Troy, N.Y. – For nearly 30 years, an ambitious and thoroughly dedicated group of students and volunteers have worked to keep the “con alive” on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus. Genericon, an annual student-run sci-fi, anime, and gaming convention, is the oldest of its kind in the United States, according to event organizers. The event will be held March 13-15 on the Rensselaer campus.

This year, the three-day event billed as “Genericon XXVIII” will draw a crowd of up to 2,000 attendees. Genericon activities feature a wide array of attractions that run the gamut of “geeky hobbies” including  a 48-hour video game room, anime and sci-fi screenings, role-playing games, a “cosplay” contest, vendors, artists’ alley, panels by special guests and fans, a concert, gaming tournaments, and more.

An anime convention is often described as “an event or gathering with a primary focus on anime, manga (Japanese comics), and Japanese culture.” Commonly, anime conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels, or, college campuses that feature a wide variety of activities and panels, with a larger number of attendees participating in cosplay—short for costume play, a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Oftentimes, anime conventions are also used as a vehicle for industry, in which studios, distributors, and publishers represent their anime-related releases.

This year, featured guests include: Tristan MacAvery, a voice actor for ADV Films some years ago, his most famous role being that of Ikari Gendo in Neon Genesis Evangelion, the original release and the two OVAs from US Manga Corps. MacAvery has provided voices for more than 50 characters in various anime releases. Also, Karl “Uncle Yo” Custer—who teleports to anime, comic book, and video game conventions performing his unique brand of geek-specific stand-up comedy—will attend.

In addition, returning guest Antipode, a “geek belly dancing troupe” hailing from State College, Pa., will also attend the convention. The group is known for fusing the theatrics of acting with a mix of cosplay, pop-culture, and off-beat humor.

For more information regarding admission to the event, and to view the program schedule, visit:

https://sites.google.com/site/rpigenericon/#sthash.6QaYPEj9.dpuf