Gen Con
Encyclopedia
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming convention
s in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing game
s, miniatures wargames
, board game
s, live action role-playing game
s, collectible card game
s, non-collectible card games, and strategy game
s. Gen Con also features computer games
. Attendees engage in a variety of tournament and interactive game sessions.
Gen Con 2011 brought in 36,733 attendees, which makes the convention similar in size to Dragon Con
and FanExpo
's Game Expo
, larger than Origins (14,000+), and smaller than E3 (40,000+).
Gen Con began in 1968 as a wargames convention, held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
, by Gary Gygax
, who would later go on to co-create Dungeons & Dragons
and by doing so initiate the roleplaying game phenomenon. The convention's main site was moved to various locations in Wisconsin from 1972 to 1984, until settling on Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, in 1985. Other Gen Con conventions were held sporadically in other locations around the United States. Beginning in 1990, Gen Con conventions were also held in several European locations, as well as in Australia as Gen Con Oz from 2008-2010.
Gen Con became the property of TSR, Inc.
, the gaming company co-founded by Gygax in 1976. In 1997 TSR (and its owned property Gen Con) were acquired by Wizards of the Coast
, which was subsequently acquired by Hasbro
. Hasbro then sold Gen Con to the founder and former CEO of Wizards of the Coast, Peter Adkison
, in 2002. One year later, the convention relocated to its current home in Indianapolis, Indiana
(although that had been planned prior to Adkison's purchase).
Gen Con experienced a short time under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
, due to a lawsuit brought against them by Lucasfilm
on February 15, 2008, but finally emerged from bankruptcy protection approximately one year later, without missing any of its annual occurrences.
, home of Gary Gygax
, later termed "Gen Con 0". In 1968, Gygax rented Lake Geneva's vine-covered Horticultural Hall
for $50 to hold the first formal Lake Geneva Convention, also known as the Gen Con gaming convention
for short, with roughly 100 attendees. The International Federation of Wargamers
, which Gygax had also co-founded, sponsored the first Gen Con. Gygax met Rob Kuntz
and Dave Arneson
in August 1969 at the second Gen Con. The main events at this time were board game
s, and miniature wargames.
Gen Con's name is a derivation of "Geneva Convention," given the convention's origins in Lake Geneva. The name is also a play on words
, as the "Geneva Conventions
" are the name of a set of important international treaties
regarding war and the earliest Gen Cons had a focus on wargames. For the first nine years, Gen Con was sponsored by the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association.
, original publisher of the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
. Gen Con West was held in California for two years only, in 1976 and 1977.
During the following decade the event grew and was hosted at a variety of southern Wisconsin
locations, including an American Legion
Hall, George Williams College
, and the former Lake Geneva Playboy
Resort. In 1978 the convention moved to the University of Wisconsin–Parkside campus in Kenosha
.
An annual Gen Con South was held from 1978 to 1984, in Jacksonville, Florida
. Gen Con East I was held in 1981 at Cherry Hill Inn, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
, and Gen Con East II was held in 1982 at Widener College
, in Chester, Pennsylvania
.
in 1985, due to the need for more space. Attendance steadily rose from 5,000 paid admissions in 1985 to a peak of 30,000 in 1995, making Gen Con the premier event in the role-playing game
industry. In 1992, Gen Con broke all previous attendance records for any U.S. gaming convention, with more than 18,000 people in attendance. Gen Con briefly joined forces with its major competitor, Origins, and the two were run as a single convention for 1988. Wizards of the Coast
debuted Magic: The Gathering
at Gen Con in August 1993; the game proved extremely popular selling out of its supply of 2.5 million cards, which had been scheduled to last until the end of the year. The ensuing collectible card game craze has been credited with generating the extra attendance that produced the 1995 record.
purchased TSR in 1997, and Wizards was in turn purchased by Hasbro
in 1999. Gen Con moved to the Midwest Express Center (MEC, now the Midwest Airlines Center
) in 1998 when the MEC replaced the MECCA. In November 1999, Wizards announced that Gen Con would leave Milwaukee after the 2002 convention. Peter Adkison
, the founder of Wizards of the Coast, then purchased Gen Con from Hasbro in May 2002. Adkison formed Gen Con LLC in May 2002 to run the convention, and the first show under Adkison's leadership took place August 2002 in Milwaukee.
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The Midwest U.S. convention moved to Indianapolis
in 2003. Peter Adkison attributes the move to lack of hotel space, a less spread out convention center, 40% more floor space, and frequently broken escalators in Milwaukee's convention center.
Gen Con in the United States was split into two different conventions in 2003: Gen Con Indy (in Indianapolis, Indiana) and Gen Con SoCal (in Anaheim, California). Gen Con Indy was the larger of the two, drawing approximately 25,000 attendees per year, on par with the Gen Con conventions in Milwaukee during the 1990s and early 2000s. It takes place in the Indiana Convention Center
. Wizards of the Coast
helped to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons game at Gen Con Indy 2004. In 2005 it was reported that Gen Con Indy generated the most direct visitor spending of any annual convention in Indianapolis.
