Hello and welcome to another issue of Wind Whispers. If you’re reading this in a web browser, note that you can subscribe to Wind Whispers by email here.
The countdown has begun!
Prizes
How to find out how the winners are chosen & then how they (the winners) will choose their prizes…
We all know how a Prince, Chieftain, or Thane of Entertainment will be chosen, right? No? Well, head right on over to the our contest’s site in the “Cloud” and check out the Rules as pertains to Judges.
The Prince, as chosen by our wonderful judges, gets the first and the fourth choices of the prizes. The Chieftain gets the second choice and The Thane (number one in our hearts, but number three in the selection process) chooses … well, 3rd!
The Booty!
Head to godlearners.com/blog to see more about the contest and read about the fantastic prizes Psst, c’mere kid, we can sneak you one more peek at the covers right here…
Chaosium News
Rune Quest Japan!
Rattling Wind now out in Japanese
Every one’s favourite “animated war chariot bent on carnage” returns. This time in Japanese. But beware, my Japanese friends, this adventure is reputed to have a bit if a kick. Adjudicate accordingly
Rune Quest Germany!
RQ G begins translation & Crowd funding news
Joerg delves deep into the German news and comes up hoping for gold!
The German edition of RuneQuest. Roleplaying in Glorantha is finally moving onward!
Patric Göetz, the proprietor of Uhrwerk Verlag, the German licensee for RQG, did have to shoulder an insolvency through 2019, which really threw a spanner into his plans on having this game out already.
Uhrwerk Verlag publishes one original German RPG and setting, Splittermond (“splintered moon”, and no, this is not a Gloranthan 4th Age utopia), and various German translations of well-established English RPGs like Fate,Numenera, Coriolis. (“Uhrwerk” means clockwork.)
Uhrwerk Verlag has successfully overcome that insolvency, and work on the translation has gone on even when the fate of the publisher wasn‘t absolutely clear, but in January Patric was back in control of his business, and now he has named a date for the crowdfunding of the German edition of the rules.
Crowdfunding a translation of an RPG into another language is a common approach, as it gives the publisher a solid number of sold copies and hence a much lower risk. This is true for translations into English from other languages, too.
Anyway, Patric announced on tanelorn.net, a venerable German language forum for all things about RPGs, that – barring major unforeseen calamities – the crowdfunding will run from September 18th to October 12th.
The object of this crowd-funding will be just the RQG rules book, not the entire slipcase edition. The Bestiary will be the next item down the line, but its realization will depend on the success of the crowdfunding for the rules book. Any hopes for getting the slipcase edition translated and published from this crowdfunding was a tad too optimistic.
Production options are said to include standard (cardboard cover, colourfully printed), leatherette, or genuine leather, plus pdf.
Danke Schön, Jörg! Nice digging! Go to Rune Quest Germany in Discord for more info!
Jonstown Compendium News
Secrets of Dorastor
Short note on a very quiet week for the Jonstown Compendium.
Simon Phipp had informed BRP Central, just before we went to press, of a major update to his Secrets of Dorastor, by Master Gollum to make it like the classic mode of yesteryear’s classic Dorastor: Land of Doom! If you have already bought this work head to the Jonstown Compendium for your free update. Still here is what we do know.
Oh, and here is a peek at the Secrets to Dorastor’s innards thanks to Simon! Yum!
So, of course, there will be much more to come in future Wind Whispers issues! One quiet week in how many busy ones? Not so bad, eh?
From the Spider’s Web
News of Glorantha caught in our webs from elsewheres in the cyber realms.
Notes From Pavis
Roleplaying and GM notes mostly in Gloranthan context
Hannu Kokko has been a friend of Glorantha for forever. Interestingly he does not play in your more traditional gaming systems for the world but uses Mythras (formerly RQ6).
There is a wealth of Gloranthan Gold here and great tools for his favourite version of d100 games!
Hats off to Hannu Kokko! Give his site a look!
From BRP Central
Walrus Ivory and Orlanthi Naval Culture?
