INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gamers, geeks, cosplayers and nerds of all genres have taken over downtown Indianapolis for the return of Gen Con at the Indiana Convention Center.

The annual gaming convention celebrates pretty much every kind of game — minus sports and gambling — with tabletop gaming having a big presence.

Organizers announced on Tuesday that it sold out again, with a record-breaking crowd expected.

Despite the sell-out, there are still some ways to get in on the action without a badge— namely, the Gen Con Block Party near Lucas Oil Stadium.

It runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the con, except Sunday, when it wraps up at 4 p.m.

Dozens of food vendors are lined up, with seating and a break from the heat available inside the stadium.

Several businesses, hotels and restaurants often have Gen Con-related events to entertain the droves of gamers.

Stacia Kirby, a spokesperson for the convention, says everyone is welcome to hang out.

“You can still come down and see people in costume,” Kirby said.  “We have a [Maker’s] Marketplace that has local artists that people can get access to, and we just welcome everybody to come down.”

It’s that sense of community that Ben Reasinger says he looks forward to every year.

“Always [look forward to] the new releases,” Reasinger said. “I’m a Magic [the Gathering] player, so seeing all the new sets is awesome.”

Alongside the Lawrence native is Natasha Steffen, who came from out of town to attend her first Gen Con.

“I’m a huge gamer,” Steffen said. “I grew up in a gaming family have been dying to come. Love the costumes, the community, the games. It’s wonderful. Like, you can’t — There’s nothing like it.”

The duo is part of the nearly 75,000 convention-goers expected this weekend. Organizers say it’s not just attendance records being broken, either.

This year will see the most vendors ever, with 595, and the most activities, with almost 30,000 individual sessions planned for the 4-day event.

Gen Con was started in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1968 — that’s where it gets the “Gen” in its name.

It’s been held in Indianapolis since 2003. Event Runners have renewed the event in Indy through at least 2030.

This year’s Gen Con runs through Sunday at 4 p.m.

About The Author

See author's posts