So, in case you missed it: @roelandp decided to organize a last-minute HiveFest this year! Having organized four of them in different countries all over the world (yes, yes, they were called different then, but in spirit they were HiveFests from day 1 ;-)), this year obviously posed some serious challenges. But not for Roeland, who has a creative brain and tadaaaaa! Simply decided to do a virtual event, called HiveFest⁵.

https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://hivefe.st/img/opengraph.jpg

First things first: what to expect?

HiveFest⁵ is a VR event taking place in AltSpaceVR, which basically a piece of software that lets you walk around a virtual space with all your friends, in this case your Hive Buddies.

While first being a bit shy about the Virtual Reality part of it, as I have no VR glasses and have some experience with the nausea that comes from wearing them for about half an hour in a Virtual Reality Cinema, I quickly learned that this all can be experienced in 2D as well!

YAY!

So, basically if you have a PC/Laptop that runs Mac OS or Windows software there's a way to join in the fun :-)

I decided to join a 'Pump It' pre-event just about an hour ago, so I could see if I could make everything work technically, and DAMN that was cool and weird at the same time!

First I hadn't figured out my Mic and navigation yet, but people I know from Hive or a previous HiveFest were already walking towards me, sticking out their hands (yes, really!) and adding me as a friend. It's super weird to see an avatar walking towards you and realize that this is a person you've spoken to IRL at some point or simple know the username of.

COOL!

After a very overwhelming and confusing 10 minutes I got the hang of it a bit more and said hi to a few people and spoken to a few others. Sorry @steevc, took a while before I realized it was YOU!, and thanks for NOT pouring me a beer @adetorrent!

The funny thing is you can hear everyone talk so while walking around the room I could hear the calming voice of @themarkymark, and overheard @roelandp speak with @arcange, while also hearing someone complain that this is SUCH a sausage fest, there's only ONE girl!

Well, that girl was me I guess :D

How to ease yourself into preparing for HiveFest:

1. Join the Telegram group via this link. This way, whatever happens and whatever questions you have you'll be able to find help :-)
2. Follow @hivefest and @roelandp so you won't miss any of the posts coming out the next few weeks
3. Put 18th and 19th of December 5PM UTC in your calendar, or at least one of those two dates.
4. Sign up on hivefe.st - you can sign up for free (or with a voluntary donation!) until DECEMBER 7th, so don't postpone this very important act!
5. Read this post and read it again. Then start installing AltSpaceVR and accept all will be fine in the end even if it's overwhelming for now :-)

Those are the most important steps. After that:

• Set up your Avatar in AltSpaceVR and customize it in a way that you feel suits you :-) We will all look young and sexy because well, that's the virtual part of it!
• Make a selfie by following these steps and then create your attendee card because it's fun!
• Consider voting for a proposal to partially fund HiveFest while you're at it!

Is it REALLY accessible to everyone?

• If have a PC or Laptop that will run Mac OS or Windows it will be accessible to you
• If you have vision or other problems that make VR an unpleasant or impossible experience than you can still join in 2D and join in all the fun
• If you don't have VR goggles: you can join in 2D and join in all the fun
• Timezones matter - both 18th and 19th of December the start is at 5PM UTC, so check your time zone converter to see if you can join - or have to wake up in the middle of the night :P

Speakers

All the cool people have already promised to tell a bit of fun during HiveFest - and more might still join in the next 3 weeks!

All in all I believe this will be a crazy special edition of HiveFest, where the barrier to join is insanely low because there will be no need to fly to a different part of the world, take days off of work, pay for flights, hotels, food, entrance, etcetera.

It was bound to happen someday that we had a Virtual HiveFest, even if just a 'halfway towards HiveFest type of event', but during a pandemic which would have lead to have No HiveFest At All I believe we're in a unique place to experience this - and I'm happy to join in the fun :-)

I hope I can get some #ladiesofhive to join so it will become less of a Sausage Fest. I also hope I've made you at least a bit curious about joining and you'll consider my 5 steps towards easing yourself into it :-) Don't be shy, this is going to be fun!

Return from HiveFest⁵ will be extremely accessible this year - will you be there? to Rosanne's Web3 Blog