Rob, Pete, Charlotte, OCZ's Lisa Gregersen, and Nick
I stepped timidly through the garish entryway of Caesar’s Palace hotel, my senses glutted with smoke and glitter and laughter. I managed to find an employee to navigate me towards the elevator and recited his directions to myself as I edged my way through the casino.
Pete, Rob, and Charlotte near Caesar's Palace—CES press badges at the ready
I felt tremblingly excited, but also nervous, giddy and apprehensive. I had never met any of the individuals I was joining up with, and had flown across state lines to surprise an old friend and more thoroughly contribute to the Icrontic community.
The hotel card wasn’t working properly; I rapped on the door with a deep breath and a giggle.
All work and no play makes ... well you know
Brian “Primesuspect” Ambrozy opened the door and laughingly embraced me while a much-confused Robert “Thrax” Hallock inquired as to who was there. “Hi Rob!”, I chirped cheerfully; and after a flurry of hugs and expletives I realized that my nervousness had dissipated. I was amongst friends.
Charlotte plays Super Street Fighter IV, with a Capcom employee, before Bobby Miller does
I had initially assumed that I would be more of a presence in the down-time of the CES events—primarily tagging along and trying not to be underfoot while the Icrontic staff proceeded with the business side of things. In truth, this was the case at first, but after a few hours of harried shuffling between hotels and meetings and introductions I found myself enthusiastically taking notes and questioning the industry members alongside my company. Their charisma was positively contagious, and I wanted to be an asset and not just a token female in the group.
Reporting is srs bzns
My passion was swiftly noted by Prime. After leaving the meeting we had with the LEGO Universe developers, he grinningly remarked, “So, you know you’re writing that LEGO article, right?”
I blinked and blustered and he assured me that I had been attentive and knowledgeable enough to do the piece justice.
(Ed. note: she knocked it outta the park)
From that moment on, I launched headlong into my newfound sense of role and couldn’t have enjoyed myself more. We woke at 5 AM to ready ourselves for the day, then traipsed tirelessly across Las Vegas to fully experience CES, returning to the hotel room exhausted near to midnight.
Prime and co. have already related some of the highlights of the trip—the seemingly endless procession of amazing food, drink, gadgets, meetings (and BABES!), but the real treat to me was the incredible sense of community and fun that I was allowed to be a part of. These people can spout technical jargon and deftly query industry professionals then leave you incapacitated by laughter in the same breath.
Surely this was what was meant when something was referred to as “Icrontian”, and the air was redolent with its fragrance—that Icrontic ‘stank!
At any rate, I am fiercely proud to be working with this site now, and hope that my old–and new–friends consider me Icrontian as well.
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