I decided to start my Gen Con report articles with a “What is Gen Con” first. It is doubtful that one person knows all the conventions, meetings, get-togethers, or other social gatherings related to games, comics, and the like.  Such a person if they exist would doubtful spend all their time reading schedules and programs and calendars and have little time for anything else.

Gen Con is a gaming convention in Indianapolis that is held each year in the later part of the summer. Tens of thousands of people go to the convention.  It’s huge.  There are scheduled events where people meet to play all manner of games.  There are panel discussions from authors, game designers, and others.  There is a costume parade, several dances, and movie screenings.  It lasts four days from Thursday to Sunday and there is something happening every hour from Thursday morning until Sunday afternoon.

The exhibit hall is enormous and filled with all sorts of vendor booths and demonstration areas.  Game companies show off new and soon to be released games and have games for sale.  Buying games a GenCon is a good idea as many companies include GenCon exclusive additions to games purchased at the con.  Dice makers, cos-play costumes, miniatures games, board games, card games, art, books, and various game accessories are sold.