2023

### Overview This session features conference announcements and updates regarding the event's interactive electronic badge and badge game. The speaker addresses ongoing battery drain issues experienced by attendees, invites the creator/voice behind the in-game character "Clippy" onto the stage to share gameplay statistics, provides instructions on acquiring game equipment, and introduces the community member facilitating the keynote presentation.

### Key Topics - **Electronic Badge Power Issues:** Attendees are experiencing significant battery drain when attaching multiple mini badges. While the mini badges continue to illuminate or function, the voltage drops too low to power the main ESP module. Recommended mitigations include refreshing double-A batteries or utilizing the top plug with a portable battery pack while toggling the power switch. - **Badge Game Engagement and Statistics:** A guest representing "Clippy" discusses attendee engagement, highlighting players camping outside the venue at 3:00 a.m. to access Wi-Fi bleeding onto the sidewalk to grind battles. The session provides specific gameplay metrics tracking player progress and outcomes. - **Origin of Clippy:** The character originated as an internal joke modeled after Clippy the paperclip, which was later adapted with a 'K' by Chris. - **Game Progression and Vending Machine Logistics:** Attendees are encouraged to complete their initial training and retrieve equipment packs from the venue vending machine. In cases where the vending machine is finicky, the Badge Life team distributes equipment manually upon presentation of a player code.

### Technical Details - **Hardware Architecture:** The conference badge runs on an ESP module and operates on standard double-A batteries or an external plug input. Running numerous add-on mini badges creates an undervoltage condition where the peripheral mini badges function while the primary ESP module fails to boot or run. - **Game Telemetry and Statistics:** - Characters joined: 1,144 - Battles conducted: 2,727 - Parties formed: 441 - In-game burnouts: 928 - Character deaths: 275

### Takeaways Attendees should monitor badge power levels using external battery packs when running multiple mini badges, complete in-game training to acquire equipment packs, and consult the Badge Life area if automated vending fails. The session concludes with the introduction of community member Griff to present the keynote.