FREE Gen Con Indy Badges!

Official Announcements
1

Gen Con LLC has licensed Atlas Games to publish 40 Years of Gen Con ... a coffee table-style history of the convention through the years. We're collecting oral histories, photographs, reminiscences, and more, and we want your story to be part of this chronicle of the best four decades in gaming!

The GenConHistory.com web site is designed for you to share personal stories and photos, and for you to vote for your favorite submissions to help us make the best book possible. If you feel inspired by a rush of memories to share with posterity, or a discover of a box of old snapshots, we want to hear from you! If your submission(s) are used in the book, you'll get a complimentary copy of it and your name in the credtis. And if any of your submissions are ranked in the top 25 stories or top 25 photos, you'll receive a FREE 4-day badge for Gen Con Indy 2007!

New topics for story and photo submissions will be posted every Monday through the end of March, and each topic is open for submissions and voting for two weeks, so be sure get your submissions in soon and come back often to see what's new!

2

For week number two of our 40 Years of Gen Con FREE badge promo, we've just added four new topics. Remember, you'll have two weeks to post your submissions and vote at www.GenConHistory.com . The NEW topics are:

Milwaukee: MECCA PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted in Milwaukee at the MECCA/Wisconsin Center from 1985 to 1997.

UW-Parkside PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted at UW-Parkside from 1978 to 1984.

Best Travel STORIES - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about how you got to Gen Con.

Best Love or Romance at Gen Con STORIES - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about Love... True Love which bloomed at Gen Con.

Also, there's still one more week to turn in submissions and vote for last week's topics:

Indianapolis PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 15, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted in Indianapolis from 2003 to present.

Milwaukee: Midwest Express Center PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 15, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted in Milwaukee at the Midwest Express Center from 1985 to 2002.

Best CCG STORIES - Due Noon, Jan 15, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about a Collectible Card Game.

Best Kid or Family STORIES - Due Noon, Jan 15, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about Kids or Families at Gen Con.

3

Congratulations to our first winners at www.genconhistory.com! They include ...

zfaulkes for his story about Kisada's Wake, a funeral for an L5R character.

BobDerme for his story of his son's first Gen Con.

Bill Dunn for his photo of his 4-year-old daughter Holly, showing she isn't afraid of green goons.

Ryan Tackett for his photo of this mechanical monster at Gen Con.

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Lake Geneva/Horticultural Hall PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted Lake Geneva/Horticultural Hall from 1967 to 1976.

Playboy Resort PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted at the Playboy Resort in 1977.

Best Brush With Fame STORY - Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007
Submit your best story about your close encounter with a real, live celebrity at Gen Con.

Best Lake Geneva STORY - Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007
Submit your best story about when Gen Con was hosted in Lake Geneva, WI from 1967 to 1977.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Milwaukee: MECCA PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted in Milwaukee at the MECCA/Wisconsin Center from 1985 to 1997.

UW-Parkside PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted at UW-Parkside from 1978 to 1984.

Best Travel STORIES - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about how you got to Gen Con.

Best Love or Romance at Gen Con STORIES - Due Noon, Jan 22, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about Love... True Love which bloomed at Gen Con.

4

Congratulations to our new winners at GenConHistory.com ! They include ...

Jeff harkness for his story of gaming in the back seat of an old Astro van on the way to Gen Con.

Tandora with the tale of a proposal of marriage at Gen Con.

Erica King for her photo of the old MECCA arena.

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Celeb at Gen Con - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best photo with your close encounter with a real, live celebrity at Gen Con.

Gaming Luminary at Gen Con - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best photo of your close encounter with the Gaming Industry elite (aka author, artist, publisher) at Gen Con.

Best Parkside Story - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best story about when Gen Con was hosted at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside from 1978 to 1984.

Best LARP Story - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while Live Action Role Playing at Gen Con.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Lake Geneva/Horticultural Hall PHOTOS - Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted Lake Geneva/Horticultural Hall from 1967 to 1976.

Playboy Resort PHOTOS- Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007
Submit your best photo from when Gen Con was hosted at the Playboy Resort in 1977.

Best Brush With Fame STORY - Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007
Submit your best story about your close encounter with a real, live celebrity at Gen Con.

Best Lake Geneva STORY - Due Noon, Jan 29, 2007
Submit your best story about when Gen Con was hosted in Lake Geneva, WI from 1967 to 1977.

5

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com ! They include ...

