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GenCon 2003 in Indy -- Why it will be better
- Thread starter Chaldfont
- Start date
I'll be going for sure, even though I think this is a negative move. I could be wrong. I have before.
Indy's not my first choice. 1) Origins is in Columbus 4 weeks earlier? That's a three hour drive. 2) Travel across the Illinois-Indiana border is horrific, especially on a Sunday afternoon. That's just a warning from anyone that thinks they'll make it from I-65 to the Bishop Ford without. 3) Wisconsin is cool in the summer. 4) "Acapulco Joe's Mexican for Lunch. If you get there in time, they play God Bless America every day at noon." 5) I'm past my driving-16-hours phase.
Good news, though. It's a bigger facility. And some flights to Indianapolis exist.
Saint Louis would have been a better choice, IMNSHO, though. So would Minneapolis. I haven't been in the Rosemont (Chicago) convention center and adjacent hotels to fix in my mind if they have enough room. They probably would be too expensive for a gaming convention, anyway--the thing is packed nearly all year as it is.
I'll go, though. I'm just not looking forward to the drive.
Indy's not my first choice. 1) Origins is in Columbus 4 weeks earlier? That's a three hour drive. 2) Travel across the Illinois-Indiana border is horrific, especially on a Sunday afternoon. That's just a warning from anyone that thinks they'll make it from I-65 to the Bishop Ford without. 3) Wisconsin is cool in the summer. 4) "Acapulco Joe's Mexican for Lunch. If you get there in time, they play God Bless America every day at noon." 5) I'm past my driving-16-hours phase.
Good news, though. It's a bigger facility. And some flights to Indianapolis exist.
Saint Louis would have been a better choice, IMNSHO, though. So would Minneapolis. I haven't been in the Rosemont (Chicago) convention center and adjacent hotels to fix in my mind if they have enough room. They probably would be too expensive for a gaming convention, anyway--the thing is packed nearly all year as it is.
I'll go, though. I'm just not looking forward to the drive.
Chicago to Indy
I used to make the North Carolina to Chicago drive twice a year, and this always involved driving through Indy. For those of you dreading going around the lake, well, don't. Drive straight south, then hook east. It's much, much better. Not the most direct route, but it'll take less time cuz there's less traffic. I'm pleased with the Indy move, even if it doubles my driving time. I was sick of getting a hotel room with a dozen other people out by the airport. Stupid.
I used to make the North Carolina to Chicago drive twice a year, and this always involved driving through Indy. For those of you dreading going around the lake, well, don't. Drive straight south, then hook east. It's much, much better. Not the most direct route, but it'll take less time cuz there's less traffic. I'm pleased with the Indy move, even if it doubles my driving time. I was sick of getting a hotel room with a dozen other people out by the airport. Stupid.
Desdichado
Hero
Y'know, I've never been to a single con. Now that I live 3 hours from Origins and 5 hours from the new GenCon, though, it's harder to find a reason not to go.
Dieter
First Post
A 10-hr car drive is about all I can stand without going completely stir crazy...I'm happy that Indy is only about 9 hours from me.
Are there any (un)official websites out there yet with any info besides the Con being in late July and in downtown Indy?
Also, has anyone made the trek from DC to Indy....if so, how was it? The most direct route looks like heading up through Western Pennsylvania and a straight shot through Ohio. I'm guess it will be quite boring and flat...minus the part going through Pennsylvania that is. I'm inclined to stop at Monroeville Mall (near Pittsburgh) to see where Romero filmed "Dawn of the Dead".
Are there any (un)official websites out there yet with any info besides the Con being in late July and in downtown Indy?
Also, has anyone made the trek from DC to Indy....if so, how was it? The most direct route looks like heading up through Western Pennsylvania and a straight shot through Ohio. I'm guess it will be quite boring and flat...minus the part going through Pennsylvania that is. I'm inclined to stop at Monroeville Mall (near Pittsburgh) to see where Romero filmed "Dawn of the Dead".
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad
Well, how nice of you to think of me so fondly. Nice, diplomatic way to start off this dialogue by the way.
16 hours is NOT a reasonable drive, and you thinking it is reasonable just shows how out of touch with reality you really are. I used to drive 13 hours from Los Angeles to Salem, Oregon, and let me tell you that was NOT a reasonable drive. It's scrary, and dangerous, to drive that long. Trucking laws in fact prohibit a drive as long as 16 hours. That is not a days drive, it is two days drive. 8 hours is about how long most people would be willing to drive in a day.
As for hygene, that was an obvious joke. All I meant by it is that gamers, myself included, can do extraordinary things in pursuit of our hobby. We, as gamers (again myself included) might actually try to make a 16 hour drive in the interests of going to our Con. That doesn't mean it is normal to do so, or reasonable. It just means gamers are dedicated folks. Stop taking yourself, and me, so seriously.
Gee, thanks for saving me all the trouble of responding to statements you made directly to me. Good to know this is not a two-way discussion, but your own platform to preach from.
I have no idea what you are referring to. Would you care to explain?
Upper_Krust
Legend
Hi Mark mate! 
BLASPHEMER!!!
Mark said:July 24th thru 27th are the dates published ib the GenCon Program book from the convention. Interestingly, the last day is Col_Pladoh's 65th B-Day, IIRC. I wonder if he will announce his retirement...?
BLASPHEMER!!!
Henry
Autoexreginated
Mistwell, 16 hours is not unreasonable for a Con you plan to attend once a year. Quite frankly, there is NO place you could hold the thing that a 8 hour drive or less will take in 50% of the population. Plus, if you go with a friend, which is what the majority of long-distance travelers do for conventions, then the driving duties can be shared. It is admittedly dangerous to drive more than 6 to 8 hours by yourself, without making arrangements to stop somewhere on the way.
But I can guarantee that Indianapolis is far more accessible to the east coast and the midwest than Milwaukee is. I could not find a single major airline that offered reasonable fares to Milwaukee - the airport there is not a major one, and even flying into Chicago I had to make a 2-hour drive from Northern Chicago to Milwaukee, and stay at a hotel 10 miles away.
In Indy, I can book at flight straight in for a reasonable fee, I can get a ride to a hotel 4 blocks away or less, and not have as many hassles. I expect to have an easier time there than in Milwaukee, for sure - and possibly even easier than Chicago, which scares me silly to maneuver in. Even the Indy Beltway was easier for me to drive on than downtown Chicago.
But I can guarantee that Indianapolis is far more accessible to the east coast and the midwest than Milwaukee is. I could not find a single major airline that offered reasonable fares to Milwaukee - the airport there is not a major one, and even flying into Chicago I had to make a 2-hour drive from Northern Chicago to Milwaukee, and stay at a hotel 10 miles away.
In Indy, I can book at flight straight in for a reasonable fee, I can get a ride to a hotel 4 blocks away or less, and not have as many hassles. I expect to have an easier time there than in Milwaukee, for sure - and possibly even easier than Chicago, which scares me silly to maneuver in. Even the Indy Beltway was easier for me to drive on than downtown Chicago.
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