My trip to Giantbomb & San Francisco

Topic started by EpicSteve on June 29, 2009. Last post by LiquidPrince 4 months, 2 weeks ago.
Post by EpicSteve (884 posts) See mini bio
2044 ACH / 39433 P

Loading...
San Francisco is a fantastic city, and after my week in the bay area I felt like I saw a good portion of what the city
The one and only
The one and only
 has to offer and walked away with a good impression. While ultimately a tourist experience (aquarium, tours, bike rides, Alcatraz) I thought a visit before I moved to the city would do my girlfriend and I a great service. We stayed at the Radison hotel in Fisherman's Wharf, and spent the first two days merely walking around town and understanding how the city worked. After we got ahold of the cable car system, we explored the majority of the majors sections of town. Day 3-5 mainly revolved tourist deals. I did enjoy it, however. 

Goddamn if one thing shocked me about the city, is that it can get fucking cold! So I had to be "that guy" and buy the obligatory San Francisco branded hoodie...oh well. I won't dance around and talk about my vacation, I'll get to what really matters, Giantbomb. I scheduled a trip with Vinny the day before, and I was stoked! My girlfriend and I woke up around 10 the next morning to catch a boat to Sausalito. At first I admired the beautiful small town, but I quickly got back into focus...after getting a free ice cream cone with Military ID. A mere five minute walk, and I'm in front of the GB office. Vinny was quick to come outside, and after a short introduction he showed me the upstairs. 

GB's upstairs is much larger than I originally thought. Several small offices for the Comic Vine employees, and a larger room in the center for the GB tech crew. We went through some hand shakes, and astonishingly they totally have a dog in the office which caught me my surprise. After a quick showing of the kitchen and bathroom (with half a shower) I got to take a trip to the dungeon. 

Podcast Room
Podcast Room



Unfortunately Ryan was absent due to illness, however everyone else was present. We hung-out for an hour talking about random stuff, the game business, Jeff's decision with the site's creation, Vinny showed me something awesome that'll hopefully be on the site shortly, and Jeff and I talked about some of the names that came up before Giantbomb. Such as, Game Monk, Game Vine, and Videogame Mountain. I shared my opinion that the site should've been called GameCop. They also shed light on how the hell they pay for what they do. Basically Whisky Media is investing in them to build an audience. I'm assuming after traffic gets to a certain point, advertisement will pick up. 
Represent...during Gay Pride.
Represent...during Gay Pride.

It wasn't surprising that they're all really nice and easy to talk to guys. I am surprised with how much time and attention they gave us. I wanted to give one last thanks to them, and especially to Vinny for his hospitality and helpfulness. San Francisco was an overall good experience. I was also lucky enough to be here during Gay Pride weekend, which was an experience itself. Also, thankyou MB. Fog City Diner was fantastic!

NOTE: Got a pic with Jeff and I on my profile as my main image. 

EDIT: A lot of you are asking where I'm from. My girlfriend and I live in Southern Ohio, outside of Cincinnati.





Post by jakob187 (9,521 posts) See mini bio
2130 ACH / 40690 P

Loading...
Luchadeer looks none too happy about your presence in his slave-workers' den...or maybe he's checking out your girlfriend's ass.


Post by natetodamax (7,037 posts) See mini bio
1370 ACH / 27492 P

Loading...
Nice


Post by MattyFTM (6,705 posts) See mini bio
708 ACH / 7770 P

Loading...

Online Now
Moderator

I believe the dog you mentioned has appeared in one or two video's. Although I might be imagining things (I do that a lot).


Post by FlamingHobo (2,722 posts) See mini bio
1981 ACH / 36480 P

Loading...
Lucky mofo.
It's cool that Vinny would let a GB user like yourself visit the office, did you just casually ask in a message very politely?
Also, where's Ryan at?


Post by Pie (3,980 posts) See mini bio
1441 ACH / 29275 P

Loading...
Sooo, are the rumours about Brad true?


Post by Kohe321 (1,677 posts) See mini bio
368 ACH / 4636 P

Loading...
Awesome stuff! Giantbomb crew is awesome to let people from the community come for a visit.


Post by EpicSteve (884 posts) See mini bio
2044 ACH / 39433 P

Loading...
@MattyFTM said:
" I believe the dog you mentioned has appeared in one or two video's. Although I might be imagining things (I do that a lot). "
I'm sure the dog has appearing in something I can't remember, but it's 
Andy's dog, Titan. 


Post by EpicSteve (884 posts) See mini bio
2044 ACH / 39433 P

Loading...
@FlamingHobo said:
" Lucky mofo.It's cool that Vinny would let a GB user like yourself visit the office, did you just casually ask in a message very politely?Also, where's Ryan at? "
I messaged him several months in advanced, just so he knew it wasn't being spontaneous. Then we had a conversation later when I was in town and got the details sorted out. 


