Despite being a co-creator of the game Fartknight, I'm neither an avid gamer nor have I ever attended a con. So if you're similar to me and are just looking for a fun weekend family/friends activity this post is for you!
The event is being hosted at the BMO Centre near the stampede grounds, which is accessible by CTrain (I don't know about the parking situation, but it was recommended to transit). Tickets are $45 but I got mine for free through a raffle and there were many similar promotions going on throughout the year (Mario Kart at Chinook, BOGO codes, etc. :).
Upon entry, the venue was impressive. There were a ton of booths including merchandise sellers, board game companies, corporation sponsor booths, food/drink purchase booths, cosplay booths, and my personal favourite: indie game booths.
It's much more worth going if you're in a group of friends or family, because there are a lot of group activities such as VR Escape Rooms, multiplayer games, and of course the fun of looking around at the large assortment of activities and trying out new things.
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| Retro Gaming! |
I would recommend going early in the day, because many of the booths (especially the VR Escape Room demos) only have spots for a few people to play at a time. Some take sign-ups and will text you when ready, the earlier you sign up the better! I went on Friday so it was likely less busy.
One of the most advertised parts of Game Con is the Mega Stage, which holds scheduled events all throughout the weekend such as game tournaments and talks with celebrity guests. Personally, I wasn't very interested in the Mega Stage events but it did look cool and maybe heightened my experience a bit. Some times were busier than others...
There were also some side activities going on, such as 4000 square foot Warhammer-themed laser tag for $15 (I didn't try it out, but it sounds like a great time) and a large board game wing with a free "library" that you could use throughout the day.
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| Great smile! |
Playing Albertan/Canadian Indie games and talking to the creators was definitely a highlight of the event. We had fun playing games such as the educational AI game Little Learning Machines, the RPG adventure SAK'D, the cyberpunk puzzle cooking game Neon Noodles, and the VR party game Muffin Fight... I could go on! There are also booths where you can play large studio games with your friends such as Super Smash Bros. or Street Fighter 6.
For video game lovers, is it as epic as a conference like Pax? No, but it was certainly a more laid-back experience and a great opportunity to support local companies. In general, the lines weren't too long (I probably wouldn't survive Pax lines) and as long as you have a bit of interest you'll find something you enjoy.
Overall, it was a fun time and I think the organizers did a great job for the first iteration of the biggest gaming expo in Western Canada. It's family friendly and not stressful to attend (you can even relax and sit down in the board game area). I probably wouldn't pay the full $45 to attend since I'm not much of a gamer, but at half-price or lower it is definitely a great group activity!
This was the only place I could find that talked about board games at GameCon more than just saying “there were board games”. I wanted to find out if there was an open gaming area and a library before I decided to go and you’ve answered my questions, thank you! If you hear of any ticket promotions or giveaways let me know :D
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