Gen Con SoCal was smaller, with approximately 6,300 attendees in 2005. Gen Con SoCal was the third-largest consumer hobby game convention in North America. It was held in the Anaheim Convention Center
. One-day badge prices were $30 to $35, while 4-day badges were $55 to $65. On January 26, 2007 Gen Con So Cal was canceled.
In mid 2006, Gen Con LLC announced plans to provide more show space for video games to allow video game businesses a place to show their products after the downsizing of E3. Gen Con described their intentions as to "pick up where E3 [left] off." Several years earlier in 2003 Gen Con's owner, Peter Adkison
, said that he did not want Gen Con to become a "mini-E3".
Gen Con LLC also ran Star Wars Celebration
, the official Star Wars
convention held in banner years of the franchise. This is unlikely to continue as on January 10, 2008, Lucasfilm
filed a lawsuit against Gen Con LLC, claiming breach of contract, conversion and unjust enrichment over Celebration IV, held in 2006. The suit also claims Gen Con failed to give money from a charity auction held at the event to the Make-A-Wish Foundation
. Soon after, Gen Con filed a counter-suit claiming Lucasfilm had no basis for their claims and owed money to Gen Con.
On February 15, 2008, Gen Con LLC announced that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
, citing "significant unforeseen expenses associated with ... externally licensed events". As a result of the bankruptcy filing, the Lucasfilm lawsuit was delayed until November 19, 2008. Gen Con Indy 2008 was held as planned.
On November 20, 2008, a letter of intent to purchase Gen Con LLC's assets was filed with the bankruptcy court. It announced that a to-be-formed company called Gen Con Acquisition Group would purchase Gen Con LLC., with the purchase price being set equal to Gen Con LLC's outstanding debt. Gen Con LLC President Adrian Swartout described the letter as "suspiciously cryptic" and concluded that the offer "is not in the best interest of our creditors." Gen Con rejected the hostile takeover bid, and the bankruptcy court allowed Gen Con to emerge from bankruptcy in January 2009, 11 months after it had entered Chapter 11.
After two unsuccessful years of running Gen Con Europe in the UK, Adkison decided to scale back and focus his efforts on the US shows. In 2004 licenses were issued to groups who would go about creating the franchises Gen Con Barcelona and Gen Con UK. In early 2006, Gen Con LLC announced that it was going to run a new official Gen Con Europe, to be held in Paris, France. The convention was held on the weekend of April 21–23, and reportedly received 4,000 attendees. The convention was held again in Paris in 2007. A Gen Con was held in Brisbane
, Australia in July 2008 and again in September 2009. A third Gen Con Australia was scheduled for 2010, but was canceled.
The convention features a large exhibit hall filled with game publishers, artists, and related businesses. It is a popular attraction and frequently very busy.
The majority of attendees spend at least $100 in the exhibit hall. Most Gen Con attendees are men between 20 and 39 years of age who earn more than $50,000 per year.
The only game to be on the event schedule every year since Gen Con I is Fight in the Skies
(later renamed Dawn Patrol), first introduced by game designer Mike Carr in 1968 and a fixture on the schedule every year since.
The D&D Championship Series
(formerly the D&D Open) is a long running series of Dungeons & Dragons
games at Gen Con. Game sessions are scored based on the team's progress; those groups scoring the most advance to later rounds. This leads to an emphasis on quickly solving challenges and moving through the modules. The D&D Open is currently run by the RPGA
(Role-Playing Game Association). The open began in 1977.
The gaming group NASCRAG
has run Dungeons & Dragons events at Gen Con since 1980. NASCRAG events sometimes donate their ticket fees to charity. The games run tend to be humorous.
The RPGA runs large numbers of events at Gen Con. They run so many events that they are given their own category (RPGA) instead of sharing the general RPG category. These days RPGA events are primarily "Living" games where players create characters who persist between events. The RPGA first ran events in 1981.
In 1987 a games library was added from which attendees could borrow games. The library is currently run by Game Base 7.
MIDI Maze
, an early networked first-person shooter
video game run by the Milatari Atari computer user group, was a draw to the early video game room of Gen Con. It no longer runs at Gen Con; the original display now appears at the Midwest Gaming Classic
.
The Klingon Jail and Bail are a group of people who dress as Klingon
s from Star Trek
. For a donation to charity they will "arrest" and detain another convention attendee for a short period of time. The Jail and Bail originally appeared at Gen Con in 1993.
Appearing in 1994 was the first Magic: The Gathering World Championship
, won by Zak Dolan, who defeated France's Bertrand Lestrée in the finals.
Gen Con has also featured a number of events that raise money for a variety of charities. These include Cardhalla
, in which donated cards are used to build a large city. Attendees are then invited to throw coins at the city to destroy it. The coins are collected for charity. Cardhalla was first run in 1999.
The Gen Con EN World RPG Awards (the ENnies
) are an annual awards ceremony devoted to role-playing games. Established in 2001, the ENnies are hosted at Gen Con Indy (since 2002) and are organized and owned by EN World
, a D&D/d20 System
news website.
True Dungeon
is an immersive life-sized dungeon crawl live action role-playing game
(LARP), run at Gen Con since 2003. It features a challenging series of puzzles and scenarios designed to recreate a D&D environment and session. It emphasizes team work, creative thinking and problem solving, as well as employing a fighting and magic system; furthermore, unlike traditional LARPs, it does not require staying in-character throughout the experience.
