Why the Midwest?

Serious Paul · July 26, 2007, 10:49:49 AM

They have two Con's that I know about here in Michigan The Capital Area Gamers and of course UCON down UofM way. I always wanted one over here in GR. I'd help organize something like that.

And after Uncle Sam's Misguided Children was done with me I'm all sorts of organizational!

Settembrini · July 26, 2007, 11:20:56 AM

@Pierce: California is obvious and easy to explain. Berkeley even moreso. I wasn´t implying anything besides that regarding Californian games.

zomben · July 26, 2007, 11:25:07 AM

Quote from: Zachary The FirstCompanies like Palladium, TSR, Chessex, Kenzer, etc., are/were in the Midwest. SJ Games is in Texas. Iron Crown is in Viriginia.

Niggling detail, but please note that Chessex actually started in Berkeley, CA, and it's original warehouse was there.

zomben · July 26, 2007, 11:27:48 AM

Quote from: Pierce InverarityI hope the distinction here is not between a rich gaming culture and an impoverished one. Bay Area stuff was rich too, but rich different. I don't want to revive some age-old debate, on which Cali will correct me anyway, but if RQ is above all Glorantha (rather than realism), and if Champions is above all build, and if we add Arduin to the mix... then we're looking at a pretty diverse scene, no?

Also, Cyberpunk. R.Talsorian started in Santa Cruz in the late 1980's, then moved to Berkeley when CP took off.

zomben · July 26, 2007, 11:30:50 AM

Quote from: Settembrini@Pierce: California is obvious and easy to explain. Berkeley even moreso. I wasn´t implying anything besides that regarding Californian games.

Please explain further?

Spike · July 26, 2007, 12:00:26 PM

Quote from: zombenAlso, Cyberpunk. R.Talsorian started in Santa Cruz in the late 1980's, then moved to Berkeley when CP took off.

Really? I always thought Pondsmith was a Washingtonian from the get go? I could drive to R.Talsorian headquarters in about an hour... maybe less.

Or am I really, desperately, lost on this?

zomben · July 26, 2007, 12:05:08 PM

Quote from: SpikeReally? I always thought Pondsmith was a Washingtonian from the get go? I could drive to R.Talsorian headquarters in about an hour... maybe less.

Or am I really, desperately, lost on this?

When I worked at Chaosium in the late 1980's/early 1990's, I used to go visit, Mike, Dave Ackerman, etc. at their office in Berkeley all the time. He was right next to the Chessex/Berkeley Game Distributors warehouse.

Ronin · July 26, 2007, 12:29:42 PM

Quote from: Serious PaulThey have two Con's that I know about here in Michigan The Capital Area Gamers and of course UCON down UofM way. I always wanted one over here in GR. I'd help organize something like that.

And after Uncle Sam's Misguided Children was done with me I'm all sorts of organizational!

When and where does the Capital Area Gamers take place?

Pierce Inverarity · July 26, 2007, 12:30:40 PM

He* works for Microsoft now, right? So he would have moved his old office near his new job. If so, what would surprise me is that there is still an office at all, given the non-state of R. Talsorian.

*Edit: "He" being Mike Pondsmith.

zomben · July 26, 2007, 12:33:36 PM

Quote from: Pierce InverarityHe* works for Microsoft now, right? So he would have moved his old office near his new job. If so, what would surprise me is that there is still an office at all, given the non-state of R. Talsorian.

*Edit: "He" being Mike Pondsmith.

Yes, from what I understand, the R.Tal offices are up in Washington now. I don't think Mike works for Microsoft anymore, however. Last I heard, he was doing freelance consulting work for the games industry.

Pierce Inverarity · July 26, 2007, 12:36:11 PM

Quote from: zombenPlease explain further?

He seems to think that all early Bay Area gamers/designers were proto-swinesque gonzo stoners.

There may be a tiny grain of truth here, but it's a shaky foundation for some vast theoretical edifice.

Serious Paul · July 26, 2007, 12:36:45 PM

Quote from: RoninWhen and where does the Capital Area Gamers take place?

Hold on let me look it up- I know it's in Lansing, at the MSU Student Union-here is their site, which doesn't have the Con dates up right now, but they do have other game days.

I want to say there's one in the fall, and summer-but it's been a while since I lived over there, and went.

I know a few of the game stores right down by campus have game days as well, and have adverts. I also signed up for their mailing list way back, and they mail notices for free.

Settembrini · July 26, 2007, 12:46:55 PM

Quote from: Pierce InverarityHe seems to think that all early Bay Area gamers/designers were proto-swinesque gonzo stoners.

There may be a tiny grain of truth here, but it's a shaky foundation for some vast theoretical edifice.

NONONO!

It just needs no explanation why there´s a hotbed of activity near such a large University. THE University at Berkeley.

But Normal, Illinois?

Pierce Inverarity · July 26, 2007, 12:48:13 PM

Oh.

Ronin · July 26, 2007, 01:05:23 PM

Quote from: Serious PaulHold on let me look it up- I know it's in Lansing, at the MSU Student Union-here is their site, which doesn't have the Con dates up right now, but they do have other game days.

I want to say there's one in the fall, and summer-but it's been a while since I lived over there, and went.

I know a few of the game stores right down by campus have game days as well, and have adverts. I also signed up for their mailing list way back, and they mail notices for free.

Hmm... I never attended a CARP event, or game before. Which is probably pretty sad being I live in the lansing area. But I never really been one for cons, and association's in the past. I find my interest in them growing.