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Gaming convention

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A gaming convention is typically a two- or three-day event at which people play role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games and many other types of games.

The largest gaming convention is probably Spiel in Essen, Germany. In 2004 this convention, which focuses on board games, had 150,000 visitors and 690 exhibitors from 24 nations. Another large gaming convention in Europe is Spellenspektakel in Eindhoven, Netherlands. This largely commercial convention had 12,000 visitors in 2004.

Gen Con is probably the largest gaming con in the US for RPGs ("Gen Con Indy," which is the convention most gamers refer to when they refer to "Gen Con," had 21,700 attendees over four days in 2005); Origins is probably the largest for miniatures wargames. Exact numbers, however, are debatable. DragonCon, for example, is largely a gaming convention, and has huge numbers of attendees, but it is hard to say whether or not it is the largest gaming convention. A smaller genre of gaming conventions are those devoted to the hobby of historical miniature wargaming, many of which are sponsored by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society.

What goes on at a gaming convention

Gaming conventions typically have games scheduled for various time slots. Most gaming cons use some system of pre-registration to ensure that games are neither over-full nor under-full. This tends to be a problem, though, and it seems that no con has yet found a fool-proof way of making sure that all players and GMs have access to the game sessions that they want.

Competitive games, such as Magic: The Gathering, typically have tournaments set out where players meet in matches. Prizes can be quite large for the winners. There are also competitive role-playing games, where the best roleplayers, most successful parties, etc. get rewarded. The RPGA runs competitive D&D and other RPGs at many conventions. Most scheduled RPGs, however, are not competitive.

Open gaming goes on throughout any such convention, and it is common that all seating in common areas will be taken by people playing pick-up games. Pick-up gaming is not discouraged by the convention management; in fact, pick-up games are a large part of the appeal of gaming conventions.

There is almost always a dealers' room where various game manufacturers and related companies sell their products. Many game companies choose game cons to reveal new products. Creating consumer excitement is greatly facilitated at gaming cons, but word can spread fast, and games may equally well become instant failures at conventions.

Often there are other activities at a gaming convention as well. Costume balls, art auctions, screenings of movies, may all take place. Lectures, workshops, or panel discussions on gaming might be part of the programming, or for some cons, even the focus.

Overall, gaming conventions offer a chance to meet people outside one's usual gaming circle, and a chance to play and buy games that one usually would not get to.

List of gaming conventions by location

Various

  • Gen Con - various locations in the US and Europe
  • Knutepunkt - Scandinavian conference on role playing theory

Australia

  • MACQUARIEcon - Sydney, in December. One of the oldest in Australia, having been run since 1980.

Canada

Manitoba

Ontario

Finland

Germany

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Sweden

UK

  • Baycon - Exeter, England in April
  • Q-Con - Northern Ireland in June

US

Arizona

California

  • Blizzcon - Anaheim, California, in October
  • ConQuest SF - San Francisco, CA in September
  • ConQuest SAC - Sacramento, CA in April
  • DunDraCon - San Ramon, California, in February
  • Gamex - Los Angeles, California, in May
  • Gateway - Los Angeles, California, in September
  • KublaCon - San Francisco, California, in May
  • Orccon - Los Angeles, California, in February
  • PolyCon - San Luis Obispo, California, in June

Colorado

Georgia

Illinois

  • Chi-Tag - Chicago, Illinois, in November
  • WOLFCON - Gaming Convention in Chicago, held on Thanksgiving Weekend (Friday & Saturday) [2]

Iowa

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

New Jersey

  • DEXCON New Brunswick, NJ [4]
  • PrinceCon In Princeton. One of the oldest in the United States, approaching its 32nd year.

Ohio

  • Bashcon - Toledo, OH, in February
  • Origins - Columbus, in late June or early July

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

  • Waterloo - Tournament in Greenville, SC for boardgame Napoleonic Wars

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Washington

Washington, D.C.

  • Winter Fantasy - In February. This event is mostly for the RPGA, but includes many events for DDM
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