They just shut down California. Entire state on lockdown...
G
Ironic swag seems like it would be fun. "I Didn't Go To Gen Con 2020 And All I Got Was This T-Shirt And A Negative COVID-19 Test".
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Any thoughts on maybe creating a virtual convention? Maybe partnering with one or more of the virtual table top hosting companies and running something online. I mean even if GenCon doesn't get cancelled in July it still good be a good way to expand.
Just a thought.
Calm down guys. Take a break, do some yoga, take a walk, binge-watch a show, but don't take anything online personally, nor get nasty. Mike is in a banning mood, and has already warned the thread a couple times; for him, we are in third-strike territory.
Stuff you may think is "just asking or answering a question" is getting heated again, possibly without you noticing.
Your friendly local sheriff, Roderick Robertson Forum Coordinator Gen Con, LLC.
I like to think of myself more like James Garner in Support Your Local Sheriff.
My state, California, is shut down. No travel unless for common sense stuff which is basically food, medical, exercise, and to care for others who can't care for themselves. It's probably not long before other states follow suit and do the same. It would probably be a good idea to postpone the convention.
At least no one is Barney Fife.
And Roderick, before you call yourself a sheriff, you should watch this from John Oliver. Just saying....
Stay safe, stay sane, and for the love of gencon wash your damn hands with soap and water.
I'm planning on going until they tell me there's no GenCon. Now, as far as I know, I only get 1 more paycheck while things are shut down, and unemployment will only go so far. The end result is many people, like me, may fully intend to go to GenCon, but have to use their saved money to survive in the interim, thereby making a previously affordable trip unaffordable.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/16/shelter-in-place-california-coronavirus-bay-area-explained
It goes on in August. Or its cancelled. Theres no reasonable time to place it.
I also saw the Facebook update that GaryCon is going virtual for GaryCon XII. This is mainly due to two things:
1. GaryCon's attendance is roughly 2000-2500 people, and 2. GaryCon's focus is on tabletop RPGs, where virtual tabletops exist and can be set up on relatively short notice.
Even so, Luke Gygax himself notes that even this much wouldn't be possible without the heroic efforts of the volunteer con staff and GMs (https://garycon.com/a-long-awaited-update-gary-con-xii-is-virtually-upon-us/?fbclid=IwAR1-scCW9y_Ofnp6j50sCO_QXh33pnoAyCBHzLbWc0Hjal7aIjEWsfayPjA).
Some parts of GenCon could certainly pivot to virtual tabletops or similar virtual meeting spaces if the convention is physically cancelled (which I stress is still pure speculation at this point), but a good deal of what makes GenCon GenCon probably couldn't be effectively migrated online. Even the things that can be moved online would likely need to start planning such a move in the next few months to have all the resources available by the end of July to actually run those games. And of course this wouldn't do anything for the hotels, restaurants, and other Indy spaces that look forward to physical GenCon traffic, whether its to boost their business or just contribute to the festival feeling that is GenCon.
Someone with more knowledge on the inside can correct my ramblings above if they're off the mark, but as far as I can tell, while it would be possible for some portion of GenCon to be moved online if the convention itself can't physically take place, the result wouldn't be what most people would think of as GenCon.
I don't think anyone in the US is in a jurisdiction that prevents them from going on a walk outside due to coronavirus.
Gencon draws from the global community, why would you assume I live in the US.
Hope you're doing well.