Want to know what’s on the minds of an estimated 28,000-plus gaming enthusiasts who are descending upon Indianapolis this week for another week of cards, costumes and castles?
Just look at Twitter.
Both guests and exhibitors are using the keyword #GenCon as a unified way to communicate via the social media website.
Here’s a Tweet you’ll find today from @gazerrant : “Today’s itinerary: pack for #GenCon, make characters, chem class, fly to Indianapolis, drink at Scotty’s, and game game game game game!”
And Shoshanna Bauer of Champaign, Ill., aka @GamerChick2010 : “Now to pack and get ready for #Gencon. I’m so excited!!!”
Gen Con Indy, officially running Thursday through Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center, is billed as the original, longest-running gaming convention in the world.
Even the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is getting involved: The ISO will present “Video Games Live” at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday. Music from video games, including “Mario,” “Zelda,” “Halo,” “Final Fantasy,” “Tomb Raider” and others, will be featured.
Gen Con, based in Seattle, drew a headcount of 27,900 from Aug. 13-16 2009, despite the recession, affirming its status as one of Indianapolis’ largest conventions.
Gen Con, in its 42nd year, has been held in the city since 2003 and will continue to be here through 2015.
Attendees include hobby gamers and science fiction fans from across the Midwest.
Many of them are known for donning wild, elaborate costumes and staying up all night to play card and table games with friends and strangers.
But there’s no fantasy about its economic impact: about $26.9 million in direct visitor spending.
Representatives from Florida-based On The Lamb Games are Tweeting about the arrival to Indianapolis: “In the exhibitor hall, setting up. This is our first time to gencon, and I’m already amazed at all the awesome stuff.”
On the Lamb promises that for people who stop by the booth, “You’ll not only get to try out Brushfire, but you’ll also be able to see previews of September’s Devon Brigadiers, Gopher Engineers, Otter Ashigaru, and October’s Hamster Berserkers.”
Freelance digital animator Mary Varn of Brooklyn, N.Y. (she is the brains behind NPC , the comic about gamer cats and geeky girls) is coming, but as a guest, not a guest of honor.
“I’m just attending, not exhibiting, so no merch/strips on hand, sorry!” she Tweeted on her handle, @maryvarn.
On the website io9 , Terry Hope Romero writes that Gen Con is the springboard for the RPG industry to debut hot new games for the year and increasingly it’s become a magnet for sci-fi and anime fandom and aspiring fantasy/horror/sci-fi authors. “Gen Con gets its share of celebrity faces , but what I like best is that it’s still a fan-driven con with the main event (the gaming) provided by the gamers themselves. If you’re off to Indy this week you may already have a schedule bursting with pickings from 6,000 events (sleep will happen next week).”
Minneapolis game-design gurus Steve Charbonneau and Steven Ellis posed for pictures near the #gencon Beholder icon monster, located in the Indiana Convention Center.
“I wish I had a toothbrush,” Charbonneau said as he felt the white dagger-like teeth of the Beholder, a fictional character central to the role-playing game Dungeons&Dragons.
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