GaymerX might not be happening again :(

This part of the article is ripped from this Kotaku article. This news saddens me. I want the start of this fall to be the time where I start going to gaming conventions. The first conference I plan to go to is Queerness and Video Games in October. GaymerX was on my list of conventions I might go along with GDC's public day. But it sounds like it might not come to light. :( The parties the head mention of holding are something I'm probably not interested in (I'm terrible at socializing), also I am just interested in watching panels and hearing people talk (playing games is a bonus). My question is, has anyone been to gaming conventions and would ever be interested in going to ones like GaymerX or GDC?

There may not be another GaymerX. I think there needs to be, but conventions fall under a special category of expensive, the sort that makes one go pale with terror unless they recently won the lottery, found out they were related to royalty, or robbed someone who won the lottery.

While sponsors like 2K and Ubisoft were able to absorb some of the damage this year, GaymerX's organizers are still reeling. The event may have been a success on many counts, but it also sent countless dollars spiraling down the drain. This convention is organized by a small ragtag team, not a megalithic media company. Sometimes small is good, but being nimble and adaptive doesn't matter so much if you still get crushed in the end.

Maybe that will change. Maybe GaymerX will crawl out from beneath the rot-soaked boot of harsh reality, but right now convention head Toni Rocca is not particularly optimistic. She gives a frank, weary explanation:

"As it is I don't know that we can really afford to do much more with GaymerX. We're planning on holding some parties here in the city with a similar theme, but since these will be likely bar-events I don't know that we can really have the same 'vibe'. The parties and events in the future will be fun, but likely small. I can tell you right now that if I won the lottery, I'd be right back to work on GaymerX3. But no amount of work is gonna make me suddenly capable of affording the con."

And it's a goddamn depressing shame, because GaymerX's hypothetical future sounds bright.

"I think the ideal would have been to continue with GaymerX and then maybe making it roam," Rocca continues. "Or maybe even making smaller versions of it that could be more local and accessible to people in other parts of the country. As it is I'm going to do what I can to help make other conventions and conferences more inclusive and/or fun. I do want to make things better; the game industry desperately needs change."

"I guess right now we're just gonna keep working and moving forward and doing what we can. If we can find the money, we'll do more. Our hotel bills right now are steep enough right now to make us feel sympathy for DashCon, and frankly if Matt hadn't fronted a lot of the money GX2 would have BEEN DashCon."

"I think we're all in a bit of a mourning phase as we face the real possibility that this might have been the last GaymerX."

You might want to edit the title. I think you forgot a key word.

What does sexual orientation have to do with gaming?

It's a social event; it's a community based convention targeting a specific audience. This isn't something unique to this event, the medium, or life. It helps brings a community, usually a smaller subset of the general community, together. You have conventions, guilds, unions, and events that cater towards a specific group within mediums all the time.

Good.

Why do gay people have to make it even harder for them to integrate into society and be accepted? By isolating themselves with ill-thought events like this they're only causing further segregation. Is that what they want?

Whoever thought of that name is a moron. Gaming is universal. Sexual preference shouldn't come into it.

All of these cult events are ridiculous.

No idea but if you ask Gamespot/Polygon/Giantbomb a lot and its important to someone to make that be in all games.

Yeah I never got this either. I'm all for equal right when it comes to issues such a gay marriage and the like but I always though it was silly to have a games convention targeted at a specific sexual orientation. A bit hypocritical I think...

The conference isn't exclusionary.

I don't think it's silly at all. A convention's purpose is to bring a specific community together to talk about issues, enjoy other like minded peoples presence, and discussion. The LGBT community wants an event to focus on gay gamers, gay developers, and gay games. All are invited.

These types of events targeted towards specific groups happen all the time.

I didn't suggest that it was. It's clearly being geared towards people of a particular sexual preference though and that's wrong. Plain and simple.

Why is that wrong? That's the topic of the conference. That's like going to Harlem Writers Guild and saying this is wrong because you're not focusing on White people, or going to the 45th World Conference on Lung Health and saying they're in the wrong for being geared towards Lungs when they should focus on other organs.

@Minishdriveby: The 'topic' of the conference is video-games...

It'd be a real shame if it doesn't come back next year. Everything I heard made it sound like a fun, welcoming event. Could definitely use more of those. Too much cynicism surrounds the usual conferences. Would be nice to have something hopeful and invigorating for a change.

Your point being...?

@c_rakestraw: It's obvious. Work it out.

It's not. Enlighten me.

@c_rakestraw: Light switch. Hit it.

@Star0: Can't; it's busted. Haven't been able to get the electrician to come by and fix it.

@c_rakestraw: That's a shame...oh look. A candle!

