This one-hour panel, given by Elizabeth Sampat and Zoe Quinn, was a crash course in how—and why—to make your own game. Between them, the two designers have made video games, tabletop games, board games, and other entertainments, and they brought their breadth of knowledge and experience to GeekGirlCon attendees. Each half of the panel could really have been an entire talk of its own, being condensed versions of talks and workshops that Sampat and Quinn have given elsewhere. If you’re interested in more in-depth information on these topics, check out Elizabeth’s and Zoe’s websites.
It’s been a week since the success of GeekGirlCon ’15, and if you’re already missing it, here’s a roundup of some of the fantastic press we’ve received following our con:
Conshark wrote up a recap of the overall event, highlighting that what makes GeekGirlCon unique is our focus on our community, and Persephone Magazine also offers a great summary of our con, including some livetweets from our panels and a cosplay photo gallery. Becky from No Continues Media describes our con as “one of the most immersive experiences as an attendee I’ve ever had at a convention”, and Whiletrue.do has a short but heartwarming piece on three ways she was inspired at GeekGirlCon. Nicole from Across the Board Games has a recap where she also recounts her experience as an exhibitor and panelist, and describes GeekGirlCon as her favorite convention in Seattle!
Photo by Danny Ngan Photography.
For those of you who like pictures, Jetspace has a great photographic summary of the highlights from the convention, and Bitch Media has a lovely rundown of some of the costumes and events. Of course, GeekGirlCon wouldn’t be GeekGirlCon without a healthy dose of cosplay; GeekMom’s cosplay gallery shows off some of the awesome costumes from the weekend. GeekMom also gives us the lowdown on some of the swag she found on our exhibitor floor, ranging from geeky food, to amazing apparel, to many fluffy, cute things.
Although we hardworking staffers will provide you with panel recaps throughout the coming year, sometimes we get beaten to the punch by our amazing con attendees. [Re]meshed.com has a detailed article on Anita Sarkeesian and Zoe Quinn’s packed panel, and Sonja from Soultamer Gaming has produced not one, but three panel write-ups on QUILTBAGs in Geekdom, the representation of Asians in the media, and Elsa S. Henry’s panel, Blind Lady Versus, where she demonstrates what gaming is like for blind and low vision players. She’s also got a piece on our Kick-Off event from the Friday night before the con. Talk about dedication!
Photo by Nicole Tanner of Pixelkin.
One of the things that GeekGirlCon prides itself on is its family-friendly focus. Nicole from Pixelkin did a lovely write-up about how GeekGirlCon was a great way to bond with her daughter. We also even got a whole episode on a gaming podcast! Here’s Epic Drop’s episode discussion what GeekGirlCon is about, and recapping how much fun the family had, including an interview with a five-year-old Geek Girl!
Finally, we also got coverage from MSNBC in a video about cosplay and science, featuring our own Raychelle Burks and Torrey Stenmark!
Have you come across any other press for GeekGirlCon? Let us know in the comments below!
It’s that time again when the Convention Center’s doors are now closed, and thousands of happy, smiling con attendees have spent a fun-filled weekend attending panels, playing new games, meeting awesome people and buying all the things.
Our last official event of the day was our traditional closing celebration, with a brief speech from GeekGirlCon co-founder Jennifer K. Stuller, who acknowledged the things that GeekGirlCon has done in its five years. “Our atmosphere is joyous and celebratory,” she noted. But Stuller also recognized that it could not have been done without the thousands of GeekGirlCon staff, vendors, panelists, attendees and other supporters. “You and I are part of this community… and I want to thank you all for being a part of us.”
I have to admit–this year’s costume contest was the first one I attended at GeekGirlCon. I usually have to commute in and out of the city to get to the con and by evening I’m exhausted thanks to all the other great panels, gaming, and other activities. For GeekGirlCon’s fifth anniversary, though, I sprung for a hotel room–and the chance to take part in the evening celebrations! Including, of course, the costume contest. Which, it turns out, is amazing.
Cosplay is a big part of GeekGirlCon and, from my first time attending, has always been one of my favorite parts. I love how welcoming and encouraging the environment at GeekGirlCon is; I see a much bigger variety of different ages, sizes, abilities, and fandoms represented in the cosplay world here than anywhere else. If I ever fulfill my dream of cosplaying the X-Men’s Rogue, complete with her skintight green and yellow original costume, GeekGirlCon is the place I’m going to do it.
I just got back from the GeekGirlCon ‘15 Kickoff Party and Concert, featuring the Portland-based supergroup the Thundering Broadsides—uh, I mean, the PDX Broadsides and the Thundering Asteroids, who are normally totally separate bands, but this time ended the night in an Avengers-style teamup. But more on that later!
