Gaming convention

A gaming convention is typically a two- or three-day convention at which people play role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games, or other types of games. Some have rooms of networked computers to play video 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. The "Festival Ludique International de Parthenay" (FLIP) is probably the second largest gaming convention with 140,000 visitors during twelve days in 2005. 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 had 21,700 attendees over four days in 2005); Origins is probably the largest for miniatures wargames and live-action role playing games. Exact numbers, however, are debatable. DragonCon, for example, is a large convention also aimed at gaming, and has huge numbers of attendees (however not all of them are there to play games; it might be one of the largest conventions where people can game but gaming is only a small part of the convention (and there are few (non-RPG) retailers). 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.

World Boardgaming Championships, PrezCon and Euro Quest are game conventions representing the hobby of Tournament, Board Gaming Open Gaming, Demos, Jr. Events and more dedicated to the face to face board game hobby. WBC "http://www.boardgamers.org" PrezCon "http://www.prezcon.com" are your largest pure board game events. WBC runs the first week in August each year and PrezCon runs the last week of February each year..

Gaming Convention events

Gaming conventions typically have wieners scheduled for various girl slots. Most gaming "cons" use some system of pre-registration to ensure that games are neither over-full nor under-full.

Competitive games, such as , 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.

The types of games often include many of the following:

* Collectible Card Games aka CCG's, like
* Board games
* Role-playing games aka RPG's, like Dungeons and Dragons
* RPGA games
* Table-top miniatures games like Mechwarrior, HeroClix, HorrorClix and Warhammer 40k
* Electronic games

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 generally 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, and 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.

List of gaming conventions by location

Various

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

Asia

* Ziggurat Con – Tallil Airbase, Iraq. Premiere of this event and the first con in a combat zone.

Australia

* Arcanacon – Melbourne, in January
* Conquest – Melbourne, at Easter (March/April)
* FauxCon – regional Victoria, in April
* Unicon – Melbourne, in September

Canada

* Great Canadian Baycon 2006 – Hamilton, in May
* Fragapalooza – Edmonton, June
* CanGames – Canadian May Long Weekend (May 16-18 in 2008)
* RoyalCon – Annual gaming convention held in Montreal in September

Denmark

* Fastaval – Århus, at Easter

Finland

* Ropecon – Espoo, in August

France

* "Festival International des Jeux" (FIJ) – Cannes, in February
* "Mondial du Gaming" - Paris, in July
* "Festival Ludique International de Parthenay" (FLIP) – Parthenay, in July
* Blizzard Worldwide Invitational – Paris, in July (2008 only)
* "Festival du Jeu Vidéo" (FJV) - Paris, in September

Germany

* Games Convention – Leipzig, in August
* Internationale Spieltage – Essen, Germany, in October
* Nuremberg International Toy Fair – Nuremberg, in February

Ireland

* Confess – Sligo in late September
* Dominicon – At NUI Maynooth in mid-November
* Gaelcon – At Clontarf Castle in late October
* Itzacon Eire – At NUI Galway in early March
* Leprecon – At Trinity College Dublin in late February
* Sillicon – At Dublin City University in early April
* Vaticon – At University College Dublin in late March
* Warpcon – At University College Cork in late January
* Conclave – Pery's Best Western Hotel, Limerick in early July (12th and the 13th for 2008)
* Heinecon – Limerick in early August

Italy

* Lucca Comics and Games – Lucca, in November

Japan

* AM Show (Amusement Machine Show)
* AOU (Arcade Operator's Union Amusement Expo)
* JGC (Japan Game Convention) - Yokohama, in August
* Tokyo Game Show - Tokyo, in October

Netherlands

* Spellenspektakel – Zwolle, Netherlands

Norway

* Arcon – Oslo
* Regncon – Bergen

ingapore

* Singapore – Boardgame Annuals

weden

* GothCon – Gothenburg, Sweden
* Stockholms spelkonvent (SSK) – Stockholm, Sweden
* SnöKon – Umeå, Sweden
* ApKon – Umeå, Sweden
* SävCon – Sävar, Sweden
* LinCon – Linköping, Sweden

UK

* Q-Con – Northern Ireland in June
* Gen Con UK – The University of Reading, England in August-September

US

Alabama

* MOBICON – Mobile, Alabama, in May

Arizona

* LepreCon

California

* BlizzCon – Anaheim, California, in October
* DunDraCon – San Ramon, California, in February
* [http://www.conquestsac.com/ ConQuest SAC] – Rancho Cordova, California, in March
* [http://www.con-quest.com/ ConQuest SF] – Santa Clara, California, in September
* E3 – Los Angeles, California, in July
* E For All - Los Angeles, California, in October
* Games Day – Los Angeles, California, in May
* Gamex – Los Angeles, California, in May
* Gateway – Los Angeles, California, in September
* Kublacon - Burlingame, California, in May
* OrcCon – Los Angeles, California, in February
* PolyCon – San Luis Obispo, California, in June/July

Colorado

* GenghisCon – Denver, Colorado, in February
* TactiCon – Denver, Colorado, in August

Florida

* MegaCon – Orlando, Florida in February
* http://www.ancientcitycon.com Ancient City Con Jacksonville Florida in August

Georgia

* DragonCon – Atlanta, Georgia, in August
* Momocon – Atlanta, Georgia, in March, free admission
* Nerdacon - Columbus, Georgia, in November, free admission

Idaho

* Tactical Solutions - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in October

Illinois

* Games Day – Chicago
* Little Wars - Lincolnshire
* Rock Con - Rockford
* True Realm - Marion/Carbondale (see also True Dungeon)
* Winter War - Champaign, started in 1974
* Wolfcon - Chicago(Nov) - Wolfcon.org

Indiana

* Gen Con – Indianapolis in August
* PentaCon - Fort Wayne in November

Iowa

* Gamicon – Iowa City in February
* Fields of Honor – Des Moines in September
* Pentacon - Fort Wayne in November

Kentucky

* [http://www.conglomeration.org/ ConGlomeration] – Louisville, April

Maine

* PortConMaine – Maine

Maryland

* Winter Activation Meeting (WAM) – Tournaments for card-driven wargames

Massachusetts

* Intercon – Chelmsford, in early March
* Vericon – Cambridge, in late January or early February

Michigan

* Marmalade Dog – Kalamazoo, Michigan, in March.
* Penguicon – Troy, Michigan, in April.
* StarCon – at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, in March.
* U-Con – Ann Arbor, Michigan, in November
* UberCon – Livonia, Michigan, in April.

