Game conferences expand into E3 vacuum

Gen Con expands gaming focus, moves into LA Convention Center digs; Austin Game Conference to host largest show yet next month.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is downsizing, but it appears that other conferences are getting bigger. The 2006 Austin Game Conference will have more exhibitors and sponsors than ever before, while the Indianapolis Gen Con hobby game convention is increasing its focus on video games and relocating its satellite Gen Con So Cal show to better accommodate the gaming industry.

The Austin Game Conference organizers today said they have tallied a record 100 exhibitors and sponsors for the show, which will take place September 6-8 in the Austin Convention Center. This year's show, the first to be stretched out over three days, will also feature more than 100 speakers. The Casual Games Conference, Game Writers Conference, and Game Audio Conference will take place during the same span of time and share space in the convention center.

Also this week, Gen Con organizers announced that their hobby game conventions will step in to fill the void left by E3--literally. Gen Con So Cal 2006 is set for November 16-19 in Anaheim, California, but starting next year, the show is moving into the Los Angeles Convention Center, longtime home of E3.

"This move will better serve the entertainment industry, so prevalent in the gaming industry and more importantly make Gen Con more accessible to consumers who wish to see the latest and greatest in all things gaming," the company said in a statement.

As for its main show, the Indianapolis, Indiana-based Gen Con Indy, the 2006 edition of which kicks off today and runs through Sunday, it too is expanding. The company will add an extra 43,000 square feet of space for the 2007 show "in order to better accommodate the video game business."

For more information on the shows, check out the official Austin Game Conference and Gen Con Web sites.

44 Comments

  • louis_smith

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 6:12 pm PT

    Blahh!!!!!!!

  • alpha_company

    Posted Aug 13, 2006 12:24 am PT

    Woohoo! Duh

  • ZatchSora

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 10:33 pm PT

    where is it gonna take place the september 6-8 convention please do tell

  • mskittykat

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 1:55 pm PT

    Not a bad idea. It'll save them some money but allow accessability around the US. That's pretty good. I went to one of the Austin Conference's and this will definitely help bring in support and get industry questions answered.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 11:44 am PT

    i live pretty close to austin

  • eg_robomojo

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 8:36 am PT

    Has anyone thought to consider Penny Arcade's PAX? It's certainly popular among gamers and growing by the second as well.

  • 1SleepyGit

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 8:35 am PT

    @ DarknessOfFate1

    Why do you want people to go bankrupt? They made a choice based on what they thought was for the best for the industry, not best for you who has probable never been to one before anyway.

  • shasam712

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 6:38 am PT

    I still say that Leipzig could be the next E3, it can easily fill the boots of E3. But the main point is that we don't need a new E3, hence why E3 has changed the way it has...

  • DarknessOfFate1

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 3:21 am PT

    Thats great i hope everyopen involved in e3 goes bankrupt.

  • Kounji

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 2:21 am PT

    Hmm gen con becoming the new e3 I think that might work. Clumping it all together in one house will bring people from all different kinds of gaming backgrounds together. I'm optimistic and I think that if the gaming developers are in to it I think it can be extremely successful for bringing everyone all together. It'll be like comic-con for gaming( even if comic-con gathers game developers ( tabletop and video) ) And it'll get people to maybe embrace all forms of gaming and have a good time

  • ragin_massaih

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 2:15 am PT

    Who are these 100 exhibitors? Can't find guest list anywhere! Will there be any big announcements from market leaders ninty,sony,ms??? I did find this price list for floor space! http://community.gencon.com/files/17/smexhibitors/entry20541.aspx
    seems very cheap in comparison to E3 so that's gota be a good thing! This show from what i've read seems more geared towards comics, board gaming and card trading, rather than Video gaming. Can any1 give sum more info?? Also are gamespot going to be there 2get coverage on this?? Cheers Rage

  • dukerav

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 12:23 am PT

    Yep Gen-Con = E3 now, or so it seems.

  • evilmonkey998

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 11:28 pm PT

    sweet I live right next to Anaheim

  • Kn0w0ne

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 10:16 pm PT

    Someones gotta pick up the slack.
    How dissapointing E3.
    Shame on you.

