TOPIC: Sad vibes: GenCon 2021

I was sad to learn months ago that TD wasn’t going to be at GenCon this year. But wow, it sure was the right call!

I’m at GenCon now and just felt the need to report for those who decided to skip it. You are not missing much. It’s not the same GenCon this year. The atmosphere is pretty somber and quiet. The halls feel empty and just kind of lifeless. It doesn’t have the lovable, crazy energy that it did before. And with all the restrictions in place, TD just wouldn’t have worked.

The best analogy I heard for it was in comparing GenCon to Christmas. And this year it feels like Christmas with no batteries. Things are there, but without the light and energy that makes them truly fun.

My best friends are there now. One has been sending me pictures. I am sad and conflicted. I want to be there, but finances and everything prevents it.
Oh, for the Earth-That-Was.

raptorov wrote: My best friends are there now. One has been sending me pictures. I am sad and conflicted. I want to be there, but finances and everything prevents it.
Oh, for the Earth-That-Was.

A few of my friends are there, and even though TD isn’t, I would like to be there with them. But same as you, finances are an issue, as well as my wife’s needs. But I am hoping to have some money for a one day trip to GameHole.

I am beyond sad right now

Adeya wrote: I was sad to learn months ago that TD wasn’t going to be at GenCon this year. But wow, it sure was the right call!

I’m at GenCon now and just felt the need to report for those who decided to skip it. You are not missing much. It’s not the same GenCon this year. The atmosphere is pretty somber and quiet. The halls feel empty and just kind of lifeless. It doesn’t have the lovable, crazy energy that it did before. And with all the restrictions in place, TD just wouldn’t have worked.

The best analogy I heard for it was in comparing GenCon to Christmas. And this year it feels like Christmas with no batteries. Things are there, but without the light and energy that makes them truly fun.

Well I just got in an hour ago. And I brought the batteries!! I'm pumped!!! If the Con is dead then by God I'm going to pump some life into this thing tomorrow somehow. I'll get this bad boys heart beating again even if it kills me. It's been tooooo long since I've been down here and now that I'm back I'm going to kick this thing in it's ass if it needs it. GEEENNN COOOOONNNNN!!!!!!!!!

Sad to hear, hopefully it will get back to it's old self next year. Still gotta start somewhere I suppose.

I'm doing some virtual events to night so I'll play some ambient crowd noises on YouTube, look at old busy pictures, and pretend its already back to bustling.

Seriously though take some pics, odds are in a few years no on will belive how empty it was.

Rob F wrote:

Adeya wrote: I was sad to learn months ago that TD wasn’t going to be at GenCon this year. But wow, it sure was the right call!

I’m at GenCon now and just felt the need to report for those who decided to skip it. You are not missing much. It’s not the same GenCon this year. The atmosphere is pretty somber and quiet. The halls feel empty and just kind of lifeless. It doesn’t have the lovable, crazy energy that it did before. And with all the restrictions in place, TD just wouldn’t have worked.

The best analogy I heard for it was in comparing GenCon to Christmas. And this year it feels like Christmas with no batteries. Things are there, but without the light and energy that makes them truly fun.

Well I just got in an hour ago. And I brought the batteries!! I'm pumped!!! If the Con is dead then by God I'm going to pump some life into this thing tomorrow somehow. I'll get this bad boys heart beating again even if it kills me. It's been tooooo long since I've been down here and now that I'm back I'm going to kick this thing in it's ass if it needs it. GEEENNN COOOOONNNNN!!!!!!!!!

Gods, your positivity is amazing.

Picture of empty hallway not likely to give sense. I avoid crowds at Gen Con anyway, but feels like less than 5000 people based on how few I see. Weirdly, so far just upside for me as I have all my regular stuff, only stuck in ICC rather than hotel conference room.

I saw some video of the opening of vendor hall. Looked like a large number. Nothing like last GC but more than 5k based on that

I received two badges in the mail that I didn't order... and I'm not there. I still can't get in touch with customer support. I hope I can still roll them into 2022 badges.

I drove past the Convention Center today, and I only saw a handful of attendees outside, far fewer than I'd normally see. We played Magic at the Sheraton all day yesterday, and there were only a couple of groups of gamers there, less than 10 gamers total.

I watched a video last night for the launch of the Stargate RPG at GenCon. While it was nowhere close to a normal GenCon crowd, they showed a decent size conference room with a dozen or so tables. Each table looked full of players. I suspect that by most Con standards, the attendance this year would be considered high. It just seems small because the convention center and surrounding area can easily accommodate 80k people.