WOW. GenCon files for Chapter 11!

[thewayne]

The biggest game convention in the US in trouble? Not good. Hopefully they can reorg and be solvent again.

http://archive.gamespy.com/comics/dorktower/archive.asp?nextform=viewrambling&id=532

Comments

[deborak]

I just wonder when cons are going to buy a clue and increase their profitability by allowing subscription to events that are better experienced "virtually" than in person. Panels, for example. Wouldn't it be great to have a nice view of the panelists in a live streaming broadcast rather than craning your neck to see and straining your ears to hear over the roar from the back row of a packed room? I'd pay a prorated "virtual" membership to San Diego Comic Con, for example, which is miserable now to try and attend in person.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

You could also attend multiple cons in a weekend. Telepresence would be cool. The bandwidth costs for a good convention could be prohibitive, that could be ameliorated with making the panels downloadable streams rather than live streams, because then you could use Bit Torent or something like it. But then you'll have the problem of people skilled enough to run the computer equipment for each panel.

[deborak]

Well, there's still Origins. I never went to a GenCon. I hope they are successful in turning things around.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

I believe they are the same company now: I think they merged in the last decade or so.

[deborak]

No, ORIGINS is owned and run by GAMA. ORIGINS used to be run by Wizards of the Coast up to a couple of years ago.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

Ah, right you are. I'd forgotten about the TSR/GenCon -> WotC relationship.