Whether 2023 was your first EVE Fanfest or you've been going since the inaugural event many moons ago, we knew you'd all have some terrific memories from the yearly celebration in Reykjavik, Iceland. This year saw some massive announcements, including Havoc, the game’s next expansion, and Vanguard, the spin-off FPS game that will directly affect events in EVE Online. But Just About is all about community, and we wanted to know what you’ve all been getting up to away from the big announcements in EVE’s premier community event. Here are some of our members’ very own favourite Fanfest memories!
For FUN INC, 2023 was his seventh Fanfest, with the first coming in 2014. Here are some of his highlights, but click through to their full comment to see all of his images - there are quite a few!
"Just in the last few years, my shift has also moved from being a passenger/follower to being a leader. I have run two player events - a charity raffle and drinks last year, and this year a brunch and charity raffle - raising £1.3k and £1k respectively. Last year I also presented about “Community Enrichment & Development”, and this year I hosted a co-presentation about the “you and I in community”. I was also one of the guests on the CCPTV show last year speaking with CCP Goat and Convict about NPSI, and I was also a Guest FC at the NFSI LAN party this year, killing 4.5bn ISK and getting 82 kills in the process."
It was also the seventh Fanfest for Rixx Javix, who just had one photo to share; signing posters for CCP to sell, thanks to his incredible EVE Online artwork.
"Fanfest 2023 was my seventh Fanfest and my eighth trip to sunny Iceland overall. And while I’ve had many adventures and excellent moments over the years nothing quite matches the sheer insanity of that first Fanfest back in 2015. My first trip overseas, first time in Iceland, first time I ever met other EVE players in person, or anyone from CCP Games - and I had a player presentation, a roundtable, dinners and lunches with devs, the charity dinner, and an entire line of posters to promote that CCP was hoping to sell.
It was a lot to deal with all at once. But sitting in Harpa and signing posters in person was a dream come true. And while it took much longer than I hoped, the work I did back then helped pave the way for other creatives and opened the doors for other artists and writers to work with CCP in an official capacity. And that is something that I remain proud of to this day.
I was the first. But I won’t be the last. And when I see Andrew’s book, or Lloyd George selling art at a table, or watch player’s eyes go wide when they first see the new board game - I think back to this moment in 2015 and smile."
From one creator paving the way for others, to a first-timer with a wholesome story of the attitudes that make such things possible - here’s Ninjawolf with this recollection of their first-ever Fanfest:
"During my first FanFest attendance I found meeting people was the best part of the event for me! The talks, sights, and events were all great but bumping into someone and following up with a 20-minute conversation - getting to know each other, from complete strangers to peers immediately - it was amazing! And to top it off they all welcomed my partner along as well, talking non-EVE things to keep her accommodated and helping her to enjoy the experience all the more <3"
Finally, Matt had a brief but amusing tale, presumably from this year's Fanfest. He explained that he went to the snack bar and ordered water - but a "very bearded and very Australian" chap told him he mispronounced ‘beer’. Interestingly, no one shared any memories of the infamous Fanfest pub crawls. Perhaps because there aren’t any? We’ll ask again next year…
Header image courtesy of Roger Sieber.
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