Is Brisbane the geek capital of the world?
The city can surely now lay claim to the title, with the Supanova pop culture exhibition and annual Zombie Walk to be followed next month by the world's largest gaming convention, Gen Con.
Held in the USA for the past 40 years, Gen Con is one of the biggest events for the city of Indianapolis, with attendance figures rivalling the famous Indy 500 motorsport event.
Brisbane Gen Con Director Ian Houlihan said he expected more than 10,000 gamers to pack the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre when it is held on July 3-6.
"We've got in excess of 400 events that we are running across the show which is more than any other event in Australia does," Mr Houlihan said.
The convention is not simply a business venture for Mr Houlihan, a retired police officer. The event promoter has been a hardcore gamer since the early 1980s, sharing the passion with his wife.
"I don't think there is a game I haven't tried. I started back when I was in grade eight as a role player in 1984," he said.
"After I finished school I got into Magic The Gathering , which was a card game, then I got involved in a number of clubs that were board game based.
"I'm also a hardcore computer gamer as well."
Unfortunately, it seems there will be no representatives from the world's most popular online role playing game (RPG), World of Warcraft , which has more than nine million subscribers playing in Europe, the USA and Asia.
"We're talking at the moment with Activision (which owns Warcraft ) and right now it might be a last minute addition," Mr Houlihan said.
"Being the first year its been very much a challenge because we have to prove ourselves, there are already existing events that are getting the sort of numbers we are hoping for ... it has been a challenge to get people to come along."
A unique element of the convention will be a writer's conference for budding fantasy authors, with seminars and workshops by some of the industries biggest authors including Kylie Chan, Robin Laws and Sean Williams.
"We've got a number of authors coming from the US, and one from the UK we are trying to (secure) who does a lot of Warhammer 40K novels," Mr Houlihan said.
"They can talk to people who might be interested in writing for the industry because obviously any sort of computer game or board game needs to start with an idea."
Sci-fi fans will not be left out, with about 40 representatives of the world's premiere Star Wars costuming group, the 501st legion, assembling in full imperial costume for a marching display during the convention.
Stars of cult sci-fi show Battlestar Galactica , Jamie Callis (Gaius Baltar) and Jamie Bamber (Lee Adama), will also be on hand to chat to fans and sign autographs.
Gen Con will be held in Brisbane at the Convention Centre, Southbank from July 3-6.
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