The following is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to Genericon and its policies. If you have questions about the convention, please read these first. If your question is not answered here, feel free to contact us.

General Questions

• What is Genericon? Genericon is an anime, science-fiction, and gaming convention located on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus in Troy, New York. It has been running for over twenty years featuring events such as 24-hour anime and science-fiction showings, guest speakers, role-playing games, board games, a 24-hour video gaming room, and more.
• Who runs Genericon? Genericon is run by a volunteer committee of RPI students. The committee is a part of the Rensselaer Science Fiction and Anime Club (RSFA) and the RPI Student Union. The committee is chaired this year by Justin Lavoie.
• When does Genericon happen? This year, Genericon runs from 5 PM on Friday, February 12 to 5 PM on Sunday, February 14. The convention is fully operational the entire time, with a wide variety of things to do at any moment.
• I can't find a hotel. Can I crash at the con? No. Our policy states that we cannot allow anyone to sleep at the convention.

Events and Panels

• What kind of events can I find at Genericon? Genericon is home to a large number of events that cover a wide range of interests. Attendees may enjoy twenty-four hour access to our anime, science-fiction, and video gaming rooms. In addition, we run video game tournaments, role-playing games of both the pen-and-paper and live-action variety, and various other events such as our traditional reading of the fantasy classic, the "Eye of Argon". To round things out, we host panels and lectures on a wide variety of topics, often assissted by guest speakers.
• Can I run an event or a panel at Genericon? Certainly! Any attendee may sign up in advance to run a panel or event at Genericon, pending staff approval. Feel free to contact Marc Ohl (ohlm@rpi.edu), our Head of Operations, if you would like to help with a panel.

Registration

• How much is registration this year? For members of the RPI community, including students, faculty, and staff, the price is ten dollars. For members of the general public, the price is twenty-five dollars.
• Can I pre-register for the convention? Certainly! Pre-registration will open a few months before the date of the convention and will allow you to guarantee yourself admission in advance in the unlikely event that we reach our maximum attendance capacity. In addition, there is a ten dollar discount for members of the general public if you pre-register, bringing the price down to fifteen dollars.
• Can I get a discount if I only come for some of the convention? No. Our policy states that the price of admission does not change over the course of Friday or Saturday. There may be a small decrease in price for those who arrive on Sunday, but the exact discount cannot be determined until then.
• Is there a group discount? No. According to our policies, each person is responsible for the cost of their own badge and, as such, we do not offer discounts for groups.

Minor Attendees

• I am under the age of 18. Can I still attend? Certainly, though with one caveat: you must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian who is legally responsible for you. In addition, some events may be deemed unsuitable for minors.
• My parents can't make it, but I know someone who can vouch for me. Do they count? If you come with a person of at least 21 years of age who is willing to stay with (and take legal responsibility for) you for the entire convention, you may still attend, provided that you remain in their presence at all times.
• I'm the parent of a minor who wishes to attend Genericon. Do I have to stay the entire time? You must be with your child at all times while they attend Genericon. In the event they get separated from you, we will ask for a cell-phone number that we can reach you at so that you may be reunited.
• I'm going to stay with my child but am not really interested in what your convention has to offer. Do I need to pay for my badge? Yes, you must purchase a badge even if you do not intend to participate. Unfortunately, we cannot provide a discount for parents and guardians who do not wish to participate in events at Genericon.

Volunteering with Genericon

• How can I help Genericon? Genericon is always looking for volunteers and staff members to help out with running the convention. Volunteers help out with running anime and science-fiction showing rooms, check badges at doors to events, and help run the gaming room. Staff members are RPI students who help with planning the convention as well as helping to run it.
• What do I get for volunteering? Volunteers are supremely useful to the convention and are rewarded as such. Volunteers receive partial refunds to the price of their badges upon completion of their shifts. Staff members invest a large amount of time in setting up the convention and can receive free admission.
• How do I sign up? Anyone can sign up for a volunteer shift by contacting our registration coordinator, Jeanne Rice (ricej@rpi.edu). Scheduling specific shifts will occur closer to the date of the convention, when the schedule has been more concretely determined. Any RPI student who is interested in becoming a staff member may contact Justin Lavoie (lavoij2@rpi.edu) for more information.

Video Gaming Policy

• How does the 24-hour gaming room work? The gaming room is stocked with a wide variety of consoles, controllers, and games generously loaned to the convention by staff members and attendees. Any attendee can check out equipment, use it in the gaming room, then return it before they leave. As a security measure, all equipment must remain in the gaming room at all times.
• How do I loan equipment to Genericon? Genericon needs to borrow many televisions, gaming systems, controllers, cables, and games to ensure that the gaming room runs at peak efficiency. To loan us equipment, simply drop it off at the convention's Operations center, where it will be registered and transported to the gaming room. At the end of the convention, equipment may be retrieved by the original owners from the gaming room to be taken home.
• Can I bring my own gear for my own use in the gaming room? No. All game systems, controllers, cables, and televisions must be registered with Genericon for the duration of the convention. This means that any personal controllers, consoles, etc. must be left in the gaming room for the duration of the convention. Memory cards and hard drives are the only exception: Genericon neither registers nor keeps track of memory cards and hard drives, so their use is at your own risk.

RPGs and LARPs

• What sort of role-playing games does Genericon host? Genericon hosts several role-playing games of all sorts during the convention. In the past, we have run RPGA events such as Living Greyhawk and Living Forgotten Realms, LARPs run by the local company Foam Brain Productions, and pen-and-paper role-playing games of all sorts. The types of events run are subject to the availability of GMs.
• How do I sign up for a game? Gaming registration is typically run during the convention, though a select few games may require advance sign-ups. Please check this website as the date of the convention grows closer for a schedule of games and more information about registering.
• Can I run a game? Certainly! If you would like to run a pen-and-paper role-playing game or a LARP, please contact Stephen Kohler (kohles@rpi.edu) for more information.

Cosplay

• My cosplay outfit includes a weapon. Can I bring it? All props or ornamental weapons need to be completely harmless. Generally, if the prop can be broken over the head of the person who brings it, it is generally acceptable. Any props or weapons found to be potentially dangerous will be confiscated for the duration of the convention. Specific exceptions may be made for the purposes of the cosplay competition only. For more information, contact Jess Johnson (johnsj12@rpi.edu), our cosplay coordinator.
• My cosplay outfit includes very little fabric. Can I wear it? Most likely not. We do not encourage provocative dress at Genericon and try to maintain a certain level of decency for our attendees. Please keep in mind that there are occasionally children and parents at the convention. As a general rule of thumb, do not wear anything that you would feel uncomfortable wearing while standing outside in the freezing February winds.