Bubba Ho-tep's story of his son's birthday phonecall from Sean Astin ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68

Rexplus1's dream of Gen Con ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=79

Oldgrognard's memories of Gen Con when it was held in Lake Geneva ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=87

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Best Milwaukee Story - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best story about when Gen Con was hosted in Milwaukee, WI from 1985 to 2002.

Best Board Game Story - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best story or experience during a board game at Gen Con.

Costumes - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving Costumes at Gen Con.

Miniatures & Wargaming - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving Miniatures or Wargaming at Gen Con.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Celeb at Gen Con - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best photo with your close encounter with a real, live celebrity at Gen Con.

Gaming Luminary at Gen Con - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best photo of your close encounter with the Gaming Industry elite (aka author, artist, publisher) at Gen Con.

Best Parkside Story - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best story about when Gen Con was hosted at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside from 1978 to 1984.

Best LARP Story - Due Noon, Feb 5, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while Live Action Role Playing at Gen Con.

6

To help you plan your submissions to GenConHistory.com , we thought we'd provide the FULL list of topics for the FREE badges promo. You can find it at genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=93 . Enjoy!

7

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com ! They include ...

Mikus476 for his story about leading a zombie infiltration of a Vampire LARP, and getting busted!
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=74

Jason R. Griffin's photo with celeb Kari Byron.
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... temId=7032

Robert Armstrong for his photo with industry luminary R A Salvatore.
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... temId=4316

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Best Costume Story - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving Costumes at Gen Con.

Best Seminar Story - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience in a Seminar at Gen Con.

Album: LARP - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best photo while Live Action Role Playing at Gen Con.

Album: CCG/Card Game - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best photo while playing a CCG or Card Game at Gen Con.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Best Milwaukee Story - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best story about when Gen Con was hosted in Milwaukee, WI from 1985 to 2002.

Best Board Game Story - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best story or experience during a board game at Gen Con.

Costumes - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving Costumes at Gen Con.

Miniatures & Wargaming - Due Noon, Feb 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving Miniatures or Wargaming at Gen Con.

8

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

Genconjunkie for his story about luring a friend into talking to a mannequin ...

ValentineW for her experience in the Klingon Jail 'N Bail ...

Artoo716 for his first Gen Con experience ...

Anastasia Becker for her costume photo and Michael Dockery for his Minis photo ...

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Best RPG Story - Due Noon, Feb 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience during a Role Playing Game at Gen Con.

Best Miniatures or Wargame Story- Due Noon, Feb 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience during a Miniatures Battle or Wargame at Gen Con.

Album: Board Game - Due Noon, Feb 26, 2007
Submit your best photo during a Board Game at Gen Con.

Album: Alternate US Gen Con - Due Noon, Mar 26, 2007
Submit your best photo while at Gen Con East, Gen Con South, or Gen Con SoCal.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Best Costume Story - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving Costumes at Gen Con.

Best Seminar Story - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience in a Seminar at Gen Con.

Album: LARP - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best photo while Live Action Role Playing at Gen Con.

Album: CCG/Card Game - Due Noon, Feb 19, 2007
Submit your best photo while playing a CCG or Card Game at Gen Con.

This week we've made a slight change to voting ... only registered users will be able vote from now on, due to the non-unique block voting that appeared in several entries recently. We've also decided that anyone who benefits significantly from such voting will have all of his or her entries disqualified from that topic. We hope that this will keep the promotion fair to everyone who enters.

9

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

Henchman213's story about a chainmail bikini's miraculous powers ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=146

JesterSB's story about a cell phone call during a seminar with R. A. Salvatore ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=125

Cynthia Hart's Hogwart's LARP photo ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... temId=8691

Bart Miller's picture of "Cardhalla" ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=12258

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Best Playboy Resort Gen Con Story - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best story or experience from when Gen Con was hosted at the Playboy Resort in 1977.

Best Story about a Volunteer, Staff Member, or Exhibitor - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about a Volunteer, Staff Member, or Exhibitor at Gen Con.

Album: Seminar - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best photo while at a Seminar during Gen Con.

Album: Kids or Families - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best photo of Kids or Families at Gen Con.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Best RPG Story - Due Noon, Feb 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience during a Role Playing Game at Gen Con.

Best Miniatures or Wargame Story- Due Noon, Feb 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience during a Miniatures Battle or Wargame at Gen Con.