Today’s treats from BRP Central are two fine treatises. The first is on Ivory and trade in a topic created by Garrik, and then we take a look at the can of worms opened by Joerg in his topic on why naval cultures and the Orlnathi do not jive in his Glorantha!
Joerg gets us all started and then like a true Eurmali devotee sits back and watches the action unfold!
Rumour Tables
supplied by Ludo
Rolls dice… (clickety clack, click click……….clack)
Reads dice… (93)! Well now…
Consults table (hmm)…
You know, somedays this stuff just writes itself…
Ludovic
Wed, Sep 9, 6:55 PM (2 days ago)
to Austin, tribe
On Wed, Sep 9, 2020, at 02:13, Austin wrote:
“As always, in case you’re in need of rumors to fill column inches…
“September’s Monster of the Month will be titled Children of Melikaphkaz. Who’s Melikaphkaz? Why, he’s the O-God of Traps! What’s an O-God? I’m not telling you yet. You’ll get to meet his children this month—those which serve as cult spirits, anyway—along with a short-form version of his cult, but it will still be some time before Melikaphkaz is ready to publish.”
Austin
“Nice! So many mysteries! So many secrets!
Wait… was that email a trap itself?
Anyway, thanks for the rumour as always ;)”
Ludo.
I suspect a plant in Ye Olde Rumour Tables this week… a ringer, if you will. I mean (and trust me, I will get to the truth of this), that would give this rumour an A… too Awful to contemplate. So in the end I will have to rate this rumour a T… for Too good to be true…
Cha-ching, column inches filled!
Mission Accomplished!!
Woohoo!
…and briefly, with a roll of 55% we end up with a piece I think is T for True…
A Swedish version of RQG will have original material based on Fronela
(Ludo recommends Google Translate for this site)
From the Blue Green Marble
Sounds of the Forest
Ludo has found a gem!
Need the sound of songbirds in the pines north of Alone and know it sounds a lot like Châteauguay, Quebec, in Canada, well this is the page for you!
Aha. so that is what the Norwegian Blue sounds like when it is pining for the fjords!
Convention News
Three & a bit Weeks to Glorantha Games 2020:
Glorantha at Home
By pookie,
Take it away Pookie (quoted from his post on BRP Central).
“Glorantha Games 2020: Glorantha at Home takes place on Saturday, October 3rd.”
“We are looking for Game Masters to run scenarios set in Glorantha using RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha, QuestWorlds (HeroQuest), 13th Age Glorantha, and RuneQuest Classic.
“Plenty of slots open and we definitely need more GMs and more games.
“Let us know if you want to be a GM and send us your scenario.”
From BRP Central
A Noob’s Rough Guide to PAX ONLINE
Does that wonderful green bring to mind retro 80s video games?
PAX Orientation for the Virtual World
SAT 12/09 3:30 PM – SAT 12/09 4:30 PM
/PAX2
So, events for 9 days and for the full 24 hours of the day! 24/9! So, how could I choose, how could I decide that I want to catch: this panel or should I try to look in on that event? It’s not science folks, I have no idea what I am doing. Limited convention experience, doncha know. So, I chose by luck and daring. I guessed.
There are four broad categories, here I find that I have chosen, again with no forethought having passed my fevered brow other than that of the looming deadline. The long past looming deadline…
In no particular order the categories I went with were: 1) Glorantha-ness, 2) the Ability to inspire creativity in Gloranthan games (sometimes a stretch or hell, perhaps I even make an error, did I say I knew what was doing?), 3) Music (all the podcast crew are musicians) and finally, with what is happening in our world—4) Inclusivity. A word on the final category; I am of a certain gender and of a certain age, I mean really—again I have no idea what I am talking about—so, I am going to do myself a favour and catch the Black In Game panel, and a few of the LGBQT panels, the indigenous panels… well you get my drift. I am going to look around at the con, have a game or two and some fun, and learn a bit as well.
