Each year we try to identify and highlight some of the best event groups and companies at Gen Con, based on their attendance data.

The requirements for inclusion in the program are pretty strict:

• Tickets turned in for more than 90% of events
  Groups must maintain turn in tickets for more than 90& of their events (i.e. 10 out of 11 events must have some kind of ticket data, even if it’s “0 players showed up”).
  
• Maintain at least an 80% overall attendance rate
  A group's total actual attendance (based on tickets turned in) must be at least 80% of the total maximum number of players, as submitted with the group's events.
  
• 60+ Actual Players
  Groups must run events for a total of at least 60 actual players, based on ticket data.
  
• Discretionary Criteria
  In addition, groups that are eligible for the program as a result of their tickets must still maintain a good working relationship with Gen Con. Specifically, groups must still submit in their events and badge/hotel requests on time (and accurately). We reserve the right to refuse inclusion of a group for any reason, including too many errors during event submission, late requests, excessive complaints, or other significant problems and obstacles.
  

We provide the following benefits to premier groups as a token of thanks and a bit of recognition for their hard work:

• Priority Event Placement 
  Qualifying events will be placed before other events submitted within the same cycle. They would still be subject to the overall cycle format, but would get top priority within each cycle
  
• Event Chart Highlight 
  Event listings for qualified gaming groups would receive the Indy flag icon and release of a separate file consisting of premier (and Gen Con presents) events that still have tickets remaining.
  
• Two Email Blasts 
  Before event pre-registration begins and again before it closes, premier events in general will be promoted in an email blast to attendees, specifically linking to the list of premier events with tickets remaining. Premier events are also often selected for inclusion in email blasts promoting specific events for attendees to check out.
  
• Premier Group Highlights 
  Premier groups can be included in the event highlights online and in the program guide. This is an opportunity for groups to attract new players, as well as a way to provide some recognition and show our appreciation.
  

Most of these benefits are automatic, but we do need premier groups to send us their highlight details by filling out this Google form and emailing their print-quality (300 dpi) logo as a .png file to [email protected].

All details for the premier program are due no later than April 9. Any premier groups that have not provided appropriate details by that point will simply be listed by name.

And now, without further ado, the full list of premier groups for 2017!

• Able Kompanie
  
• Adam's Apple Games
  
• AerodromeAce
  
• AluminumChainmail
  
• And Sewing Is Half the Battle!
  
• Arc Dream
  
• Ares Games
  
• Baldman Games LLC
  
• Bezier Games
  
• Breaking Games
  
• BYOV
  
• Chaos Haunted & Historical Tours
  
• Chrysalis Creative Endeavors
  
• Ck studios
  
• Comedy Rock Geek Enterprises 
  
• Corvus Belli Infinity
  
• Council of Lorien
  
• Creative Arts Teaching Seminars
  
• CU Adventures in Time & Space
  
• Dead Gentlemen Productions
  
• Elder Entertainment
  
• Evil Fleet Productions
  
• Experimental Gamer
  
• Fireside Games
  
• Gale Force Nine
  
• GameWick Games LLC
  
• Goodman Games
  
• Goon Games
  
• Gorilla Games
  
• GreyHawk Reborn
  
• HEX Entertainment
  
• Indiana Landmarks
  
• Indy Brew Bus
  
• Infinite Imaginations, Inc.
  
• Iocane Productions
  
• Iron GM
  
• Lay Waste Games
  
• Maille Man
  
• MAMS Gaming
  
• Mavens
  
• Metalhead Minis
  
• Mind's Eye Society
  
• Misdirected Awesome Games
  
• MU Skulls
  
• Myrmidon Design Bureau
  
• Northern Virginia Gamers (NOVAG)
  
• Novus Ordo Seclorum
  
• Oathbreaker Games
  
• Ottawa Red Shirts
  
• Ozarks RISING
  
• Paladin Miniatures Studio
  
• Palladium Books
  
• Party of One
  
• Pure Steam
  
• SlugFest Games
  
• Spin Master Inc.
  
• Stronghold Games
  
• Tabletop Gaymers
  
• Team Hassenplug
  
• Tenth Imperium
  
• The Continuing Committee
  
• The Escape Room Indy
  
• The Game Crafter
  
• The ONE SHOT Podcast Network
  
• Ulisses Spiele
  
• Under the Mushroom
  
• Urban Myths
  
• US Infinity Warcors
  
• Van Ryder Games
  
• Vesuvius Media
  
• Windmill Game Co.
  

Let's hear it for all the hard-working GMs and EOs in all of these groups!

-
Derek Guder
Event Manager
Gen Con LLC