"Are We Now Looking at the End of Gaming Conventions?" Topic

A lot of people tell me (I'm a vendor) that they really like seeing products in person. I don't think conventions are dead (yet).

You know, when this first came up, I asked what a "meaningful" meeting was or how one measured "meaning" in this context. Still waiting for an answer.

The big convention isn't dead because the size is itself an attraction: the bigger the con, the more stuff you've never seen before in both the vendors hall and the flea market, the wider the selection of games, lectures and classes--and the more friends you haven't seen lately. The alternative is the specialist convention on the SYWA or Joy of Six model, which only does one thing, but does it thoroughly. But since the government has banned both the 3,000+ and the 100+ models, we're not obliged to choose.

I may do my own SYWA solovention again come April.

No, no plague being it the Black plague or Covid-19 lasts forever.

HMGS is always bragging about cash reserves.
I really don't see any conventions in 2021.
Let's see if their reserves will set them up re-start business in 2022. Having said that, I'm not driving much more than 2 hours solo at my age.

All I can really say is "Wait and see."

There's a host of factors that will affect the convention scene. Vendors, Quality of games, quantity of games, flea market, chance to learn new rules, chance to play in person with your Zoom group, and more.

Winter conventions may take a little longer to get going, regional cons won't get people coming in from out of the region but may make it up with locals who opt out of the bigger cons.

Something could happen that we haven't really considered.

I think John's right with "wait and see"

Actually, I think there will be a real surge of interest when Shows come back, and it may be hard for some of us that have been traditional supporters of events to get our tables booked if we aren't quick. Visitors numbers might still be suppressed for a while – but I expect those to trends to reverse as we move towards the new normal.

What will be the new normal? In Europe, I think it will be the era of the middle-sized more 'local' event as the emphasis shifts from shopping to participation (as shopping goes on line). This is, of course, back to where we were 30 years ago.

Phil

I have every confidence that miniature wargaming conventions will resume. The longer the pause, the more they will have changed--probably in the direction of franchise games, science fiction and fantasy. That's the direction they were headed in when everything shut down.

As for the glorified club open day--no. Not for me. I'll travel a day for a convention of 1,000+ or a specialist convention in a period I favor, but none of the "small, local, meaningful" people have given me any reason to kill a weekend and a ton of money to find out whether there was any reason to attend.

This is a "blip" – a very deadly blip that is disrupting our lives but a blip nonetheless.

Wargame Shows (like theatre, cinema and live music) will come back – and once I'm vaccinated I'm at the front of the queue to get in.

Like John said, wait and see.