Can Ubuntu reach over 16,000 anime lovers in April? Of course it can, with the support of the rapidly expanding super mega-awesome community (that's you all)!
Anime Boston returns for 2010 on April 2-4 and the Ubuntu Massachusetts Local Community Team has some ambitious plans. Last year, I went in on behalf of the team and dropped off 50 copies of the Ubunchu Manga with Jaunty CDs attached, and they were all gone within the first couple of hours of the first day of the convention. It seemed to be the only thing on the flyer table that people actually wanted! The event was amazing. There were people there from all over the country, even across the world. Over 15,000 people attended and that number has risen from little over 4,000 since the first convention in 2003. For 2010, we're going to be reaching out to this huge potential user base. While we're at it, we'll also be creating a new model for Linux groups to raise funds for projects without the having to go through registering as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or being legally recognized in any way.
Spread the word!
Ubuntu really is a perfect candidate for the new operating system of choice for all anime lovers, and that is exactly what we aim to make it. Is there a more passionate and tight-knit, yet diverse and open minded cultural phenomenon that we could target than the widespread anime fandom? Convention goers are a great target audience. They tend to be slightly on the geeky side but still cool of course and very receptive to Ubuntu. An OS that is beautiful yet still highly customizable, Free and Open Source with a supportive enthusiastic community that very much mirrors their own couldn't be a better match! With the right planning along with support from the community and maybe a couple of the big dogs, our goals are very attainable.
So, what exactly will we be doing? We can approach this on several levels, starting with setting up a booth in the Dealers' Room of the convention. From here, we can distribute free copies of the Ubunchu Manga, Ubuntu LiveCDs, and materials on FOSS, Ubuntu, and our team. Most importantly, we'll be out there talking and connecting with people and generally just making a big impression on them. We will also offer live installs and do some cool demonstrations, the basic stuff that should be expected. If we gain enough resources, another great opportunity is distributing our materials in the Anime Boston registration bags. This would put our materials in the hands of almost every single convention attendee. That's expected to be over 16,000 people!
It's important that we are smart about how we spread Ubuntu since buying a computer with Ubuntu pre-installed is the most effective way to get people to switch. We are hoping companies who are committed to FOSS and GNU/Linux will be willing to partner with us for the event. We have already contacted some manufacturers such as System76 and ZaReason and would happy to hear from any others. With additional funding we may be able to sell Ubuntu merchandise like bootable USB drives and display some machines from our partner(s) with anime themes (some good wallpapers from here and here). If possible, we'd like to auction or raffle off a customized laptop with anime themes and an Anime Boston design laser-etched into it. How cool would that be!
It's important that we are smart about how we spread Ubuntu since buying a computer with Ubuntu pre-installed is the most effective way to get people to switch. We are hoping companies who are committed to FOSS and GNU/Linux will be willing to partner with us for the event. We have already contacted some manufacturers such as System76 and ZaReason and would happy to hear from any others. With additional funding we may be able to sell Ubuntu merchandise like bootable USB drives and display some machines from our partner(s) with anime themes (some good wallpapers from here and here). If possible, we'd like to auction or raffle off a customized laptop with anime themes and an Anime Boston design laser-etched into it. How cool would that be!
I might also be signing up for a tech staff or volunteer position at the event so I can be an inside man solving problems and being a computer hero all the while spreading Ubuntu to everyone running the convention. If you thinks you might be interested in doing this, you're encouraged to apply at the Anime Boston website. During one of the main events at the 2009 convention, I remember hearing Windows error sounds!
On top of all of this, we have a digital camcorder which will capture everything every step of the way. The video camera records in full HD and everything (Sony HDR-XR520V if you're curious). So not only would we have an immediate impact on everyone at the convention, but we can extend our reach to YouTube and continue to have a lasting impact long after the convention closes its doors for the year.
