Comments on: Are any gaming conventions fun?

By: gaspodia

gaspodia — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:51:00 +0000

I’ll be at this year’s event too, though I think I’m only on a couple of programme items (including the Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – don’t ask…) so I’ll mostly be at the Olympus con table. Do come and say hi to me there

By: gaspodia

gaspodia — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:35:23 +0000

Excellent! I’ll point our programme head in your direction in a couple of months time My focus is on making Eastercon a broad church where fandoms can come together and input from those of us who enjoy gaming is a vital part of that strategy.

By: Phaedra

Phaedra — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:52:18 +0000

My husband and I managed to get Blizzcon tickets for the past three years (2008, 2009, 2010). After 2008, which was almost a spur of the moment decision to go, we definately wanted to go back.

I like Blizzcon because it’s really focused. There’s usually only 2 panels going on at the same time, along with the competitive gaming (3v3 arena, SC/SC2, and WC3), so it’s entirely possible to see everything you want to see. It’s fairly compact and EVERYONE there is a huge Blizzard fan. In addition to the panels and competitive gaming, there’s the demo stations, all the artwork, and various vendors to visit. It can turn out to be a full and chill day at the same time.

Sure the lines can get long, but they were some of my high points. I’ve met several friends at Blizzcon and we’ve looked forward to meeting again at the next Blizzcon.

Plus, it’s hilarious to see Anaheim completely taken over by geeks.

I always recommend to anyone that if they can afford the trip and can get tickets to go to Blizzcon once.

By: Stubborn

Stubborn — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:36:28 +0000

For what it’s worth, this late in the comment game, I’ll say that I went to PAX East last year. It was my first and only gaming convention, and I had an absolute blast. I was set to go this year until the budget for the trip had to be moved to a trip to be in my friend’s wedding (darn him for his inconvenient love!).

By: mmogamerchick

mmogamerchick — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:18:12 +0000

It was my first gaming convention ever, so I really can’t compare it to anything. I’d heard from others who weren’t so impressed by PAX East, but realized they’d been to the one last year or to PAX Prime. This likely won’t be my last PAX so I’m curious as to what I’ll think of conventions after I’ve had more experience and a couple of them under my belt!

By: Green Armadillo

Green Armadillo — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:15:21 +0000

I’m actually vaguely considering a trip to one of the PAX’es with the express plan of only purchasing a one-day con badge. My wife and I both have other things to do at either venue, and I’m more sad to miss the unofficial events (blogger breakfasts, MMO studio parties) than the stuff that happens on the show floor and gets reported all over the internets for free anyway.

By: spinks

spinks — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:12:05 +0000

I am very very tempted (a workshop on elven calligraphy – that’s so cool!). The only thing with this summer is that my holiday budget is pretty much spent already ;/ I will see what we can do though, since this sounds really cool.

By: spinks

spinks — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:10:56 +0000

Have fun at Eastercon, hope you enjoy it as much as I did last year.

By: spinks

spinks — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:10:17 +0000

GenCon US always did look really fun, the UK con was a pale shadow (which is a shame given the cost of travel ).

By: spinks

spinks — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:09:06 +0000

I have been to Dragoncon It was OK but found it really difficult to get into a game unless you turned up really early. And if you weren’t actually gaming then a quick swing about the shop floor was mostly what was left. (In short: would have probably liked it more if I could have played more.)

I have also been to a few of the GenCon UKs which were fun in varying degrees, but really a big part of the fun there was just being able to try new board games with the group of people I went with. I dunno why but gaming cons just don’t throw up the fun series of events that the SF cons seem to do.

Why don’t gamers want to hold panels talking about representations of black people in games, or the evolution of MMOs? I’ve no idea, but it just doesn’t seem to happen.