  • chikahiro94

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 9:25 pm PT

    @ John_of_Fire
    "Too bad it is lumped in with all the other nerdom."
    You're posting a comment on a website dedicated to video games. Add that to your blog on said website and your gaming tastes, I think that puts you right into "nerdom" territory as far as non-gamers are concerned.

    I think adding video games to GenCon isn't a bad idea - most traditional gamers I know enjoy games of all kinds - tabletop RPGs, board games, strategy game, card games, video games, etc. Hope it does well by them, and that more video game players have positive experiences with other types of gaming.

  • John_of_Fire

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 8:46 pm PT

    Hopefully this fills the E3 void and being open to the public is a plus. Too bad it is lumped in with all the other nerdom. I thought we had escaped that.

  • gamer_10001

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 8:27 pm PT

    Gen Con, is it the new E3.

  • lunchboxer

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 8:15 pm PT

    why did e3 have to downsize??!!
    but i guess this is good news

  • Box29

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:57 pm PT

    "Great. More shows over on the left coast. Can't New York get any love?"

    Or perhaps can't any part of the East Coast get love?

  • Fallout_red

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:22 pm PT

    E3 downsize... BIG mistake.

  • kinncolts

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:34 pm PT

    can someone please make a game conference in the New York area...

  • enoslives7

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:21 pm PT

    good deal !!! Gencon is awesome.......

  • LexLas

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:10 pm PT

    Outstanding ! I hope it becomes as big as it can get. Cool.....

  • JPFUNG91

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:03 pm PT

    It maybe the new E3

  • UnnDunn

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 4:09 pm PT

    Great. More shows over on the left coast. Can't New York get any love?

  • CHAOSWEAV3R

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    Interesting. It's good atleast we're still having these conventions. Shame for E3 though. Hopefully they'll be public and will fill the void left by E3.
    Wait and see I guess.

  • hemakm3

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:48 pm PT

    Cool.

  • mat2g

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    Wow, that didn't take long. Better than nothing I suppose

  • GoddBless

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    Hey Halo2_Noradwhat's wrong with that. Hopefully that equals us getting flooded with more game news year round instead of just those 3 weeks in may.

  • Halo2_Norad

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:22 pm PT

    I don't like this. Now every convention is going to try to fill in the void. We are just going to get flooded with game conventions next year. Watch, maybe even the Fishing and RV show will have video game booths now. So sad...

  • remmbermytitans

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    hopefully all of these changes suck, and then next year they change back..... hopefully.

  • andersalsen

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:14 pm PT

    This is just normal. One thing gets smaller, other things takes it's place.

    And I think it's only for the good. Hope these conferences will be as good as E3 was at it's best.

  • mcgrawgamer

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:05 pm PT

    This could go either way. I guess we will have to wait until september to really know if this is a bad thing or not.

  • mzaite

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 2:44 pm PT

    Well I know Gen Con certainly is. But it's way to many things. In my opinion this is a step backward for video games to be lumped back into games instead of developing into their own mature medium.
    Who wants to go to a video game con and have to put up with painted face LARPers and spaz children with filthy fists full of Magic cards. It's less good not more.

  • LoserMike

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 2:16 pm PT

    The most important thing to ask is: Are they open to the public?

  • WolfSkill5544

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 2:10 pm PT

    Excellent.

  • sharder1234

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    Wow! This is exciting.

  • syxpack

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    Man I wish I could quote my comment from the "e3 is going small" news.

    Basically it was something along the lines of something else will take it's place.

    Bingo.

    If that's the only time I'm going to hit the nail on the head in my life, I might as well enjoy it.

  • rocklegacy2

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 2:03 pm PT

    I guess it's not that bad.

  • dadistiller

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    maybe gen con might take e3's place if they start pumpin the video games, then that might show everyone that downsizing was a bad idea

  • Dolacide

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    E3 will still be the place to get all the info.

  • Z_Saber

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    I wonder what the ESA is thinking about this. They decide to shrink their convention, and everyone else gets bigger. Who's doing it right?

  • slyfoxmccloud

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • slyfoxmccloud

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:51 pm PT

    E3 may have got a tad smaller . but the BIG spirit will always stay skrong.
    ha ha the crapiest line ever got to be #1 baby !!!!!!!!!!

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