When the sword-and-sorcerer costumes outnumber the Brett Favre garb, that’s a sure sign that a higher power is meddling about in The Land of All Things Packers.
That higher power is the 20,000 gamers, exhibitors and observers who took over the city’s new convention center — the Midwest Express Center — and nearby venues last week for the Gen Con Game Fair ’98. In its 31st year, Gen Con is the largest gaming convention in North America. More than 2,000 strategy, card, role-playing, dice, military history, miniatures, computer, video and arcade games and events were on display. Other sights at the show:
– A line to get an autograph from 24-year-old Alexandra Tydings, who plays Aphrodite on “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Warrior Princess,” stretched a long way.
– Meanwhile, stars of the original “Lost in Space” — June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright — didn’t fare as well in the popularity department. Fans could walk right up to them at the “Lost” booth on the floor of the convention hall. Autographed photographs were going for $20, but Lockhart was selling one from her “personal collection,” picturing her and cast husband Dr. John Robinson (Guy Williams), for $35.
– John de Lancie, who plays “Q” on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine” and “Voyager,” looked rather bored at an exhibitor’s table. Moments later it was announced on the public address that he was available for autographs. Hopefully things got better.
– Many attendees dressed in character: capes, assorted medieval clothes, end-of-the-world radiation suits and bizarre makeup were ample.
– The middle of the floor was dominated by a castle erected by the gaming company TSR, and a nearby robot model promoting Activision’s Heavy Gear 2 towered over attendees.
– Gamers playing card and board games could be found in every corner of all three floors of the convention center. Gaming went ’round the clock from 7 a.m. last Thursday through 5 p.m. Sunday.