@Star0: with a specific topic of LGBT discussion within games. It's just like the point of the Harlem Writers Guild or he 45th World Conference on Lung Health. The topic of the guild is writing with an emphasis in African American writers. The topic of the World Conference is health with an emphasis on Lung health. The topic of GaymerX is videogames with an emphasis on gay discussion within the medium.

I might not agree with this conference and i think its stupid that they don't admit that its there because they want to celebrate them being gay and using games as a side-dish.

But i don't see anything wrong with it. They are a private person/org and we live in a free market so if they want to make it for people dressed up as hobbits thats their prerogative

I think they very openly admit that it's a celebration of the LGBT community.

They can do what they want. I'm just saying this type of arrangement isn't welcoming to anyone but gay people no matter how they much spin they might put out. For me they're going about this the wrong way. You meet all kinds of people at video-game conventions. Highlighting the sexual preference of a specific contingent at a video-game event is not constructive to the cause, in my opinion. This is a wider societal issue that I don't think should be muddled with a past-time that people enjoy no matter what their background may be. You can't affect change by yearning for acceptance, it just doesn't work that way and personally I wouldn't be comfortable with sending my kids to such an event. I'd rather they were educated on the subject of sexuality holistically rather than from a sole biased source.

Where did you hear that? all i have heard is that its a conference there focused on "LGBT Gaming" gaming being the key word here, not a celebration of their sexuality.

@Jacanuk: It cannot be a celebration of both? Like you said it's a conference focused on LGBT Gaming. I don't think there are any misconceptions about what you're going to see, hear, or talk about at this event.

I don't know. It seemed to work in the past.

Have you ever been to the event? How do you know they're so opposed to others? If you're going to make a convention about a specific topic, it should be appropriately named for what you're going there to discuss.

@Minishdriveby:

Martin Luther King? Really? He tackled the issue face on without having to tie it to some faceless hobby that has no bias and doesn't feel anything to 'yearn' acceptance.

This is a serious topic which should be discussed in a much more formal setting

"How do you know they're so opposed to others?"

Frivolous question considering I didn't imply or state that they were opposed to anyone. +10 for effort, but you're reaching.

Fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

I would suggest reading the Kotaku article to get the full picture of what GaymerX is all about. It's not about isolating anyone of any stances. It's about bringing people together and having thoughtful discussions. It's about acceptance in a world were it's hard being accepted.

The ending quote of the article sums up what the event is all about:

I'm idly lurking in a hall toward the end of GaymerX's second day. I glance up from my phone, barely escaping the black-hole-like pull of a video of a puppy licking a lion on Facebook, to see a small circle of people conversing. They're chattering away, laughing and gesturing animatedly all throughout.

Near a turn in the hallway, kind of awkwardly positioned with her back to a corner, a girl stands alone. She doesn't really seem to know anyone. I consider approaching her to say, "You have GOT to see this puppy getting along famously with this lion," but before I can a member of the little group breaks away and strides confidently toward the girl.

"Come over here, join us!" she says with a warm smile on her face. "This conversation isn't exclusive."

Sure, it can be a celebration of both but it still looks to me more like they focus on their sexuality. And no you are right that there are absolute no misunderstanding and thats why they are not making enough profit to make one next year unless a fairy godfather comes in in the last moment or they do another kickstarter.

So in the end they need to figure out what they want to be a friendly 3 day LGBT get together just using gaming as a means to get closer or they want to be a more serious gaming conference that makes a profit.

You stated, "this type of arrangement isn't welcoming to anyone but gay people." I would think if you go there everbody would be extremely welcoming. Just because the majority of the people at the event will be gay and the discussion at panels will be about the LGBT community doesn't mean the arrangement does not welcomes others. If you want to be tricked into going by giving the convention a name that doesn't imply what the main topic of discussion will be, then okay call it GamerX.

Martin Luther King stilled yearned for acceptance from society; I think that much is fairly obvious. However, if you want to talk about "a past-time that people enjoy no matter what their background," why not talk about baseball and what happened when you started introducing black players into the MLB in the '50s? I think that movement was extremely progressive in Black rights as well.

If you want society to be more accepting, then often the best course of actions is to assimilate into the cultural activities of those societies. Video games have become a major cultural activity, and not only are gay people wanting recognition and rights, they are playing and enjoying these games and would like to see more and play a bigger role in them.

Your quote sounds like a gay love story where in a min. Those two girls make eye contact and for the first time know what true love feels like lol :D

This. Why contradict yourself with liberal talk and equality while isolating and labeling yourself as a gay gamer? What does sexual preference have to do with gaming? Heterosexual, homosexual, black, white, male, female, christian, atheist, a gamer should be just that. A gamer period. Nothing more, nothing less.All of these extra labels are nonsensical and self entitled.

