A month to go until PAX Australia as we say goodbye to September and slide into October. So we thought you’d like a look at some more PAX details.
Back to the PAX Australia Panel Schedule
PAX has always been about creating a safe place for gamers from all walks of life to come together and stand in queues to see awesome nerdy things. Outside of PAX sometimes that inclusive message is lost or ignored, some of the panels this year will be touching on that subject and what we can do to promote a positive community.
Being a gamer is such a wide title now that it encompasses a huge amount of the population. It doesn’t matter if you Crush Candies, Construct Pylons or run around in a Cuirass, anyone has the right to identify as a gamer.
Indeed, we even get documentaries about games like, “Video Games: the Movie” discussing what it means to be a ‘gamer’. All this and more to be on show at PAX Australia 2014.
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Everyone Games: Creating Inclusive Gaming Communities
Saturday, November 1st at 1:30pm in the Galah Theatre
Gamers are usually stereotyped as straight white men. But is that really accurate, or are a lot of people being excluded by mainstream gaming culture? Why do spaces like the PAX Diversity Lounge and groups like “Gaymers” exist? Do they provide a real benefit, or do they just segregate a community that should be united by our common interests?
This panel is an open introduction to these issues, and will explore what we can ALL do, as gamers, to create more vibrant and inclusive communities.
Panelists include:
- Ethan Lesh [Founder, Melbourne Gaymers]
- Alice Clarke [Diversity Lounge Co-Curator, PAX]
- Joshua Meadows [Co-Organiser, Sydney Gaymers]
- Jayden Williams [Writer, MMGN]
- Ashley Zeldin [Independent Developer, Adorkable Games/IGDA Los Angeles]
Women in Video Games: Improving Things for Everyone’
Saturday, November 1st at 5:00pm in the Kookaburra Theatre
Most areas of video games currently seem to have a problem with gender equality. Whether it’s the small percentage of women on development teams, few games with complex female characters, harassment of female industry members and gamers, or the general level of ignorance and intolerance.
What can we do to make this better? “We”, the average community member, blogger, site owner, developer, community manager, gamer. as they look to what are the things we can do, large or small, to move towards some solutions?
Panelists:
- Join Rebecca Fernandez (IGDA Sydney),
- Mary King (Digital Marketing Consultant),
- Nicole Stark (Disparity Games),
- James Dominguez (Fairfax Media),
- Tara Brannigan (PikPok)
- Leigh Harris (Flat Earth Games)
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Video Games: The Movie (Making of The Film)
Friday, October 31st at 6:00pm in the Galah Theatre
Come look behind the scenes of the 3 year-long process of independent filmmaking that brought “Video Games: The Movie” to life. With behind the scenes clips featuring Sean Astin, Zach Braff, Wil Wheaton as well as many game industry icons like Nolan Bushnell, Cliff Bleszinski, David Perry and more.
Video Games: The Movie, a feature-length documentary, aims to educate & entertain audiences about how video games are made, marketed, and consumed by looking back at gaming history and culture through the eyes of game developers, publishers, and consumers.
The film is not just another film about the games industry, but attempts something much more ambitious; the question of what it means to be a ‘gamer’, a game maker, and where games are headed. Storytelling and the art of the video game medium are also explored in this first of its kind film about the video game industry & the global culture it has created.
Director Jeremy Snead hosts a variety of people from the film as they discuss not only the independent spirit that made the film possible, but where the game industry is headed in the future.
Panelists:
Jeremy Snead [President, Mediajuice Studios]
Queering Video Games: LGBT Representation and Why It Matters
Friday, October 31st at 3:00pm in the Galah Theatre
How can video games explore queer themes and stories? Why is it even a problem if they don’t? What impact does the lacklustre depiction of LGBT characters have on gamers? Most importantly, what steps are developers taking to improve that representation in games?
Join a panel of experienced queer developers – ranging from indie to AAA – for an inside look at gay games, LGBT content in mainstream titles, and the challenges of making games that represent the diversity of the people who play them.
Panelists include:
- James Dominguez [Games Writer, Fairfax Media]
- Jeffrey Yohalem [Lead Writer, Ubisoft Montreal]
- Liam Esler [Writer/Scripter, Beamdog]
- Luke Miller [Indie Developer, Up Multimedia]
- Michelle Osborne [Lecturer, SAE Institute]
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Live Action Gaming: The Very Real World of Real World Gaming
Saturday, November 1st at 5:00pm in the Fruitbat Theatre
As technology evolves to immerse us as much as possible in virtual worlds we explore the benefits of actual reality as a platform for gaming.
We will be discussing mediums such as Escape Rooms, LARP and Laser Skirmish, how these are being advanced with new technology and also what the future holds for “LAG”ing.
Panelists include:
- Lee Weller [Game Designer, Tech Assault]
- Ross Koger [Founder, Box Wars]
- Phil Krins [Director, Sword Craft]
- Drew Hobbs [Gameplay Writer/Director, IRL Shooter]
- Scott Vandonkelaar [Director, Zero Latency]
- Matthew Lee [Co-Founder, Enigma Room Sydney]
You’ll need to check out our PAX Australia survival guide if you’re planning on avoiding the pitfalls of a convention weekend.
Some PAX tickets are still available through the official website.