The final category, I have not yet mentioned. It was important that the item I listed had caught my eye. Nothing fancy or grand, just that it made me want to see what it was about. Oh. and I guess the first entry has no category at all except, “So, are ya new in town, sailor?”
Lastly a few housekeeping notes.
So. I have ordered the chosen events below by date from Saturday the 12th until Sunday the 20th. The events by the hours in each properly sorted day may be sorted in chronological order or they might not. All times given are in Mountain Daylight Time. Set your clocks accordingly.
Not to be lazy, but the text is the original text from the PAX schedules. I would not be able to do better not having seen the events. This podcast is not making anything by doing this, no financial gain and time and resources this year are limited but most importantly we simply want to give an assist to worthy endeavours in our fave world for our favourite games. This was the easiest and best way to achieve that! The individuals involved in the events will know the best way to present their event and there is no way I can top that.
Next, some items are prerecorded and a look at Pax’s schedule will reveal which ones these are. In fact, the following picks are not a replacement for their schedule by any stretch of the imagination They are simply… well as I said above, guesses made by a near noob at cons on which items might be cool to participate in or that I might learn from. Lastly, check it out, they have all the overlapping events items listed in each entry so you can make an educated choice on where you should be or maybe it could have you flipping back and forth between two or three events. (the number of events and festivals I attend that could use this but do not, well I could just spit) I suspect there is at least one error in the times below, there may be more. so to be safe, always refer to the schedule at Pax Online for the (more?) correct info.
What little italicized found text below is mine. All other is the event’s organizer or their representative.
Allons-y
Saturday
PAX Orientation for the Virtual World
SAT 12/09 3:30 PM – SAT 12/09 4:30 PM
This first article is kind of like the city that is so great everyone says its name twice. NY, NY! I thought this was so great for the noob that I list the time and place above… twice! And you though I goofed.
New to PAX? New to doing virtual cons? The Orientation panel returns to unleash a barrage of tips, tricks, and hints that’ll help you maximize your PAX XP. Hear from members of the industry during this fun, inclusive panel designed to help you make the most of the first-ever virtual PAX.
PANELISTS
Miellyn Fitzwater Barrows [Writer, Gorgeous Robot], Carmen Askerneese [Game Writer, Self], Ash Sevilla [Community Manager, Parallel Space Inc], Cissy Jones [Voice Actor, Three in a Row, Inc.], Erin Fusco [America’s Best Friend, Private Citizen]
Collaborative Homebrew 101:
A Cure for the Common Murderhobo
SAT 12/09 2:00 PM – SAT 12/09 3:00 PM
We’ve all been there: After hours of meticulously planning an epic campaign, our players kill the quest NPC and run off after the first shiny thing they see. The cure for this problem may be easier than you think. With your help we’ll create a world from scratch, and then we’ll crowdsource some story hooks with the audience to create a whole campaign of our own. You can steal this adventure and use it in your own game, or steal the techniques and keep your players chomping at the bit.
PANELISTS
Adam Johns [Executive Director / Therapeutic Game Master, Game to Grow], Adam Davis [Executive Director / Therapeutic Game Master, Game to Grow], Lauren Urban [Community Manager, DnD Beyond], Lauren Bond [Content Creator, RandomTuesday], Cicero Holmes [“Perrin”, Rivals of Waterdeep]
Sunday
Inclusion and Sensitivities
of Indigenous Culture in Games
SUN 20/09 2:15 AM – SUN 20/09 3:15 AM
During this talk Phoebe Watson, a proud Yarrer Gunditj woman, will speak about her experience in the processes she takes to include Aboriginal Culture into the game InnChanted. Highlighting the benefits of including Aboriginal culture in games and the importance of it along the way. She will also discuss how to approach this for developers who are uncertain about how to begin the process and what to keep in mind.
PANELISTS
Phoebe Watson
Fantasy and Indigenous Culture:
Collaborating with First Nations Musicians
on the Innchanted Soundtrack
SUN 13/09 12:00 AM – SAT 12/09 1:00 AM
How does a non-Indigenous composer try to create an Indigenous Australian game score? By connecting with some of the most talented Indigenous Australian musicians around.
