After some awful mismanagement and a bit of a hiatus, it looks like GenCon UK, (traditionally the UK's biggest residential board games, card games, miniatures games and roleplaying games convention) is back on for 2004.

This year it's being run by a different group who have licenced the GenCon name from the US owners. They seem to have decided to take the convention back to its roots in this country, and are holding it at a Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset. I think this is a good idea - many of us have fond memories of the early UK GenCons held at the Pontin's camp at Camber Sands in Kent.

I'm currently trying to sort out arrangements to run a bunch of games with a team from the Steve Jackson Games Men in Black volunteer demonstration and convention support team. According to the con web site there will be plenty of other games of all sorts, as well as space to bring and play games of your own.

As with any first-time event, the main issue is one of publicity and attendance. I really hope they can get the word out, and attract a decent number of people to attend. It's much cheaper to attend than the previous GenCon efforts in London and Manchester, and if it is a success it will help to ensure the future of residential gaming events in the UK or the next few years.