March 4, 2023 News and Notes

• The demand for two-at-most ticket codes for the July, 2023 Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Las Vegas (where the next expansion and probably one new job in it get first announcement) outstripped the supply, and, by some reports, by a factor of at least SEVEN.
• Why is this important?  They're holding the event at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and it has apparently gotten out that FIFTEEN THOUSAND TICKETS (at $200 each -- meaning a $3,000,000 gate!) will be made available, meaning over 50,000 players submitted for application for the drawing, if the numbers reported are correct.
• How crazy is it?  Square-Enix just announced the second Fan Festival, for London in October -- same process to apply for a ticket code as the Las Vegas one, but you must be a European Square-Enix account to actually apply!!   
• (Disclaimer:  Yes, I applied.  No, I did not get an e-mail, so I won't be attending.  It may not matter anyway -- any travel considerations (I've even had to scrap Mania Week in LA this year due to both COVID and ethical concerns -- looking at you, Vince and Saudis!!!) are based still on COVID safety.)   
• And, yes, "Unknown", that does include the summer Debbie Gibson tour announced last week.  You can find ticket details on her social media.  Nyah.