Visiting the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse over the weekend, one might think they’ve been transported into a sci-fi or fantasy world, with people everywhere dressed in robes, carrying swords, or donning armor. In reality, the almost 80 thousand square foot space hosted New York’s largest gaming convention, RetroGameCon.
The three-day expo has run annually for twelve years, partnering with comic bookstores, retro game shops, and even music venues across Central New York.
Event Coordinator Nathan Grant said the convention was established to connect gamers in the region.
“RetroGameCon began as basically a bunch of like-minded, nerdy individuals who wanted to come together and celebrate a hobby they loved,” Grant said. “And the first year was only about 500-600 people at a little rental space at Driver's Village and it's grown into this big convention that it is today.”
RetroGameCon had 10,000 attendees this year, and guests said the convention seems to grow every year.
While the Syracuse convention expands, other video game conventions like Pittsburgh Comic Con, Idaho’s Fandemonium, and the former largest gaming convention in the country, E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), have shut down.
Event coordinator Grant credited the con’s smaller scale for its growth.
“We have a nice balance where it's growing and getting busy enough where you can meet big celebrities who come here, you can buy stuff at our vendor hall, but the lines aren't overwhelmingly long where you're probably only going to be able to have time to check out so many things with how long the lines take,” he said.
Isaiah Escalante is a combat medic and cosplayer from Fort Drum, an hour north of Syracuse. Last year was his first time attending the expo. He said he returned for the diversity of activities available.
“RetroGamesCon actually has things to do, like there's all these games, there's a lot of competitions, there's cosplay, speed runs, just a whole lot of free play too, so it's awesome.” he said, while holding a horned helmet under his arm.
Jon St. John, the voice of 1996’s Doom, one of the video game industry’s first voice-acted titles, hosted a panel of other actors. It was his second time attending the convention.
“I'm very happy to be a return guest,” he said. “This is one of the best cons I've ever attended.”
Beyond their favorite character’s actors, convention visitors were entertained by an arcade, a retro computer area, and a tabletop roleplaying room. In one room, armor-clad Live Action Role Players (LARPers) dueled each other with foam weapons.
The convention also featured independent game developers from Syracuse and beyond.
Employee of Philadelphia-based indie game company Retroware, Patrick Farrell, an employee of Philadelphia-based indie game company Retroware, said they travel to Syracuse every year.
“We like to come out to the community and show off our games, because our games are specifically focused [on] this group,” he said.
Syracuse is gradually building a reputation as a gaming industry starter market. SUNY Polytechnic Institute sponsored RetroGameCon, with the convention highlighting the school’s interactive game and media design program. One of last year’s sponsors, Syracuse University, recently launched a new Esports center and academic programs. Both programs signal to convention goers that the video game industry is a feasible, even growing, career path.
During the three-day event, coordinators said RetroGameCon generated an estimated two to three million dollars in revenue for the city of Syracuse.
The convention is held every October. For more information, visit the organization page.
