'What Do I Gnome?' is a new weekly column by retailer Pat Fuge, who owns Gnome Games, a two-store chain in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  This week, Fuge gives us his observations from GenCon, the nation's largest game show:

 

As the owner of a couple of game stores I've got a bit of a different viewpoint when we go to GenCon--we watch the customers and how they react just as much as we watch the games the manufacturers are trying to create excitement for.  This year we took 35 customers with us and listened to their perceptions on the long bus ride home. While not all encompassing, here are a few of the comments and my take on them.

 

New Games - A couple of gems stood out as something with a lot more potential for the family oriented retailer than any other.  They include -

 

Run fer your Life Candyman by Smirk & Dagger - Here's a milk and cookies game that has phenomenal Christmas potential.  We'll be holding Run fer your Life  - Milk and Cookie nights for kids and parents starting in late November.  It should be good for quite a few new customers and sales of games because people will have fun in our store.  Games like this are few and far between.

 

Eco-Fluxx by Looney Labs - This game will be released in late September and has a lot of potential for the eco-conscious crowd.  The teachers we have on staff have analyzed the game and found it hit a lot of concepts and interactions required by state educational standards.  I'll be marketing this one to every nature center, biology teacher and ecological group I can find. 

 

Axis & Allies Miniatures by Wizards of the Coast - The few historical miniature players that went with us are really excited about this game.  We have a growing historical miniature community that is more excited about getting pre-painted miniatures for their other games than about the game play, but it was the one thing they pre-ordered after coming back.

 

Nightmare before Christmas by NECA - This one was a favorite for the girls and former Magi Nation players.  I don't know about the long-term viability of the game but it was at least noticed by the players to the point of several full box purchases.  It could have some Halloween/Christmas potential that we can work with.

 

Other observations about GenCon 2005 from the players--

 

AEG and L5R - we have to say thanks for some really great events.  Based on our player feedback the storyline event of Lotus - Dark Lotus was one of the hottest topics n the planet.  Too bad the tournament software didn't work quite as well as was predicted. 

 

RPGA Events - Some good and not so good - The Living Greyhawk Special was really great - perhaps one of the best adventures in recent memory.  The definitive announcement that Living Force will end after Winter Fantasy was expected but signals the final end to the Star Wars RPG support from WotC.  This was a blow to the recent converts to Living Force who have bought in to the campaign after Revenge of the Sith. 

Swag - Not a lot of free stuff compared to other years.  While I realize it's a product of the constricting market, perhaps it will lead to some smarter use of marketing and promotional dollars in the future.  I'd love to see posters and play mats that are designed to be book covers as well.  How else can you get your product featured in almost every classroom in the country while being carried by customers that at least think your product is cool?