TempleCon

History
TempleCon is a multi-genre retro-futurism-themed gaming, literary, and arts convention held annually in Warwick, Rhode Island. The first TempleCon occurred on January 27, 2006 at the Holiday Inn (now the Providence Hilton) in Providence, Rhode Island. In May 2006, the staff relocated the venue of the 2007 event to the Westin Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. TempleCon 2007 was successfully held at that location, and nearly tripled the attendance from its first year. In 2008 and 2009, TempleCon was held at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Providence, RI. Due to a significant amount of attendance growth at the 2009 convention, TempleCon has since moved again to the convention-focused venue of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Providence-Warwick located in Warwick, Rhode Island, which hosted the event for the first time in 2010. TempleCon is currently set to run at the Crowne Plaza through 2013.

Currently in its seventh year, directors Grant Garvin and Madame Ximon founded TempleCon in an attempt to offer a more organic, attendee-focused type of convention experience in contrast to that of the popular expo-focused events such as the Penny Arcade Expo or Gen Con. Rather than focusing on a commercial industry-driven event, TempleCon instead has fostered a "party-like" atmosphere aimed at mature gamers and non-gamers alike. In 2008, the organizers introduced a steampunk theme to the convention, with the aim of eventually focusing primarily on steampunk-oriented games and events, as well as related performance, music, artwork and costuming. In 2009 this theme was greatly expanded to cover other forms of retro-futurism, and since then the event has expanded significantly in both size and scale in terms of serving this genre of speculative fiction.
Events and Focus
TempleCon typically covers all genres of electronic, non-electronic, casual, and hobby games. It has hosted a number of very high profile competitive events, including drawing the largest participant numbers in the world for the Privateer Press published WARMACHINE and HORDES miniatures wargames and the annual North American Diplomacy Federation Grand Prix Tournament. TempleCon also features a large video gaming lounge with electronic gaming equipment including video gaming consoles, personal computers, and arcade games. The event has become a popular location for casual competition for players and teams of both fighting games and first person shooters who plan on competing in other professional events later in the year.
The convention also has a strong arts, literary, and performance focus, and draws writers, artists, musicians, and dancers from all over the US. Panels are a significant part of TempleCon, and cover a variety of topics related to retro-futurism, gaming, literature, history, and humanities.
TempleCon 2012 is focused on an Apocalypse theme, featuring a rich array of designs, games, art, and music catering to a raygun gothic apocalyptic theme. Events reflecting this theme include a "Ball at the End of the World" gala, a collection of retro-futurist dance performances entitled "Bombshell: Visions of the Apocalypse," as well as a fashion show, "Apparel for the Apocalypse," featuring raygun gothic and apocalypse-themed designs by local and regional fashion designers.
Guests
TempleCon has hosted a number of guests of honor from the gaming industry and literary and arts communities. Past guest artists, writers, and performers have included Lars Grant-West, Dave Seeley, Cyril Van Der Haegen, Heather V. Kreiter, Rick Sardinha, Dan Brandt, Kevin Clark, Quinton Hoover, Geek Woman, Rebecca Guay, CJ & Erica Henderson, Leanna Renee Hieber, G.D. Falksen, Kelley Hensing, George Higham, Jason Soles, David Carl, Jack Coleman, Nicole Vega, Robert Tritthardt, Marc17, Anita Arora, The Rhode Island Pirate Players, Ela Rogers, Ameena, Troupe Moirae, Neylan, Tempest, Paloma, Samara, Rory Raven, Sasquatch and the Sick-a-billys, The Dirge Carolers, DJ Delicti, The Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band, and The Penny Dreadfuls.
Guests for 2012 include writer Ay-leen the Peacemaker, performance artists The Wandering Legion of the Thomas Tew, Neo-Vaudevillian improv duo Mr. Saturday & Sixpence, writer and game designer Jason Soles, writer Nic Vega, writer C.J. Henderson, writer Simon Berman, writer Leanna Renee Hieber, writer Margaret Killjoy, dancer Ameena, dancer Samara, dancer Neylan, dancer and designer Tempest, dancer Samara, dancers Troupe Moirae, dancer Bettysioux Taylor, artist and performer Dr. Grymm, writer and mentalist Rory Raven, and Privateer Press' Lyle Lowery, Ed Bourelle, Will Shick, and Jason Martin. Musical guests include Frenchie and the Punk, Psyche Corporation, Eli August, Lunares, Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers, Muse en Lystrala, DJ ZNUH, and DJ Black/Mail.

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