As mentioned before, we will be setting a precedent with this project. To the best of our knowledge this has never been done before or at the very least not on this scale. Thanks to Linux Fund, we will be able to accept tax-deductible donations to cover the costs of this event. Linux Fund is currently in the process of setting up a system that will allow them to provide this service to other FOSS community groups at a competitive rate. Such a valuable resource has not been readily available to unincorporated FOSS groups in the past. This is a real game-changer: the possibilities are endless. This relationship reflects the growing trend of FOSS groups building relationships with the nonprofit community. Once this infrastructure has been implemented, we can expect to see many more projects of this magnitude and greater spring up.
This is where all of you, the community, come in. We cannot depend so much on big sponsors to jump on board just yet, so we are going to start with a community fundraiser to raise money for the essential elements of our campaign and show our potential sponsors that this is a worthwhile endeavor. The most important element of this campaign is our physical presence at the Anime Boston conventions so our first fundraising goal will be $700; that's just 70 people willing to give ten dollars! Help us blow this goal out of the water so that we can move on to the good stuff. Please repost this everywhere you can: (micro)blogs, YouTube, etc. Also pitch us your ideas in the comments of this post and please subscribe to keep up with our fundraising. Thank you all!
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35 comments:
You probably should point how how much you want to raise in better formatting. Had to actually read it all to find out...
Anyway, did my part of one of those 70 ppl.
That's all well and good, but they're going to be running back to windows the moment they can't run their eroge.
That's a great effort, but I think you need to be careful. Ubuntu first needs to fix a lot of hardware support problems and subtle bugs. For example I'm still struggling to get my ATI Radeon HD card working properly.
Promoting Ubuntu is nice and all but the last thing you'd want is people finding out that their stuff don't work, and then walk away with a negative image of Ubuntu and Linux. You'd likely never see those people again.
Thank you! Pigux.com has done its part! ^__^
Also want to add that the original Akane wallpaper referenced in this blog and the logo can be found here:
http://hayashinomura.deviantart.com/art/Commission-Ubunchu-Akane-141708488
Admittedly, the comments pointing out the risk of alienating users due to software incompatibilities does hold a little bit of water. Most Anime/Manga artists that I know rely on Photoshop, Illustrator and Paint Tool SAI among other things -- and while the former can be installed through Wine or replaced with GIMP/Inkscape, the latter will not install short of putting it on a virtual machine.
This is why its important to stress Ubuntu's value as a supplemental system for anyone particularly entrenched in a Windows platform -- especially if you offer Ubuntu LiveUSBs, the ability to run a secondary operating system on the go (and for system rescues) can't be matched. It will also be helpful to promote free and open source software that can have special appeal to Anime/Manga fans, such as Ren'Py.
you got $5 from me!
This isn't going to work, there's no way these people will dump Photoshop for the 15 years out of date GIMP. And while Inkscape is pretty good (certainly progressing better than that GIMP abortion, even if it is getting GEGL ReallySoon™) it's no Illustrator.
In short: you're targeting Photoshop and Illustrator users, the hardest people to please. Not to mention the sad state of PulseAudio and graphics drivers at the moment.
@Anonymous#2
Nothing is actually impossible as long as you're willing to try first. ;)
Actually I think the most attractive feature will be the idea that you can have a computer that doesn't spit out DVDs from "none approved regions" (Mac). I just wish we could have had libdvdcss and vlc installed by default.
I've been using ubuntu for 4 years now .. however the 9.10 is huge dissapointment for me ... despite arguments pointing to issues with new kernel ... its a bad bad release... might move to debian
hello i am complaining on the internet anonymously while making hollow threats.
To that anonymous-kun that thinks Illustrator will never be replaced by Inkscape...... somewhat true, but Inkscape does have many significant advantages over Illustrator.
I'm no manga/anime artist (only reason here is because I sometimes watch anime), but I am an artist/designer (meaning I get paid to sell artwork, though not the anime kind) and I currently rely on open source 90% of the time.... I know how to use GIMP, Krita and Inkscape to their strengths, and the quality of my output hasn't degraded in the least since I ditched Macs and Adobe.... the only program that I think Linux doesn't have is a full-on replacement for Corel Painter (which I run on an XP virtual machine)
I also do photo retouching, and use Cinepaint.... and trust me, despite being a pain, highly unstable and having the worst UI in history, the output quality from Cinepaint, in terms of gradiation, gamut and tonality, is second to none.
