Gen Con Files For Chapter 11

Heartless Gamer writes to tell us that Gen Con LLC announced late last week that they have filed for Chapter 11. This move will not affect the still profitable Gen Con Indy event which will still happen August 14-17, 2008. "This action became necessary as a result of significant unforeseen expenses associated with attempts to expand its core business to encompass externally licensed events. [...] The protections afforded by Chapter 11 will allow Gen Con to further its efforts to address its liquidity needs, preserve value for its creditors and explore strategic alternatives for the business." Evan writes to add that this is the result of LucasFilm suing GenCon.

Re:d20

[gEvil (beta)]

from the missed-their-saving-throw dept.

I guess Gen Con failed the saving throw.

Yeah, we got the joke the first time.

Re:This is a result of Lucasfilm litigation

[Otter]

2. Gen Con did not give auction proceeds to Make-A-Wish as they had agreed to do ($150,000 in damages)

If true, which may well not be the case, that's got to have a pretty big load of bad karma attached to it...

Re:What the hell is a Gen Con

[Anonymous Coward]

Gen Con is one of the oldest, biggest, and most prestigious gaming conventions in the world.

I'm not the OP either, but can't help thinking this is a use of "prestigious" that I've never seen before.

Re:Why am I not surprised?

[Sitnalta]

Well how do you know all convention organizers are thieves and liars? Do you know them? Just because some conventions are questionably run doesn't mean all of them are. Every aspect of PAX isn't personally run by Gabe & Tycho, but they still call the shots. So if there was anything shady going on they would, and have, excise it immediately.

Re:I guess ill add lucasfilms

[Fulminata]

Why? GenCon has had ten months to uphold their part of a deal which included donating proceeds to charity. If they haven't done so by now, then I'd say that legal action was the appropriate course for Lucasfilm to take.

Just because I might like going to GenCon doesn't change that.

Re:I guess ill add lucasfilms

[Anonymous Coward]

Why? Well, for starters i don't believe in IP rights.

Er... what?

Lucasfilms shouldn't sue GenCon LLC for allegedly not turning over money specifically raised for certain causes at auction because you don't believe in IP rights?

Hell, $150k of it was supposedly auction money for MakeAWish.

"I'm sorry, little boy with terminal cancer. You don't get your wish because I don't believe in IP rights!" That's cold, dude. Also completely nonsensical. Someone got the auction money. If it was raised in a charity's name, it should have gone to the charity. That's nothing to do with IP.

Re:I guess ill add lucasfilms

[Isca]

ummm... for what? For tuning over their property to Gen Con to be auctioned off (with a big chunk going to charity)

This part of the lawsuit is pretty cut and dried. LucasFilms gives Gen Con LLC property, property is auctioned for $$, $$'s are not distributed as agreed before auction.