WotC Re-Brands Winter Fantasy as D&D Experience

Mark CMG · Dec 24, 2006

How many EN Worlders are familiar with and/or have gone to the Winter Fantasy gaming convention over the years? What do you know of it?

It is now called D&D Experience - http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/ddxp/hotel

As I recall, this took place just outside Chicago for a while before moving on to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then elsewhere in the East, no?

Do you think strengthening its ties to D&D, specifically, is the prelude to using it as the primary platform for the announcement and, perhaps, the eventual unveiling of 4E?

Lalato · Dec 24, 2006

Mark,
I don't know about 4E, but I do know that I'll be there playing a ton of D&D Minis.

--sam

Morrus · Dec 24, 2006

D&D Associate Brand Manager, Kevin Wilson, speaking at GenCon 2006:

Kevin Wilson said:
"...the show currently known as Winter Fantasy will be the primary place to push D&D, and 2007 will reveal a lot";

Varianor Abroad · Dec 24, 2006

Since it's in Virginia this year (meaning I won't be going), I think it's smart to rename it as D&D Experience.

Treebore · Dec 24, 2006

If they keep it in VA I won't ever be going. Part of the reason I go to GenCon Indy is because of where I live (Arizona). I also do not like the Con in LA. So it may be "the" D&D experience, but its an experience I will never have.

Umbran · Dec 24, 2006

Mark CMG said:
Do you think strengthening its ties to D&D, specifically, is the prelude to using it as the primary platform for the announcement and, perhaps, the eventual unveiling of 4E?

No. I would think it might just as easily indicate the opposite.

GenCon is huge. There's a great deal of stuff going on. While really big announcements would still be noted there, smaller things could very well get lost in the shuffle. Moving D&D focus to another con means they don't have to compete for attention.

Mark CMG · Dec 24, 2006

Lalato said:
Mark,
I don't know about 4E, but I do know that I'll be there playing a ton of D&D Minis.

--sam

Hiya, Sam!

Have you been going to other Winter Fantasy conventions over the years?

Mark CMG · Dec 24, 2006

Treebore said:
If they keep it in VA I won't ever be going. Part of the reason I go to GenCon Indy is because of where I live (Arizona). I also do not like the Con in LA. So it may be "the" D&D experience, but its an experience I will never have.

I'm glad to see the folks in VA are getting a good sized D&D convention but it seems odd to make it the primary place for D&D announcements and releases. I'm sure the choice of the Indy location for GenCon had something to do with its centralized position in the USA and, thus, its ability to draw from its traditional core, from points further south and west, and to increase attendance from the East coast. They must be aware that a VA location doesn't allow maximized attendance of D&Ders.

Treebore · Dec 24, 2006

If they want to have a separate identity but have a draw similiar to GenCon, they definitely, in my mind anyways, need to keep it somewhere in the middle of America. The Texas panhandle would be nice, IMO. Of course then that would make things more difficult for Canadians that go to GenCon. Probably not significantly worse than going to VA, though.

Same deal for people coming from Wisconsin and other driveable distances to GenCon. However, I think they are aware of enough accurate gamer demographics to know which Con location will give them the best gamer turn out. I doubt VA is anywhere close to giving them that, though,

Lalato · Dec 24, 2006

Mark CMG said:
Hiya, Sam!

Have you been going to other Winter Fantasy conventions over the years?

This will be my first one. I'm pretty excited. You can see the schedule of events here...

http://www.consupport.com/index.asp?Con=72

I'll be playing in the D&D Minis Limited Championship. Should be a fun weekend.

--sam