Kickstarter Sunday Spotlight: GaymerCon

Despite being a relatively new phenomenon, Kickstarter has already managed to take the gaming industry by storm, acting as a consolidated network hub for indie game developers, artists, writers, and, of course, gamers. On this weekly Sunday feature I'll highlight some of various Kickstarter projects that have caught my eye and invite fellow gamers and gaming enthusiasts to see why these projects deserve their interest and perhaps a bit of their money.

This Week: GaymerCon

It’s no secret that gamers have often struggled to find a way to “fit in” with the rest of the world. Many of the uninformed amongst us assume we’re all just basement-dwelling 20-something year olds who rely on our mothers to feed and clothe us. While we’ve made some pretty impressive strides at quashing such stereotypes, one stereotype that sadly still prevails is our complete disregard for the sensitivities of our fellow gamers.

Even non-gamers are well aware of the inconsiderate, sexist, homophobic, and demeaning behavioral patterns that pass for “conversation” over online platforms such as Xbox Live or popular MMO’s like World of Warcraft. Because of this behavior, gamers who are anything other than straight white males often feel uncomfortable and sometimes even unwanted whenever they do decide to participate in online gaming activities. 

So what can gay/lesbian/bi gamers do to avoid all of the rampant ignorance and hostility? How does one even begin to combat such a widespread plague within the gamer community? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a place where gamers of any orientation could just come and hang out within a safe, prejudice free environment?

Well that’s where GaymerCon comes in.

What Is It?

GaymerCon is an upcoming gaming and geek convention set to be held at a yet-to-be-determined location (that’s what the Kickstarter campaign is for) in San Francisco, California during the summer of 2013. GaymerCon’s target audience is naturally members of the gamer/geek community who also happen to be gay/bi/lesbian/transgender/etc. but straight gamers who support the equal rights of any and all gaming enthusiasts are encouraged to come as well.

The convention will provide a safe space for gamers from a multitude of different sexual orientations to come hang out, chat, listen to live music, and, of course, get their game on. GaymerCon will also include other activities such as cosplay, exhibition panels, guest speakers, group discussions, and interviews with leading gaming industry professionals who support the presence of gay/lesbian content in video games.

What’s The Kickstarter For?

The GaymerCon group intends to hold the convention no matter what, but as with any other major convention there will be costs. While GaymerCon will be happening regardless of available funding, any proceeds generated through the GaymerCon Kickstarter campaign will go towards enhancing the experience since the convention’s organizing group will be able to afford bigger venues, more live bands, additional contests and prizes, and much more.

The group sums it up rather nicely when they say “Basically the more you give, the more you get out of the con when you come.” The Kickstarter campaign allows supporters to pledge as little as $1.00 or as much as $7,500.00, every little bit helps after all. If you want to help support GaymerCon 2013, just head on over to their official Kickstarter page and check it out for yourself.    

Follow me on Twitter at @NateHohl and check out my other work at vgutopia.com, hookedgamers.com, tevice.com, and explosion.com