Gen Con Wrap
A few concluding thoughts on travel day. Time for broad conclusions and further belaboring of in-jokes.
Overall mood of the show was surprisingly upbeat. I've felt much worse vibes from my esteemed fellow weasels during economic upturns. Thus we see more evidence that the hobby games sector is significantly untethered from the macro-economy. We're much more likely to take it in the teeth for internal reasons, like distribution meltdowns or the ill-effects of rapid expansion or contraction of a new product category. This might not hold during a prolonged U-shaped recession, so let's knock wood on that one. Both sales on the floor and feelings about continuing customer demand made for much cheerfulness all around. I heard from more than one source that sales took a hit late last year or in Q1 or Q2, but then bounced back with compensating force. Insert standard observation about low-cost entertainment being recession-proof or recession-positive.
Advance word on the impending, very radical new Warhammer FRP revision sounds tantalizing. Even given the smaller user base, we may be in for an explosion of of traditionalist trauma far outstripping the emotional shockwaves of the 3e/4e transition.
To zoom back into my own parochial concerns, I was pleasantly surprised by the continuing sales of The Esoterrorists at the Pelgrane stand. I've been mentally treating it as the neglected, trailblazing older sibling to Trail Of Cthulhu, but its profile still seems to be growing, independent of the line's tentacled cornerstone title. I'll have to go back to my ripped from the headlines feature to keep the spotlight shined on it.
And now the important administrative matter of this year's industry buzzword ARG. This year saw a much wider field of contestants, but as of yet no clear winner. Gmskarka has been making a strong claim and may be considered at the front of the pack. I invite him, and all other contestants, to submit accounts of your triumphant idea farming, so that final judging can commence.