While board games are at the heart of Gen Con, our annual convention offers up so much more for the hungry, nerdy soul. This blog post is now the sixth in our series featuring all things beyond games at Gen Con.
Today, this post focuses on the experiences of Renee from Honest and Unbiased, a novice gamer and dedicated mother.
Gen Con… where do we start? Where does anyone start at Gen Con? First, let’s start with Gen Con is two words, ha!
Alright, alright, Hey! I’m Renee with Honest and Unbiased and I am not a hardcore gamer. I am one of the most unlikely people to go to a convention like Gen Con. The only thing I knew going in, is that Gen Con is the biggest game convention in North America and that in and of itself, is enough to pique my interest.
With that said, here’s a real list of things I didn’t know:
I didn’t know games were for everyone. I didn’t know that Gen Con was family friendly. I didn’t know that Gen Con had a deep sense of trying to encourage people from all backgrounds and communities to come together and play games. And most of all, I didn’t know that Gen Con was for someone like me.
I am a regular stay at home mom/content creator, who knows little about games. Last year, during my first visit, I expected to see groups of people who didn’t look like me. I worried about how I would fit it. I was there alone and had this goal of meeting with vendors to showcase their businesses.
I had a slow start because I didn’t know where to begin. Walking in, there was a sea of people and white noise as people played at tables. I moved to the vendor hall, spoke with lots of vendors, talked about games and learned that people behind the booths, are regular people, who just want you to play their games. Eventually, I met strangers and was invited to play “Werewolf.”
I checked out game rooms and walked around to find things that were familiar to me. I shot interviews, I asked questions and by the end of it, I felt incredibly comfortable which made it a no brainer to come back this year, albeit more prepared.
This year, I had the unique privilege and opportunity to be part of the Gen Con social media take over team. I made short clips and videos with my POV that showcased Gen Con to anyone who has never been there. I did my best to show my favorite parts and did my best to include things that were not solely games because Gen Con is not just games.
Ultimately, I made it my goal to do as many non game things and just look around. I didn’t do nearly as many interviews as I did last year but said hello to the vendors I’d gotten to know and felt at ease walking around and exploring. It was a great easy visit. And I might still be exhausted.
Somethings that I felt I missed out on last year that really made me want to plan for this year, are places, rather than games. Lucus Oil Stadium; This is a far walk. Getting the hang of the convention center is a doozy. You’ll need time to walk all the way from the main floor to Lucus Oil Stadium. It’s anywhere from a 10-15 minute walk, with crowds. There are a ton of stairs and it is a little confusing in the beginning.
For all it is, I love that I can sign up to play games that haven’t been released yet or are in the early stages of release. This area is different from the vendor hall because you’re playing the games instead of standing at a table with people doing a quick demo who are trying to sell you a game. I loved talking about the process of games and learning from the designers. One of the coolest things about Gen Con is that in a lot of instances, you get to meet the people who have designed these games.
These people know the ins and out of how to play, simply because they made them and that includes the rules that you might have questions about. A lot of people who are new to publishing have their friends teach their games and play games in shifts with complete strangers who have signed up to play. It’s so community driven. I love that people show up for their friends to support their games in this way. It’s such a gift to see it in person.
Next place to visit and accidentally find like I did is the Food Trucks. I really wanted to find the food trucks last year but spent a good amount of time lost and getting to know the lay of the land. This year, while I found them, I only stopped at them for a moment to grab some tacos and then continued walking to Lucus Oil. I still wish I had more time to walk around the food truck area and still feel like I missed out. A few words of advice, take cash, take a card, be patient and pace yourself.
These food trucks were busy and there is a lot to try, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Things can add up quickly and it’s probably a better idea if you want to try more, to bring friends. I ended up handing off half of my tacos to a friend and left too full and tired, to try more. The lines for some trucks were longer than others and there is a lot of food to try. It was a good experience. I miss my tacos, I’m sad I didn’t try the pizza or burgers but I can’t wait to go back next year.
On the second floor there are a bunch of rooms that have panels but there is one that I need to mention, that you can play games in. I spent a good deal of time at the BIPOC Lounge which I didn’t even know existed until I was invited by Kervin Queliza of For Why Games. He invited me to play his new game Marsh Hallow. He was running his game, which is in it’s final phase of art completion, and wanted to include different groups of people, who have had different experiences to get their real feedback.
Different eyes offer different perspectives but there is also a level of camaraderie knowing that the people in this room may have had similar experiences to mine. It meant a lot to me that I, a Latina woman, could have a voice, would be able to ask questions and offer input on a game that someone who has had similar experiences as me, is creating. The room was chill. People were respectful. Staff was welcoming and for once, I felt seen and most of all, safe.
Last year was a whirlwind and this year seemed to go just as fast. Over the last year I had the time to follow people online and start making small friendships, which made my visit easier. I didn’t feel so alone knowing I had friends playing in all parts of the convention and I would meet these friends for dinner, to play games and then we’d split and go do our own things. There are moments of loneliness in the seas of people walking past.
It’s easy to get lost and if you’re sensitive to sights, sounds, smells, or touch, it can feel overwhelming. I tried to move slowly to touch fewer people passing me but there were plenty of moments where I felt like a sardine among the moving crowds.
There was even a moment of panic as I stand at 4’11 among so many arm pits but I learned quick and took breaks. I rested. I changed my clothing. I left and came back. I sat on the floor against one of the many walls in the halls and just charged my phone. I ate a snacks. I put on headphones and I took some time to be alone, as I walked in the crowds. If you don’t have a lot of friends, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or lost. But if you’re brave enough, you can sit at nearly any table, ask to play a game and join a community of people who will welcome you with open arms because they just want to play a game with you.
Let me assure you, if the food trucks didn’t entice you enough, Gen Con is community. The feeling you are left with when you leave Gen Con is worth it’s weight in gold. Never have I ever felt that longing for a community of strangers turned friends and an experience of games, learning, supporting and an overall good time, as this year at Gen Con. And again, I can’t wait to go back next year.
Want more Gen Con content? Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.