Magic: The Gathering to Celebrate 25 Years at Gen Con

INDIANAPOLIS (June 28, 2018) Magic: The Gathering will commemorate its 25th Birthday on August 2-5 in Indianapolis at Gen Con, North America’s largest and longest-running tabletop convention. Making an international splash at Gen Con in 1993, Magic: The Gathering has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 100 booster releases, printings in eleven languages, and more than 20,000 unique cards. At Gen Con 2018, Magic will give back to the gaming community with a host of planned events, tournaments, and surprises.

“We are thrilled to see Magic’s exciting plans for 2018,” said David Hoppe, Gen Con President. “25 years ago, Magic’s debut at Gen Con changed the course of gaming history, and we’re eager to see not only what they have planned for this year, but for the next 25 years of Magic: The Gathering.”

Magic’s 2018 presence at Gen Con will include hundreds of events, including Learn-to-Play programming, competitive drafts, and signature offerings that highlight the 25th Birthday of the original tradeable card game.

Events include:

?     Magic’s 25th Birthday Championship- Eight qualifier events, open to all attendees, will take place over the weekend that will culminate in a Sunday eight-player event which will feature Beta boosters from Magic’s first year of existence.
?     Magic Panel- Attendees can learn about Magic’s history and glimpse its future at a ticketed, free panel.? Celebrate Magic’s 25th birthday with its creators! Come join us and members of Magic’s R&D team as they talk about their personal history with the game and where they see it in the next 25 years. Get a look behind the scenes at Wizards and learn about their journey from being fans of the game to creating it. Stick around for a Q+A session with our guests!
?     Multi-Player Events- The more players, the more fun! Multiplayer events will include Battlebond 2HG, Wizards Tower, Trios, and Grand Melee. These are great for parent & child teams!
?     Constructed Events- Great prizes await at Standard, Modern, Legacy, and Vintage events.
?     On-Demand Programming- Round-the-clock Magic including Core 2019 Drafts, Chaos Drafts, 2HG Drafts, Commander play, and TURBO TOWN events.
?     Weekend-Long Surprises- The Wizards of the Coast team will have some surprises in store all-weekend, and gamers should keep on the lookout for giveaways on social media, around the convention center, and in Magic’s play areas.

About Gen Con LLC
Gen Con LLC produces the largest consumer hobby, fantasy, science fiction, and adventure game convention in North America, Gen Con, The Best Four Days in Gaming!™. Founded in 1968 and acquired in 2002 by founder and former CEO of Wizards of the Coast, Peter Adkison, the company is headquartered in Seattle and takes place each August in Indianapolis.

About Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast brings people together through their shared love of games. Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and other Wizards games are enjoyed by friends around the world, both at gaming tables and on digital platforms. We bring together world-class creators in game design, worldbuilding, fantasy art, and interactive events to create unforgettable moments. Wizards of the Coast is a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS). For more information, visit www.wizards.com

Event to Support “It’s My City” Campaign with New Efforts

FOR RELEASE – April 18, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS (April 18, 2018) Gen Con, the largest and longest-running gaming convention in North America, has announced a multi-year sustainability campaign that will feature several 2018 components, including the reduction of millions of pages of paper and paper waste, upcycling single-year signage into collector’s items, new “unboxing stations” for the recycling of game packaging, testing of digital ticketing, and support for food rescue efforts. This on-going sustainability initiative supports Indianapolis’ “It’s My City” campaign and the company hopes to provide a template for sustainability initiatives for other conventions and events as well.

“Just as Indianapolis loves welcoming Gen Con to our city each year, Gen Con has shown their commitment to Indianapolis – working to lessen their environmental impact and actively participate in the betterment of our community,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “This year, as Gen Con proclaims ‘It’s My City,’ I encourage all local organizations to take ownership of the place we call home, and join in our efforts to create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful Indianapolis.”

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Second Helpings and The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund Selected

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS (March 16, 2018) Gen Con, the longest running game convention in North America, has chosen Second Helpings and The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund as its Official Charity Partners for 2018. In the past, the convention officially collaborated with one philanthropic organization each year. As part of this agreement, both organizations will receive the 2018 proceeds from Gen Con’s longstanding charity events, including an auction, a balloon sculpture, and the popular “Cardhalla,” a giant destruction of card structures.

“By featuring both of these deserving groups we hope to bring awareness to charities in both the Indianapolis and greater gaming communities,” said David Hoppe, president of Gen Con. “The generosity of Gen Con attendees has made a huge difference for charity partners in the past and we’re looking forward to supporting Second Helpings and The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund in reaching their fundraising goals.”

Gen Con, which celebrated its 50^th convention in 2017, has taken place in Indianapolis since 2003. During its time in Indy Gen Con has raised more than $260,000 for local charity partners.

“As Second Helpings celebrates our 20^th anniversary we are delighted to partner with Gen Con as an Official Charity Partner,” said Katie Prine, senior director of philanthropy at Second Helpings. “Like Gen Con, we recognize the power in bringing a community together around a passion. Whether you are interested in hunger relief, fighting food waste, or eliminating poverty through culinary job training, we are working on all three. Second Helpings staff and volunteers are excited to welcome Gen Con 2018 attendees to Indianapolis this August, and we extend our gratitude to all attendees for joining the fight against hunger in Central Indiana.”

Last year, approximately 60,000 people attended (turnstile attendance reached 207,979) Gen Con 50, and participated in over 19,000 ticketed events. The convention sold out for the first time in its 50-year history and is expecting to sell out again.

“The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund is thrilled to be this year’s Gen Con charity partner,” said John Kaufeld, board member of The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund. “It’s an honor to have our work celebrated by the people we serve.”

Gen Con will return to Indianapolis on August 2 – 5. Badges are still available and can be purchased at gencon.com

About Gen Con LLC

Gen Con LLC produces the largest consumer hobby, fantasy, science fiction, and adventure game convention in North America, Gen Con, The Best Four Days in Gaming!™. Acquired in 2002 by founder and former CEO of Wizards of the Coast, Peter Adkison, the company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

About The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund

The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund was started in April, 2011, in memory of Jack Vasel, son of Tom Vasel. Tom is an influential voice in the board gaming hobby, and the community rallied around him in his time of need. Amazed by this generosity and kindness, Tom was determined to help others who might undergo similar tragedies. The Fund was formed to collect and distribute financial assistance to members of the public who are part of the gaming community and who have suffered personal hardship. It is our hope and prayer that the Jack Vasel Memorial Fund will provide Jack with a legacy to help out the entire gaming community.

About Second Helpings

Second Helpings, Inc. accepts donated perishable and overstocked food to prepare nutritious meals for thousands of hungry children and adults every day, and distributes them free of charge through local social service agencies in Greater Indianapolis. Second Helpings also trains unemployed and underemployed adults for meaningful careers in the culinary industry.