Album: Board Game - Due Noon, Feb 26, 2007
Submit your best photo during a Board Game at Gen Con.

Album: Alternate US Gen Con - Due Noon, Feb 26, 2007
Submit your best photo while at Gen Con East, Gen Con South, or Gen Con SoCal.

10

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

Balthor's story about using "Mr. Shiny Black Helmet" (aka Darth Vader) to place in his first tourney ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140

Fathead's story about a halfling who tried to stuff himself down a privy chute ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=202

Mike Hawkin's photo of boardgaming at the Ram and Henry Chi's picture from the SoCal True Dungeon.

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Best Indianapolis Story - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best story or experience from when Gen Con was hosted in Indianapolis from 2003 to present.

Best Awards Ceremony Story - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving an Awards Ceremony at Gen Con.

Album: Travel - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving getting to or getting home from Gen Con.

Album: Awards Ceremony - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving an Awards Ceremony at Gen Con.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Best Playboy Resort Gen Con Story - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best story or experience from when Gen Con was hosted at the Playboy Resort in 1977.

Best Story about a Volunteer, Staff Member, or Exhibitor - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about a Volunteer, Staff Member, or Exhibitor at Gen Con.

Album: Seminar - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best photo while at a Seminar during Gen Con.

Album: Kids or Families - Due Noon, Mar 5, 2007
Submit your best photo of Kids or Families at Gen Con.

11

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

Mortice's story about ALMOST going to Gen Con at the Playboy Club ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=218

mjbrown111's story about cheating to make a young gamer happy ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=235

Jeff Thetford's photo of an angel, and Josiah Jenson's picture of a costumed gamer and her son outside the Ram ...

genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=13005

genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=12822

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Best Story from an Overseas Gen Con - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while at an overseas Gen Con (UK, France, Australia, etc.).

Best Gen Con Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout Story - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about the Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout at Gen Con.

Album: Overseas Gen Con - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best photo while at an overseas Gen Con (UK, France, Australia, etc.).

Album: Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best photo of the Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout at Gen Con.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Best Indianapolis Story - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best story or experience from when Gen Con was hosted in Indianapolis from 2003 to present.

Best Awards Ceremony Story - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving an Awards Ceremony at Gen Con.

Album: Travel - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving getting to or getting home from Gen Con.

Album: Awards Ceremony - Due Noon, Mar 12, 2007
Submit your best photo involving an Awards Ceremony at Gen Con.

12

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

Lefteye's story about meeting a co-worker at Gen Con ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=251

GnomeNose's story about an RPGA awards ceremony ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=264

Nicol Buckley's photo of their car's "Gen Con or Bust" slogan ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=13747

Shawna McCormick's picture of a costume contest winner dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=13926

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Four new topics were posted today ...

Best Story from an Alternate US Gen Con - Due Noon, Mar 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while at Gen Con East, Gen Con South, or Gen Con SoCal.

Best Tournament Story - Due Noon, Mar 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving a Tournament at Gen Con.

Album: Roleplaying Game - Due Noon, Mar 26, 2007
Submit your best photo during a Roleplaying Game at Gen Con.

Album: Tournaments - Due Noon, March 26, 2007
Submit your best photo involving a tournament at Gen Con.

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Best Story from an Overseas Gen Con - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while at an overseas Gen Con (UK, France, Australia, etc.).

Best Gen Con Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout Story - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best story or experience about the Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout at Gen Con.

Album: Overseas Gen Con - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best photo while at an overseas Gen Con (UK, France, Australia, etc.).

Album: Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout - Due Noon, Mar 19, 2007
Submit your best photo of the Nightlife, Party, or Local Hangout at Gen Con.

13

Congratulations to our new winners at www.GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

GermInBerea's story about the secrets of the Safe House ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=281

Patrick Seymour's photo of the D20 Magazine Rack staff at the Ram ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=13909

Think you can do as well? There's still time! Our LAST six new topics were posted today ...

Best Animae or Film Story - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while watching Animae or Films at Gen Con.

Best Art Show Story - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving the Art Show at Gen Con.

Best Miscellaneous Story - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best story or experience of anything we missed!

Album: Art Show - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best photo involving the Art Show at Gen Con.

Album: Animae or Film - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best photo while watching Animae or Films at Gen Con.

Album: Miscellaneous - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best photo of anything we missed!

And there's still one week left to post submissions for these topics ...

