While board games are at the heart of Gen Con, our annual convention offers up so much more for the hungry, nerdy soul. We’re introducing a new blog series for you, featuring all things beyond games at Gen Con.
Today, Alex from Bored Board Games gives us the top five reasons she continues to come back to Gen Con.
I hate heat and humidity. I hate long flights. So, the combination of both of those makes a trip in the middle of summer to Indianapolis sound like my nightmare. Yet, it continues to be one of my most anticipated weekends of the year. There are some pretty great conventions across the country (and frankly, the world), but there are several reasons why Gen Con is my non-negotiable trip every year. With each year that passes, I feel like I learn more about the industry and get newly inspired to dive back into game content creation. Here are my top five reasons why I go back to Gen Con every year.
5. First looks and firsthand experiences
The weeks leading up to Gen Con are some of the most exciting to be online. The Board Game Geek list is constantly updating with new titles being announced, the first looks at games drop, and I can hardly wait to see the booth designs or experiences announced at Gen Con. The way that publishers show up and show out for Gen Con is so amazing. I love seeing the pin designs, the staff shirts, the booth layouts, all themed around some incredible new game titles that drop at Gen Con. Being able to see games online is obviously how most of us make purchase decisions, but when you can feel the quality of components or look at that art up close? Nothing compares. I love the chance to demo and take-home games, sometimes before they’re available anywhere else. It’s so fun to feel like you’re one of the first people outside of the studio to experience that game, and I think so many companies do a great job of keeping that excitement going when you make it to Gen Con!
4. Do You Know How Hard It Is to Film Content by Yourself?
Seriously, it’s both embarrassing and difficult to capture content solo. All those couple reviewers have the right idea. At Gen Con, it is so easy to collab with my creator friends. Creating video content wasn’t something I grew up doing or something that comes naturally. I kind of had to teach myself a lot, but when I am at Gen Con, I am surrounded by friends with the same niche interest and content creation style as me. Need a mic? Your friend can recommend one. Editing question? There’s like four people who can help. A human steady cam? Call Chuck, he’s ready. I really feel lucky to have this time to collaborate with other people in my field, and I feel like that’s the case for everyone at Gen Con. Whether you’re running a booth or playtests, there’s other people there for the exact same reason and it’s comforting to be able to have reliable friends there!
3. The Events
Every year, I hit up the Charity Board Gamer meetup and Dexterity Gauntlet challenge. It’s consistently my favorite event of the con, and not because I ever do well on the dexterity events. It’s this incredibly low stress, high fun event where everyone I have seen all con long working their butts off let loose, play some ridiculous games, and support a great charity cause. I almost always lose my voice from the talking and yelling and laughing that happens on this night, because it is SO special!
I think that Gen Con provides many amazing events like this that quickly become your highlight of the convention. The emphasis is first on FUN and COMMUNITY and it really shines with the programming that Gen Con offers. If you usually walk the floors and demo games, don’t forget to check out what nightly events are offered. You may just find your favorite con tradition.
2. The Creative Opportunities
This year at Gen Con, one of my highlights was participating in a Live Show. I had such a blast with the It’s Kind of a Fun Story team playing their game in front of a live audience. Last year, I got to be on a panel for the first time. Gen Con is a place where I feel really special just for being my authentic self. I am just a Normal Girl in my daily life. I work a 9-5, I pay my rent, I spend too much time photographing my cat.
But when I go to Gen Con, I get so many opportunities to interact with my community and perform and use my platform to grow creatively. Whether that means filming content for some of my favorite brands, meeting with their amazing marketing teams, or just getting to interact with folks face to face, the creative opportunities at Gen Con are truly immeasurable. It’s a place I make new connections and come up with some of my best content ideas, because it’s an environment that breeds creativity.
1. My People are There
My parents were pretty strict about internet access growing up, so I never really had “online friends” until I started my TikTok journey. I finally understood the pain of having friends in different time zones and trying to connect with them. But at Gen Con, for this one amazing weekend, I can catch up with these friends. Because we are so actively involved in each others’ comment sections and content creation, it feels like we jump right into the really deep parts of friendship when we are back together.
Even some of my best friends here in my hometown of Seattle are consistently highlights of my time at Gen Con. My buddy Ben and I hang out plenty in Seattle, but at Gen Con we take meetings together and introduce each other to new publishers and help each other grow and thrive. I have always loved friends like this, who look out for you and look for ways to help you succeed. At Gen Con, those are the people who show up. I am so grateful to have a place to go every year with so many inspiring, creative friends.
That’s why I keep going back to Gen Con, and why you should, too.
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