I'll just leave this here.
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=4936
Maybe I should try Cosmic Encounter, again. The first time I played (years ago) I was so turned off by the fact I couldn't even pick who I was attacking, I had a horrible experience. I've since learned it's a social game, not a tactical one, so maybe I can accept it on those terms...
Yeah, it's a social game to the nth degree. It's also incredibly cutthroat in its social-ness, to the point that there are people I just cannot play it with. Not for the thin-skinned. Not so much as Diplomacy, though…
I've played twice, and hated it both times. It seemed to boil down to trying to persuade people to help you for a while, a comparison of pretty random numbers on cards, and an exchange that basically goes, "I win!" "No you don't!" "Yes I do!" "Aha! Now nobody wins!" It's like Munchkin but without the vaguely amusing card names and illustrations.
I think primarily social games aren't your thing. :-P
Maybe not. I just didn't see that there was much game there, since most of it is just arguing with your friends then comparing numbers. I can argue with people perfectly well without a board game!
I guess my big problem is that ultimately you might as well just have a group discussion about who wins without bothering with the game at all.
Do you enjoy The Resistance? Time's Up? As disparate as they seem, they fit into the same category for me.
I've played The Resistance a few times and I'm strictly "meh" about it. Similar problem - arguing until someone gives up, except that you're never sure who's on what side unless people mess things up (three people on a mission all failing it, for example).
That was the reply I expected. 
We simply share different tastes, and the nice thing is, if CE isn't your thing, you don't have to go to the convention this thread is about!
I'll still push cubes with you!
That's true. I guess I was just warning Rabit that if he didn't like CE the first time, he might not like it the second time either. I think I actually disliked it more the second time!
And yeah, there are a million other games out there that I do like, so all is good. ;)
On the other hand, Chaosmos -- a kickstarter game that should be coming out in a couple months -- is really good. There's not a lot of (enforced) social aspect to it, but there is a lot of subterfuge and trickery involved. It's really fun.
That is so cool! Although I don't think I can go. I am glad Richard Garfield will be there, since he has always said that CE was the inspiration for MtG.