Articles > Gaming Scene

  As the Gathering goes on, I find that I can play fewer and fewer games, and spend more time at long dinners, trips....out....anywhere. Places that aren't in a non-windowed basement ballroom for 8 days. One highlight is The Guard Tower in Columbus. It has been perhaps two years since I've been in a proper game store. This one is remarkably clean, well stocked, and well worth the trip if you re in the area. Other trips were to places with air, sunshine, and beer. (Arrogant Bastard Ale is actually reasonably tasty. We had...

  So, I get to go to this thing every year called the Gathering. If you've heard of it, it is a tiny con of about 300+ people that used to be swathed in secrecy. Dark secrets abound as to what heinous Eurocentric activities occur within its hallowed walls. Within the 300, there lurks names like Days of Wonder, Rio Grande, Alan Moon, Alea, Ravensburger, Eggertspiele, Hans im Gluck, Z-Man games, Zoch, Friedemann Friese, Phalanx Games. They are here. They play a lot of prototypes to get gamer reactions, and play each other's prototypes....

  I have over 3000 games, which is kind of a terrifying sight in person. They take up a renovated 2 car garage, and the unholy rate at which they grew expanded exponentially. Especially as game boxes started getting larger and more frequent. (I fully believe that FFG keeps delaying Reins of Power because they are negotiating with the Post Office for new zip codes for each copy.) Production values and artwork are simply amazing, and large swatches of color adorn the shelves. Then I walk past a tiny filing cabinet with two drawers...

After a few months of heated conflict it is time to check in on the combatants and see what is up with the race to claim the title of TI3 Bad Ass.