Minnesota

* Con of the North – Twin Cities, in February (around President's Day weekend)

Nebraska

* Nuke-Con Omaha, NE, in the Fall around the first of October

Nevada

* [http://www.conquestvegas.com/ ConQuest VEGAS] – Las Vegas, Nevada, in April
* [http://www.conquestreno.com/ ConQuest RENO] – Reno, Nevada, in October

New Hampshire

* OGC Nashua, NH, in July

New Jersey

* DexCon East Brunswick, NJ. Held annually in July.
* PrinceCon In Princeton. One of the oldest in the United States, approaching its 32nd year.
* UberCon In Edison, NJ. This multi-genre gaming con will have its 10th installment in April 2008.

North Carolina

* MACE High Point, NC
* Southern Front Raleigh, NC
* Stellarcon High Point, NC
* Trinoc*con Raleigh, NC

Ohio

* Origins Game Fair – Columbus, in late June or early July

Oklahoma

* SoonerCon - Oklahoma City, Largest convention in OKC area includes very little gaming for all types.

Oregon

* Game Storm – Portland, Oregon, in March
* Portland Hobby Fair – Portland, Oregon, every Saturday

Pennsylvania

* Cold Wars – Lancaster County, in March
* Fall In! – Adams County, in November
* Historicon – Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in July
* MEPACon – Scranton, Pennsylvania in March/April and October/November
* World Boardgaming Championships – in Lancaster, PA in August
* [http://www.toomanygames.com/ TooManyGames] - in Reading, PA in October

Rhode Island

* TempleCon – Providence, in February

outh Carolina

* Waterloo – Tournament in Greenville, SC for boardgame Napoleonic Wars

outh Dakota

* Nanocon – Madison, SD on the campus of Dakota State University in November

Tennessee

* ConNooga – Chattanooga, TN, in February
* Hypericon – Nashville, TN
* MidSouthCon – Memphis, TN
* Games Day Memphis – Memphis, TN

Texas

* [http://www.owlcon.com/ OwlCon] - Houston, Texas, in February
* Chimaeracon – San Antonio, Texas, in March
* QuakeCon – Dallas, Texas, in August
* [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/bggcon.php BGG.CON (Board Game Geek Convention)] – Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, in November
* G-Kon – Dallas, Texas, in November

Utah

* [http://www.utahgamecon.org/ A Gathering of Strangers] – Salt Lake City, Utah

Vermont

* [http://www.carnagecon.com/ CarnageCon] This is Carnage: We Go To 11! - Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, Vermont in November

Virginia

* [http://www.magfest.org/ MAGfest] – Alexandria, Virginia, in January
* [http://www.prezcon.com/ PrezCon] – Charlottesville, Virginia, in February

Washington

* [http://www.conquestnw.com/ ConQuest NW] – Seattle, Washington, in February
* Dragonflight – Seattle, Washington, in August
* Enfilade! - Olympia, in May
* Penny Arcade Expo – Seattle, Washington, in August
* [http://www.spocon2009.com/ Spocon] - Spokane, Washington, in August

Washington, D.C.

* D&D Experience – In February. This event (called Winter Fantasy previous to 2007) is mostly for the RPGA, but includes many events for DDM

West Virginia

* [http://www.whitetowergaming.com White Tower Gaming Convention] – Triadelphia, held three times annually during January, April, and October.

* [http://www.charcon.org CharCon - THE West Virginia Gaming Convention] - CharCon takes place in October in Charleston WV at the Charleston Civic Center.

Wisconsin

* Fire and Ice – Sheboygan, in February

External links

* [http://www.con-quest.com/ Avalon Game Conventions] Organizers of five gaming conventions on the West Coast, including the West Coast Boardgame Championships.
* [http://www.boardgamers.org/ Boardgame Players Association] Sponsors of the annual World Boardgaming Championships.
* [http://www.prezcon.com/ PrezCon "The Winter Nationals"] Sponsors of the annual PrezCon Boardgaming Championships.
* [http://www.consupport.com consupport] A service conventions can use to list events, manage payments, etc. and the conventions that use it.
* [http://www.gameconventions.net/ GameConventions.net] Another comprehensive list of gaming conventions.
* [http://www.hmgs.org/ HMGS East] Has lists of associated conventions that feature historical miniature wargaming.
* [http://www.roleplayingtips.com/downloads/supplemental_08_conventions.txt Running Games At Conventions - advice and tips] , [http://www.roleplayingtips.com/readissue.php?number=263 Epic Weekend Convention Gaming: A Tale From The Trenches] , [http://www.roleplayingtips.com/readissue.php?number=222 4 Tips For Whipping Up Scenarios For Conventions] ,
* [http://nus.mensa.org.sg/ba]
* [http://www.winterwar.org/ Winter War Gaming Convention] Winter War: The Midwest's Longest Consecutively Running Independent Gaming Convention!