You know what I find sad?

Agreed. Though saying Anthrocon is "supposed to be" this or that is a tough one not everyone will agree with.

I've found that the social and creative aspects of the fandom are the ones that keep us unique and apart from the rest. It's really disheartening when people eat up their entire weekend doing something they could be doing at home alone and no one would know the difference, though. In the end, know that it will most understandably be the overwhelming majority who has no part in this and leave those who refuse to join in the fun to their own means. No sense forcing one's viewpoint on the other, after all. (Not saying you are mind you!)

Agreed with your general sentiment and most of what NallTWD said. But then again, people will do what they want. And there are some who genuinely do not want to really fraternize with others, and would simply like to engage in the activity they enjoy most: multiplayer gaming. For them, having someone sit next to them to play is much more desirable than online play, and maybe they're too shy to go out and meet people.

Anthrocon, to put it mildly, is a mix of different beliefs and ideas. This is just part of the mix.

-There is no truth

It could also be that they may have had the intent on doing other things, but since they are so into gaming, they get engrossed in it and before they know it the day is over. I can remember one time (not at AC) saying "Well, I'll play for half an hour to kill some time" and wound up playing for almost 2 hours.

People go to AC and other cons for various reasons, but that's kind of the point. Maybe they did meet other people who are into gaming, who knows?

Just thought I'd throw my bit out there ...

I myself like to challenge myself with other gamers (live in the mittle of no where-.-) nice to see a face that I don't already own hard core on super smash bros. mele so I would side kind of (pardon my French) half ass in the topic, but I also love to stay active in thing such as the fur games and love chewing on my ear as much as the next guy (no offense), but there comes a time that one has to stop and think while playing (in order to stop) look at people passing and think what they see in their eyes look around and think OMFG do I do I I I I look like THAT... like the freaking nerd next door then I just put the controller down no matter how good I am and say screw you^^ U can have you're lame victory in your sad little world (some people just might not fit in with others) by the way I only do gaming cause I rule and use it to blow time while I wait 4 something to do at the farm

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shoot now ask..... well NEVER

Maybe they met other people while playing video games in the gaming room. The concepts of sociability and video games are not mutually exclusive.

I agree with your sentiment, I know a guy who came to the con and literally spent the entire time in his room watching TV and movies. He didn't even go out to eat with us, he only left the room once to go commission one artist.

But, it is their vacation, so if they want to spend the whole time gaming, I guess it's their perogative.

Everyone has different things they look forward to during con. I happen to know some very great people who enjoy gaming quite a lot, and one of the things they look forward to at a furry con is to game with their fellow furs.

Remember, what you come to AC for is not necesarrily what everyone comes to AC for. For example, I certainly don't attend furry conventions to poke fun at anyone.

Steve Hopps aka "Simba Lion"
Anthrocon 2007 A/V Director
http://www.anthrocon.org/
E-Mail: smblion@anthrocon.org

Everyone defines heaven using their opinion of what it should be. So to is life, love, and Anthrocon.

I can agree, but I also disagree. I was one of the furres who spent a good deal of time in the gaming room. I had a few reasons for it, too. I did come to AC to socialize and get to know other furries, and that's what I did. The gaming room wasn't merely something to do while I waited for an event or when it was 12 AM with nothing else to do. I was using it as a tool for meeting furries who were interesting in gaming as much as I was. I didn't spent nearly all of my time there, but it was entertaining. It was where I got to meet Mr. Glenn, so I'm happy. On the other end of the spectrum, though, there are some who spent too much time in there.

i wanted to go in there several times but stopped my self and i don't regret it i do regret sleeping in a little as one said "you can crash when you get back AC is only 3 days out of the year i don't want to wast any more than i have too" and he was right
NEXT YEAR I DON'T SLEEP j/k but i am planing to do way more than this year

:edit; although i did have a blast with some friends laughing and joking for an hour in our hotel room watching someone play a Wii if you want to count that:

Well, I suppose what people want to do at the Anthrocon is up to them. I'm not saying that you should force them to enjoy other things or anything. Granted, sometimes they might go a bit too far by ONLY playing the games and doing nothing else for the 'con.
Plus it IS three days, and some people might not have their schedule filled. I may even play a few games myself, to see how good other gamers are, as I like a challenge. I don't want to brag or something, but I'm the gamer-kid that everyone calls a geek and will play any console as long as it has a good game on it.

I'd say Anthrocon is more of a social gathering for people with a common interest or two, as you will find a lot of furry gamers out there.

Although, granted, I haven't actually been to a convention of any sort, so I probably don't know what I'm talking about here. S'cuse my rambling. :3

Furs can do whatever they want (within reason) at Anthrocon. You're there to enjoy yourself. And if that means playing videogames for hours on end, then so be it. Anthrocon is a vacation for many, and for some, playing videogames for hours can be quite liberating.

I'm going to be going to Anthrocon for the very first time in 2008 and I know that it's not just about playing games. It's about meeting friends who enjoy the same things as you and doing things that are related to the convention.

When I go to Anthrocon 2008, I'll be playing video games either not too much or not at all. I'll be doing other things such as participating in the writing programs, looking at other people's art, and meeting friends that I've only known online.

I proply woulent play video games at all unless they have karokoe or gatair hero!

I guess I would be one of those "young people" who "spent quite a long time" in the gaming room. Why? Well, it was the only place I could find furs I relate to, really. I was more social in that room than any other, I was talking to people all the time (until they kicked us all out when they started a tournament - but thats besides the point) and having a great time rocking out with other furs on Guitar Hero or DDR. In fact, few other conventions were as fun as that one room at Anthrocon.

I don't knock other furs for spending all their time in the dealer's den or headless lounge or "enjoying the atmosphere", so I'd appreciate not being told I should stay out of the gaming room. :3

As programming director, I've struggled with thoughts such as this as well. But I look at things this way. Folks are coming to Anthrocon to do a variety of different things. Would those in the game room find it odd that some poeple may spend the bulk of their time behind a puppet stage? Perhaps it's strange to them that some people would choose to wear a fursuit that completely covers their face for much of the convention. Maybe some find it odd that people would spend the weekend drawing instead of talking to friends. Perhaps those attending have never had the opportunity to play a certain game and want to try it. There is no right or wrong piece of programming that needs to be attended.

The goal of Anthrocon is simple. To provide an environment where people who enjoy the furry fandom can get congregate, share ideas, and generally have a fun weekend. If that entails people playing videogames all weekend....then so be it.

I'd like to think that we provide enough variety so that anyone who attends will be able to find enjoyable programming so that they want to come back the following year. We're a diverse group. I believe that's our strength.

KP

To me, Anthrocon is a relaxicon. I didn't go to the game room much, but I was at the computers for a few hours. Actually, I was at the computer room connecting to furrymuck. (If you take a look at the recent West Corner of The Park http://www.graphxpress.com/cgi-bin/wcotp.cgi, you will see a cartoon that seemed extremely appropriate.)

To paraphrase Cyndi Lauper, furs just want to have fun.

It is possible to spend too much time at one activity at the convention, and then feel like a sap for not experiencing at least a taste of the rest of it; and I think almost everyone feels afterwards that, yes, they could have "socialised" more. As a group, I would say that we have a major tendency to be "undersocialised" with the effects following us into our daily, mundane lives.

The dealers and the artists socialise, mostly with each other; it is a chance to catch up with friends and peers who may or may not have had the chance to go to the convention 2 months' prior in whatever city. They tend to stick together after the dealer's Room closes, dining together, seeing the local sights, and then doing "Homework" - sketchbooks and commissions - up in their rooms, almost harkening back to the original Furry Room Parties at SciFi conventions. But a common lament is how a dealer or artists wishes that he or she could actually Go to the Convention, instead of seeing just a teeny part of it from their business table.

The Fursuiters also tend to stick together, the camaraderie of the shared performance experience shaping their friendships. That is sort of the informal "rite of passage" to be accepted into the fraternity, you have to have worn a suit up on stage for a masquerade, at least once. Standing in front of an audience is never an "easy" thing to do, and doing it as the focus of critical attention on either your suit or performance, or both, is really a trial by fire. But except for SIGs and panels dealing with performance, construction, care and cleaning, animatronics, etc, you really don't see or mix with suiters, when they are out-of-suit.

My particular focus at the conventions is the Art Show. I honestly haunt the place, and am amazed that I continually see things that I missed in earlier visits, right up until the closing hour. When you are walking through the gallery, checking on bids, debating bids, contemplating bidding on additional art, you are sort of oblivious to your fellow visitors/bidders (with a few exceptions, your personal "competition", say). Perhaps you go back to the dealer's room, and ask an artist if there are prints of the original art, in case you are outbid. You might leave a complement with an artist or two - but aside from that, or the after-hours artists' reception, if you happen to be an artist or dealer or Supersponsor, you don't even get to socialise with the makers of your desire. Artists are pleased to meet the people who are buying their artwork, but such folk are rarely invited to an artists' jam or room party - it would tend to kill the creative and sharing atmosphere of the thing. Patrons are not artists' peers.

In the past, when I have had room-mates, they have been more literary, attending the story SIGS, hanging out with the other furry writers, and sampling the music, the food, the photo ops with fursuit performers; I have tended to brood, and make my calculations and plans for the artshow slose and auction which - up until this last year - has always been the highlight of my AnthroCon Experience. This is nobody's fault but my own, and I come into anthrocon unheralded and unnoticed, and leave the same way, hardly leaving a ripple in anyone else's experience. The other important (to me) field that AnthroCon covers, the very small "Lifestyler" track, I have on-line friends in; but I have mostly missed their SIGs, their after-con Outback Steakhouse run, and general RL socialising, to pack up my newly-acquired art, some of which some of them appreciate, but for the most part, that is more of a "fannish" thing to them.

I don't feel bad for the hard-core gamers. I can understand where they are coming from, they stick with the familiar for fear that they will exchange the novel but possibly unpleasant or boring, for the known quantity that is their competitive games. And even in this group, respect is earned by how well you play, and how gracious you are in defeat or as champion.

Let 'em play!