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A '''gaming convention''' is a gathering centered around [[role-playing games]], [[collectible card games]], [[Miniature wargaming|miniatures wargames]], [[board game]]s, [[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. The largest gaming convention, [[Spiel]], is a [[trade fair]] held in [[Essen, Germany]] that focuses on German-style board games and RPGs. A similarly large event is ''[[Festival Ludique International de Parthenay]]'' (FLIP), a games festival held over twelve days in France.
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A '''convention''' or '''con''' is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. '''Gaming conventions''' are conventions for which the common interest is games, which can include [[role-playing games]], [[collectible card games]], [[wargames]], [[board game]]s, and video games. Conventions are typically two or three days long (often held over a weekend), and held in a public venue such as a convention center hotel or a university.
   
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While gaming conventions may include role-playing games, a relatively small number focus on role-playing games specifically. The largest of these is [[Gen Con]], which features events for RPGs, CCGs, miniatures and boardgames. Gen Con had 60,000+ unique attendees over four days in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencon.com/press/2017recordattendance|title=Gen Con LLC - Gen Con Attributes Record-Breaking 2014 Numbers to Growing Partnership between Gamers and Indianapolis Community|publisher=}}</ref>
While games are often a large part of [[science fiction conventions]] and other hobby conventions, gaming conventions are distinguished by focusing on games and game-industry guests. [[Gen Con]] is the largest gaming con in the US for [[role-playing games|RPGs]], with 21,700 attendees over four days in 2005, while [[Origins Game Fair|Origins]] is the largest gaming convention focused on miniatures wargames and live-action role playing games. [[DragonCon]] is an example of large convention that has a large gaming focus and a huge numbers of attendees, but isn't dedicated solely as a gaming convention. A smaller genre of gaming conventions are those devoted to the hobby of historical [[miniature wargaming]], many of which are sponsored by the [[Historical Miniatures Gaming Society]].
 
   
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The largest gaming convention, [[Spiel]], is a trade fair in Essen, Germany that focuses on German-style board games and RPGs. A similarly large event is [[Festival Ludique International de Parthenay]] (FLIP), a games festival held over twelve days in France. The largest gaming convention in the US is the [[Penny Arcade Expo]], which has had over 70,000 attendees at both its East (Boston) and Prime (Seattle) events. [[Origins Game Fair|Origins]] focuses on miniatures wargames and boardgames with 12,902 unique attendees in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://originsgamefair.com/2014/08/11/thanks-for-a-great-origins-2014/|title=Origins Game Fair - Thanks for a Great Origins 2014!|publisher=|access-date=2014-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903141631/http://originsgamefair.com/2014/08/11/thanks-for-a-great-origins-2014/|archive-date=2014-09-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> but also has a large component of RPG and CCG players. [[DragonCon]] is an example of a large convention with a focus on popular culture and comics that includes a large gaming contingent and 35,000-40,000 attendees, but isn't dedicated solely as a gaming convention.
[[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. The World Boardgaming Championships and PrezCon are considered two of the largest events dedicated solely to board games. WBC runs the first week in August each year and PrezCon runs the last week of February each year.
 
 
__TOC__
 
   
 
==Events==
 
==Events==
 
Gaming conventions typically have games scheduled for various time slots. Most gaming cons use some system of pre-registration to ensure that games are neither over-full nor under-full.
   
 
Competitive games, such as ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'', typically have tournaments set out where players meet in matches. Prizes can be quite large for the winners. There are also competitive role-playing games, where the best roleplayers, most successful parties, etc. get rewarded. Most scheduled RPGs, however, are not competitive.
Gaming conventions typically have games scheduled for various time slots. Most gaming ''cons'' use some system of pre-registration to ensure that games are neither over-full nor under-full.
 
 
Competitive games, such as [[Magic: The Gathering]], typically have tournaments set out where players meet in matches. Prizes can be quite large for the winners. There are also competitive role-playing games, where the best roleplayers, most successful parties, etc. get rewarded. The [[RPGA]] runs competitive [[D&D]] and other RPGs at many conventions. Most scheduled RPGs, however, are not competitive.
 
 
The types of games often include many of the following:
 
 
* [[Collectible Card Game]]s aka [[CCG]]'s, like [[Magic: The Gathering]] & [[Pokemon (card game)|Pokémon]]
 
* [[Board games]]
 
* [[Role-playing game]]s aka RPG's, like [[Dungeons and Dragons]], [[Shadowrun]] & [[Traveller (role playing game)|Traveller]]
 
* [[RPGA]] games
 
* Table-top miniatures games like [[Battletech]], [[HeroClix]], [[Car Wars]], [[Flames of War]] and [[Warhammer 40k]]
 
* [[LARP]]s
 
* 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.
 
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.
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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.
 
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.
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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.
   
==See also==
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==References==
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{{Reflist}}
*[[List of gaming conventions]]
 
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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* {{wp link|Gaming convention}}
'''Helpful Links for Preparing for Gaming Conventions'''
 
 
* {{wp link|List of gaming conventions}}
* [http://www.gamingcons.com/ GamingCons.com Listing of upcoming Gaming Cons]
 
* [http://nus.mensa.org.sg/ba Mensa Site on Games]
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* [http://www.gamingcons.com/ GamingCons.com]
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* [http://gameconventioncentral.com/ GameConventionCentral.com]
* [http://www.roleplayingtips.com/downloads/supplemental_08_conventions.txt Running Games At Conventions - advice and tips]
 
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* [http://www.eventsforgamers.com/ EventsForGamers.com]
* [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],
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* [http://www.bigfishgames.com/daily/gaming-conventions-timeline/ History of Gaming Conventions]
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[[Category:Culture]]
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaming Convention}}
 
[[Category:Gaming conventions| ]]
 
 
[[fr:Festival de jeux]]
 
[[sv:Konvent (populärkultur)]]
 

Latest revision as of 09:10, 7 August 2020

A convention or con is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. Gaming conventions are conventions for which the common interest is games, which can include role-playing games, collectible card games, wargames, board games, and video games. Conventions are typically two or three days long (often held over a weekend), and held in a public venue such as a convention center hotel or a university.

While gaming conventions may include role-playing games, a relatively small number focus on role-playing games specifically. The largest of these is Gen Con, which features events for RPGs, CCGs, miniatures and boardgames. Gen Con had 60,000+ unique attendees over four days in 2017.[1]

The largest gaming convention, Spiel, is a trade fair in Essen, Germany that focuses on German-style board games and RPGs. A similarly large event is Festival Ludique International de Parthenay (FLIP), a games festival held over twelve days in France. The largest gaming convention in the US is the Penny Arcade Expo, which has had over 70,000 attendees at both its East (Boston) and Prime (Seattle) events. Origins focuses on miniatures wargames and boardgames with 12,902 unique attendees in 2014,[2] but also has a large component of RPG and CCG players. DragonCon is an example of a large convention with a focus on popular culture and comics that includes a large gaming contingent and 35,000-40,000 attendees, but isn't dedicated solely as a gaming convention.

Events[]

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

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

Open gaming goes on throughout any such convention, and it is common that all seating in common areas will be taken by people playing pick-up games. Pick-up gaming is not 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.

References[]

External links[]