TOPIC: GenCon Housing - Anyone in yet?

Wow. Just read in the forums that there was a bug in the system. Anyone who bought a badge after housing registration started got let straight into the housing registration site. Ouch! Not sure how many people took advantage of it since almost everyone prepared in advance. But that is one major bug.

Haven't seen Gen Con confirm this bug, but saw it posted in the forum and on facebook.

It wouldn't be Gen Con if there wasn't some sort of major bug or problem.

Larry Anthony wrote: but maybe TD at Origins would make for a better fit?

I would LOVE to see TD come to Origins. There is plenty of exhibition hall space there, and TD would be a major boost to a convention that could use some help pulling in the numbers. Just look at how much WYC grew with a limited version of TD there last year.

My friends and I have been talking about this for the last few years, too ("is GenCon getting too big--especially for Indy"). After this latest mess, I'm about done, as well. I will be looking at attending Comic-con (SD or NY) next year instead--which would make this our last year of True Dungeon, as well, if we take that route.

I love GenCon. I've been every year except one (the year my son was born) since the move to Indy.

I really love True Dungeon. It's one of the main reasons I attend each year, and has been one of my primary hobbies year-round for the past 5-6 years.

Indianapolis is one of my favorite cities. I've been to every state but two, and have visited every major city in the US--and Indy ranks within the top 2-3 for me.

All that said--I'm not sure it's all worth it anymore. I didn't really enjoy the exhibit hall last year because it's gotten so crowded, and now the housing shortage in Indy is becoming a major issue. I may have a change of heart by this time next year--but GenCon LLC will have to make some major changes before badges go on sale for that to happen.

If True Dungeon maintains an official/unofficial exclusive relationship with GenCon I think the two parties need to figure out how to let the TD event start early or go late. People that just want to attend TD could avoid the bulk of the crowds then.

I went to New York Comic Con for the first time in 2014. It's packed - vendor hall (and often the outer hallways too) so crowded you can't even move. I doubt I will return.

Kirk Bauer wrote: If True Dungeon maintains an official/unofficial exclusive relationship with GenCon I think the two parties need to figure out how to let the TD event start early or go late. People that just want to attend TD could avoid the bulk of the crowds then.

Times or days.
If days not going to happen. It takes 3 days just to set up.

Adeya wrote: I went to New York Comic Con for the first time in 2014. It's packed - vendor hall (and often the outer hallways too) so crowded you can't even move. I doubt I will return.

Yeah, I've heard that, too. My thought is that if I'm going to be claustrophobic, I might as well try something new. I've not heard of any major hotel/housing issues with those cons, though--the cities are large enough that it becomes a non-issue.

SageSTL wrote:

Adeya wrote: I went to New York Comic Con for the first time in 2014. It's packed - vendor hall (and often the outer hallways too) so crowded you can't even move. I doubt I will return.

Yeah, I've heard that, too. My thought is that if I'm going to be claustrophobic, I might as well try something new. I've not heard of any major hotel/housing issues with those cons, though--the cities are large enough that it becomes a non-issue.

True - NYC is big enough to house everyone. And as long as you are prepared for the crowds at the Con, you can still enjoy it. I get claustrophobic in crowds too, so I didn't walk through the vendor hall as much as I would have liked to. Still it wasn't as bad as PAX East (another over-crowded Con). But there's no TD at NYCC.

Ended up with a three + hour wait for hotel room and get rewarded with nothing available. Still holding out to see if we can find anything near the hall but it looks like staying 15 miles out and commuting in each day.

San Diego's housing problems might be worse. The housing block is around $300 a night downtown and if you book outside the block it's $700 a night and some people are willing to pay it.

Hotel Registration is first come first served, but if filling out the 6 page form takes more than a minute and a half you wont' be getting a room downtown. All hotels sell out in a matter of about 5-10 minutes and that's not just downtown.

Also, if you haven't gone the previous year, chances of going are around 10%, as their badge registration process is random and around 10x the number of people want to go as they can accommodate. Of course, once you do go, you're sort of trapped as previous years attendees are eligible for preregistration where you have a little better than 50/50 chance of getting a badge. No one wants to give up that advantage. But previous year's attendees are given no advantage when it comes to hotels.

All that said, if you do manage to get badges and a hotel it's one of the most awesome cons to experience. Just totally different from Gen con.

I wonder how much money Gen Con would lose if people were able to get rooms before or with their badges. Oh look there's nothing available.....guess I'm not going this year. Anyone know about the return policy on badges?