GenCon: 2021 Pandemic Edition
Oh, GenCon. Why are you so very weird and wonderful? Why does walking into each convention feel like coming home?
If you've never been to a convention for one of your passions before, I highly recommend experiencing it at least once. A space filled with people celebrating the same weird wonderful things you like is a thing to behold. I think my favorite thing about GenCon is the energy you feel when you're there. All these people have gathered from near and far to celebrate play. It's just such a happy vibe.
When I decided to risk it and go to GenCon this year, I didn't know what to expect. With the pandemic taking its toll on our country, I had concerns. How would it be run? What precautions were in place? Would it still feel like GenCon?
I am so pleased to say that GenCon delivered. There was a mask mandate, and more often than not the con-goers complied. There were still game demos and events, but perhaps fewer interactive spaces on the vendor floor. Fewer businesses and groups showed up than prior years, deciding not to risk it, but enough showed up to fill the space and bring that GenCon vibe. Interestingly, because of the decrease in attendees, the convention felt more intimate. I really felt like we had time to have conversations that we wouldn't have been able to have at a GenCon packed to bursting.
I was super relieved and happy to see that the renowned Game Library was back this year. I had been worried it would be something lost to COVID. Not only was it back, but it was relocated from Lucas Oil Stadium to a large space within the convention center. Honestly, I loved the new location and the layout. It felt less haphazard and was a lot easier to get to.
One thing I didn't see, which made me a little sad, was an Artemis play space. It definitely could have been there and I just missed it, I admit. Previously, Artemis was set up in Lucas Oil near the Game Library. If you've never played Artemis and get the opportunity to, you should. It's a spaceship bridge simulator and it's really, really cool.
Another difference between pre-COVID GenCon and post-COVID GenCon is the schedule. GenCon has long been known for the con that doesn't sleep. Under normal circumstances it is a 24 hour convention, meaning the convention center doesn't close. This year, the convention center closed every night between midnight and 2am for cleaning and sanitization. I'm still kind of impressed that they only needed two hours to complete that task, and moreover I really appreciate the efforts made to make the convention as safe as possible.
All in all, I think that the convention staff went to great lengths to make GenCon as awesome and safe as possible this year, and they definitely succeeded in yet again creating something amazing.
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