Composer Meena Shamaly details his process of collaborating with First Nations musicians to create a culturally respectful, celebratory, and entertaining score to InnChanted, a game set in a fantasy Australian world. It is a process of complete openness and extensive cultural dialogue, as well as collaborative experimentation and free-spirited improvisation from the musicians. Meena draws on his knowledge as a game composer, his own cultural experience as a session musician, and his extensive research involved in presenting the music of video games on ABC Classic (not to mention his lifelong obsession with video game music).
This talk will break down Meena’s sessions and conversations with some of Australia’s most talented First Nations musicians, including Allara Briggs-Pattison (NIMA 2020 finalist for New Talent of the Year), Kiernan Ironfield (of DRMNGNOW), and Eric Avery (renowned violinist, dancer, and creator of Dancing with Strangers). It will showcase how a game score can be composed not just in response to the game itself, but also to the musicians’ innate connection to culture and language, no matter the instruments on which they express themselves.
PANELISTS
Meena Shamaly
Black in Gaming (BIG)
SUN 13/09 8:15 PM – SUN 13/09 9:45 PM
The Black In Gaming Awards is an annual event that recognizes the achievement of black gaming professionals. We build an inclusive community by championing diversity in video game development and we are committed to creating a pipeline of opportunity for the cultivation and advancement of diverse talent. Black In Gaming (BIG) is dedicated to cultivating, supporting, and promoting Black professionals in the game industry.
The Lyrical:
From Games to Gigs
SUN 13/09 3:30 AM – SUN 13/09 4:30 AM
A live concert from amazing Brisbane-based musician, Karl Smith, playing a dynamic set of music inspired by a lifelong love of games. See more at https://thelyrical.com/
Myth and Fantasy Gaming
SUN 13/09 2:45 AM – SUN 13/09 3:45 AM
Join Chaosium’s Jeff Richard (RuneQuest, The Guide to Glorantha) and David Larkins (Berlin The Wicked City, King Arthur Pendragon) as we talk about the mythology behind Fantasy RPG and how to bring mythic themes into your gaming experiences. We’ll draw on real world historical mythology (King Arthur Pendragon) and fictional (RuneQuest) as well as mixtures of the two (Nephilim and Call of Cthulhu).
PANELISTS
Michael Douglas O’Brien [Vice President, Chaosium Inc.], Jeff Richard [Creative Director, Chaosium Inc.], David Larkins [Line Editor, Pendragon, Chaosium Inc.]
Sunday Night Concert – 88Bit
SUN 13/09 10:30 PM – SUN 13/09 11:30 PM
88bit is the alter ego of Cleveland-based composer/pianist, Rob Kovacs, where he performs virtuosic note-for-note piano arrangements of classic video game soundtracks from the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Kovacs’ repertoire consists of music from Mega Man 2, Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest as well as lesser-known games such as Marble Madness, Adventures of Lolo, Arkista’s Ring and others. By acoustically recreating early electronic music (music never intended to be performed by humans), Kovacs is stretching the limits of traditional classical piano playing and bringing video game music to audiences that might never have otherwise heard the music.
Dinner and a Videogame
SUN 13/09 9:15 PM – SUN 13/09 10:15 PM
Join Clueless Gamer’s Aaron Bleyaert as he tries to make a video game themed dinner while playing games with some special guests.
*Food poisoning has entered the chat*
PANELISTS
Aaron Bleyaert [Producer, Team Coco]
Dinner, a concert and video games! Sounds like my kind of a romantic eve!
Monday
Being Black in Game Audio
MON 14/09 11:30 AM – MON 14/09 12:30 PM
When discussing racial inequality in America, it’s often said that minority groups have to work twice as hard to get half as far. In spite of a public commitment to diversity, black talent continues to be severely underrepresented in a largely homogeneous game industry and the game audio community is no exception. Join a panel of black game audio professionals as they discuss their experiences, problems, and the way their lives have changed in the wake of the events of 2020.
