A look at gaming and it's role at Dragon*Con 2009

[scifiblogger.livejournal.com]

Gaming is a Dragon*Con staple, and has probably been part of the convention for most if not all of it's 23 years to date. But, it was only two years ago that the MMO panel broke out on it's own. I know that last year, a number of the panels were standing room only, with some even being moved to a large ballroom and even almost filling that. This year, the panels also were also very well attended, particularly those that included Felicia Day talking about The Guild. Unfortunately, I did not get to attend every Warcraft-related event, but the ones I did attend were outstanding.  One of the best events of the weekend for all gamers was the live-action questing, sponsored by Questgivers.

Full gaming recap blog at http://www.roddenberry.com/communityblogs/index/detail?id=422

Comments

Gaming

[letsgomental.livejournal.com]

for the past few years, I have found gaming to be one of the worst things about DC. Maybe the online stuff is good. I don't do online gaming so I don't know, but overall the gaming (or lack thereof) is horrible.
What DC needs to do is run a gaming flea market like every other gaming convention does. Where people can bring their old gaming stuff and buy/sell/trade it with other like-minded folks. It was mentioned in the past and all I heard was "it would compete with the dealers room". Well to whom it may concern, there are only a few dealers who sell any sort of gaming stuff and Im pretty sure that a few of us having an after dealers room hours flea market wouldnt be competing with anyone.
DC also needs to get more gaming companies to set up booths, whether in the dealers room or in the gaming area itself.....they ahve that one shop that sells Magic cards and heroclix, why not get more?
Also, the gaming area needs to be policed better by staff/security. If it's going to stay open all night for gaming, which I wholeheartedly support, then have DC staff "patrol" the area for people using the area as a hotel room, to keep some of the less courteous attendees from swearing and using profanity at the tops of their voices,etc. Try explaining to a 10 yr old why the game is being disrupted by drunken idiots screaming the "F" word and "sh*t" every other word.....I like late night gaming, but I hate that my con experience is ruined by those who choose to use the gaming area as sleeping quarters.

Re: Gaming

[vaklam.livejournal.com]

Arc Dream Publishing had a booth in the Exhibitors' hall. I would also like to see more gaming companies in the dealers' area and I'm glad more of them are showing up. Arc Dream also ran demos throughout the con so the game company presence is growing, if slowly. If there's a company you'd like to see at the con, contact them and see if they can make it. They might not have thought of trying to show at D*C.

My experience in the gaming room was different from yours. Maybe I got lucky with the areas I was in but I spent about half the con down there and I didn't encounter the drunken idiots. Gaming was my favorite part of the con this year but if I'd run into the jerks you did, that wouldn't have been the case.