It is a pretty good, but very large convention to be sure. It is not a party convention, but it does now offer gaming around the clock starting on Thursday morning through Sunday afternoon. Much of the focus is on the hundreds of companies and merchants selling or exhibiting the newest, oldest, oddest, and yet to come in the world of gaming--from tabletop, board games, cards and video games. That's not to say that there isn't a giant schedule of seminars, movie-showings, anime, LARP, True-Dungeon, parties, events, contests, auctions, signings and more to be done in the four days of Gen Con.
While not necessarily the best plan for a Gen Con virgin, if you can be accepted as a Volunteer, you can get your badge money back if you volunteer for 16 hours (4 hours a day) over the convention.
Also, if you're willing to commute, hotels outside of the circle of pricy hotels can be quite reasonable as anything within walking distance is going to be $100+/night (hotels connected are usually nearer to $200/night), but the Embassy Suites is a great deal--3 blocks away, you can cram lots of people into a "room" (2 queen beds, a pull-out sofa and two chairs too), not to mention the table and mini-fridge/sink are very nice too. Also, they offer free breakfast at the buffet and each night there's free drinks and a snack with the hotel manager.
However, if you DO plan on getting a room through RUBI, prepare for a slugfest. Register for your badge on the correct day. On the next day, at Noon the system will become flooded with thousands of people all trying to get the hotels and room so of their choice... and some may have to try three or four times to get a room because a 4-day room goes FAST (there are only so many blocks of rooms available. However, if you don't get the room you want, you can be put on a waiting list. As roomates A B C and D all get rooms, they drop the rooms they don't want and they become available soon after hotel registration day happens.
It is not a party convention, but it does now offer gaming around the clock starting on Thursday morning through Sunday afternoon. Much of the focus is on the hundreds of companies and merchants selling or exhibiting the newest, oldest, oddest, and yet to come in the world of gaming--from tabletop, board games, cards and video games.
That's not to say that there isn't a giant schedule of seminars, movie-showings, anime, LARP, True-Dungeon, parties, events, contests, auctions, signings and more to be done in the four days of Gen Con.
While not necessarily the best plan for a Gen Con virgin, if you can be accepted as a Volunteer, you can get your badge money back if you volunteer for 16 hours (4 hours a day) over the convention.
Also, if you're willing to commute, hotels outside of the circle of pricy hotels can be quite reasonable as anything within walking distance is going to be $100+/night (hotels connected are usually nearer to $200/night), but the Embassy Suites is a great deal--3 blocks away, you can cram lots of people into a "room" (2 queen beds, a pull-out sofa and two chairs too), not to mention the table and mini-fridge/sink are very nice too. Also, they offer free breakfast at the buffet and each night there's free drinks and a snack with the hotel manager.
However, if you DO plan on getting a room through RUBI, prepare for a slugfest. Register for your badge on the correct day. On the next day, at Noon the system will become flooded with thousands of people all trying to get the hotels and room so of their choice... and some may have to try three or four times to get a room because a 4-day room goes FAST (there are only so many blocks of rooms available. However, if you don't get the room you want, you can be put on a waiting list. As roomates A B C and D all get rooms, they drop the rooms they don't want and they become available soon after hotel registration day happens.
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