The opening day of Gen Con brought brisk sales and thronging crowds to the newly expanded Indianapolis Convention Center. While the exhibit floor itself looked to be about the same size as last year, there was a lot more space around the convention center for attendees to spread out and game. More than one booth operator told us of record sales on Thursday, including one that said his booth did more on Thursday in 2011 than it did in all of 2010.
 
Here are a few of our pics of the first day of Gen Con 2011.
 
One of two large Wizards of the Coast statues in the common areas of the show, this one portraying Driz'zt Do'urden.











 
An eclectic costume grouping.













 
This would-be assassin's face might have been hidden, but his great costume is on display.
 











 
A Warhammer 40K grouping.
 








 
This cosplaying fan was rocking out when we saw him.  Party on!
 











 
The Mattel display featured some games that had previously been at Gen Con with the smaller companies that invented them: Apples to Apples and Blokus.
 









 
Go Luigi!














Lego was at Gen Con, promoting its Heroica game.












 
Some of the figures from WizKids’ new Lord of the Rings game.









 
Figures from WizKids’ 2012 Infinity Gauntlet release.













The beautiful Belle -- can her Beast be far behind?













For see more of ICv2's Gen Con 2011 photos:
Part 2
Part 3