Hey there. Take this post with a grain of salt.
For the AEG game night, it seems that this is becoming an event that isn't living up to the hype. Last year was mediocre. We got okiaj games and one was late so they made it up with less than average games. OK, last year was a weird year so no biggie. This year, they have a late change to the game line up, from a title that I was very interested in (ready set bet) to a title that is already out and again has an average review. For 40 bucks, it's a great value. Full stop. However, this was a highly anticipated event after I heard about it in 2019. I don't think the two games they are presenting (this old Wall paper and another ran game) is compelling. They have wormholes which seems more compelling and I'm sure some others. Come on AEG, get me excited about this event. I'll probably still go. And I'll probably have a good time. But, I'm just not that excited anymore and I really want to be. It's not you, it's me.
I've been going to AEG game night since 2013 or 2014 and it's definitely gone downhill. I decided not to go this year because I haven't been excited about the featured games for a few years now.
Like 7 or 8 years ago I bragged it up to my friends and convinced them to go. That was the year they gave out a box full of empty boxes to put other games in. This year is at least an upgrade from that, but I've sworn the event off.
Honestly they aren't going to put something that is new and going to be hot in the box because it will hurt their bottom line. I'd be pretty happy if they put in some older games that were good but aren't going to be hot convention sellers rather than whatever they think their con garbage games are.
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If they give the games people want in the box, they're just selling their hot games at a discount and cutting into full price sales they could be making at the booth.
I'm going because i get to hang out and learn and play a few games with friends that i wouldn't otherwise play. Do i expect fantastic value no. Do i expect to have a good time and get value for my ticket absolutely. Ten was my highlight game from last year.
I have no frame of reference to what they used to do, but last year was my 1st time going and I enjoyed it. Think I ended up with 4 games and they had a ton of raffle giveaways. To me the event was like the $40 random box of game vendors in the hall. Either you love that type of thing or don't.
I have been stewing on this for a week now, but I think I can now safely say 2022 was my last Big Game Night. Not only were the games mediocre, the actual event was a complete disaster. Chaotic, poorly run and boring. We were promised we would play three games, not one game over and over...and over. I sold this event to my friends and family and showed up with 8 people. I feel like I robbed my group of their Friday night at Gen Con.
The person we had teaching the game and the people I was seated with were awesome, but the management/execution of the entire event was lacking.