First and foremost, GeekGirlCon is a community. Despite these trying times, we will continue to push forward and persevere. We wouldn’t be here today without the love and support of all of you, helping us expand and reach new heights with every passing year. We know that the last few months have been uncertain and challenging, but your continued support and dedication to our cause is what pushes us to barrel forward. We have a goal to accomplish, and that mission is to make sure that everyone feels supported, welcomed, and encouraged to express what they love and celebrate their unique self.
Whether or not you are able to donate this year, your support means the world to us. While we lean on the love and dedication of our community to guide us forward—we absolutely want you to lean on us too.
Beyond the scope of the convention, we want to help foster this community through trying times. We want to be a place where you can share your passions and learn, educate, and grow. Together, we can get through this. Seattle, GeekGirlCon—everyone, everywhere. This is a time to gather together (while practicing social distancing, of course).
Just a little reminder from us to y’all that GiveBIG starts tomorrow, and GeekGirlCon needs your support as much as ever.
GeekGirlCon works all year to create physical and virtual spaces for us to come together and honor the contributions of everyone who’s been under-invited in traditional geek culture, and we have no intention of slowing down.
Running out of things to watch while you social distance? Wanting to branch out and explore something new? Here’s a few of the movies, shows & YouTube offerings I’ve been enjoying over the past couple months that I think you might like, too.
Stephen Colbert eats popcorn while wearing 3D glasses & looking highly entertained. Source: Giphy
A young child stands next to the GeekGirlCon Main Stage watching a music performance. Image courtesy of GGC
Hi everyone! We are quickly coming upon one of GeekGirlCon’s biggest fundraisers of the year: GiveBIG, hosted by 501 Commons on May 5-6. We are so excited to be able to offer a con that promotes underrepresented communities in science, art, comics, and so much more, but we are only able to do so with the generous donations and support of our community.
So why should you support GeekGirlCon? GGC is an organization made up of a community of passionate people who come together to promote the belief that everyone deserves a safe space to express themselves. The 100% volunteer staff of GGC works year-round to bring the best possible programming, vendors, and activities to GGC for people of all genders, ethnicities, and sexualities to enjoy and to help spread the spirit of our labor of love throughout our community. If that sounds like a cool thing that you want to support, then you should GiveBIG! If you want to learn more, check out our Mission Statement.
Our mission is only possibly with your support, and every contribution counts (and is also tax deductible). You can even schedule your donation early if you just don’t want to wait. Be sure to check back in with us on May 5-6 to see how we are doing!
And from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your continued support of GeekGrilCon. It truly means the world to us!
A blue heart with the logo for GiveBIG, and a yellow banner that says “10 Years of Giving.” GiveBIG is powered by 501 Commons and will take place on May 5-6.
Hey, fellow procrastinators—do you have an idea for a panel, workshop, performance, or event that would be a great addition to GeekGirlCon 2020? Or are you interested in being a panelist, moderator, or tabletop game host at the con?
If so, good news: We’re extending our programming submission deadline to May 14, so there’s still time to get your application in!
A young woman is playfully holding an Xbox controller toward the camera.
Post by guest contributor, Brooke Chaplan.
While we’re all staying at home, you may be trying to come up with a fun and engaging way to channel your creativity. One option is to make your own video game to share with friends and then distribute to a wider audience. The opportunities are endless, and the challenges can expand your knowledge. There are many advantages of making your own video game, including those mentioned below.
You Already Possess Most of the Skills
If creating a video game from home has crossed your mind, the chances are you have some knowledge. You know how to use code, you can create assets, and you are familiar with the framework you have chosen. In addition to your skills, you can find free models and art online, or you can create your own styles. One of the most significant aspects of creating a video game is learning how to work with tools and keeping things fun, which are abilities most people already possess.
We all have friends who seem to have already organized their closets, deep-cleaned their apartments, and picked up a new hobby or ten while stuck at home. But if you’re finding yourself in the opposite boat—the one where you keep meaning to get things done but you end up sitting on the couch scrolling through Facebook instead—me and my ADHD brain can empathize.
A robot tries unsuccessfully to kick a ball before falling over. Source: Giphy
Here are a few systems I use to help me get from wanting to do something to actually doing the thing.
It’s hard to keep track of time nowadays. I often find myself trying to remember what day it is, or when was the last time I did something. I have work deadlines and homework assignments, but it all gets jumbled into one big blob of work. There’s just something about being cooped up at home that makes time slip by, unnoticed by my usual measures. That is, until I look out the window. Though quarantine has turned all of our lives upside down, nature stays the course (as always).
[Image description: a GIF of a blooming pink Dahlia flower. Source: GIPHY]
by GeekGirlCon Tumblr Adminstrator Member Emily Hendrickson
I’m more neutral about Animal Crossing’s Bunny Day event than a lot of other people. And from a game perspective, I understand why Nintendo made the eggs so ubiquitous. This is a children’s game, and if you were a kid who actually wanted to find recipes for and make all the egg items, you’d want the materials readily available. Plus, learning some of the recipes is contingent on how many eggs you’ve found; so, it makes sense to make quickly finding a lot of eggs easier.
All that said, the event has some major issues, which have been meme’d nonstop pretty much since the event began. And since the Bunny Day event is overlapping with the Cherry Blossom event, I feel it’s apt to compare the two and to answer why one (Cherry Blossom) is so much more popular than the other (Bunny Day).
[Image Description: Screenshot of Animal Crossing gameplay.] Source: Emily
While most things in our lives are on hold at the moment, one thing that isn’t is our preparation for GeekGirlCon ‘20. Besides all of the behind-the-scenes stuff that our team is working on, we’re also at the point in the year when we’re accepting programming submissions from our community. Submissions close on April 30, so I’m here to ask what panels, workshops, and events y’all have in store for us this year?
If you’re interested in submitting but aren’t sure where to start, I’d suggest first checking out the page on our website and then head over to our Facebook group for past and future GeekGirlCon contributors. I’m pretty sure I recommend it every year, but it’s seriously the perfect place to brainstorm programming ideas, find co-panelists, or troubleshoot the application process.