Cancelling out GaymerX.......I fail to see how this is a bad thing? What..is the community of gay gamers too good to mingle with everyone else at Gaming social events? The idea of isolating them away like a bunch of cage chickens may come across as humorous, buts its highly unnecessary.

*sighs* As I've said numerous times in this thread, the convention is a special topics convention for LGBT discussion in video games. This isn't an exclusionary event. You're welcome to go to it. Again there are plenty of organizations, events, guilds, unions, conventions, etc. dedicated to a certain group within a larger community to discuss among individuals who share a certain relatable perspective. This takes place in science, writing, film, politics, academics, etc.

I'm sure for many who attend this specific event it's a time where they can let there guard down and enjoy company without having to defend their personal identity or worry about defending it. Events like this allow people to be comfortable with who they are when often times they're scrutinized on forums such as these.

There's nothing wrong with the event, and I'm not sure why so many people on GameSpot's forums want there to be an end to something that doesn't affect their lives in the slightest and gives joy to others. And you want to call the people at GaymerX self-entitled...

@Minishdriveby: I never stated that I wanted it to end, I just didn't see the need. Gay people have chosen how they wish to live their life and thats it! they should just mingle with everyone else, to be self conscious about something just goes to prove that they lack faith and security in what they are doing. Plus could you imagine the intense uproar that would arise should they make a convention dedicated to straight people! or white people! but for some reason a convention aimed at gay people is some how acceptable. Look I'am not trying to hate, I'am simply expressing my own opinion on the matter.

GaymerX is not a exclusive thing. The whole purpose of it is to unite people together from all stances of life. To bring people together to both celebrate video games and discuss the highlights and issues of the medium. The ending part of the Kotaku article is below and sums why the event is enjoyed and is so special.

I'm idly lurking in a hall toward the end of GaymerX's second day. I glance up from my phone, barely escaping the black-hole-like pull of a video of a puppy licking a lion on Facebook, to see a small circle of people conversing. They're chattering away, laughing and gesturing animatedly all throughout.

Near a turn in the hallway, kind of awkwardly positioned with her back to a corner, a girl stands alone. She doesn't really seem to know anyone. I consider approaching her to say, "You have GOT to see this puppy getting along famously with this lion," but before I can a member of the little group breaks away and strides confidently toward the girl.

"Come over here, join us!" she says with a warm smile on her face. "This conversation isn't exclusive."

Okay.....

That's the writing of Nathan Grayson. Easily one of my new favorite game journalist. One of the biggest reason I love Rock,Paper,Shotgun.com is because of him. He has just recently started writing for Kotaku and the article I spotlighted was one of his first on Kotaku.

I still think RPS is the best.

@behardy24: To bring people together? to unite? Yes isn't that what most video game conventions do....where gamers from all nationalities, life choices, shapes and sizes come together to devote time in a common interest?

It's not welcoming because it's a separatist way of organising an event regardless of how friendly the people are. A better name would have been 'We're All Gaymers' or something like that because it's more descriptive and universal, but even still I don't even think most of the non-LGBT attendees will even care about the lectures, they'll be attending mainly for the games so it will prove to be a failed exercise. You'll have a few converts, I guess, but it's no wonder there might not be another GaymerX. That says a lot right there. It takes time for people to become more accepting. They'll do that on their own terms. They don't need an event that will only reinforce the notion that all gay people do is 'yearn' for acceptance and equality. They'll just feel that they're infringing on gaming which has no barriers. Like I said their intentions might be good, but I think there are better ways to deliver their message.

"Martin Luther King stilled yearned for acceptance from society; I think that much is fairly obvious"

I didn't say he didn't. The circumstances are incomparable and I don't think anyone should be sensationalising the discrimination LGBT people face compared to what Black people endured. I don't think there's much more to say on that really.

I'm keeping things in context and talking about gaming TODAY. Gaming has never had a racist legacy like MLB.

Everyone gets involved in gaming no matter how you want to describe them. I think it's quite cynical to think there needs to be a tailor-made event that basically says 'LGBT are equal to everyone else' to make them more appealing to employers. Where is the evidence for this?

Yeah, other conventions do bring people together, but GaymerX's mains emphasis is uniting, whereas other conventions having people socializing only turns out to be apart of it, not the main focus.

Ya, sorry it was a small detour. But i just could help laughing when i read the last part, it felt so much like it was the beginning of another kind of story :D

But i understand why you like Nathan Grayson he seems to know how to write :) And i agree i like RPS also, sometimes they can be a bit long haired like Polygon and Gamespot but they are still some of the few worth following.