The Gen Con Costume Contest runs Saturday evening at Gen Con Indy, and features a range of categories such as SciFi, Historical and Fantasy, Talent, Anime and Children's divisions. This event is preceded by a costume parade, in which all costumed attendees are invited to show off their costumes around the convention center. The contest itself generally fills quickly, both for participants and attendees, and features pre-show and intermission entertainment.
Over Gen Con history, a number of games have been announced or released at the convention. Plans to update the D&D game with a third edition were announced by Wizards of the Coast
at Gen Con 1999 as the game celebrated its 25th anniversary; the third edition of the D&D game debuted the following year at Gen Con 2000, with the release of the new Player's Handbook
, while the fourth edition was announced at Gen Con Indy 2007. White Wolf Game Studio's New World of Darkness game line debuted at a party held during Gen Con 2004. Gen Con 2007 added a Trade Day to the schedule for the first time ever. This is an additional day of programming for industry insiders and retailers, held the Wednesday before Gen Con opens to the public.
Gaming convention
A gaming convention is a gathering that centered on role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games, video games, or other types of games. These conventions are typically two or three days long, and often held at either a university or in a convention center hotel...
s in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s, miniatures wargames
Miniature wargaming
Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming that incorporates miniature figures, miniature armor and modeled terrain as the main components of play...
, board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s, live action role-playing game
Live action role-playing game
A live action role-playing game is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out their characters' actions. The players pursue goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world, while interacting with each other in character. The outcome of player actions may...
s, collectible card game
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
s, non-collectible card games, and strategy game
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
s. Gen Con also features computer games
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
. Attendees engage in a variety of tournament and interactive game sessions.
Gen Con 2011 brought in 36,733 attendees, which makes the convention similar in size to Dragon Con
Dragon Con
Dragon*Con is a North America multigenre convention, founded in 1987, which takes place once each year in Atlanta, Georgia...
and FanExpo
Fan Expo Canada
Toronto, Canada's Fan Expo Canada is an annual multigenre fan convention. It was founded as the Canadian National Comic Book Expo in 1994 by Hobby Star Marketing Inc...
's Game Expo
GX (gaming expo)
Toronto, Canada's GX is the “National Gaming Expo” and part of an annual multigenre convention entitled Fan Expo Canada. It was founded 2005 by Hobby Star Marketing Inc. It is traditionally a three-day event but expanded to four days in 2011...
, larger than Origins (14,000+), and smaller than E3 (40,000+).
Gen Con began in 1968 as a wargames convention, held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.-History:...
, by Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
, who would later go on to co-create Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
and by doing so initiate the roleplaying game phenomenon. The convention's main site was moved to various locations in Wisconsin from 1972 to 1984, until settling on Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, in 1985. Other Gen Con conventions were held sporadically in other locations around the United States. Beginning in 1990, Gen Con conventions were also held in several European locations, as well as in Australia as Gen Con Oz from 2008-2010.
Gen Con became the property of TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, the gaming company co-founded by Gygax in 1976. In 1997 TSR (and its owned property Gen Con) were acquired by Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, which was subsequently acquired by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. Hasbro then sold Gen Con to the founder and former CEO of Wizards of the Coast, Peter Adkison
Peter Adkison
Peter D. Adkison is the founder and first CEO of Wizards of the Coast , as well as a hobby game professional.During Adkison's tenure, Wizards of the Coast rose to the status of a major publisher in the hobby game industry. Wizards achieved runaway success with its creation of "Magic: the...
, in 2002. One year later, the convention relocated to its current home in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
(although that had been planned prior to Adkison's purchase).
Gen Con experienced a short time under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
, due to a lawsuit brought against them by Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
on February 15, 2008, but finally emerged from bankruptcy protection approximately one year later, without missing any of its annual occurrences.
Early years
Gen Con began in 1967 as an informal gathering of wargaming enthusiasts at the Lake Geneva, WisconsinLake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.-History:...
, home of Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
, later termed "Gen Con 0". In 1968, Gygax rented Lake Geneva's vine-covered Horticultural Hall
Horticultural Hall, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Horticultural Hall is a conference center in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in 1911 as a location for the professional gardeners working on nearby estates to meet and discuss their work....
for $50 to hold the first formal Lake Geneva Convention, also known as the Gen Con gaming convention
Gaming convention
A gaming convention is a gathering that centered on role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games, video games, or other types of games. These conventions are typically two or three days long, and often held at either a university or in a convention center hotel...
for short, with roughly 100 attendees. The International Federation of Wargamers
International Federation of Wargamers
The International Federation of Wargaming was founded by Gary Gygax, Bill Speer, and Scott Duncan in 1966. Originally named the United States Continental Army Command, the organization served as an umbrella for local wargaming clubs such as the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association and the...
, which Gygax had also co-founded, sponsored the first Gen Con. Gygax met Rob Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz is a game designer and author of role-playing game publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various Dungeons & Dragons-related materials.-Works:...
and Dave Arneson
Dave Arneson
David Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
in August 1969 at the second Gen Con. The main events at this time were board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s, and miniature wargames.
