August 12, 2024: Gen Con Means Community

What makes Gen Con such a magical event? What is it about the" Best Four Days In Gaming" that draws people from all over the world? Why is it so important for so many?

 

Trying to explain Gen Con to people outside the gaming community can be a challenge. And to be fair, it can sound a little absurd – over 70,000 people converging on a Midwestern city to sit at tables and play games 24/7. But Gen Con is more than games, and I'm not just talking about the dances, shows, and costume contests. 

 

Gen Con is a community in both a metaphorical and literal sense. For four days, the Indianapolis Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and surrounding hotels essentially become their own temporary city with a population that matches (and even outpaces) numerous communities throughout the USA. But beyond sheer numbers, it's a community in the sense that it's a group of people who share the same passions, feel the same emotions, and care about each other. I heard countless stories at Gen Con where people recounted stories of compassion, kindness, and shared joy. The gaming community isn't perfect – no group of humans is – but for four days every summer, Gen Con becomes a place where people can belong no matter where they're from, who they are, who they love, or how they look. It's a place where empathy is the norm and excitement is on full display. The overarching rule at Gen Con is the Golden one – be good to each other. It's pretty amazing to see that rule in effect over and over again during the course of the event. 

 

So why do people come back to Indianapolis for Gen Con every year? I think it's because there's nothing better than sharing happiness with others. What do you think?

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