Remo Rehder: Spillfestivaler

Boardgaming in Norway is steadily growing, it seems. According to rumors within the industry there was a considerable growth in sales in 2008 in contrast to the bad financial times. Or maybe, just because… who knows.

But what we can register, with joy, is the increased exposure board games are receiving in media, and that new wave of board games seems to manifest itself in two things: many new gaming groups and several cons. Below is a quick rundown of the larger cons in Norway:

• Arcon
Arcon has been – and seems to hold on to the throne of – Norway’s largest con, both in the number of attendees and in the variety of organized gaming and tournaments. The approximately five hundred attendees indulge in four days of more-or-less non-stop gaming where even LARPing is included. Although the con is organized as a member-controlled organization, it originates with and is closely linked to the university in Oslo. The con, which has been around since 1984 and celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009, is scheduled for 24-28 of June.

• Atlanticon
A fairly new con set up by a gaming group in Bergen/Haugesund that has been held at least the last couple of years. This year is a different question since the whole idea behind the con is a ferry travel back and forth between Bergen and Newcastle and this line has been cancelled as of this year. The organizers wish to continue, but in which format or where and when it might be happening this year is still undecided.

• Bergen Spillfestival
More a festival than a con, this is organized by one person in collaboration with the Bergen city council. Most of the repertoire consists of very, maybe too well known, titles and attracts few modern gamers. Bergen Spillfestival has been organized the last two years in August, but the schedule has not yet been set for this year.

• Hexcon
This con was built on the remains of the Hexagon Games Fair that was established in 1984, but which has been organized as Hexcon since 1998. The organizer is the board gaming group Hexagon, which is closely connected to the university in Trondheim. It used to market itself as Norway’s longest running con, but I have not been able to get that verified. The con has not yet been scheduled for 2009, but it normally takes place in late October/early November.

• Mid winter 2
Three different gaming groups are hosting this con together for the second time this year. This con, which was held on the west coast on 19-22 of February, is very much in line with the “normal” cons with tournaments in the more popular games and lots of free playing.

• Mini-Arcon
As the name suggests, this is a smaller, winter version of Arcon and takes place on the 28th of February and 1st of March.

• NM i Monopol
Hasbro has been organizing the World Championships in Monopoly for some time, every fourth year I believe, and this year it’s on again. The event is set up over three Saturdays in March where the winner of the Norwegian final will be attending the world final in Las Vegas in October.

• Regncon
Regncon is organized by members and built up in the same fashion as its siblings Arcon and Hexcon. It takes place in late summer (usually September), but has yet to be scheduled for this year.

• Spillathon
Spillathon, a con that was held for the first time in 2008, will be organized again for 2009, even though the dates are yet to be set. It should be during spring. This con is trying to combine exposure to the general public, in addition to giving the “gamers” and wanna-be designers a chance to learn something about the industry by inviting persons who the organizers would find interesting to hold seminars. Last year, the guests of honor were Barbara and Dirk Henn, while this year’s guest is set but not yet official. More info will follow.

• Spillorama
The guys behind one of Norway’s best online shops and Piet Skjeveland are known to many gamers world wide – mainly due to their frequent visits to Essen. They have their own little Gathering of Friends called Spillorama, which was first organized in 2004 and has been growing in prestige and attention for most gamers in Norway – so much so that it has reached its limits as to how many may attend. The event used to take place in September, but it has been moved to mid-August the last couple of years. Dates for 2009 have not been set yet. Some of the organizers’ foreign friends also find their way to this very well organized con.

• Spilluka i Arendal
Much in the same fashion as Bergen Spillfestival, this was based around one person’s dedication, but today it’s a collaboration between that person and the county council. There ends the similarities, though, as Spilluka is a much more gamer-oriented con; while the main target is teenagers, adults are more than welcome. It takes place during the winter holidays, so this year it’s scheduled for 2-8 of March.

• Wårcon
A con I know very little about, but it’s apparently a con for Warhammer and related systems. The homepage gives no info on this year’s event, but signals from elsewhere have suggested that it will be organized in 2009. If it does, expect it to happen sometime during spring.

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