This years Tactica photo report

[Frank Bauer]

Yes, you can play a lot of games there. I would say there are more participation then demonstration games.

In fact, it is one of our golden rules at the Hamburg Tactica, that we have ONLY participation games. We don't allow demonstration games. Everyone is invited to play and test out new gaming systems or just play a known game system at an outstanding gaming table.
Cheers,
Frank

[Plynkes]

I've never really understood that peculiarly British institution that is the demo game. All my experiences with them have been bad. Typically the people putting on the so-called demonstration have resented the intrusion of outsiders, and considered their questions and even their presence as an unwelcome intrusion into their precious gaming time. I'm baffled why you would take the trouble to put on a public game and then act like you wish the public weren't there.

Maybe I've just been unlucky, but that's how it's always been for me. So props to the Tactica for not putting up with any of that nonsense.

[italwars]

I've never really understood that peculiarly British institution that is the demo game. All my experiences with them have been bad. Typically the people putting on the so-called demonstration have resented the intrusion of outsiders, and considered their questions and even their presence as an unwelcome intrusion into their precious gaming time. I'm baffled why you would take the trouble to put on a public game and then act like you wish the public weren't there.

Maybe I've just been unlucky, but that's how it's always been for me. So props to the Tactica for not putting up with any of that nonsense.

In my country too i had, almost always, the same experience you're describing..people that do not even bother to answer to my "hello" (but i have to confirm you that average almost ineducated Italians are among most rude people of the planet)..anyway i must confess that except, maybe, exchanging a few polite words  about the way they painted some of the minis on display i would have never wished to put the bases maybe for somebody else to play with in the future. Except my usual selected friends/opponents...the historical knwowledge, cultural and education level or every wargamer met on those events (and in clubs or specialised shop too) were so low   

[italwars]

Participation games..in my opinion..cause i staged some in the past..are quite too much an effort...the aim being , as i suppose, to recruit new players..the simplest way being a nice table on display...just display..and a pair of people smiling and ready to talk about a period...i would also suggest, as i did, in the past..to include on the team a pretty woman near the table