GenCon Exhibition Hall Layout

[francisca]

I was looking at a recent GenCon Dealer room layout., and said, "Wow! Open gaming tables right in the dealer room this year." Then I said to myself, "Wow! That means less dealers."

So, was last year's dealer room full becuase of exuberance over the new site, or is the new layout evidence that "the shakeout" which has been speculated about has started?

 

[Hairy Minotaur]

Did you print out the exhibit hall map? You'll notice in the middle near the bottom is a large square that says "Quiet Zone", it overlaps several booths. This has to be a mistake, how can you enforce that?

Unfortunately, even enlarging the map, I personally still can't read the booth #s, it may be that the open gaming areas are close to vendors that are doing large demos.

 

[francisca]

Did you print out the exhibit hall map? You'll notice in the middle near the bottom is a large square that says "Quiet Zone", it overlaps several booths. This has to be a mistake, how can you enforce that?

Unfortunately, even enlarging the map, I personally still can't read the booth #s, it may be that the open gaming areas are close to vendors that are doing large demos.

If you click on the picture of the hall on that page, you should get a pdf, which has numbers which are quite clear.

I dunno how they plan on enforcing the quiet zone, but the idea is that it's there for smaller companies to demo their products.

Here is a link into the GenCon forums where it has been discussed a little bit.

 

[jgbrowning]

As far as I know (I'm in booth 1233) the quiet zone is just a location where exhibitors aren't allowed to have the big speakers and constant music typical of some booths.

joe b.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I was looking at a recent GenCon Dealer room layout., and said, "Wow! Open gaming tables right in the dealer room this year." Then I said to myself, "Wow! That means less dealers."

So, was last year's dealer room full becuase of exuberance over the new site, or is the new layout evidence that "the shakeout" which has been speculated about has started?

Actually, looking at the layout, is there really that much less space being taken up by the dealers? The room layout is quite different, and some companies have far less space than they had last year. Upper Decks space looks to be about half of what they had last year, and the autograph area is much smaller (last year they had that big stage where the quiet zone is this year). There is no Star Wars autograph area, and the walk through museum is now located outside the actual hall instead of being along one wall.

I only wish I could print the listing of exhibitors, it doesn't want to print more than a bunch of grey lines on my printer.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Hey look! There is the ENnies booth! Just outside Show Entrance A, to the right in the hall, we are booth G.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Also last year there was a lot more unused space in the dealer room, looks like they tighted things a bit.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Oh, also of note only the north door open into the dealer room!

 

[francisca]

Actually, looking at the layout, is there really that much less space being taken up by the dealers? The room layout is quite different, and some companies have far less space than they had last year.

You know, you're right.

Mmmmm. Gonna be fun to DM you, Mr. Observant.......

 

[Shadowdancer]

Does this mean the open gaming areas are only open when the exhibitor's hall is open? Gamers aren't going to like that.