PANELISTS
John Smith [Composer & Sound Designer, Slide20XX], Mega Ran [Musician, RandomBeats, LLC], Calbert Warner [Composer, JumpButton Studio], Dorrell Ettienne [Composer, Dorrell Ettienne], Chase Bethea [Composer, Chase Bethea], Devlon Samuels [Composers, Devlon Samuel]
Tuesday
We’re Here, We’re Queer, Now What?
LGBTQ in the industry
TUE 15/09 3:00 PM – TUE 15/09 4:00 PM
We’re here, we’re queer, what’s next? Being queer in the games industry means navigating a lot of things—and sometimes even publicly! How do you learn to build healthy boundaries around what you do and don’t want to share online? What are some of the risks you face when you’re openly queer in games? How do you create, market, or discuss a game that’s inclusive of queer identities that are both your own, and not your own? From game developers to journalists and entertainers, we’re here to explore the world of queerness in games in (and out) of the workplace.
PANELISTS
Ana Valens [Reporter, The Daily Dot], Francesca Carletto-Leon [Game Designer, Contigo Games], Dani Lalonders [Head Developer & Game Designer, ValiDate Game], Nikatine [Ambassador, Twitch], Dreadful Damsel [Animator, Team Nimbus]
PAX Community Discord Game Night
TUE 15/09 10:30 PM – TUE 15/09 11:30 PM
Looking for a night of games, trivia, laughs, and fun? Look no further than the PAX Community Discord Game Night! Test your knowledge about PAX and the gaming community at large! Earn prizes, impress your friends, or even make some new friends all night long! Make sure to drop by for a night you won’t soon forget!
PANELISTS
Andeh#0001 [Community Leader, PCD], gfx#0001 [Community Leader, PCD], xJediDadx#1924 [PCD Ambassador, PCD], zRych#2411 [PCD Moderator, PCD], TheZeroHourHero #6538 [PCD Ambassador, PCD], Lindy [PCD Ambassador, PCD]
Chaosium Creator’s Series:
Runequest
TUE 15/09 3:45 AM – TUE 15/09 5:45 AM
Join a cast of brand new players as they explore RuneQuest for the first time! The perfect actual play to learn more about the mythic setting of RuneQuest, and the unique (and brutal!) game mechanics.
PANELISTS
Todd Gardiner [Chaosium], Becca Scott [Good Time Society], Noura Ibrahim [L.A. By Night], Panda [PandaTV], Brian Holland [Chaosium]
YAY!!!!
Digital Dragons –
TableTop Roleplaying in the Online Age
TUE 15/09 9:30 PM – TUE 15/09 10:30 PM
The internet has brought us closer together than ever before, letting us connect and play games with friends around the world. So how is the power of connectivity helped to evolve TableTop Roleplaying Games, a traditionally face-to-face gaming medium? What tools are being made to facilitate play and to help fledgling content creators, and how is the internet leading to a “roleplaying renaissance”?
A panel of content creators, streamers, podcasters, and all ‘round RPG fanatics will answer all your burning questions and share their experiences in the expansive world of online TTRPGs.
PANELISTS
Scarlet Moth [Freelance Artist, Cosplayer, D&D Streamer, n/a], Matt/Briefcase [DM, Producer, Editor, Split the Party], BurrowsRed [Content Creator, Wisdom Saves], Shauntelle B [Writer, actor, streamer and psychologist, Words with Colour], Elyssa Grant [Senior Producer and Partnerships Manager, Penny Arcade], Makenzie De Armas [Ennie Winning TTRPG Creator, Lead Writer for The Islands of Sina Una]
Wednesday
The Non-Programmers Guide to the Gaming Galaxy
TUE 15/09 11:30 PM – WED 16/09 12:30 AM
Have you long dreamed about joining the games industry, but you don’t know how to code? Perhaps you’ve gotten into a balance argument on Twitter with a game developer who you didn’t actually realise worked in publishing? Maybe you’ve just straight up wondered how the heck a modern video game not only gets made, but continues to run? If this sounds like you, then DON’T PANIC! Because you just discovered the perfect panel to answer all your questions.
