MegaCon

MegaCon, short for Mega Convention, is a large multi-genre convention that caters to the comic book, sci-fi, anime, fantasy, and gaming communities, occurring between late February and early March at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA.

History
The first comic book convention held in the Orlando area was OrlandoCon, held annually from 1974 to c. 1994. Regular guests included C. C. Beck, Floyd Gottfredson, and Hal Foster.

MegaCon was founded by James Breitbiel and first held in 1993. The convention was acquired by the Tampa-based publisher CrossGen in 1999, with Elizabeth Widera brought on to run the show in 2000. (Breitbiel became CrossGen's Marketing and Distribution Director.) During this period, from 2000–2003, MegaCon heavily promoted CrossGen products and creators, to the frustration of some other exhibitors and attendees, although the show itself grew and thrived.

In late 2003, Widera purchased the convention from the failing CrossGen, which was restructuring (the publisher went bankrupt in 2004). Widera, who is a board member of the comics charity The Hero Initiative, currently runs the show along with her daughter Christine Alger.

In September 2008, MegaCon headquarters moved from Safety Harbor to Live Oak, although the actual convention remains in Orlando.

In 2009, in addition to the main show, held February 27–March 1, convention organizes produced a "mini-MegaCon" held August 22–23, featuring a number of actors from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show.

Events
Events include the Indy Film Festival, annual Cosplay/costume contests, all-genre costume contest, panels, and rave dances. MegaCon also offers attendees the option of game playing. Current game systems offered are Dungeons & Dragons living campaigns, Living Forgotten Realms, Pathfinder Society and Legends of the Shining Jewel. Other non-campaign role playing games are offered. Magic: The Gathering is also offered in a card room, and board and strategic games are often on the dealer floor.

Since 2001, MegaCon has also been the location of the long-running "Paranoia LIVE!" LARP, based on Mongoose Publishing's Paranoia.

Awards
In 2007, MegaCon hosted the first live presentation of the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards.

In August 2008 MegaCon announced that it would host the first inaugural Project Fanboy Awards ceremony, awarding authors, writers and publishers with honors voted on by Internet users on the Project Fanboy website. The Project Fanboy Awards are now an ongoing event.