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| Amy Carrier |
 Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:52 am Post subject: Game Company Representatives at DragonCon |
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Patron
Joined: 31 May 2008
Posts: 588
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A general question for all the game publishers out there: Why does it seem that all of you are dissing DragonCon? I was hoping to see at least a few representatives from Paizo, and I was certainly expecting to see a few WotC tables. However, I was destined for disappointment.
Yes, both the dealer's room and exhibitor's hall were pretty big so maybe I just missed them (especially with almost 40,000 people in attendance - it was pretty crowded).
Don't get me wrong - there were *plenty* of folks selling all kinds of D&D stuff. Everything from the absolute latest 4E merchandise all the way back to the original Chainmail booklet (carefully wrapped in a protective mylar bag). But all those vendors were just that: vendors. I didn't see any sign of actual game company folks.
Where were all of you? Is DragonCon and not important enough? For lots of us in the Southeast it is the only major con we go to. Why are you ignoring us?
(I already knew that KQ wasn't going to be there - I'd asked a couple of months ago. ...But I looked anyway, just in case there was some kind of last second miracle. There wasn't.)
P.S. I hope this is the correct forum - I was split between starting the thread here or in "Off Topic". |
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| Wolfgang |
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:28 am Post subject: |
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Kobold Overlord
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 4985
Location: The Mines
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Speaking only for Kobold Quarterly, I can say that I *wish* we could attend DragonCon, but for a small company it's very difficult to attend conventions at all. The KQ schedule this year was NorWesCon and PaizoCon, because those two are local shows.
That's right, we didn't even go to GenCon.
For a company with modest revenues, each and every convention is a major commitment of limited resources. I have attended DragonCon in the past and would love to do it again, but it comes down to time and money.
For 2010, GenCon comes first. In 2011, if things go well, I'll consider extending that short list to include Origins or DragonCon.
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Wolfgang Baur
Publisher, Kobold Press |
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| marcr |
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 363
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I'm actually not very familiar with DragonCon, though I have heard of it. What is its' main focus?
Is it primarily RPGs? Where is it held?
I'm on the east Coast (north east) and would like to attend a few Cons. I know beyond all doubt that the one I will ABSOLUTELY be going to next year is PaizoCon.
If DragonCon sounds interesting and is close enough, maybe I might try to check that out as well ....
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Marc Radle
Graphic Artist | Illustrator | Writer | Designer
Pathfinder & Kobold Fan |
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| Zherog |
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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Contributor
Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 586
Location: Bensalem, PA
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DragonCon is held in Atlanta, GA.
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John Ling
Freelance Writer
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| Amy Carrier |
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Joined: 31 May 2008
Posts: 588
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Oops, Zherog beat me to it.
Yes, DragonCon is in Atlanta. It's got about three dozen programming tracks that run simultaneously throughout the four days, covering just about every possible aspect of science fiction and fantasy - which includes gaming of course. You can expect over 400 guests (which has in the past included both Gygax and Arneson) and over 35,000 atendees.
I'll look forward to seeing KQ there in 2011.  |
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| manicrabbit |
| Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 29 Sep 2009
Posts: 3
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I;ve never actually been in a DragonCon event but I have heard of these events via the internet, and most of the people seem to be happy with the events. It is pretty peculiar that game publishers are not so keen on promoting their wares there. It seems like a great place to market your merchandise.
Dentistry Boca Raton | Dentist Boca Raton |
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| terraleon |
| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:00 am Post subject: |
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Contributor
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2013
Location: upstate NY
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I don't think it's a matter of not being interested, it's a matter of resources. A trip to a convention is air fare, hotel room, booth rental, food, shipping to get your wares there-- especially if we're considering a big show like one of the major three (Origins, Gencon, Dragoncon). That could easily run to the "couple of thousands" of dollars range. (350+ air fare, 600ish hotel, 150ish for food, and then there's shipping and booth, and we're already in the 1000+ range.) And how many people to you directly reach and for how long? Certainly this is dependent on the convention, and interaction at a booth can have a great impact, but think about the number of times you've just kind of browsed a booth and moved on to the next.
What would that get for advertising, instead? For an advert in Knights of the Dinner Table, in KQ, on a number of different blogs and game sites? Adverts in print have a longevity far beyond the others, too, as people return to a magazine later, or lend it to someone else.
Could that money fund a whole project? Possibly, though probably not a big one (Maybe 20K words, a couple maps, a few illustrations by folks trying to break out, even then, I imagine it'd be tight.)? Then it becomes something that might also generate revenue over time...
So yeah, I agree, it's cool to be able to find the vendor at a convention, but I want those vendors to be around...so when all I find at the dealer room is a bevy of FLGSs, I'm ok with that. For one, I want to see what sort of old material I can hunt down. And two, if they're there moving product then people are going to be back at the desk making product. And all that means I've got more goodies to play with when it comes time to run the game.
-Ben.
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progressio sine timore aut praejudica - Spectemur agendo |
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