Gen Con - Seminars & Programming

[Mistwell]

So, I've never been to Gen Con. It sounds like a blast, and I've always wanted to go, I just never managed to make it.

I'm thinking about going this year (I know, it would be expensive to buy tickets and get a hotel reservation this late, though it can be done). However, I'm confused about something.

I always assumed that Gen Con was similar to the big Comic Con in San Diego. I figured it was a big dealer's room, small press publishing area, lot's of gaming rooms for both RPG and computer, and seminars/programming, constume contest, etc...

I'm looking at the web page for Gen Con, and I see no seminars and/or programming, which surprised me.

I figured there would be stuff like "Painting Minatures 101" and "Opening your own d20 Company" and "Breaking into the RPG business as a writer or artist" and "Spotlight on WOTC 2003-2004 releases" and "What’s New at Steve Jackson Games" and "Girl Gamers" and "RPG Law 101" and "Improving the Image of Gaming" and...well, you get the idea by now I'm sure.

So, am I just missing something on the Gen Con Page, or does Gen Con not have these kinds of things? It isn't what a lot of people want to do...but some people like them. They can be a blast, help make the industry a bit more rounded, and are often quite useful for professionals.

I know I would be interested in giving an "RPG Law 101" seminar, if such programming existed at Gen Con.

Thoughts?

 

[Monte At Home]

There's a lot of seminars at GenCon.

For example, this year Malhavoc's got:

Design Diary Live at 2:30 on Thursday
Meet Malhavoc Press at 2:30 on Friday

and

Cry Havoc Bootcamp 10 AM on Saturday

Sue (Cook) is also running a series of workshops on editing Thursday through Saturday at 4, and Sunday at noon.

I know plenty of other companies are running or sponsoring seminars.

And, the convention itself is having a number of seminars with the guests of honor. I'm on one of these called Grill the Gurus on Saturday at 5:30 with Jonathan Tweet, Ron Edwards Richard Garfield and Robin Laws. There are others on game design, getting published, art, and so forth.

 

[Mistwell]

Ah, excellent! Thanks Monte.

So, either I am lame for not seeing it anywhere on the website, or it isn't posted to the website yet, or it is never posted to the website.

Hmmm.

 

[Southern Oracle]

Actually, the system is set up so you can't see the events until you've registered and paid for your passes. That's why you can't see anything on the website -- you have to go through registration.

 

[Mistwell]

Actually, the system is set up so you can't see the events until you've registered and paid for your passes. That's why you can't see anything on the website -- you have to go through registration.

That's too bad. I cannot register on the site any longer, which means I cannot know what will be in the event without flying to Indiana and paying to get in! Kinda like having a movie trailer bundled with the movie itself.

Can anyone post a list of seminars planned for this years Gen Con Indy?

 

[Tewligan]

Yeah, I'm going to catch a few of the seminars myself. There are two miniature sculpting seminars (basic and advanced) that I hope to learn something in, and a few on painting - I believe there's one dedicated solely to painting miniature faces. Hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze in a little gaming between seminars!

 

[Tewligan]

Hm. Although it says pre-registration is over on the site, you can still get to the page where you create an account. If you fill that out, maybe it'll let you go on to look at the events, even if you can't actually sign up for them.

 

[EricNoah]

At the bottom of the Events Page click where it says "You can search our entire event listings by your own criteria here." See if you can get into that (I could, without being logged in).

 

[EricNoah]

here's a spreadsheet with the seminars.

 

[Cog]

If you don't mind driving into Indy, which you will probably have to do now, check www.ramada.com - there is a Ramada 6 miles away, and 8 miles away. I'm not sure about the one 6 miles away, but the one 8 miles away is about $50 a night and there are quite a few rooms still free. Hotels in the centre of Indy are about $110+ per night.