One great thing about nerd concerts, and GeekGirlCONcerts in particular, is that you can get melodic folkish bands with complex harmonies (like the PDX Broadsides) and high-energy punk (like the Thundering Asteroids) in the same lineup, all in a relaxed atmosphere where kids of all ages can hang out, alternating between board games, dancing, and some high-quality muppet flailing.
GeekGirlCon closes our con every year with something special for our attendees. Last year, we listened to, and got to ask questions of, former NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, and then closed out the evening with a slam poetry performance that brought tears to many eyes–including mine!
This year, join us once again for the last event of GeekGirlCon ‘15:
Vicious and Vulgar
Arthur Conan Doyle has risen from the grave, and he’s upset! In Vicious and Vulgar, local playwrights Sammy Scott and Alison Luhrs re-imagine the literary hero and wonder aloud: what would he think of all of the fanfiction, cosplaying, and conventions happening in modern times? A grumpy and abrasive reanimation, Doyle manifests Holmes and Watson in contemporary, female forms in attempts to prove to his audience that they have wasted their time with the canon. Throwing in Granada Holmes and a certain mouse detective, this play explores the themes, characters, and relationships in Doyle’s classics with a modern-day female-centric twist while asking the question: what is the relationship between a canon and the fan?
Having been called “strikingly original,” “entertaining,” and “deeply moving” by Seattle’s Sherlock elite, “Vicious and Vulgar” will be performed as a live reading with Scott and Luhrs in the roles of the eponymous heroes.
Image courtesy of Sammy Scott and Alison Luhrs
Come wrap up GeekGirlCon ’15 with us as we explore the world of Sherlock Holmes from the female gaze!
GeekGirlCon ‘15 festivities officially kick off today, and I hope you’re all as excited as I am!
Passes
I also hope you’ve grabbed your passes, as all online passes are now SOLD OUT. There may be some passes (at early bird prices) still in local stores, if you hurry. I recommend calling ahead, and bringing cash! Check with the following to see if you can snag a last-minute pass:
If you’ve already scored your pass, head to Registration at the Conference Center on Friday from 4pm-7pm to avoid the weekend rush, or on Saturday and Sunday morning starting at 9am.
Paper passes, which you may have bought in stores or at our GeekGirlCon booth at other conventions around town, must be exchanged for a badge at Registration
One-day paper passes are good for either Saturday or Sunday–Registration will hook you up with whichever badge you prefer
Folks with will-call passes need to show some kind of ID or proof of purchase when picking them up (this doesn’t have to be a photo ID, and can be the email receipt from your purchase)
Guidebook
Great, now you’ve sorted yourself out with a badge–how do you keep track of all those panels you want to see?
Well, iOS and Android users can download the Guidebook app, search for GeekGirlCon, and add us to their events. It’s an interactive schedule and planner, where you can create your own schedule (with reminders), tag booths you want to visit, and more. There’s also a browser version.
What else am I forgetting?
Oh, that’s right–have fun! We can’t wait to see you!
Our gaming area may be located on the lower level of the Conference Center, but if you want dank, creepy, and dungeon-like, you’ll have to get your GM to take you on a dungeon crawl, because our basement is sure to be bustling. This is shaping up to be a banner year for gaming at GeekGirlCon—all your favorites are returning, along with many new events and goodies.
One of last year’s big highlights was the Paint ‘n’ Take miniatures event. Kids and adults alike loved picking out and painting their own miniatures (provided by the ever-generous Privateer Press). This year it’s scheduled for 10am-1pm on Saturday, so be sure to show up early before the miniatures run out.
Join us from 6pm for the kick-off party and get ready for our convention! There will be free food with a cash bar, and you can skip the line on con day and pick up your badge right there. Then, at 8:30pm we’ll have our GeekGirlCONcert! Groove along as the PDX Broadsides and Thundering Asteroids! take the stage. Our event is all-ages, so feel free to bring the whole family.
This event is only for GeekGirlCon ’15 badge holders or by special invitation, so if you want to come and celebrate with us, you’ll need to have a pass. They’re expected to sell out before the weekend, so make sure you buy yours today!
Planning to dress up for GeekGirlCon ’15? Why not enter our costume contest and win some bragging rights!
Sign up here to show off your homemade, original and self-constructed costumes in the individual, group or child’s costume categories. The contest will start at 5:00pm on Saturday with a non-competitive Junior Cosplay event – bring your costumed young ones to the Costume Contest for a chance to show off their nerdiness. After that, come and strut your stuff on our stage to impress this year’s judges, Shubzilla, Morgue Anne, and GeekGirlCon fan favorite, Darth Makenna.
Don’t forget to check here for our official costume contest rules! The deadline for signing up online for the contest is midnight, Friday, October 9. You can also sign up in person at the Con until noon on Saturday, October 10. For more information about this year’s costume contest, check out our blog.
