Learn all the ins & outs about how to sell your game from one of the industry's leading players. From copyrights to patents, royalties to trademarks!
Description:
Col. Zocchi explains the difference between trademarks, patents, & copyrights, & which would be best for you. Finding the right publisher, how to sell them your idea, producing your own game, self-publishing do's & don'ts, & finding & reaching your market. He'll also provide contacts of US & overseas distributors who specialize in selling adventure games. Get published & get paid without spending any money or stocking any inventory!
Join a group of veteran LARPers from the Scabby Rooster LARP Tavern, as we talk about why we love Live Action Roleplay, how it has helped us become better gamers, & how YOU can start your quest!
Join the crew from the Scabby Rooster LARP Tavern as they discuss their passion for Live Action Roleplay, give advice on how to begin, what to expect, & how veteran players can support new players.
Zombie Orpheus Presents: The Fantasy Network for Creators
Summary:
Learn how to use this community-owned platform to build your audience, crowdfund your film and television projects, and distribute them to a global audience.
Gen Con's longest running Kickstarter Seminar: a Q&A event with top industry experts across design, publishing, manufacturing, pledge management, fulfillment, distribution, & retail sales. 1 day only!
Description:
A Q&A-based panel discussion featuring the best industry experts across design, publishing, manufacturing, pledge management, fulfillment, distribution, and retail sales. Every event has a new panelists, and new questions. Past panelists include: Jamey Stegmaier (SM Games) Michael Lee (Panda GM) Fabian Louton (Panda GM) Lance Myxter (Undead Viking Reviews) x2 Michael Mindes (President of Tasty Minstrel Games) Seth Jaffee (Designer at TMG) John Coveyou (Got Genius Games) Jeff King (All Us Geeks) Adam Clark (Creator of Kicktraq) Forrest Bower (Bower’s Game Corner Reviews) Joel Eddy (Drive Thru Reviews) Max Salzberg (Co-founder at Backerkit) Dan Halstad (League of Nonsensical Gamers) Greg Spence (Owner at Broken Token) and Jonathan Liu (Geek Dad). Come see the new faces for this year!
Join Satine Phoenix & Jamison Stone as they discuss how they've used Kickstarter to democratize TTRPG Publishing with Chris Haskins of CEO of Nord Games & Nate Taylor of Dwarven Forge.
Description:
Want to win at Kickstarter? Join Game Dev Couple Satine Phoenix & Jamison Stone as they discuss how they've used Kickstarter to democratize TTRPG Publishing with Chris Haskins of CEO of Nord Games & Nate Taylor of Dwarven Forge. See how they turn their love of gaming into a full-time profession!
Learn what it takes to make dynamic-looking characters in your puppet designs. Let the puppet pros show you how different shapes & colors affect your character's mood & up your design game.
Pro puppet builders will discuss the various types of mouth-plate construction with methods and benefits of each. (That's the bit that the puppeteer holds onto inside a puppet.) Ask questions!
Puppet building pros with seriously great credits will talk about various puppet building techniques, such as the wedge method, flat patterning, sculpting, and more!
A new, system-neutral presentation on blood toxins, including "blood agents" and poisons that actually affect the blood with historical & speculative uses by a MD toxicologist. 6th Year at Gen Con.
A new, system-neutral presentation on blood toxins, including "blood agents" and poisons that actually affect the blood with historical & speculative uses by a MD toxicologist. 6th Year at Gen Con.
Intro to Sewing: Patterns Lie! (And Other Useful Facts)
Summary:
Want to cosplay or craft, but don't know how to sew? Learn to select and read a pattern, choose fabric, cut, pin, stitch, press, & more in this novice-friendly presentation. Bring your questions!
As the oldest monarchy on Earth, Japan’s had some amazing moments in history. Hear the most important, most famous, or most fun with illustrations, photos, anime/manga ties, and plenty of geekery.
Description:
As the oldest monarchy in the world, Japan’s had plenty of time to have some amazing moments in history. Hear a few of the most important, most famous, or most fun—from the Genpei War to the Meiji Revolution, from girl power to magical red cows, from archery contests to smallpox—with illustrations, photos, ties to your favorite anime/manga, and plenty of geekery.
From Dragon Ball to Saiyuki, there are many adaptations of the world's most popular folk tale! Learn the cultural context of the 16th century novel, plus the true history that inspired it.
