Who is going to SoCal GenCon?
- Thread starter DerianCypher
- Start date
lastelias2
First Post
I am mostly a lurker, but for what it counts I will be there. It's like getting a small Gencon fix to hold us all over for the big show next August. I need my fix.
There are some unofficial boards open for discussion at GenCon Fans Forums where I help moderate
There are some unofficial boards open for discussion at GenCon Fans Forums where I help moderate
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Coreyartus
Explorer
There are many many cons around here that focus on gaming, created in part, I think, from the lack of a big big con anywhere in the area. From an RPGA perspective, there are at least 3 or 4 cons that are happening between now and then that offer a wide variety of games and playing opportunities. I think with the birth of GenConSoCal, we may see a gaming con or two get dropped from the schedule.
It surprises me that the big gaming companies haven't taken advantage of the Comic-con experience. 70,000 attendees, and as most of us know there is a great deal of overlap in fandom communities... There don't seem to be many PRG companies that do the booth-thing there... I'm not saying they should, but if only 10% of the attendees played games, they'd still be marketing to a pool bigger than they could get at the new SoCal Gencon... And the gaming presence is getting bigger and bigger: 150 RPGA tables this year, not counting the multiple gaming rooms and other scheduled gaming activities..
On the other hand, I certainly hope that GenCon Socal is successful--we need a big gaming-oriented con that attracts vendors. I hope there's something special and unique about this gathering that seperates it and distinguishes it from GenCon Indy, though. It needs something that a person can't get when they go to Indianapolis. If they're relying upon Disneyland to do that, then they're shooting themselves in the foot by encouraging people to come to the convention and then not spend time at the convention! Another con with the same-old-stuff isn't going to cut it in the vast sea of competing cons.
Any word if they might have that True Dungeon there? Heard it was all the rage in Indy--sold out FAST!
Coreyartus
It surprises me that the big gaming companies haven't taken advantage of the Comic-con experience. 70,000 attendees, and as most of us know there is a great deal of overlap in fandom communities... There don't seem to be many PRG companies that do the booth-thing there... I'm not saying they should, but if only 10% of the attendees played games, they'd still be marketing to a pool bigger than they could get at the new SoCal Gencon... And the gaming presence is getting bigger and bigger: 150 RPGA tables this year, not counting the multiple gaming rooms and other scheduled gaming activities..
On the other hand, I certainly hope that GenCon Socal is successful--we need a big gaming-oriented con that attracts vendors. I hope there's something special and unique about this gathering that seperates it and distinguishes it from GenCon Indy, though. It needs something that a person can't get when they go to Indianapolis. If they're relying upon Disneyland to do that, then they're shooting themselves in the foot by encouraging people to come to the convention and then not spend time at the convention! Another con with the same-old-stuff isn't going to cut it in the vast sea of competing cons.
Any word if they might have that True Dungeon there? Heard it was all the rage in Indy--sold out FAST!
Coreyartus
lastelias2
First Post
From what I have heard SoCal Gencon is going to focus more on electronic gaming & gaming companies. I think they intend to leverage their proximity to Hollywood and Silicon Valley/OC to give Socal Gencon a distinctive edge. All the normal gaming goodness will be there, but I think we can probably expect to see more electronic companies in the exhibitor room.
Plus, we got William Shatner......
Plus, we got William Shatner......
Davelozzi
Explorer
lastelias2 said:
Anaheim is nowhere near Silicon Valley. S.V. is up by San Jose, sort of near San Francisco
Edit: Actually, now I see that you live in Orange County, you probably know that and are just talking about it being a lot closer to Silicon Valley than GenCon Indy. Sorry.
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lastelias2
First Post
Indeed I was...no offense taken...Like you said Northern California is much closer to SoCal than Indy.
One more thing to consider (as a smart man I met on the way to Gencon told me) E3 is in Vegas...how hard is it for companies who spend millions of dollars a year on E3, which is only one state over, to spend a couple thousand for Gencon. They may even be able to reuse some of it.
One more thing to consider (as a smart man I met on the way to Gencon told me) E3 is in Vegas...how hard is it for companies who spend millions of dollars a year on E3, which is only one state over, to spend a couple thousand for Gencon. They may even be able to reuse some of it.
MEG Hal
First Post
A few of us are on the fence about going, with the attendance being lower we are worried about cost vs. sales etc..
but I know od at least 4-6 of us that are talking about how and what to do for it so you may be surprised at how many of us go!
I talked to Crystal Caste and they will be there and I saw Chris from GR state he was going so we may be late bloomers but you may see more of us then you think. We want to be a part we just have to look at it from all angles.
Do not give up on the quite companies yet!
but I know od at least 4-6 of us that are talking about how and what to do for it so you may be surprised at how many of us go!
I talked to Crystal Caste and they will be there and I saw Chris from GR state he was going so we may be late bloomers but you may see more of us then you think. We want to be a part we just have to look at it from all angles.
Do not give up on the quite companies yet!
Bloodsparrow
First Post
Actually, E3 is in LA.