Gen Con's name is a derivation of "Geneva Convention," given the convention's origins in Lake Geneva. The name is also a play on words
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
, as the "Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
" are the name of a set of important international treaties
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
regarding war and the earliest Gen Cons had a focus on wargames. For the first nine years, Gen Con was sponsored by the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association.
TSR
Beginning in 1976, Gen Con was managed and hosted by TSR, Inc.TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, original publisher of the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. Gen Con West was held in California for two years only, in 1976 and 1977.
During the following decade the event grew and was hosted at a variety of southern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
locations, including an American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Hall, George Williams College
Aurora University
Aurora University is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational liberal arts college located in Aurora, Illinois, 40 miles west of Chicago, Illinois. Additional university locations include the George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin and the Woodstock Center in Woodstock, Illinois...
, and the former Lake Geneva Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
Resort. In 1978 the convention moved to the University of Wisconsin–Parkside campus in Kenosha
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
.
An annual Gen Con South was held from 1978 to 1984, in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. Gen Con East I was held in 1981 at Cherry Hill Inn, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, and Gen Con East II was held in 1982 at Widener College
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
, in Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
.
MECCA
Gen Con moved again to the Milwaukee Exposition & Convention Center & Arena (commonly known as the MECCA) in MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
in 1985, due to the need for more space. Attendance steadily rose from 5,000 paid admissions in 1985 to a peak of 30,000 in 1995, making Gen Con the premier event in the role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
industry. In 1992, Gen Con broke all previous attendance records for any U.S. gaming convention, with more than 18,000 people in attendance. Gen Con briefly joined forces with its major competitor, Origins, and the two were run as a single convention for 1988. Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
debuted Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
at Gen Con in August 1993; the game proved extremely popular selling out of its supply of 2.5 million cards, which had been scheduled to last until the end of the year. The ensuing collectible card game craze has been credited with generating the extra attendance that produced the 1995 record.
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
purchased TSR in 1997, and Wizards was in turn purchased by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
in 1999. Gen Con moved to the Midwest Express Center (MEC, now the Midwest Airlines Center
Midwest Airlines Center
The Frontier Airlines Center is a convention and exhibition center located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The center is part of a greater complex of buildings which includes the U.S...
) in 1998 when the MEC replaced the MECCA. In November 1999, Wizards announced that Gen Con would leave Milwaukee after the 2002 convention. Peter Adkison
Peter Adkison
Peter D. Adkison is the founder and first CEO of Wizards of the Coast , as well as a hobby game professional.During Adkison's tenure, Wizards of the Coast rose to the status of a major publisher in the hobby game industry. Wizards achieved runaway success with its creation of "Magic: the...
, the founder of Wizards of the Coast, then purchased Gen Con from Hasbro in May 2002. Adkison formed Gen Con LLC in May 2002 to run the convention, and the first show under Adkison's leadership took place August 2002 in Milwaukee.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 2003. Peter Adkison attributes the move to lack of hotel space, a less spread out convention center, 40% more floor space, and frequently broken escalators in Milwaukee's convention center.
Gen Con in the United States was split into two different conventions in 2003: Gen Con Indy (in Indianapolis, Indiana) and Gen Con SoCal (in Anaheim, California). Gen Con Indy was the larger of the two, drawing approximately 25,000 attendees per year, on par with the Gen Con conventions in Milwaukee during the 1990s and early 2000s. It takes place in the Indiana Convention Center
Indiana Convention Center
The Indiana Convention Center is a convention center located in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It contains over of open exhibit space and almost of group meeting space. It was finished in late 1983 along with the Hoosier Dome , which it was connected to prior the Dome's deconstruction in 2008....
. Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
helped to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons game at Gen Con Indy 2004. In 2005 it was reported that Gen Con Indy generated the most direct visitor spending of any annual convention in Indianapolis.
Gen Con SoCal was smaller, with approximately 6,300 attendees in 2005. Gen Con SoCal was the third-largest consumer hobby game convention in North America. It was held in the Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim Convention Center
The Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. Much of the Anaheim Convention Center has been renovated in recent years with state-of-the-art facilities...
. One-day badge prices were $30 to $35, while 4-day badges were $55 to $65. On January 26, 2007 Gen Con So Cal was canceled.
Peter Adkison
Peter D. Adkison is the founder and first CEO of Wizards of the Coast , as well as a hobby game professional.During Adkison's tenure, Wizards of the Coast rose to the status of a major publisher in the hobby game industry. Wizards achieved runaway success with its creation of "Magic: the...
, said that he did not want Gen Con to become a "mini-E3".
Gen Con LLC also ran Star Wars Celebration
Star Wars Celebration
Star Wars Celebration is a fan gathering to celebrate the release of a Star Wars franchise movie. It all began in 1999, when Lucasfilm held the Star Wars Celebration in Denver, Colorado to celebrate the upcoming release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace...
, the official Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
convention held in banner years of the franchise. This is unlikely to continue as on January 10, 2008, Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
filed a lawsuit against Gen Con LLC, claiming breach of contract, conversion and unjust enrichment over Celebration IV, held in 2006. The suit also claims Gen Con failed to give money from a charity auction held at the event to the Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...
. Soon after, Gen Con filed a counter-suit claiming Lucasfilm had no basis for their claims and owed money to Gen Con.