Description:
From Dragon Ball to Saiyuki, there's no shortage of adaptations, retellings, and wholesale lifts of one of the world's most popular tales. But most of the western world enjoying these retellings knows little of the original novel, and even less of the stories it itself combined and retold. Let's look at the historical and cultural context for the original 16th century novel and the lore it collected into a single tale. We'll discuss some key adaptations as well, with the knowledge to enjoy them more.
How did Edgar Allen Poe influence Sailor Moon? Who was the real-life Moriarty? Learn the origin of the kaitou, Japan’s archetypal thief, from Gilded Age literature to high-tech modern incarnations.
Description:
How did Edgar Allen Poe influence Sailor Moon? What do Norse gods, Joan of Arc, and Lupin III have in common? Who was the real-life Moriarty? Learn the origin of the kaitou, Japan’s archetypal thief, from his birth in Gilded Age literature to his high-tech 21st century incarnations. Follow this truly international antihero’s development through history with examples from animé, manga, film, and literature.
Come join us for a non-denominational worship service sponsored by the Christian Gamers Guild. We'll read scripture, sing familiar hymns, hear a sermon, and offer an optional communion.
How the deal to buy the world's first role-playing game company was negotiated and sealed. Journalist Ben Riggs has interviewed those who were there and can tell for the first time the whole story.
How the deal to buy the world's first role-playing game company was negotiated and sealed. Journalist Ben Riggs has interviewed those who were there and can tell for the first time the whole story.
How did a $40 million company that started the tabletop RPG industry go belly up? Ben Riggs has conducted dozens of interviews with TSR alumni to discover the surprising truth of what happened to TSR.
3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons: Creation of a Masterpiece
Summary:
How 3rd Edition rose from the ashes of TSR to become an epic phenomenon. Geek journalist Ben Riggs has interviewed the creators, & brings you the true inside story of the game's creation!
As writers, game designers, and game masters, we spend a lot of time describing and moderating combat situations in our created worlds. What does combat leadership look like in practice?
Description:
As writers, game designers, and game masters, we spend a lot of time describing and moderating combat situations in our created worlds. What does combat leadership look like in practice? We will explore common mythologies and how realities can be explored in literature and around the gaming table.
Join veteran game master, Dr Rich Staats for a session on world building for game designers and writers. Participants will learn about top down, bottom up, and hybrid versions of world building.
Description:
This started as a for-credit course at MIT. Participants will learn about top down, bottom up, and hybrid versions of world building. The handouts alone are worth the price of admission. Rich fills the session with fun examples from real world building problems. The seminar is for world builders of all levels of experience and skill. The seminar finishes with a practical exercise where the participants help build a world based on the principals from the seminar.
Veteran Gamemaster Rich Staats steps the audience through the basics of creating a campaign within the GM's world. Rich will cover storytelling, collaboration, and practical tips and techniques.
As writers, game designers, and game masters, we spend a lot of time describing and moderating combat situations in our created worlds. What does combat leadership look like in practice?
Description:
As writers, game designers, and game masters, we spend a lot of time describing and moderating combat situations in our created worlds. What does combat leadership look like in practice? We will explore common mythologies and how realities can be explored in literature and around the gaming table.
This session will discuss strategies and opportunities for both DMs and players to better support neurodivergence in TTRPGs and how we can create a more inclusive arena for play and exploration.
Too Many Modifiers: Adaptive and Inclusive Gaming Strategies For Game Designers
Summary:
You've got a great idea for a game, but is it accessible? This panel will give the 101-basics on things to consider when developing new games for a broad, inclusive audience.
Description:
This panel will give the 101-basics on things to consider when developing new games for a broad, inclusive audience, from gameplay to writing accessible instructions. Not a new designer? No worries. Established games and designers will have the opportunity to learn how expansions, adaptations and assistive products can make games more inclusive for all.
How a player's needs, failures and successes at the gaming table can be directly applied to navigating the real-world challenges of living with neurodiversity.
Meet the team cooking up the New York Times Best Selling comic series of CHEW for the game table! Let's talk all things CHEW, Forged in the Dark game design, and more!
Description:
Meet the team cooking up the New York Times Best Selling comic series of CHEW for the game table! CHEW: The Roleplaying Game is a dark & funny food noir using the Forged in the Dark rules to tell stories about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibals, & clairvoyants heading to Kickstarter October 5, 2021 at 9am EST. Let's talk all things CHEW, Forged in the Dark game design, uncanny similarities with 2020, and more! Chicken is DOOM!