But it's an Industry show. That is, it's not open to the public, just industry people and press.
GenCon is for everybody.
But it's an Industry show. That is, it's not open to the public, just industry people and press.
GenCon is for everybody.
lastelias2
First Post
I didn't know that, interesting.
That's even more to my point, though. I was refering more to the companies ability/wiligness to spend resources so close to home. It might be easier/cheaper for them to have displays etc. here than the Midwest.
That's even more to my point, though. I was refering more to the companies ability/wiligness to spend resources so close to home. It might be easier/cheaper for them to have displays etc. here than the Midwest.
Gencon Socal, ah the goodness!
Only a short drive from Long Beach for me. probably still 1 hour after considering stop 'n' go traffic.
They do need to do some promotion though. I mean, Gencon Indy (or Gencon Traditional, whatever) would have early bird registration by January of that year, so you'd be making hotel reservations and buying your badge 6 months ahead of time.
If you've never been to one, go. I have been to GenCon Milwaukee in 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2000. 1994 and 2000 were the most notable, for the increased popularity of Magic The Gathering in 1994 (there was NO open RPG gaming, ANYWHERE. Everyone was playing MTG, and even the wide hallways had people sitting against both sides of the wall) and the launch of D&D 3E in 2000. (I worked Kenzer & Co's booth in 1999 and 2000, so saw nothing of the daytime open gaming activities with 3E rulebooks freshly available)
I presume 2003 GenCon Indy made various people happy, because 3.5 could be bought a month in advance, and 3.5 games actually run, with people mostly knowing what they're doing.
GenCon 2003 Anaheim allows more time for people to get used to the 3.5 rules, so you'll see more polished 3.5 games run there than Indy.
GenCon has recently been suffering GM shortages, but that may (hopefully) be a MidWest thing. GenCon Anaheim should be able to leverage the GM population of LA + OC + Riverside/SB + SD.
Me? I'm contemplating a day for some of the RPGA Living Greyhawk events, with anything further dependent on GenCon LLC getting some kind of schedule online! I got in 4 years of shopping at GenCon Milwaukee. I'd need to see something really new (like the full-size walkthrough Dungeon) to attract these jaded eyes.
Scheduled RPG events that cost money are always unattractive to me. I can pay $20 for a fri night + sat day Strategicon badge (prez day, memorial day, labor day conventions at the LAX airport Westin) and get in 4 games, plus exhibitors' room included.
Anxiously awaiting word as to whether or not there will be a "regional fiesta" of Living Greyhawk mods, as there was at Winter Fantasy this year, whereby I can play adventures only available in other states.
Otherwise, 1-day pass, saturday here I come. (I might take someone else's advice and pre-reg early for a 4day pass in case I change my mind, or just to avoid being in line for a 1day pass and getting a repeat of GenCon Indy)
Hope this stream of consciousness didn't soak ya too much.
Only a short drive from Long Beach for me. probably still 1 hour after considering stop 'n' go traffic.
They do need to do some promotion though. I mean, Gencon Indy (or Gencon Traditional, whatever) would have early bird registration by January of that year, so you'd be making hotel reservations and buying your badge 6 months ahead of time.
If you've never been to one, go. I have been to GenCon Milwaukee in 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2000. 1994 and 2000 were the most notable, for the increased popularity of Magic The Gathering in 1994 (there was NO open RPG gaming, ANYWHERE. Everyone was playing MTG, and even the wide hallways had people sitting against both sides of the wall) and the launch of D&D 3E in 2000. (I worked Kenzer & Co's booth in 1999 and 2000, so saw nothing of the daytime open gaming activities with 3E rulebooks freshly available)
I presume 2003 GenCon Indy made various people happy, because 3.5 could be bought a month in advance, and 3.5 games actually run, with people mostly knowing what they're doing.
GenCon 2003 Anaheim allows more time for people to get used to the 3.5 rules, so you'll see more polished 3.5 games run there than Indy.
GenCon has recently been suffering GM shortages, but that may (hopefully) be a MidWest thing. GenCon Anaheim should be able to leverage the GM population of LA + OC + Riverside/SB + SD.
Me? I'm contemplating a day for some of the RPGA Living Greyhawk events, with anything further dependent on GenCon LLC getting some kind of schedule online! I got in 4 years of shopping at GenCon Milwaukee. I'd need to see something really new (like the full-size walkthrough Dungeon) to attract these jaded eyes.
Scheduled RPG events that cost money are always unattractive to me. I can pay $20 for a fri night + sat day Strategicon badge (prez day, memorial day, labor day conventions at the LAX airport Westin) and get in 4 games, plus exhibitors' room included.
Anxiously awaiting word as to whether or not there will be a "regional fiesta" of Living Greyhawk mods, as there was at Winter Fantasy this year, whereby I can play adventures only available in other states.
Otherwise, 1-day pass, saturday here I come. (I might take someone else's advice and pre-reg early for a 4day pass in case I change my mind, or just to avoid being in line for a 1day pass and getting a repeat of GenCon Indy)
Hope this stream of consciousness didn't soak ya too much.
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