Is Gen Con worth the money?

[buzz]

I find the concept that you pay to get in, and then you pay again to play a game, to be absurd.

Given how much fun GenCon is, how much you get access to for just the badge price, and the negligible cost of most all events, it doesn't bother me at all. And compared to the professional seminars I go to... GenCon might as well be free.

And, hey, if it helps make it possible for GenCon to comp the GM's badges (encouraging GMs to run games), all the better.

Are most other gaming cons even on the same scale? Maybe Origins, but I believe they also charge for both badges and events.

 

[VictorC]

Gen Con is worth every cent you have at your disposal to throw at it.

 

[Gallo22]

It really comes down to what is of value to you personally. If getting together for 4 1/2 days of gaming, food, gaming, drinks, gaming, swag, gaming, new friends, gaming, some hot gamer girls/woman, tons of laughs (Mellouns Laughing Legion. Those of you in Goodman Game's first DCC tourney might know of this!!!!), shopping, etc, etc, then you can't go wrong attending Gencon (or Origins).

I went to Gencon for the first time in 2003 (Indy's First) and had a blast. I went with a group of local gamers from my area and did not quite fit in with them, so I pretty much took off on my own and had a great time (by myself and meeting new gamers/friends). The following year I went again but took my son and daughter to their first con ever and it was the best!!

This year it's just me and my son. (daughter's going to Germany to see grandma) I can't wait.

Worth every penny to me for the memories!!

 

[greymist]

Palaner asked: Are four days of pure, unadulterated gaming worth $1000+ dollars to come down, find a hotel, find food, pay to get in, pay for certain events, pay for some merchandise, etc.?

Is Gen Con even accessible to people who don't exactly have money to burn?

I've only been to GenCon once, 2002, the last year in Milwaukee.

To answer your first question, is it worth $1000, I would have to say yes. I went with two friends, and we had a great time. Went to the Safe House a couple of times, went to a nice brew pub, and visited a dingy bar with cheap beer and loud music. We also played some games we have never seen before, I got to attend a few fantastic seminars by Monte Cook, and I bought a bunch of stuff in the dealer's room.

Your second question is difficult to answer. As a lot of people have noted, once you have paid your admission, you can see a LOT without paying more. I didn't play in any pick-up games, but there were people playing all over the place, for free. As well, you don't have to buy any swag or play in any pay games.

My advice is to attend if you can afford what you want to do there. I would never go into debt for GenCon, but the only debts I ever carry over time are car loans and mortgages, so I am fairly conservative when it comes to money (comes with age!), YMMV.

I plan on attending GenCon again, perhaps in 2007, but I will stay in a nice hotel close to the event, eat and drink as desired, and perhaps this time I will buy the Parkinson print that I had my eye on last time!!

 

[pogre]

I totally agree with those who asked - Is this where you would want to spend your vacation time and money? That's the right attitude for GenCon in my experience. I had to choose between a big fishing trip and GenCon years ago and it was always a tough choice. Fishing usually won - I know I'm weird - but I always had a great time at GenCon when I did go.

GenCon is pretty much out of the picture for me these days due to football coaching duties. I hope some day they schedule it at another time besides when high school football gears up. Somehow I don't think that is a conflict the organizers worry much about though!