Felixgamingx1
Explorer
Nah
Who's going to GenCon
- Thread starter RangerWickett
- Start date
ART!
Legend
I had similar skepticism, but Gen Con isn't the only event held in that facility, so whoever owns and runs the place could have done the math and deemed it worth the expense in the long run.
RangerWickett
Legend
I decided not to go.
Alas, I had a panic attack when I visited a theater due to the crowds. So I felt going to a con was just asking for trouble.
Alas, I had a panic attack when I visited a theater due to the crowds. So I felt going to a con was just asking for trouble.
Henry
Autoexreginated
Sorry to hear it, man, but completely understandable. Another year we'll get together?
RangerWickett
Legend
Definitely. Here's hoping Russ does well with Level Up and he decides to go in 2022 with a booth or something.
Okay, while I am on record as thinking that going to a convention right now is not wise, I do not wish panic attacks on anyone. That's not fun. My sympathies.
ART!
Legend
So, I went!
I've heard conflicting accounts of what the attendance was, so I'm going to say it was vaguely in the ballpark of 1/2 of what it was last time, in 2019.
Side note: 2019 definitely feels like more than 2 years ago.
Google tells me that attendance was 70,000 in 2019 - but half of 70k is still an awful lot of people! Because the con was able to plan for lower attendance and somewhat fewer exhibitors, and because they wanted to create as much distance between people as possible, the exhibitor booths/tables were spaced out more and it was easier to get around - and easier to get out of an aisle if you wanted to. As a result, the stress of being pressed in among the throng was much, much less. It was also easier to get into seminars, workshops, and games even if you didn't have a ticket.
Everyone wore masks. Lots of exhibitors has hand sanitizer you could use.
One of my take-aways is that I might shop around for a smaller gaming convention. I love that GenCon is only an hour drive away from me, but normally I find it just unmanageably large.
I've heard conflicting accounts of what the attendance was, so I'm going to say it was vaguely in the ballpark of 1/2 of what it was last time, in 2019.
Side note: 2019 definitely feels like more than 2 years ago.
Google tells me that attendance was 70,000 in 2019 - but half of 70k is still an awful lot of people! Because the con was able to plan for lower attendance and somewhat fewer exhibitors, and because they wanted to create as much distance between people as possible, the exhibitor booths/tables were spaced out more and it was easier to get around - and easier to get out of an aisle if you wanted to. As a result, the stress of being pressed in among the throng was much, much less. It was also easier to get into seminars, workshops, and games even if you didn't have a ticket.
Everyone wore masks. Lots of exhibitors has hand sanitizer you could use.
One of my take-aways is that I might shop around for a smaller gaming convention. I love that GenCon is only an hour drive away from me, but normally I find it just unmanageably large.
Gen Con says 35,000, which puts it back to 2011
www.gencon.com
Gen Con | Gen Con Indy 2021 Returns to Indianapolis, Drawing Over 35,000 Attendees
The Best Four Days in Gaming
ART!
Legend
Ah, so officially half of 2019's attendance.Gen Con says 35,000, which puts it back to 2011
Gen Con | Gen Con Indy 2021 Returns to Indianapolis, Drawing Over 35,000 Attendees
The Best Four Days in Gaming
Wow.
MGibster
Legend
I've wanted to go to Gen-Con since I was a teen, but once I could actually afford to go the sheer size of the event kept me away. Just buying a ticket and getting a room can be overwhelming as everyone seems to be purchasing tickets and booking rooms at the same time. And then there's no guarantee you'll be able to get tickets to the specific events you wish to attend within Gen-Con itself. For me, Gen-Con would likely be a once in a lifetime trip that would cost me a pretty penny which I'd be willing to pay. But over the years I've felt my time and money would be better spent pursuing other vacation destinations.
This kind of reminds of something Yogi Berra said. When asked about a very popular restaurant he replied, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded!"
eyeheartawk
#1 Enworld Jerk™
I stopped going after 2015 I want to say. Too big, spread out over too large an area (stadium, train station etc) with too few near hotel options. But the main thing is the crowds, you can't even move in the dealer hall most days. I stick to Origins and other smaller cons during the normal times.
@MGibster I totally understand. I've seen GenCon double in size since I first attended. The typical crowds definitely hamper my enjoyment. It's difficult to get into the games you want, the best rooms sell out quickly, and the prices are all inflated. But for a gamer, I totally understand wanting to see it at least once.
Like @eyeheartawk I like smaller cons nowadays. Origins is the sweet spot for me. It feels like how GenCon was 10 years ago. There are fewer vendors, but they're mostly everybody I want to see. There are fewer games, but it's largely the stuff I want to play and I can actually get tickets. I spend about a third of the cost, my wife is able to put it in her schedule as a teacher.
Like @eyeheartawk I like smaller cons nowadays. Origins is the sweet spot for me. It feels like how GenCon was 10 years ago. There are fewer vendors, but they're mostly everybody I want to see. There are fewer games, but it's largely the stuff I want to play and I can actually get tickets. I spend about a third of the cost, my wife is able to put it in her schedule as a teacher.
eyeheartawk
#1 Enworld Jerk™
I hear that bit about Origins being good for teachers alot. I honestly think that's a substantial share of their attendees. But also yeah, agreed on Origins. Big enough to have virtually everything being run but you can actually get into games.
