In the heart of Michigan, Meaningful Play 2022 is a conference about theory, research, and game design innovations, principles and practices The conference includes thought-provoking keynotes from leaders in academia and industry, peer-reviewed paper presentations, panel sessions, innovative workshops, round-table discussions, and exhibitions of games and prototypes.at we can all do to help out. Then, let's take a look at some of the events coming up and get excited!
First and most important, the safety and comfort of every individual is critically important. Not only must we as a society do our best to prevent COVID-19, we need to continue developing new ways to keep every patron safe.
At Anime NYC 2021, the world saw disorganization and the spread of the Omicron variant. There were long lines, fake vaccination passes, and no attempt to control the flow of traffic. For events to thrive properly we need to ensure patrons are doing the bare minimum. They need to be vaccinated and they need to wear their masks.
Funnily, the best thing to come from COVID-19 has been the availability of hand sanitizer. On every desk, station, setup, and booth there’s a bottle of sanitizer for anyone to use. So if it’s a flat surface chances are there's a bottle of sanitizer close by. PAX East 2020 was especially interesting because a number of patrons noticed a significant lack of “PAX Pox”.
A phenomenon that many people will know well is the post-con sickness. After running around for two to four days, a lot of people will feel exhausted and even sick. After my first PAX East in 2018 I was stuck in bed for a few days and that's something I’ve come to expect from conventions. However with a higher attention to personal health, it’s likely less people are coming home from events sick and in a time like this, that’s important.
Last but not least, if you’re traveling far distances, most US airlines are no longer requiring masks on airlines. Not only should you continue wearing your masks when flying, you should also be wary of flight cancellations and delays. This is a big decision and may have longer effects on the pricing, availability, and consistency of flights.
Now with all that worrying out of the way let's take a look at what's to come!
Aug 5 - 7th
This is the most notable fighting game tournament in the world. Careers and legends have been built through EVO tournaments and history will be made at the first in-person EVO since the start of the pandemic. Hosted at the storied Mandalay Bay and sponsored by Sony, this EVO is going to be a highly anticipated event for many, featuring a tight eight-game lineup.
August 6th To help raise money the EGD will be running a pop-up at 90 East 3rd St in Manhattan. Stop by, play some games and help us raise funds for future EGD activities.
August 12th - 14th The Expo began with a simple idea, “Let’s make the kind of show we’d all want to go to!” And that’s exactly what they’ve done by providing a friendly and welcoming environment to everyone, including guests, volunteers and vendors. The Expo has now become a focal point of the growing northeast gaming community. Gamers and organizations of all types have chosen our venue to host annual tournaments, meet their fans or just spend time together enjoying our shared passion. The EGD will also be in attendance with their own panel, so definitely make your way over!
August 13th - 14th
A convention in Staten Island with the explicit purpose of bridging geek culture with marginalized groups. Made with the intent to be welcome to all attendees, the EGD will also be making an appearance. We encourage you to stop by and say hi!
September 1st - 2nd
Droidcon is a mobile application designer conference for Android app development in New York City. With two full days of technology lectures and corporate interaction it can be a great chance to learn something new.
Conference on Meaningful Play October 12th - 14th
In the heart of Michigan, Meaningful Play 2022 is a conference about theory, research, and game design innovations, principles and practices The conference includes thought-provoking keynotes from leaders in academia and industry, peer-reviewed paper presentations, panel sessions, innovative workshops, roundtable discussions, and exhibitions of games and prototypes.
March 20 - 24th, 2023
In 2023, The Game Developers Conference (GDC) will bring the game development community together to “exchange ideas, solve problems, and shape the future of the industry across five days of education, inspiration, and networking.” Attendees will come from all facets of the gaming community from game designers and programmers to artists and audio professionals. Lectures, panels, and round table discussions make this an invaluable event for anyone interested or already involved in the game industry.