On February 15, 2008, Gen Con LLC announced that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
, citing "significant unforeseen expenses associated with ... externally licensed events". As a result of the bankruptcy filing, the Lucasfilm lawsuit was delayed until November 19, 2008. Gen Con Indy 2008 was held as planned.
On November 20, 2008, a letter of intent to purchase Gen Con LLC's assets was filed with the bankruptcy court. It announced that a to-be-formed company called Gen Con Acquisition Group would purchase Gen Con LLC., with the purchase price being set equal to Gen Con LLC's outstanding debt. Gen Con LLC President Adrian Swartout described the letter as "suspiciously cryptic" and concluded that the offer "is not in the best interest of our creditors." Gen Con rejected the hostile takeover bid, and the bankruptcy court allowed Gen Con to emerge from bankruptcy in January 2009, 11 months after it had entered Chapter 11.
International
Gen Con spread to Europe in the 1990s, with the first annual European Gen Con held in Sussex, England in 1990, and Gen Con Barcelona in Spain in 1994; both of these Cons were also held in 1995 and 1996. European Gen Con in England was the only 1997 European Gen Con, and the only 1998 European Gen Con was Benelux Gen Con, held in Holland. In 1999, Gen Con UK was held in England, Gen Con Barcelona returned, and Gen Con Europe was held in Belgium. The only Gen Con in Europe in the year 2000 was Gen Con UK, held at Manchester University. In 2001, Gen Con UK was moved to London, where it was held every year up through 2003.After two unsuccessful years of running Gen Con Europe in the UK, Adkison decided to scale back and focus his efforts on the US shows. In 2004 licenses were issued to groups who would go about creating the franchises Gen Con Barcelona and Gen Con UK. In early 2006, Gen Con LLC announced that it was going to run a new official Gen Con Europe, to be held in Paris, France. The convention was held on the weekend of April 21–23, and reportedly received 4,000 attendees. The convention was held again in Paris in 2007. A Gen Con was held in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia in July 2008 and again in September 2009. A third Gen Con Australia was scheduled for 2010, but was canceled.
Events
The majority of attendees spend at least $100 in the exhibit hall. Most Gen Con attendees are men between 20 and 39 years of age who earn more than $50,000 per year.
The only game to be on the event schedule every year since Gen Con I is Fight in the Skies
Fight In The Skies
Fight In The Skies, also known as Dawn Patrol, is a board wargame written by Mike Carr which models World War I style air combat. Carr began working on the game after watching the movie The Blue Max....
(later renamed Dawn Patrol), first introduced by game designer Mike Carr in 1968 and a fixture on the schedule every year since.
The D&D Championship Series
D&D Championship Series
The D&D Championship Series is a yearly Dungeons & Dragons championship run at Gen Con. Prior to 2008, the event was known as the D&D Open Championship. The Open first ran in 1977. Teams of players compete to complete and score well in pre-written, multi-part adventure, with higher ranking teams...
(formerly the D&D Open) is a long running series of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
games at Gen Con. Game sessions are scored based on the team's progress; those groups scoring the most advance to later rounds. This leads to an emphasis on quickly solving challenges and moving through the modules. The D&D Open is currently run by the RPGA
RPGA
The RPGA , is part of the organized play arm of Wizards of the Coast that organizes and sanctions role-playing games worldwide, principally under the d20 system...
(Role-Playing Game Association). The open began in 1977.
NASCRAG
NASCRAG is the National Society of Crazed Gamers, a group of game-masters, writers, and artists who have been presenting a series of multi-round Dungeons and Dragons tournaments at the Gen Con game convention since 1980....
has run Dungeons & Dragons events at Gen Con since 1980. NASCRAG events sometimes donate their ticket fees to charity. The games run tend to be humorous.
The RPGA runs large numbers of events at Gen Con. They run so many events that they are given their own category (RPGA) instead of sharing the general RPG category. These days RPGA events are primarily "Living" games where players create characters who persist between events. The RPGA first ran events in 1981.
MIDI Maze
MIDI Maze
MIDI Maze is an early first person shooter maze video game for the Atari ST developed by Xanth Software F/X, published by Hybrid Arts, and released around 1987. It owes a significant debt to what may be the first of its genre, Maze War...
, an early networked first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
video game run by the Milatari Atari computer user group, was a draw to the early video game room of Gen Con. It no longer runs at Gen Con; the original display now appears at the Midwest Gaming Classic
Midwest Gaming Classic
The Midwest Gaming Classic is an annual convention for all forms of electronic entertainment, including video games, arcade games , computers, and more...
.
The Klingon Jail and Bail are a group of people who dress as Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
s from Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
. For a donation to charity they will "arrest" and detain another convention attendee for a short period of time. The Jail and Bail originally appeared at Gen Con in 1993.
Appearing in 1994 was the first Magic: The Gathering World Championship
Magic: The Gathering World Championship
The Magic: The Gathering World Championships have been held annually since 1994. It is the most important tournament in the game of Magic: The Gathering, offering to the winner a cash prize of $45,000. Originally open to all competitors, Worlds is now an invitation-only event and the last Pro Tour...
, won by Zak Dolan, who defeated France's Bertrand Lestrée in the finals.
Cardhalla
Cardhalla is a charity event that has been held at Gen Con since 1999. During the convention, a city is constructed out of donated trading card game cards. Near the end of the convention attendees are invited to throw coins at the city to destroy it. The thrown coins are collected and donated to...