Despite the common misconception, not everyone who works on making a video game is a programmer or engineer. Our panellists today come to you from AAA studio Wargaming Sydney, with a wealth of experience across Product Management, Community, Marketing, Art, Design, and User Experience. Eager to share their journeys and highlights about producing games before, during, and after launch.
You’ll walk away from this engaging discussion thinking “so long, and thanks for all the facts!” Just don’t forget to bring a towel…
PANELISTS
JayRated [Product Manager, World of Tanks ANZ, Wargaming], Vondle [Community Manager, World of Tanks ANZ, Wargaming], Dean Finnigan [Lead Artist, Wargaming], Jemima Gulliver [Junior Technical Artist, Wargaming], Holly Hawkins [Junior Game Designer, Wargaming], Veronica Tjakrawisada [User Interface Designer, Wargaming]
Up Your Game:
The Building Blocks for Better Online Gaming
WED 16/09 12:00 AM – TUE 15/09 1:00 AM
/PAX2
Can’t seem to climb out of bronze? Connectivity issues getting you down? Can’t help but take the bait and get 3v1ed? From securing low latency, to getting the right peripherals, to honing your in-game skills, to avoiding the dreaded tilt, hear from a panel of experts on how anyone can start the climb out of the gulag or ELO hell.
Get a foot in the RPG industry door
with community content!
WED 16/09 3:30 AM – WED 16/09 4:30 AM
Want to write for roleplaying games? Now is the perfect time to get your foot in the industry door with community content programs on DriveThruRPG. The DM’s Guild (Dungeons & Dragons), Miskatonic Repository (Call of Cthulhu), Jonstown Compendium (RuneQuest), Explorers’ Society (7th Sea), and other community content programs are an ideal proving ground for you to hone your writing and creating skills, publish your work, and build an audience. And come to the attention of major publishers like Wizards of the Coast and Chaosium!
In this workshop, bestselling DM’s Guild writer M.T. Black, DM’s Guild brand manager Lysa Penrose, and Chaosium vice president Michael O’Brien take you through the process of creating and publishing community content on DriveThruRPG, and how this led to M.T. Black writing for WotC itself (Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus).
PANELISTS
Michael O’Brien [Vice President, Chaosium Inc.], M.T. Black [Writer, DM’s Guild], Lysa Penrose [Brand Manager, DM’s Guild, OneBookShelf]
Bird is the Word | Winged Heroes in Indie Games
WED 16/09 12:45 PM – WED 16/09 1:45 PM
/PAX2
The last few years have given corvids, canaries, and pigeons plenty to celebrate. A new batch of indie games feature birds in leading roles. From anthropomorphic beings to avian companions, birds in games are riding an upward thermal, with little signs of slowing down.
This panel features developers and journalists discussing what it is about birds that make them apt leading characters, the process of designing an avian hero, and where the genre-spanning-niche-community goes from here.
PANELISTS
Megan Fox [Founder, Glass Bottom Games LLC], Rebekah Valentine [Senior Staff Writer, GamesIndustry.biz], Nicholas McDonnell [Director, Samurai Punk], Tan Kang Soon [Animator & Technical Artist, Joysteak Studios], Joel Davis [Animator, Stonewheat & Sons]
A Guided Tour to ‘80s Computer Retrogaming
WED 16/09 2:00 PM – WED 16/09 3:00 PM
Retrogaming is more popular than ever, and it’s never been easier to play history’s greatest videogames. But while vintage consoles and arcade games are increasingly accessible, classic computer games remain a bit arcane, and it’s easy to miss out on some amazing games buried in the floppy disks of yore.
So join us for a guided tour to an age of forgotten home computers, when PCs didn’t have the best computer games and they didn’t even make games for Windows yet. There’s no DOSBox where we’re going!
