Once again this year, my wife and I decided it best to skip Gen Con to protect her health. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a threat and being in a crowd of over 50,000 people from around the world did not seem the safest option for us. I experienced so much FOMO while watching many of my friends and game industry people posting about their Gen Con 2022 experiences. I love Gen Con for the experience and seeing friends from all over the world I only get to see once a year.
So, to have my own little celebration this year I followed the example of one my my former college roommates who did his own online and local shopping and gaming experiences as a GenCant. My in-laws gifted me with a caregiver respite day, a day where I can set aside my duties as a caregiver for a day knowing my wife is safe and taken care of so I can clear my mind and have a break. So thankful to them for this give. I used the day as a pandemic safe, Gen Con replacement, geek day traveling around a nearby town with a friend.
My friend and I had a blast going to the Book Center to be overwhelmed by all the used books and comics, having a great lunch at the Elm Street Brewing Co which was a new place for both of us, enjoying more comics at Ah Yeah Comics, perusing the ttrpgs and board games at Wizards Keep, gift shopping at Hobby Lobby, seeing a movie in a theater for the first time in three years (Top Gun: Maverick which has been in theaters for a while and had less than 10 people in the theater), experiencing the insanity of Ollie’s Good Stuff Cheap for the fist time to purchase board games at crazy discounted prices, and ending the day with an outside dinner at Panda Express before heading for home.
Next year, Angie and I are considering attending Origins Game Fair rather than Gen Con. Origins is a much smaller event (though still around 20,000 attendees) and has large space. Our daughter attended this year and really enjoyed it. Friends of ours have been recommending we consider it as being more wheelchair accessible for Angie. It also occurs in June which is a better time of the year for us based on work schedules for our family.
Do you attend Gen Con, Origins, or other major geeky convention each year? Why do you like it?
My GenCan’t day haul for those interested. Maybe not as exciting as a Gen Con haul but still some fun items that were definitely much cheaper than my normal Gen Con purchases.
I attend Origins every year in addition to Gencon, and I love it. It’s no Gencon, but it’s a big enough convention that draws players from across the country and wide range of exhibitors. And it just feels fun to play games there (just less intense than Gencon). The Exhibit Hall is good (this year still obviously feeling the effects of the pandemic, but pretty good) and this year I was able to try out and buy Ark Nova, Watergate and Reality Shift. Over the years I’ve been able to talk to designers and authors: Sandy Peterson, Julie Ahern (who memorably demoed a game for my then-13-year-old son), Stephen Bouonocore, Uwe Eickert (who gave my son soccer tips), the Steamforged principals (more soccer tips) and a bunch of Chaosium guys. I once saw Eric Lang (I’m not worthy).
I have no experience with accessibility concerns, but I think your friends are correct. The Columbus Convention Center has a simpler layout than the Indianapolis and smaller crowds make the main concourse easier to move through.
It’s no exaggeration to say that my best memories of gaming are mostly from Origins, thanks to just the sheer wonderfulness of the attendees my son and I have met and gamed with.
I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about Origins.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with Origins. We are looking forward to our first visit to Origins in 2023. If you have recommendations for where to eat while at Origins, let us know.