, in which donated cards are used to build a large city. Attendees are then invited to throw coins at the city to destroy it. The coins are collected for charity. Cardhalla was first run in 1999.
The Gen Con EN World RPG Awards (the ENnies
ENnies
The Annual Gen Con EN World RPG Awards are annual, fan-based awards for role-playing game products and publishers hosted at Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana...
) are an annual awards ceremony devoted to role-playing games. Established in 2001, the ENnies are hosted at Gen Con Indy (since 2002) and are organized and owned by EN World
EN World
EN World is a role-playing game news and reviews website, which has grown from the earlier "Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News" site .- Description :...
, a D&D/d20 System
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
news website.
True Dungeon
True Adventures
True Adventures, Ltd., is a role-playing game company started by Jeff Martin. It operates two entertainment venues at Gen Con Indy: True Dungeon and True Dungeon Fantasy Tavern. True Adventures is notable because their signature event, True Dungeon, is "the single most popular event" at Gen Con,...
is an immersive life-sized dungeon crawl live action role-playing game
Live action role-playing game
A live action role-playing game is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out their characters' actions. The players pursue goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world, while interacting with each other in character. The outcome of player actions may...
(LARP), run at Gen Con since 2003. It features a challenging series of puzzles and scenarios designed to recreate a D&D environment and session. It emphasizes team work, creative thinking and problem solving, as well as employing a fighting and magic system; furthermore, unlike traditional LARPs, it does not require staying in-character throughout the experience.
The Gen Con Costume Contest runs Saturday evening at Gen Con Indy, and features a range of categories such as SciFi, Historical and Fantasy, Talent, Anime and Children's divisions. This event is preceded by a costume parade, in which all costumed attendees are invited to show off their costumes around the convention center. The contest itself generally fills quickly, both for participants and attendees, and features pre-show and intermission entertainment.
Over Gen Con history, a number of games have been announced or released at the convention. Plans to update the D&D game with a third edition were announced by Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
at Gen Con 1999 as the game celebrated its 25th anniversary; the third edition of the D&D game debuted the following year at Gen Con 2000, with the release of the new Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...
, while the fourth edition was announced at Gen Con Indy 2007. White Wolf Game Studio's New World of Darkness game line debuted at a party held during Gen Con 2004. Gen Con 2007 added a Trade Day to the schedule for the first time ever. This is an additional day of programming for industry insiders and retailers, held the Wednesday before Gen Con opens to the public.
Timeline
Attendance at Gen Con conventions, based on the numbers given below:1967–2002: Gen Con
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Gen Con 0" | August 1967 | Gary Gygax Gary Gygax Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games.... 's Home Lake Geneva Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.-History:... , Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
12 | |
| Gen Con I | August 24, 1968 | Horticultural Hall Horticultural Hall, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Horticultural Hall is a conference center in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in 1911 as a location for the professional gardeners working on nearby estates to meet and discuss their work.... Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
50–100 | First official year of Gen Con |
| Gen Con II | August 23, 1969 | Horticultural Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
150 | |
| Gen Con III | August 22–23, 1970 | Horticultural Hall/Guild Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
||
| Gen Con IV | August 21–22, 1971 | Horticultural Hall/Guild Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
||
| Gen Con V | August 19–20, 1972 | George Williams College Williams Bay, Wisconsin Williams Bay, Wisconsin Williams Bay is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,415 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Williams Bay is located at .... |
>650 | |
| Gen Con VI | August 18–19, 1973 | Horticultural Hall/Guild Hall/Legion Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
>700 | TSR, Inc. Founded |
| Gen Con VII | August 23–25, 1974 | Horticultural Hall/Guild Hall/Legion Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
Dungeons & Dragons published | |
| Gen Con VIII | August 22–24, 1975 | Horticultural Hall/Guild Hall/Legion Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
<1,600 | |
| Gen Con IX | August 20–22, 1976 | Horticultural Hall/Guild Hall/Legion Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
1,300 | TSR takes ownership of con |
| Gen Con X | August 18–21, 1977 | Playboy Resort Playboy Club The Playboy Club initially was a chain of nightclubs and resorts owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises. The first club opened at 116 E. Walton Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois, United States, on February 29, 1960. Each club generally featured a Living Room, a Playmate Bar, a Dining Room... /Horticultural Hall/Guild Hall Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
2,300 | |
| Gen Con XI | August 17–20, 1978 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside | 2,000 | Moved to Parkside location |
| Gen Con XII | August 16–19, 1979 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside | ||
| Gen Con XIII | August 21–24, 1980 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside | 4,500 | |
| Gen Con XIV | August 13–16, 1981 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside | 5,000 | |
| Gen Con XV | August 19–22, 1982 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside | ||
| Gen Con XVI | August 18–21, 1983 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside | ||