Is there a right way to teach RPG design? Sam Roberts (USC) and Luke Crane (NYU) discuss designing collegiate-level curriculum specifically to teach roleplaying game design.
Learn how to be a more effective GM, how to deal with disruptive personalities, & how to ensure that everyone has a good time. Covers basic & advanced rules & gamemastering techniques.
Join veteran game master, Dr Rich Staats for a session on world building for game designers and writers. Participants will learn about top down, bottom up, and hybrid versions of world building.
Description:
This started as a for-credit course at MIT. Participants will learn about top down, bottom up, and hybrid versions of world building. The handouts alone are worth the price of admission. Rich fills the session with fun examples from real world building problems. The seminar is for world builders of all levels of experience and skill. The seminar finishes with a practical exercise where the participants help build a world based on the principals from the seminar.
Veteran Gamemaster Rich Staats steps the audience through the basics of using props to enhance gaming sessions. The seminar discusses a wide range of prop types from music to visuals to edibles.
Satine Phoenix brings "Storyteller's Guide" to Gen Con! Watch Live as TTRPG CEOs Jamison Stone (Apotheosis Studios) & Chris Haskins (Nord Games) build an adventure before your eyes.
Description:
Satine Phoenix brings her show "Storyteller's Guide" to Gen Con! Watch Live as TTRPG CEOs Jamison Stone (Apotheosis Studios) & Chris Haskins (Nord Games) build an adventure before your eyes using storytelling, and improv techniques. A great resource for game masters and players alike!
Level up your games with Game Master Tips hosted by Satine Phoenix! Whether you're running a game in-person or virtually, this Q&A session is a great resource for new to veteran dungeon masters.
Join ex football player, Author and 35 year gamer Tommy Rice as he explains his new game and helps you make your game real!
Description:
A “How to” Panel not to be missed for aspiring creators of books, movies, and board games! Tommy Rice will take you through how he created his world and game and hopefully take away the anxiety and fear of the creation process. Learning from and working with some of the best writers and designers of Mythic Games, Games Workshop, Privateer Press, and studying with Stranger Comics CEO Sebastian A. Jones, writer of HBO’s new World of Asunda based on his comic series. Tommy will share his world of Partha Terra and will cover his new Mythic miniature game to offer insight on how to take an idea from concept and then to creation. Showing sneak peeks and sharing firsthand experiences from sports and 35 years of gaming he will give tips and tools from his world, to make yours real! Also, he might be joined by the Mythic games team, as he shows the newest part of the world. The Lok game!
Satine Phoenix & Jamison Stone have gathered some of the great minds of indie gaming for a live roundtable discussion on game design & publishing.
Description:
Satine Phoenix, former community manager of Dungeons & Dragons & Jamison Stone, Creative Director and CEO of Apotheosis Studios, have gathered some of the great minds of indie gaming for a live roundtable discussion on game design & publishing.
You want to make your own game? We'll talk you through the basics of planning, crowd-funding, advertising, and fulfillment. Avoid the common pitfalls and make your dreams come true!
Description:
As veterans of self-publishing for over 30 years, let us talk you through the basics of setting up your own publishing venture. Once you've decided what you want to make, we can set up a strategy to keep you on track. Decide on a budget that meets your needs. Set up a crowd-sourcing fundraiser that covers your expenses. Hire freelancers to cover the skills that you can't provide. Market your product before, during, and after it's published. You have a unique vision that you want to share with the world... so let us show you how to avoid common pitfalls and to make your dreams come true.
Join bestselling author and award-winning designer Matt Forbeck to learn more about his current projects, including the Kickstarter for the SHOTGUNS & SORCERY sourcebook for 5E.
Join members of the Gen Con team as we talk about the changes we’ve made, our plans for improving, our goals, mission and values in creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable Gen Con.
Description:
In a panel moderated by Tanya DePass, join Gen Con staff members as we discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion, including an update to our community on the work Gen Con has undertaken over the past year, outline our goals for fostering a more diverse and inclusive Gen Con, and discuss ways in which the community can become involved. Questions can be submitted in advance using the form sent in the message to registered players, or during the Q&A session of the presentation.
Interactive discussion centered around board gaming and DEI, biases, and changes needed to be more representative and welcoming for all populations of gamers. Let's work towards change at Gen Con!