Post by FlamingHobo (2,722 posts) See mini bio
1981 ACH / 36480 P

Loading...
@EpicSteve said:
" @FlamingHobo said:
" Lucky mofo.It's cool that Vinny would let a GB user like yourself visit the office, did you just casually ask in a message very politely?Also, where's Ryan at? "
I messaged him several months in advanced, just so he knew it wasn't being spontaneous. Then we had a conversation later when I was in town and got the details sorted out. 
"
Sounds great, glad you had a great time man.
Also I noticed you mentioned a Military ID? Are you going into training or are you already submitted?


Post by SinGulaR (1,166 posts) See mini bio
6 ACH / 0 P

Loading...
And I read in a blog somewhere that the GB staff wouldn't care about the community. So untrue.


Post by Sparky_Buzzsaw (1,300 posts) See mini bio
497 ACH / 10225 P

Loading...
Hey, cool stuff!  I've only been to that area for a brief vacation, but it was one hell of a fun town.  That visit to the GB office looks like a blast!


Post by Luke (826 posts) See mini bio
551 ACH / 8260 P

Loading...
Gay Pride was nuts... it used to be a lot less crazy with Security back-in-the-day, which is a sign of the times I guess, but it was still alright. 

Anyway, glad you enjoyed it here and I see you got some of that bombass Sausalito Ice Cream I was talking about in your previous thread! :p 


Post by TheMustacheHero (3,339 posts) See mini bio
298 ACH / 0 P

Loading...
That's really cool.


Post by EpicSteve (884 posts) See mini bio
2044 ACH / 39433 P

Loading...
@FlamingHobo said:
" @EpicSteve said:
" @FlamingHobo said:
" Lucky mofo.It's cool that Vinny would let a GB user like yourself visit the office, did you just casually ask in a message very politely?Also, where's Ryan at? "
I messaged him several months in advanced, just so he knew it wasn't being spontaneous. Then we had a conversation later when I was in town and got the details sorted out. 
"
Sounds great, glad you had a great time man.Also I noticed you mentioned a Military ID? Are you going into training or are you already submitted? "
Yeah, I go to Basic in two weeks, I'm a Scout. Speaking of which, the best quote while I was there was after I explained to Vinny what I would be doing in the military and he said "Oh my, That's awful!" in a fantastic dreadful/motherly-worried voice. 


Post by Jayge (9,055 posts) See mini bio
886 ACH / 15115 P

Loading...
What a great opportunity. Hopefully they don't get spammed with calls for stuff like that now though. 

Edit: You should have brought them a case of energy drinks!


Post by Hamz (3,442 posts) See mini bio
416 ACH / 835 P

Loading...

Moderator

Well done matey for getting to experience something few of us will. Especially before you head off to the military (I assume mentioning the Military ID means you are definately going?) so that makes it all the more special for you I imagine.


Post by Gearhead (698 posts) See mini bio
1309 ACH / 26485 P

Loading...
Ok, now I'm fucking jealous.
Fuck you sir!
:P


Post by diminian (29 posts) See mini bio
382 ACH / 5250 P

Loading...
Well I'm glad you got the opportunity that the rest of us wish we could have ourselves, now you can spill the beans and tell us what they really do in that office.


Post by Metal_Gear_Sunny (2,935 posts) See mini bio

Loading...
Awesome!


Post by Absurd (2,446 posts) See mini bio
16 ACH / 70 P

Loading...
Nice, Luchadeer does indeed look a little angry.


Post by mikevanpwn (304 posts) See mini bio
1005 ACH / 18275 P

Loading...
They totally need to make a cardboard cutout of Jeff in that position.


Post by Steve_C (681 posts) See mini bio
297 ACH / 3495 P

Loading...
That's brilliant.


Post by Alex_Murphy (534 posts) See mini bio

Loading...
Sounds cool, but now everybody is going to be trying to go visit them and they won't get any work done, lol.


Post by EpicSteve (884 posts) See mini bio
2044 ACH / 39433 P

Loading...
@mikevanpwn said:
" They totally need to make a cardboard cutout of Jeff in that position. "
I like this one fr a cardbord cut-out of Jeff as well
While I'm at it, here's some decorations. I would have taken more pics, but I didn't want to be "that guy". This is a small thing on the wall you see immediately when you walk into the downstairs section. I dug the Cast Crasher stuff. 







Post by Pomeroy (11 posts) See mini bio

Loading...
They really do need a cutout of Jeff in that position.

As if I weren't jealous enough because you have Giant Bomb shirts
then this topic comes up!
Sounds like it was an absolute blast and you asked what I was wondering, "How the hell is this getting funded?"

So you're the first user I know of to achieve this goal.
Now I will try and take it a step further, I'll visit as an employee of a company and be a guest on the Bombcast!!!!
A man can dream, can't he?


Post by Claude (3,275 posts) See mini bio
245 ACH / 3967 P

Loading...
That's really cool. I've always wanted to go to the west coast, San Fran, LA or all over.

Here's a picture of the dog Titan.





Post by zyn (413 posts) See mini bio
710 ACH / 15640 P

Loading...
Awesome dude!


Post by Dethfish77 (1,802 posts) See mini bio
1325 ACH / 24885 P

Loading...
You're one lucky guy.


Post by tekmojo (1,521 posts) See mini bio
1224 ACH / 21449 P

Loading...
That's a pretty big win for you.