| Gen Con 17 | Aug. 16–19, 1984 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside | 3,600 | |
| Gen Con 18 | August 22–25, 1985 | MECCA (Milwaukee Exposition & Convention Center & Arena U.S. Cellular Arena U.S. Cellular Arena is an indoor arena, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin... ), Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the... |
5,000 | Moved to MECCA |
| Gen Con 19 | August 14–17, 1986 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 5,000 | |
| Gen Con 20 | August 20–23, 1987 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | ||
| Gen Con 21/Origins | August 18–21, 1988 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Gen Con and Origins were run as a single convention this year | |
| Gen Con '89 | August 10–13, 1989 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | >10,000 | |
| Gen Con '90 | August 9–12, 1990 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | >12,000 | |
| Gen Con '91 | August 8–11, 1991 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | >15,000 | |
| Gen Con/Origins '92 | August 20–23, 1992 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | >18,000 | Gen Con's 25th year. Gen Con and Origins are run as a single convention this year |
| Gen Con '93 | August 19–22, 1993 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 20,000 | |
| Gen Con '94 | August 18–21, 1994 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | >25,000 | |
| Gen Con '95 | August 10–13, 1995 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 30,000 | |
| Gen Con '96 | August 8–11, 1996 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 27,000 | |
| 1997 Gen Con Game Fair | August 7–10, 1997 | MECCA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 27,000 | Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games... purchases TSR, Inc. TSR, Inc. Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc.... , gaining control of Gen Con |
| 1998 Gen Con Game Fair | August 6–9, 1998 | MEC (Midwest Express Center Midwest Airlines Center The Frontier Airlines Center is a convention and exhibition center located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The center is part of a greater complex of buildings which includes the U.S... ), Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
>19,000 | Moved to MEC |
| 1999 Gen Con Game Fair | August 5–8, 1999 | MEC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | >22,000 | Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games... is purchased by Hasbro after the convention. Hasbro now owns Gen Con. |
| 2000 Gen Con Game Fair | August 10–13, 2000 | MEC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 21,000 (projected) | |
| 2001 Gen Con Game Fair | August 2–5, 2001 | MEC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | >25,000 | |
| 2002 Gen Con Game Fair | August 8–11, 2002 | MEC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 23,000 | Gen Con's last year in Wisconsin, 35th year of the convention. Peter Adkison purchases Gen Con from Hasbro. |
1976-1977: Gen Con West
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con West | September 4–6, 1976 | McCabe Hall, San Jose, California San Jose, California San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay... |
||
| Gen Con West 77 | September 3–5, 1977 | Villa Hotel, San Mateo, California San Mateo, California San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,... |
||
| Gen Con West 78 | September 2–4, 1978 | Villa Hotel, San Mateo, California San Mateo, California San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,... |
1978-1984: Gen Con South
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con South | February 9–11, 1978 | Robert Meyer Hotel, Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968... |
||
| Gen Con South | February 17-19, 1979 | JAX Hilton, Jacksonville FL | ||
| Gen Con South | February 15–17, 1980 | Ramada Inn, Jacksonville Beach, Florida Jacksonville Beach, Florida Jacksonville Beach is a city on the Atlantic coast of Duval County, Florida, east of Jacksonville. It is part of the Jacksonville Beaches community, together with Mayport, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach... |
||
| Gen Con South | February 6–9, 1981 | Ramada Inn, Jacksonville Beach, Florida | ||
| Gen Con South | February 5-7, 1982 | Jacksonville Beach Convention Center, Jacksonville Beach FL | ||
| Gen Con South | March 11-13, 1983 | Thunderbird Resort, Jacksonville FL | ||
| Gen Con South | March 16-18, 1984 | Thunderbird Resort, Jacksonville FL |
1981-1982: Gen Con East
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con East I | July 23–26, 1981 | Cherry Hill Inn, Cherry Hill, New Jersey Cherry Hill, New Jersey Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census... |
||
| Gen Con East II | June 17–20, 1982 | Widener College Widener University Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia... , Chester, Pennsylvania Chester, Pennsylvania Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :... |
1990–2008: European Gen Con
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Gen Con | November 30–December 2, 1990 | Pontin's Pontin's Pontins is a British holiday business which was originally founded in 1946 by Fred Pontin. It specialises in offering half-board and self-catering holidays with regular entertainment on offer. Accommodation is usually in the form of chalets. The company once grew to be a major operator of... Holiday Center, Camber Sands Camber Sands For historical information on the area, see Camber articleCamber Sands is a beach at the village of Camber , East Sussex, England... , East Sussex East Sussex East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:... , England |
||
| European Gen Con 1991 | November 15–17, 1991 | Pontin's Holiday Center, Camber Sands, East Sussex, England | ||
| European Gen Con 1992 | November 13–15, 1992 | Pontin's Holiday Center, Camber Sands, East Sussex, England | ||
| European Gen Con 1993 | November 11–14, 1993 | Pontin's Holiday Center, Camber Sands, East Sussex, England | ||
| European Gen Con 1994 | May 12–15, 1994 | Pontin's Holiday Center, Camber Sands, East Sussex, England | ||
| European Gen Con 1995 | April 27–30, 1995 | Pontin's Holiday Center, Camber Sands, East Sussex, England | ||
| European Gen Con 1996 | September 5–8, 1996 | Loughborough University Loughborough University Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England... , Leicestershire Leicestershire Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire... , England |
