Gen Con Expands Focus, Adds LACC Appearance

Organizers of the annual Gen Con gaming hobbyist conventions have announced plans to expand the shows, including added venue space and a change in location for the West-coast version, in order to add video game-related content following E3's morphing. The shift was made in an effort to give video game manufacturers, developers, publishers and others, who traditionally attended the recently downsized E3, a place to feature their products to the trade, media and consumers alike. In order to better accommodate the video game business into its existing shows, Gen Con organizers plan to expand its venue space at the Indianapolis show in 2007. An additional 43,000 square feet will be added to the exhibit hall with additional space expanding into area hotels as well to accommodate the thousands of games taking place over the four-day event. In addition, Gen Con So Cal, the companies' show traditionally held in Anaheim, will be moved to the Los Angeles Convention Center, the former site of the annual E3 trade show, for an unspecified 2007 date, and will attempt to attract further video game companies to exhibit alongside the traditional paper-gaming and CCG Gen Con stalwarts. "When the news came out about the drastic changes at E3, we began to hear from some industry players about Gen Con increasing its capabilities to better accommodate the industry," said Peter Adkison, CEO of Gen Con, LLC. "With our vast experience in producing quality gaming shows, it is a natural extension for us to make Gen Con a place where the electronic industry can show off its products.”