CMON Feature Friday: The Pros of Cons

CMON Expo kicks off in a week in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s three days of incredible gaming with some of the biggest names in the industry. Attendees will get a chance to rub elbows with media personalities such as Tom Vasel, Zee Garcia, and Sam Healey from The Dice Tower, Rodney Smith and Pep MacDonald from Watch It Played, and Brittanie Boe from The Game Wire. There will also be a plethora of designers on hand, such as Eric M. Lang, Fel Barros, and Richard Launius 

Conventions are a great way to get together with other fans of the hobby and try out some of the latest and greatest board games to hit the market. For CMON Feature Friday, we decided to take a deeper look at CMON Expo and some of the other big events on the gaming calendar. 

CMON Expo 

As you’d expect, CMON Expo is a great way to get caught up on the awesome CMON games coming out in the next 12 months. But that’s not all! There are countless events to keep attendees engaged over the weekend. Because, CMON Expo is a smaller con, there is a chance to really connect with the other attendees and get some serious (or not so serious) gaming in. 

CMON Expo is the start of the road to the Crystal Brush Awards, a miniature painting competition with its finals held at Adepticon each year. Winners of the competition at CMON Expo will be awarded airfare and entry to the finals of the 2018 Crystal Brush Awards.  

If painting isn’t your thing, there are a number of different events to grab your interest, including tournaments, expert panels, and national championships. CMON Expo definitely has something for every board game and miniatures fan!  

CMON Expo runs from May 12-14 this year. Find more information on the event here.  

Origins Game Fair 

Featuring five full days of gaming, Origins is one of the longer conventions of the year. Columbus, Ohio becomes the destination for gamers from around the world. Origins has all of the big events you’d expect to see at a major convention, exhibitors, tournaments, releases, costume contests, and more. 

One of the defining parts of this con is the massive open play area. Origins really has a focus on sitting down with people and playing games. Less hectic than the hustle and bustle of Gen Con, if you’re looking to connect with people, Origins might be the destination for you.  

One of the highlights of the show is the Origins Awards. Presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Art and Design, the Origins Awards are given out in different categories including Family Games, Miniatures Games, and of course, Game of the Year.  

CMON will be in Columbus running various events, including a large demo area, where you’ll be able to try out some our different lines of games.  

This summer, Origins runs from June 14-18. Find more information on the event here.  

Gen Con 

Gen Con is one of the oldest, and certainly the biggest board game convention in North America. It rivals Essen Spiel in Germany for the biggest in the world. Established in 1967 (making this year its 50th anniversary!) by Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax as a wargame convention, it was first held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which is where the name came from. Gen Con has moved around a bit, but since 2003, it’s been held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Each August, tens of thousands of board game fans descend on the city for what’s touted as the best four days in gaming.  

If you’ve never been to Gen Con, it is definitely worth checking out. The vibe is very positive, and despite huge crowds, everyone is usually in a very happy to just be around so many like-minded folks.  

Gen Con is huge for new releases, with many companies, big and small, planning their schedule around the convention. Of course, CMON will be there for Gen Con with a full demo area and a store to pick up the latest titles.  

This year, Gen Con runs from August 17-20. Find more information on the event here

Board Game Geek Con 

Board Game Geek(BGG) Con is one of the best gaming events of the year. Like Origins, it isn’t too big, and that smaller size really allows people to get in some serious gaming. Dallas, Texas is the destination for BGG Con, and with all the amazing events, tournaments, celebrity guests, and more, it’s worth the pilgrimage, at least once. 

Rich Sommer is known for his role in Mad Men, but he has also become one of the leading celebrity voices in the board gaming world. He names BGG Con as the one ‘Can’t miss’ event on his gaming calendar.  

Its laid-back atmosphere and intimate size means that you’ll see the same people over and over again and get lots of games in with them throughout the con. 

One of the highlights of the show is the variety of dexterity games located between to the exhibit hall and the main gaming hall. These games are a perfect respite when your brain needs a rest after hours of complex strategy.  

The closing ceremonies are always an exciting event with prizes, speeches, and a general outpouring of love from the community. Being there makes you proud to be a part of such a wonderful hobby. 

BGG Con runs from November 15-19, 2017. Find more information here

This is just a small sampling of some of the different gaming events that occur every year. There are countless conventions that offer people the opportunity to meet new people, play new games, and connect over the hobby that we love. Whether you go to a massive four day event or a simple local one day con, get out there and game this summer! 

CMON Feature Friday: The Pros of Cons

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