF Meetup on the other hand outside the venue? Sure!
UberTag
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(08-14-2012, 06:34 AM)

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#41

I'll be attending all four days as per usual.
Not excited by too much on the docket this year but it's an annual excuse to hang out with my friends - that's always the main incentive to going.
Have floor level seats for the Springsteen concert Friday night at the Dome; can't wait for that.
StudioTan
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(08-14-2012, 06:47 AM)

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#42

I want to go but last time I went I spent $200 and I don't want to spend $200 but I will.

Julie Benz will be there. *drool*
Divvy
Canadians burned my passport
(08-14-2012, 06:49 AM)

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#43

Isn't Stump coming this month? Weren't we going to meetup for that?
Mr. F
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(08-14-2012, 08:00 AM)

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#44

Went once in 2008 to meet Mega64, haven't gone since. Back then it felt like a bit of a mess and underwhelming in terms of what was on the floor. Sometimes I think it would be kind of cool to go back, but I don't have a big enough interest in any of the industries represented anymore to justify admission. I think my convention days are over (though it would be cool to go to PAX someday).

Edit; Henry Winkler was there that year and I was going to get him to sign my Arrested Development DVDs before realizing that an autograph would cost $30, and a photo with him costed $20. At which point I said 'fuck it' and took a photo beside him when he wasn't looking.
BigJonsson
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(08-14-2012, 08:06 AM)

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#45

Never been

What is Smith and Mewes doing exactly?
isny
napkin dispenser
(08-16-2012, 02:18 AM)

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#46

Originally Posted by BigJonsson: View Post
Never been

What is Smith and Mewes doing exactly?
Podcast

In regards to a meetup, anyone interested in meeting up for dinner on the final day? (Sunday) I'll arrange it like I did last year =)
SpaceBridge
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(08-16-2012, 02:31 AM)

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#47

Im too shy to meet up with you guys. :(
lunarworks
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(08-16-2012, 02:31 AM)

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#48

Originally Posted by BigJonsson: View Post
Never been

What is Smith and Mewes doing exactly?
It's funny. I met Kevin Smith at Fan Expo way back in the '90s, before I actually knew who he was. A couple of my friends went to his signing, and I shook his hand and told him I didn't know who he was but it was nice meeting him.
isny
napkin dispenser
(08-16-2012, 02:34 AM)

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#49

Originally Posted by SpaceBridge: View Post
Im too shy to meet up with you guys. :(
Forever alone?
SpaceBridge
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(08-16-2012, 02:36 AM)

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#50

Originally Posted by isny: View Post
Forever alone?
Nah man, just GAF intimidates.