Best Story from an Alternate US Gen Con - Due Noon, Mar 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while at Gen Con East, Gen Con South, or Gen Con SoCal.

Best Tournament Story - Due Noon, Mar 26, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving a Tournament at Gen Con.

Album: Roleplaying Game - Due Noon, Mar 26, 2007
Submit your best photo during a Roleplaying Game at Gen Con.

Album: Tournaments - Due Noon, March 26, 2007
Submit your best photo involving a tournament at Gen Con.

14

Congratulations to our new winners at GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

GamerChick's story about Nathan Fillion (aka Captain Malcolm Reynolds) sitting in on her Serenity game ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=334

Alycia's story about a Warlord tournament ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=328

Tom Wesley's photo of a every PC's worst nightmare ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=14261

There's only one week left to post submissions for these topics, and then the free Gen Con badge promotion will be over ... don't miss out!

Best Animae or Film Story - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best story or experience while watching Animae or Films at Gen Con.

Best Art Show Story - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best story or experience involving the Art Show at Gen Con.

Best Miscellaneous Story - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best story or experience of anything we missed!

Album: Art Show - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best photo involving the Art Show at Gen Con.

Album: Animae or Film - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best photo while watching Animae or Films at Gen Con.

Album: Miscellaneous - Due Noon, Apr 2, 2007
Submit your best photo of anything we missed!

15

That's it, everybody! After 14 weeks, 98 story contributions, and 560 photo submissions, the Gen Con FREE Badges promo has come to a close. Congratulations to our last batch of winners at GenConHistory.com , who received FREE 4-day badges to Gen Con Indy! They include ...

Kim Wesley's story about attending Gen Con via phone while on bed rest ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=380

Terry O'Brien's story about some unhappy Ranma 1/2 animae fans ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=341

Matthew Caron's photo of a lighter that was the result of a draw-off between Brom and Tony DiTerlizzi (Brom's side is the first link, Tony's is the second) ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=14463
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=14466

We had quite a turnout in our very last "Miscellaneous" categories, so we decided to go all out and award badges for 4 stories and 4 photos! Here are those winners ...

David Chen's story about Bobba Fett and Darth Maul being shot down by local girls ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=350

davester64's story about his dinner with Lou Zocchi ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=313

Randy Miller's love story called "When Geeks Marry" ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=322

Vic Polites' story about a phone call from Farscape's Virginia Hey to his wife ...
genconhistory.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=333

Sonja Proffit's Rikku costume photo ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=12724

Charlotte Ruck's photo of fun at Rogue Judges night before the training session ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=14821

Julie Truesdell's photo of a Car Wars demo ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=14675

Bryon A. Petrie's photo of the Lord of the Ring's Sean Astin at the Decipher booth ...
genconhistory.com/gallery/ma ... emId=14791

And congratulations again to ALL of our 50 winners! They include:

Bob Derme, Zen Faulkes, Bill Dunn, Ryan Tackett, Erica King, Jeff Harkness, Tandora, Ronnie Rex, Oldgrognard, Ron Purvis, Jason R. Griffith, Robert Armstrong, Michael Yates, genconjunkie, ValentineW, Robert Peter Derme II, Anastasia Becker, Michael Dockery, Henchman213, Sidney Blumenthal, Cynthia Hart, Bart Miller, Dan Adams, Balthor, Mike Hawkins, Henry Chi, Jeff Thetford, Josiah Jenson, mortice, mjbrown111, GnomeNose, Leah Hand, Nicol Buckley, Shawna McCormick, Patrick Seymour, Jeremy Zimmerman, Tom Wesley, alycia, Jae Walker, Terry O'Brien, Kim Wesley, Matthew Caron, David Chen, davester64, Randy Miller, Vic Polites, Sonja Proffit, Charlotte Rucks, Julie Truesdell, Byron A. Petrie

Didn't win a badge? Remember that we'll be selecting stories and photos to include in the 40 Years of Gen Con coffee table book in the next month or so. This selection is completely separate from the free badge promo ... so there's still a chance you could end up in the book and get a free copy, too, whether you won a badge or not! We'll announce those names sometime in May, so stay tuned!

Also, GenCon.com will be accepting pre-orders for the 40 Years of Gen Con coffee table book through their website, and the Gen Con Indy gift shop will be THE exclusive place to buy it on its release in August ... if you can wait, it should also be available through your friendly local retail store a few weeks after the convention.