Just my 2 cents. I agree that Ubuntu isn't ready for people who wanna make anime or manga, mainly because the industry is entrenched in Adobe software, but they don't speak for all artists (I'm proud to say I earn more thn my anime artist counterparts, though that's mainly thanks to poor them being so underpaid in Japan).... Plus, one of the most innovative and artistic anime I've seen, entitled Kemonozume, was done with open source software.
Food for thought.
@Anonymous#6
Took the words right out of my mouth, and yes you can speak for me as well since nearly all my Anime artwork (including some Ubunchu wallpapers) was done in Inkscape (which for me was actually better than Illustrator in terms of ease of use and its ability to blur objects more naturally). ^__~
Perhaps the biggest strength behind FOSS software is that it is cooperatively-owned software and thus offers unlimited growth potential because we can literally make it what we want it to be. But that's also the biggest weakness at this time, because many users still have the "product" mentality with respect to software -- if it doesn't work for them, they ditch it and move on to something else (more so if its free, easier to ditch and criticize).
If we do our part, however small, to help make this software better (much like I do my small part to help make KDE4 even better), then it WILL improve. It will not do so magically on its own, or at least not at the pace we expect it to. ;)
Similarly, if this new funding model is a success, maybe we can look into sponsoring development for software alternatives we want/need. Such as a better UI for Cinepaint, FOSS clones for Corel Painter or Paint Tool SAI, maybe even external patches for purported issues in Ubuntu Karmic. I believe this kind of on-demand development is possible, but simply lacks organization...
...at this time. ;)
If you want anime fans to use Ubuntu, then show off how well it can pirate anime and play the illegally downloaded anime. Any promotional images should have an anime female peeing on logo's of anime companies and its creators.
There isn't any community with the anime community.
@Jura
Wau, you know you might consider rethinking who you hang around with [or maybe who hangs around you]. :P
Agreed though, there is no anime "community" (singular), but plenty of anime "communities" (plural), even if most won't admit to being one. Sorry if you haven't been able to find a relatively law-abiding one though,... better luck next time. ;)
Wow I didn't know there is an OS-wars raging across the anime community.
Ubuntu is going to have to battle Windows 7 Nanami-tan, now with 300(0)% more moe!
Excellent idea. If you look around in ubuntu forums you'll notice lots of anime avatars, ubuntu users and anime fans already share a number of audience. Anime fans are not necessary gamers, or are mostly focused on the console, they also are already familiar with the technology and various online collaborative efforts so I would think that they would actually be interested in open source software.
-T
Might want to actually make plans with the Anime Boston people before making a press release about what you "might". Dealer's booths go fast, and are also expensive. There's a lot of talk here but no specific details at all. Has anyone from the convention even been talked to about this? I'm sure you're way past mark to get any significant role on a team.
Also you need to be careful about how everything is presented. I want Ubuntu to become more popular just like other users, but fans are paying money to go to an Anime convention. Being sold on an alternate OS that most likely will give them issues with the way their used to watching files / editing movies / searching the web isn't how they envisioned spending their weekend.
Booth sales aren't even open yet, and this guy certainly isn't connected well enough to get one early. I am amused that people are donating money to this mess.
Also make sure you're very careful about what you can do so no one gets kicked out. You can't stuff stuff in the convention bags without being a paid sponsor of the con (no idea how much that costs), and anyone found stuffing CDs in the bags without permission is liable to get kicked out. You also need to make sure that any use of Anime Boston graphics and logos are officially sanctioned by the con's PR department.
@Aorii:
hehe, since I've been following OS-tans for a while, Nanami strikes me as a cheap knock-off of the great ME-tan, XP-tan, 2K-tan and all the other fabulous OS-tans created by legions of free artists over the years. On the other hand, even though they missed the boat to do this with Vista, at least one has to give Microsoft credit for TRYING to connect with anime fans this time.
