Exploring the Events

Gen Con has seen much in its 50-year history.  Born from the remains of a small convention in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Gen Con has evolved to become the foremost gathering for tabletop gamers in North America, if not the world.  There are a multitude of other gaming conventions, however.  What makes Gen Con special?  How has it lasted as long as it has, and why has it been able to grow to its current size of more than 60,000 individual attendees?  To examine these questions, we turn to the historical record of Gen Con: its programs.