Is Playtesting a Game in Development Welcome?

There's a very good chance that 2 of my friends and I will attend Gary Con this year (yay!) We've been doing Gen Con since 1989 and only recently learned about Gary Con. We're all Wisconsin natives...and have lived all our lives in Wisconsin. Needless to say, we're excited!

Anyhow, I'm developing a fastplay card game called "The President". Yes it's themed. Yes it's politically themed. I think it's pretty cool (who, at some point in their life didn't want to be President? Now you can!) Yes it's in development. I've playtested a bit and am working to playtest version 1.0 of the game.

This being my first excursion to Gary Con, my question is: is playtesting games common/acceptable/encouraged at Gary Con?

 

I'm pretty sure that games have been play tested there before. People run severe adaptations, heavily homeruled variants, and hybrid games. Unless the game is in some form highly controversial (i.e. pornographic, racist, etc.) I can't imagine that there would be objection.

 

I have to ask. You're a Wisconsin native and a regular convention goer. How come it took 4 years to discover us? What are we doing wrong in getting the word out? I don't mind guys living 500+ miles away never having heard of us... but Wisconsin natives?

 

Maybe it was one of those Vancian invites that you fired off and got forgotten?

 

I don't think you're doing anything wrong It's true I've been to GenCon nearly every year since 1989. But guess how many other conventions I've been to in my entire life? 3! I've been to Geekcon here in Madison (only to ease my son (5) into the industry) the last couple years and Pointcon once about 10-15 years ago (I graduated from UWSP). Don't get me wrong, I'd love to attend more cons but I have a pretty demanding job, married with 3 kids (one of whom is severly autistic) and am in the middle of earning my MBA! Needless to say, time is tight.

That said, once I decided I wanted to add a springtime Con, finding you was easy! Trust me I had a similar experience that went something like this:

"GARY CON? COOL!" **scratches head, face perplexed** "Why didn't I know about this...."

 

Let me say: that's a little shame.

 

We're very well known in Italy . . .

 

Yes, that's true!

 

A significant percentage of the foreign attendees of Gary Con come from Italy. I'm not sure why it so well known there compared to other non-US nations, but that's the facts...

 

The answer is simple: Italians are COOL and SMART. They know how to find the good gaming. Of course, the best thing you can do is take an Italian and a Norwegian out to dinner. Now that's fun.

 

Italians are just plain weird, especially ones named Luca and Gianfranco!

 

Maybe Lake Geneva should adopt a sister city in Italy. Or perhaps a "Godfather" city?

We'll make them a deal they can't refuse...

 

Hear! Hear!

 

Damn my memory I've been not able to recall the name of the guy came from Norway that attended GaryConIII. Can anybody help me?

 

He goes by "Manny" but his name is Emmanuel Nordstrom. Manny is a good friend of mine and we try and see each other each time he is in the US. In fact, *cough*, I might add that I'm the one that told him about GaryCon. I knew he'd be in the US around that time so he made sure to make it. It was fun.

If you would like to get in touch with me, send me a message on Facebook. Sorry I haven't been around recently but life has kicked into high gear.

 

Do not forget him! The last Gary Con has been his first convention! From nothing to the TOP!
Found on Facebook: there is written "Nordrum".

 

Yes, I apologize for the typo. Nordstrom, in the US, is actually the name of a department store.

Manny is a great guy. I'm glad I was able to talk him into coming to GaryCon.....though I have to say knowing that the Blackburns were going to be there (Writers for Knights of the Dinner Table and Hackmaster) also helped me to convince him.

Derek