What’s worth playing? How do the emulators work? What’s BASIC? If you’ve never heard of a Commodore 64 or an Apple ][ and want to explore a new frontier of undiscovered retro goodness, join some game design professors to learn about getting into games on everything from the Amiga to ZX Spectrum.
PANELISTS
Alexander King [Adjunct Professor, NYU Game Center], Naomi Clark [Assistant Arts Professor, NYU Game Center], Clara Fernández-Vara [Associate Arts Professor, NYU Game Center], Bennett Foddy [Associate Arts Professor, NYU Game Center], Jesse Fuchs [Adjunct Professor, NYU Game Center]
Oooh I think I will be seeing this!
Thursday
Improv in Roleplaying:
How To Run A Game In The Now
THU 17/09 5:15 PM – THU 17/09 6:15 PM
Are you a Game Master that dreads when your players go off script? Does the thought of the adventurers wandering back into town instead of into your intricately planned dungeon make you throw your intricately drawn maps out a window? Well, then, Improvisation in Roleplaying is the panel for you. Join an expert team of authors, comedians and expert tabletop maestros and learn the secrets of how to improvise and adapt so that you can handle anything your players can throw at you… either in person or online! All while having more fun!
PANELISTS
John Serpico [Director/Instructor, ImprovBoston], Melissa Carubia [Director/Instructor, The Company Theater], Auston Habershaw [Author, Harper Voyager], Samantha LeVangie [Performer, ImprovBoston], Bobby Smithney [Performer/Instructor, ImprovBoston]
Sound Design Live:
Watch Us Recreate Video Game Sounds
THU 17/09 11:00 AM – THU 17/09 11:30 AM
Have you ever wondered what goes into creating a professional video game sound effect? Watch us recreate sound effects from popular video games like Overwatch, Super Smash Bros, and League of Legends with regular items like dining silverware, balloons… or maybe even a prop or item from the audience. During this panel, we will record sound effects with a microphone, edit and process them together on a computer, and show the full process for creating a polished video game sound effect.
PANELISTS
Ryan Stunkel [Owner, Blipsounds LLC]
Afrofuturism:
A Black Vision of Science Fiction
THU 17/09 11:30 AM – THU 17/09 12:30 PM
What does sci-fi look like when you consciously step outside the bounds of western ideals of fiction? Afrofuturism imagines a future through an unapologetically Black lense, and its influence is expanding into the world of games. Game developers and writers who explore this bold new vision will converge to speak on what Afrofuturism is, where it’s going, how it interacts with the world of games, and where the art will go from here.
PANELISTS
Xalavier Nelson Jr. [Narrative Director, Heart Shaped Games], Anthony Jones [Art Director, Heart Shaped Games], Jordan Minor [Analyst, PC Mag], Ural Garrett [Project Manager, iamMedia]
Diversity is Not a Gimmick
—Prioritizing Inclusion in Tabletop
THU 17/09 6:45 PM – THU 17/09 7:45 PM
Come join Skybound Tabletop and friends as they discuss the need for diversity in the industry. Diversity and inclusion are necessities that are vital to our community and require thoughtful consideration. It is not right to watch the community grow and not let the content and makers of our games grow as well. Our industry has been treating diversity like a gimmick, and that just makes it ten times harder for others to take this seriously. Let’s talk about what we’ve been doing already and what more we can do in the future to expand our games, people, and community in general.
PANELISTS
Maya Coleman [Kickstarter Manager, Skybound], James Hudson [Senior Director of Tabletop, Skybound], Anya Combs [Director of Games, Kickstarter], Jeremy Howard [Contributor, Man vs Meeple], Marcus Ross [Operations Manager/Lead Game Designer, Water Bear Games], Cara Michele Ryan [Art Director/Game Designer, Water Bear Games]
Drink This:
How to Create Game Themed Cocktails You’ll Love
FRI 18/09 8:00 PM – FRI 18/09 9:00 PM
Hello adventurer! You fought through the dungeon, sailed the open sea, rescued the princess, and somehow managed not to get eaten by a grue. Take this cocktail, you’ve earned it!
