Wizards Sells Off GenCon!

[Bull]

There are contracts involved, and at this stage, it's likely contracts through the last announced date of 2006 have been signed. Moving GC back to Milwaukee or anywhere before then woudl involve breaking said contracts, and losing money.

Besides that, WotC is still effectively running the convention, at least for the time being, and probably still going to screw it up 6 ways from sunday (I organize almost 20 GMs and we run almost 300 hours worth of events at Gen Con and nearly that much for Oirgins, and they have screwed me repeatedly over the last few years. AT this oint, I consider just having the games actually end up in the right room or getting the right number of tables a blessing. A couple years back, we had a 12 team, 72 player tournament going, and they scheduled us for *1* bloody table. And I don;t want to even talk about how much trouble we've had getting into the Prereg and Onsite books over the years...)

I love doing the Cons, but WotC has had their heads up their asses ever since they bought out Andon and took over.

Bull

 

[Dungeon Master]

I'm very pleased to hear that Peter has purchased GenCon from WotC. I whole heartedly feel that an individual or soul organization can do a better job concentrating on the convention than a game company who has other priorities. I'll admit I would love to see Peter gain the rights to D&D, will it happen, probably not. WotC & Hasbro aren't stupid and don't want to give up something that is obviously a money maker. Despite the layoff's Hasbro has made a good share of money on D&D and will continue to do so unless Hasbro gets a wild hair up their arses and does something stupid.

GenCon in Milwaukee or Indiana, no matter to me, just long live the great convention!

 

[BluWolf]

Not that I'm one of those mad conspirists or anything but lets look at some interesting details using our glasses of Oliver Stone vision;

1) Two guys involved in gaming/hobby company that both have a buring personal fixation with a particular hobby game AND lots of liquid capitol buy a sinking gaming company that owns ALL the Ip to said hobby game.

2) They announce a new addition to the game and furhter add that it will use (to varying degrees) a copy left approach to licensing.

3) 1 of them turns around and sells the company for even more money and pretty much absolves himself have having to be a grown up.

4) Eventually they both leave through various paths.

5) Over he course of time various independent publsihers start producing material for thsi copy left game AND a genral brain drain starts from the original publisher

6) 1 of the original 2 guys starts a "support organization" for running cons and gaming orgnaizations

7) The other guy buys the rights to the largest gaming con in the world.

OK lets look forward a little

8) Within a few years (lets say 2) 95% of what could be considered "Core material" has been released and the division of the company that did it has now been, more or less, turned into a skeleton maintenance crew. There to maintain and negotiate IP license and reprint "core material" when needed.

9) Many of the 3rd party publishers have gone through consolidation and have added much of the talent form the creation.

10) the full copy left is finally done and for all intesne in purposes, the game is now owned by no one.

End some? Adkinson & Ryan have now perpetuated D&D. They are no longer doing game design and they have set them selves up to PLAY D&D FOR THE REST OF THEIR SITNKING LIVES!!!!!!!!!!

Machivelli (sp?) would weep in jealousy

 

[WanderingMonster]

1) I'm glad that GenCon will be it's own entity, and not one owned by a large game company.

2) I'm wondering if Peter Adkinson will build himself a foam castle in the middle of the exhibition room?

 

[Hand of Evil]

Well, I have to say that I like it that Peter picked it up. I am worried about future cons but will take it year by year.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Indianapolis is a pretty good location.

It is still reasonably close to Chicago and the center of mass of the country. It is not a pricey big city. The airport is big enough to have a goodly number of bigger than puddle-jumper planes, while not so big as to be insanely annoying.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

I can't say how glad I am that Gen Con is out of Hasbros hands. Having attended for over 10 years I have noticed a marked decline in the quality of convention support in recent years. I hope that Peter Adkinson sees this from the attendies perspective and not just as another revenue stream. While I find it unfortunate that Gen Con will be run by WotC still this year, I understand the neccesity in order for it to still happen.

I too am part of a judgeing group running 100+ hours of events (Rogue Judges) and have watched as we have been mistreated and ignored. Last year I was unable to get into many events because judge registrations were not processed until well after most events were filled. Don't get me wrong I am not attacking everyone, many on the staff were overworked and were still considerate and tried thier personal best to help as best as possible. The problem seamed to stem from higher level management problems.

Hopefully Indy will be better. And yes as you can see to the left I am from Indy and as some may be aware I fully support the move to Indy for many more reasons than I want to get into right now. My understanding is that Indy has a 3 year contract with only the 1st year guaranteed. Moving back to Millwaukee will be hard though since one of the main reasons it left was that it had outgrown the convention center and housing ability of Milwaukee.

 

[PA]

Wow, the big news just doesn't stop. I am not at all surprised and in fact I thought I'd previously heard news or rumors that some other group was going to pick it up (WizKids, does that sound familiar to anyone?)

Hey, do you remember when you asked if you would see me at next Gen Con? I was not so sure; you thought I meant I may not come, so I specified that I was not even sure there would be a Gen Con. With WotC getting rid of so many key members of its team, I could easily see it dropping the event. I was right. Happily, I was wrong about it not happening at all, and I am quite the happy man to learn that Peter is back in charge.

 

[EricNoah]

Peter and PA ... need I say more?

 

[coyote6]

FWIW, Pyramid reports that Adkison says the move to Indianapolis in 2003 is still happening; he said, "We outgrew Milwaukee four years ago. All the reasons we have to move to Indianapolis are still valid."

Adkison also, "told Pyramid that he has the worldwide rights to GenCon, and events like GenCon UK are likely to continue in one form or another."

Also FWIW, a Pyramid subscriber (Phil Masters) reported that that he'd heard the date for GenCon UK 2002 was Aug. 29-Sept. 1.