I'm looking at this, and I've got two WOWs here:

1) Wow, they got an actual DDR Arcade cabinet in there, someone's got cash and/or connections.

2) Wow, they're plugging directly into the hotel wall outlet in the programming space, they must not have a Union presence in the hotel.

2.5) Although there is an extra advantage for the hotel to make the programming space use power strips to connect to the outlets: if there is a problem and the equipment causes a short circuit, the local power strip will trip before the breaker in the main panel, preventing a problem in one room from shutting down half a wing.

Not being part of the con staff, I don't know for sure, but I believe the use of the DDR arcade was donated by a local game room that is furry friendly.

As for the power issue, I have no idea what discussions happened between the con staff and the hotel, but the power never went out, so everything worked out okay in the end. ;)

1. Gotcha Gachapon, a local arcade that specializes in Japanese games, sets up a number of machines at the MUCH larger Ohayocon anime convention here in Columbus. The owners enjoy furries, and they actually approached us to see if we'd appreciate them bringing any of their machines to our little AnthrOhio convention We will be seeing if we can bring the DDR machine again this year!

2. Gotcha Gachapon set up their machine, I didn't notice the lack of power strip, I'll be sure we have one there

2.5. The DDR machine pulls a less power than much of our other stuff, and also does not really produce surges since the lights and audio are pretty much running non-stop, but yup, power strips are good things! And back when we did cause the breakers in that same room to flip back when that was our Hospitality Lounge (crockpots DO cause surges!), it only took down that room and one adjoining meeting room. There are plenty of breakers, thankfully no single one is going to take out all too much of the hotel

I imagine that most companies setting up things like this, prefer not to use a power strip, as you then see the tendency of their customers to plug everything into that power strip and thus that one outlet. It's always better (safest) to have one device per outlet; though the surge protector aspect of a power strip is definitely favorable to throwing a breaker.

hot damn they don't even have this stuff at anthrocon