Our geek cocktail expert, Lynn, will guide you in shaking up cocktails that will invoke the enchanting worlds and unforgettable characters of games you know and love. Learn with our panel of games industry experts as we explore how to incorporate innovative ingredients to create thoughtful, well-balanced game-themed cocktails and mocktails together. Follow along with the ingredient list, get creative, and explore how to use your newly leveled-up skills to design your own recipes!
PANELISTS
Lynn Richter [Owner, AwkwardNerd Events], Nika Nour [Executive Director, IGDA Foundation], Anya Combs [Director of Games, Kickstarter], Jerry Belich [Game Designer, Alt Ctrl Wizard]
Clocked:
Gold Games on the Silver Screen
FRI 18/09 12:45 AM – THU 17/09 1:45 AM
Do you have a favourite gaming scene from a movie? Do you even watch movies without gaming in them? Join the Clocked team plus special guests as they dive into the decorated history of video games on the silver screen.
Dicebreaker Presents:
How to Run an Amazing Tabletop RPG Session
(with special guests)
FRI 18/09 12:15 PM – FRI 18/09 1:15 PM
Wanting to get to grips with the ABCs of RPGs? The Dicebreaker team run through 13 top tips on how to run a fantastic roleplaying session, from giving your story twists and turns without flying off the rails to making the world come alive. Plus, star GMs, RPG designers and fans tell us about their most memorable moments roleplaying!
The ABCs of Community Building
SAT 19/09 12:30 PM – SAT 19/09 1:30 PM
No matter your role in the game industry – developer, writer, publicist, streamer – you create entertainment people love. From this shared passion and excitement springs forth… COMMUNITY! Heck. Now what? Bringing together talented community builders from many facets of the industry, this panel teaches you skills to foster and grow game communities with intention. Learn how to harness the power of community as your greatest advocates via a simple three-pronged approach. It’s as easy as A-B-C!
PANELISTS
Lysa Penrose [Owner, Behold Her Studio], Tanya Depass [Director & Founder, I Need Diverse Games], LaTia Bryant [Community Manager, D&D Adventurers League], Brenna Noonan [Co-Founder, Quillsilver Studio], Rachel Billings [Community Manager, Resonym]
Second Saturday
Rest and…
Not sure if this is a wise idea but I will plan nothing for this day but will simply drift with the wind! Orlanth be kind!
Second Sunday
Tea with Grandma Gamers:
Old Ladies Talk #$%@ about Games
SUN 20/09 4:30 PM – SUN 20/09 5:30 PM
It’s a virtual tea party, complete with flowered hats, lace gloves and lots of grandmas! We plan to let it all out when it comes to gaming and what we love (and hate) about our favorite games. From Skyrim, to The Sims to Resident Evil 3, we touch on all kinds of gaming experiences. So if you ever wanted to watch a gaggle of Grandmas giggle and gossip about gaming, here is your chance!
Tell me this does not sound d@mn interesting! This Ol’ F@rt will be there!
PANELISTS
Jessa [YouTuber, The Jessa Channel], Shirley Curry [YouTuber, Shirley Curry], Merrie [Livestreamer, Merrie/LadyMpire]
Environmental Storytelling:
Familiar Worlds You Never Knew
SUN 20/09 5:45 PM – SUN 20/09 6:45 PM
Striking Distance Studios, Survios, and Schell Games invite you to join a discussion on environmental storytelling in video games! Featuring panelists from a variety of game design disciplines across AAA development and virtual reality, panelists will discuss the importance of designing worlds with a narrative eye.
Join Glen Schofield, Tate Mosesian, and Dave Bennett as they highlight their favorite examples of environmental storytelling, which will provide attendees with a new appreciation for the worlds they play in.
PANELISTS
Glen Schofield [CEO, Striking Distance Studios], Tate Mosesian [Art Director, Survios], Dave [Senior Game Designer, Schell Games]
Let me know how this noob did, What did I miss, what did not hit the spot!
Thanks for reading and enjoy PAX!
Cheers!