Gencon: E3 Lite?
Check out the floorplan for the exhibit hall at Gencon in 8 weeks:
http://gencon.com/files/2007/indy/Exhibit-Hall.pdf
I'd guess that's about 1/4 of the floor now devoted to video games. That's a massive uptick. I'd also suggest that the space dedicated to NON video games is up substantially. I don't believe they took the complete entire exhibit hall last year (I could be wrong) but they do this time.
Also of note is that they moved the art show into the main hall (which I applaud) and that WOTC is in the farthest possible corner from the entrances people actually use, with Upper deck (YuGiOh, WoW TCG, etc) taking the sweet spot in the middle. Maybe the thought is that people will come to WOTC no matter what, and this will solve the traffic problems.
Should be interesting.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
Gencon has been adding video games for a long time. I remember a few years ago in Milwaukee, it used to be just that game with those red cardboard rubbies. I think with more MMORPG, we are seeing more publishers coming to gencon to work the rpg market. Turbine is going to have a big space showing off LOTRO and DDO. Not to mention Atari and NWN2. Gencon isn't E3 lite, E3 is a trade show. Gencon is a consumer show. I would say that Gencon is E4 All lite.
I'm glad WOTC is in the corner, I used to get clogged up on Sunday with all of the people inline to roll the damn dice at the wotc booth. But, the real news at this years Gencon will be D&D 4E and Aces & Eights.
For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. ~Ron Shelton, Bull Durham, 1988
This is substantially larger than the last 5 years, and it's cordoned into one section. I think that's interesting.
And don't underestimate Gencon's value is a trade show. Far more company-distributor-retailer business goes on at GenCon than goes on at any other non-video gaming convention. And E3 by the end had become much much more about demoing stuff to consumers than it was in the 90s.
D&D 4e: eh. The last official press on this question talked about there being a cue of 3.5 material through all of 2008, so I don't think they're dumb enough to kill 16 months of sales by saying "and 4E is coming next Christmas, don't buy anything now!"
Agree on the WOTC booth. You really think A&8 has legs? I mean, I like big fat books and stuff from Kenzer, but not sure that the market is there for a western game like this. I know it's got lotso buzz.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
Rabbit, if I remember right, you had quite a bit of podcast material from last year's Gencon. Planning on doing that again? It was nice change of pace.
Gamertag: RiverRatMatt
Witchlight Cycle: Sithis of the Thelis'Thale Clan, Dragonborn Paladin of Moradin
Certis and I (and possibly Gaald) will all be there. I'll have my field recording gear. Much madness will ensue.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
You wish, nerdbag. Gencon isn't eXTREEEM enough.
Well, I don't like to toot my own horn, but I'm a pretty good amateur rectal photographer. Would you like to see my portfolio?
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Well, there is GAMA for the adventure gaming market....
D&D 4E is in development, one of the guys I worked with at Artifact has gone back to WOTC to start working on it. I think it may or may not be announced, but they released 2E stuff up until like July of 2000, when 3E was released. Many people may not make the move to 4E.
I think it has legs. It's got an innovative combat system and Boot Hill did well enough for TSR. I think what it has going for it, is that it's not a D20 system, D20 is death for books now. Plus, Kenzer has a great rep for putting out quality books with lots of crunch. The book looks awesome and high quality. If you think about it, all of the high fantasy campaigns are just cowboy games. The heroes ride into town, bust some baddies, I think it can work well. I'll be demoing the game at Gencon, it'd be cool if I had a goodjer table to play.
For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. ~Ron Shelton, Bull Durham, 1988
I'll totally be buying it because I'm a whore for production values.
Everyone I know in the trade thinks Boot hill was a distant third in sales behind DnD and Gama Word, so curious that you think it did well for them. And as for D20, I totally don't get the "death for books" thing. When something as expensive as Ptolus can sell out its print run at $100 a pop, and a thriving set of bolt-on businesses like Goodman Games, why do you think D20 is death? Last year I thought it matured nicely. At first D20 addon stuff was completely craptacular, but by last Gencon I thought there was a substantial amount of high quality stuff out there.
All that said, I think "serious" roleplayers (whatever that even means) are starting to discover the joys of some indy press revolution stuff like Spirit of the Century (one of the best RPGs I've ever read -- haven't played it yet I'm sad to say).
And I'm sure 4.0 is coming, I just think you're talking NEXT GenCon before they even say anything official, and even then, I'd be surprised to actually see it on sale. I also agree that I don't think it will be a monster revision, i think it will be very palatable. They'd be fools to do otherwise (not that this means anything).
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
I noticed on the map that "family fun" and "quiet zone" have their own little walled-off areas. Where's the room for those who have recently bathed?
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The area outside the convention hall called, "The rest of the planet".
Gamertag: RiverRatMatt
Witchlight Cycle: Sithis of the Thelis'Thale Clan, Dragonborn Paladin of Moradin
There aren't actual walls, so the smell factor would still cross boundaries.
Last year the funk-factor was considerably lower than usual. A trend I hope to see continue.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
I've been regularly participating in a Rocky training montage of techniques designed to raise my funk. I'm looking forward to the GWJ group hug. And I wouldn't suggest shaking my hand.
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JUST PUZZLED YOUR ASS UP, SON! -Mr Crinkle
I'm really looking forward to checking out the video gaming section this year. I've gotten to play some stuff months and months before release in years past, which is always fun.
I would love to see some smaller indie developers there this year.
The new Snarling Badger Games, makers of fine microgames.
snarlingbadger.com