||
| European Gen Con 1997 | August 28–31, 1997 | Loughborough University, Leicestershire, England | ||
| Gen Con Europe | July 31 - Aug 1 1999 | Bouwcentrum, Antwerp, Belgium | ||
| Gen Con Paris | April 21–23, 2006 | Paris, France | 4,000 | |
| Gen Con Paris 2007 | May 25–27, 2007 | Paris, France | 4,200 | |
| Gen Con Paris 2008 | April 25–27, 2008 | Paris, France | 9,000 |
1994–2004: Gen Con Barcelona
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con Barcelona 1994 | November 11–14, 1994 | Drassanes Reials, Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Gen Con Barcelona 1995 | November 3–5, 1995 | Drassanes Reials, Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Gen Con Barcelona 1996 | November 15–17, 1996 | Mercat del Born, Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Gen Con Barcelona 1999 | April 9–11, 1999 | Cotxeres de Sants, Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Gen Con Barcelona | July 1–4, 2004 | Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... , Spain |
(licensed event) |
1998–2008: Gen Con UK
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con UK 1998 | September 3–6, 1998 | Loughborough University, Leicestershire, England | ||
| Gen Con UK 1999 | September 2–5, 1999 | Loughborough University, Leicestershire, England | ||
| Gen Con UK 2000 | August 31–September 3, 2000 | Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester, England | ||
| Gen Con UK 2001 | August 30–September 2, 2001 | Olympia 2, London Olympia, London Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,... , England |
||
| Gen Con UK 2002 | August 29–September 1, 2002 | Olympia 2, London, England | ||
| Gen Con UK 2003 | April 18–21, 2003 | Olympia 2, London, England | ||
| Gen Con UK 2004 | October 14–17, 2004 | Minehead Butlins, Somerset Somerset The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the... , England |
(licensed event) | |
| Gen Con UK 2005 | November 3–6, 2005 | Bognor Regis Bognor Regis Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the... , West Sussex West Sussex West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming... , England |
1,957 | (licensed event) |
| Gen Con UK 2007 | August 30–September 2, 2007 | Reading, Berkshire Reading, Berkshire Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London.... , England |
1,746 | (licensed event) |
| Gen Con UK 2008 | August 28–31, 2008 | Reading, Berkshire Reading, Berkshire Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London.... , England |
(licensed event) |
1998–2000: Gen Con Benelux
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benelux Gen Con 1998 | July 31–August 2, 1998 | Motel Tiel, Tiel Tiel ' is a municipality and a town in the middle of the Netherlands.The town is enclosed by the Waal river and the Linge river on the south and the north side, and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal on the east side. The city was founded in the 5th century AD.... , Netherlands |
||
| Gen Con Benelux 2000 | September 23–24, 2000 | Den Bosch, The Netherlands | Last Gen Con in the Benelux Benelux The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany... . |
2003-2006: Gen Con SoCal
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con SoCal 2003 | December 11–14, 2003 | ACC (Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim Convention Center The Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. Much of the Anaheim Convention Center has been renovated in recent years with state-of-the-art facilities... ), Anaheim, California Anaheim, California Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States... |
4,148 | |
| Gen Con SoCal 2004 | December 2–5, 2004 | ACC, Anaheim, California | 5,559 | |
| Gen Con SoCal 2005 | November 18–20, 2005 | ACC, Anaheim, California | 6,326 | |
| Gen Con SoCal 2006 | November 16–19, 2006 | ACC, Anaheim, California | 5,840 |
2003–present: Gen Con Indy
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con Indy 2003 | July 24–27, 2003 | ICC (Indiana Convention Center Indiana Convention Center The Indiana Convention Center is a convention center located in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It contains over of open exhibit space and almost of group meeting space. It was finished in late 1983 along with the Hoosier Dome , which it was connected to prior the Dome's deconstruction in 2008.... ), Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
25,000 | |
| Gen Con Indy 2004 | August 19–22, 2004 | ICC, Indianapolis, Indiana | 21,741 | |
| Gen Con Indy 2005 | August 11–14, 2005 | ICC, Indianapolis, Indiana | 25,106 | |
| Gen Con Indy 2006 | August 10–13, 2006 | ICC, Indianapolis, Indiana | >21,250 | |
| Gen Con Indy 2007 | August 16–19, 2007 | ICC, Indianapolis, Indiana | 27,000 | 40th anniversary |
| Gen Con Indy 2008 | August 14–17, 2008 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 28,600+ | |
| Gen Con Indy 2009 | August 13–16, 2009 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 27,900+ | |
| Gen Con Indy 2010 | August 5–8, 2010 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 30,046 | |
| Gen Con Indy 2011 | August 4–7, 2011 | Indianapolis, Indiana | 36,733 |
2008–2009: Gen Con Australia
| Event | Date | Location | Approximate attendance |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con Australia | July 3–6, 2008 | BCEC (Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is Australia’s most awarded venue and has been officially ranked among the world’s top three convention centres on three separate occasions.... ), Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of... , Queensland, Australia |
>10,000 | |
| Gen Con Australia | September 18-20, 2009 | BCEC, Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of... , Queensland, Australia |
Scheduled future events
| Event | Scheduled date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Con Indy 2012 | August 16–19, 2012 | Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
45th anniversary |
| Gen Con Indy 2013 | August 15–18, 2013 | Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
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| Gen Con Indy 2014 | August 14–17, 2014 | Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
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| Gen Con Indy 2015 | July 30 - August 2, 2015 | Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |