This weekend, people will come to RPI from all over the Capital Region (and farther away) for two days of anime, gaming, and science fiction. Their destination is Genericon XIV, the annual convention held by the Rensselaer Science Fiction Association. "It’s 48 hours for people to come and be incredibly geeky," says Chris Gill, chair of the Genericon Committee.
Genericon was first held on the RPI campus in 1985, and it was so named because it is a generic convention. Attendees can play video games, watch anime, participate in live-action role-playing games, see what vendors in the sci-fi genre have to offer, and even buy swords.
This year, the Genericon Committee has made a few changes. Ticket prices have gone down, thanks to new subsidies from RSFA and the E-Board. Also, Genericon events will also take place in DCC 308 and 318 for the first time. These rooms will be used for showing anime and science fiction films when 308 is not in use by UPAC Cinema. In addition, the finals of a new video game tournament will be held there.
This year, the Genericon viewing rooms will show around 200 hours of anime. "The Irresponsible Captain Tylor," "Hand Maid May," "Cowboy Bebop," "Outlaw Star," and "Lain" are among the featured series. Attendees can also watch such stand-alone anime movies as Mononoke Hime, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Tonari no Totoro, as well as several original video animations.
Another major feature of this year’s convention is the role-playing. Featured guest Aetherco will run one of their popular existing games and play-test a new game before it is released. Also highlighted is the "Build Your Own Live-Action Role-Playing Game" workshop, which returns this year with hosts Don Ross and Josh Brandt. Participants in this workshop will create a game of their own and run it later in the con.
Gill says the goal of Genericon is not to make money—breaking even is the only monetary goal of the committee. "People get in, have a good time; that’s all we care about."
