Talk:Gaming convention

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[edit] Video Game Conventions?

I noticed a few conventions on this list that are definitely video game conventions (Blizzcon, E3, Tokyo Game Show) and I'm suspicious there are probably others, since I am not familiar with every gaming convention out there. Do these belong on this list? The paragraph at the top discusses hobby gaming, with no mention of video gaming. Perhaps there should be a separate list and/or page for video game conventions, since they are really quite different from the hobby gaming/boardgaming/rpg conventions?

I agree that splitting them off would be a good idea. If it helps, video gaming conventions have been sorted into at least two separate Categories: computer and video game trade shows and LAN parties. --Parody 22:52, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like better pointers, or perhaps a disambiguation note at the top of the page, would be a good idea. Jiawen 06:55, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

Splitting video gaming conventions and hobby conventions is not actually a good idea: almost all sizable hobby conventions have a video game room or five, and I imagine there is a lot of crossover the other way too. --User:Downtown_dan_seattle 22:15, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

I agree with splitting them off. While gaming conventions may well have a video game room and/or LAN-party set up, computer/videogame trade shows don't have wargaming, RPG or LARP rooms - there might be the odd exception (I'm sure Blizzard will be pushing the Warcraft CCG at the next Blizzcon) but they're very much the exception rather than the norm. Bastun 11:15, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

I think the important thing to consider when pigeonholing a convention/trade show/other gathering is the primary emphasis of the event. For example, Con of the North has three computer game rooms/areas: a small, semi-modern PC room; a Crossfire room; and a Midimaze setup. However, very few (if any) people who go to CotN would think of it as a video game convention; RPGs, miniatures, and board games are the main activities. Thus it's only a gaming convention. Gen Con Indy has a video game room and some vendors, but it's tiny compared to everything else that happens there. (We'll see what happens next year, though.)

Similarly, many science fiction conventions have gaming in one form or another, but nobody thinks of them as gaming conventions. If they do truly give gaming equal footing with panels, partying, and everything else then they should be "promoted" to multigenre conventions.

Penny Arcade Expo is often used as an example of a video game trade show/gaming convention. There's only one event listed on their website, so I'm not sure how big non-video gaming is compared to everything else that goes on there. (The forums have some picture links, so there is some non-video gaming going on.) Regardless, there's no reason why it or any similar exception couldn't have both categories. -- Parody 06:43, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

One more thing: Gamer and Talk:Gamer might be interesting reading. The current Gamer article is completely oriented towards video gaming, while many gamers only think of the term as applying towards non-video gaming or their own favorite game type. -- Parody 07:05, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Locale-based list

I think the list of cons is already getting too long. I think we should either replace it with one organized by locale (for the US, by state), or add such a list and keep the current list for cross-reference. Jiawen 06:57, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

Sorting into locales is a very good idea. Subsorting by general time of the year would be useful too. Is it time to promote the list to its own page? -- Parody 17:27, 21 September 2006 (UTC)