Don't know if it's a universal success, but its a success nonetheless from an advertisement stand point. I think now we can do the same with Ubunchu, which has been in existence for a lot longer than Nanmi-chan, but obviously hasn't received the same amount of funding or attention. :)
@Anonymous#7:
Agreed, I've noticed that too to some extent. I think there's too much assumption in some of these posts that we're trying to pit a rigid product against some ubiquitous deomographic of societal outcasts. In reality, this is simply one loyal fanbase trying to have some fun with another loyal fanbase, and depending on how well this goes some level of convergence is possible. We can have talented individuals with programming experience willing to improve existing FOSS applications, and likewise we can help fund efforts by creative content makers to promote the development of Open Manga (like Ubunchu) and maybe even Open Anime (not unlike the Blender movies).
@Anonymous#8:
#9 actually answers your question about booths. Plus you're forgetting the Massachusetts LoCo already did this last year (albeit at a smaller scale), and the primary thing being offered are free copies of the Ubunchu manga (which back then was only one chapter, now there will most likely be four at that time). And you have until April to help get all those purported issues fixed, so off to Launchpad with you. ;)
@Anonymous#9:
Thanks for answering #8's question about the booth. We're perfectly fine with your amusement as long as you help SOMEONE out, lol. ;D
@Anonymous#10:
Thank you very much. ^^
The team did work with this last year, but given the scale of the operation in 2010 yes any precautionary advice of that nature is always much appreciated. Thankfully we all have 5 months to get this right. ^^b
You have my support!
http://michael-springer.net/linux/help-ubuntu-reach-16k/
-Mike
Thank you very much, Mike! ^__^
It looks like Linux Fund is helping Inkscape too!
@Anonymous #11
Yep, I parked in a few bucks for them too while I was at it. They're fairly close to their own goal as well. ^__~
The one big fail of Ubuntu is not having Aegisub in the repos. Not that it can be fixed soon, though.
@ArkBlitz:
I can suggest that for inclusion over at GetDeb. Assuming it's not a problem to compile (and it looks like it's already been precompiled in scattered outlets), it should be a very easy addition. ^^b
http://www.getdeb.net/welcome/
Thank you, I didn't realize that program existed. I'll have to try it out as well.
"If you want anime fans to use Ubuntu, then show off how well it can pirate anime and play the illegally downloaded anime."
Don't worry about that, it can easily play anything I ever fed it. Plus H.264 decoding is impressively fast in SMPlayer, even without special decoding hardware.
Sent my 20 and forwarded to my local LUG in PHX
I've tried using linux and alike but I still went back to MS.
If you can tell me how, I'd be willing to send some Live USB's for you to give/sell.
You better not tell anime fans that subtitles in linux looks like shit, specially ASS/SSA styled subbs which are working only partially in VLC and Mplayer, but not in Totem and many fonts looks bad..
Kaizar, please get in touch with my by email! Thanks!
Good luck with the effort. I think there's a lot of overlap in the Linux and anime communities. I have a limited interest in anime, but I have lots of friends that would be overjoyed to find better anime support.
I like Ren'Py as well, but it's broken in Karmic:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/renpy/+bug/465129
If you want to encourage anime in Ubuntu, you could work on getting that fixed, and keep an eye on it so that it doesn't break again.
Lol funny, like a year ago I was still fan of anime, and one time I contacted one of the non profit anime cons in The Netherlands if I could put (K)ubuntu cd's there when the animecon was held.
Guess the answer was no, so its funny to read this because as far as I know the connection Linux and Anime is a bad one, because Anime fans are most time gamers to.
I have tried many time to point out why Linux is good, I mean for me all the media plays well and now with the new Kubuntu 9.10 I have even a encrypted hard drive.
Even though some Anime fans use Linux they don't feel like spreading it and just using it for maybe server, or because they are ICT geeks.
And as soon they will see that best usenet downloader works text based they will run back to crappy Windows.
Actually, I think most anime fans who come to cons are computer nerds who will be inclined to use GNU/Linux. I don't see why you say they are mostly gamers; there aren't even gaming events at cons.
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