NEONCON http://www.neoncon.com Create. Educate. Celebrate. Geek Life. Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:22:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 MindGene, LLC to unveil revolutionary touch-screen interactive game table! http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2011/11/04/mindgene-llc-to-unveil-revolutionary-touch-screen-interactive-game-table-at-neoncon/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2011/11/04/mindgene-llc-to-unveil-revolutionary-touch-screen-interactive-game-table-at-neoncon/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:40:07 +0000 William Hammock http://www.neoncon.com/?p=2631 MindGene, LLC will showcase the revolutionary d20Pro v3.0 on a 40” LCD touch screen in the vendor hall, plus run Pathfinder Society Games this coming weekend at NeonCon.

Las Vegas, NV (November 3rd-6th, 2011) – The d20Pro Team is proud to announce the game schedule for NeonCon, unveil a touch-screen interactive game table with Mesa Mundi, and showcase the latest and greatest version of d20Pro.  Gamers on hand are in store for a treat.

  • World Premier of d20Pro v3.0

o    Content Marketplace – Gamers world-wide are now able to purchase 3rd party creatures, maps, and items pre-optimized for play in d20Pro. Full modules and even whole campaigns will be available. Also look for free products to download.

o    Additional improvements and fixes too numerous to mention in this format.

  • Booth Presence –Mat Morton and Joe Richardson are on tap this year to game and revel. Drop by the d20Pro booth for a live demonstration, talk shop, or to make a purchase.
  • PFS Games offered on a 40” LCD touch screen with legendary GM Joe Richardson.

o    #39 – The Citadel of Flames Friday and Saturday 2p-7p

o    #51 – The Shadow Gambit Friday and Saturday 8p-1a

Mat Morton, d20Pro Lead Developer, shares “NeonCon is a technology forward convention. It’s our pleasure to be back for another year to demonstrate the bleeding edge of RPG technology and enjoy Las Vegas with the best and brightest minds in tabletop gaming.”

About MindGene, LLC

 

MindGene (www.mindgene.com) is a Miami-based gaming software and website development company dedicated to producing pioneering gaming software and dynamic web solutions for a diverse client base. The company’s flagship product, d20Pro (www.d20Pro.com) allows gamers to play faster, play better, and play anywhere with its virtual tabletop gaming technology.

 

About Mesa Mundi, LLC

Mesa Mundi (www.mesamundi.com) offers a variety of touch sensor technologies for surface computing.

]]> http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2011/11/04/mindgene-llc-to-unveil-revolutionary-touch-screen-interactive-game-table-at-neoncon/feed/ 1 This Just In From Essen http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2011/10/30/this-just-in-from-essen/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2011/10/30/this-just-in-from-essen/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:06:51 +0000 Trentin Bergeron http://www.neoncon.com/?p=2518 Marcelo A. Figueroa traveled across the big pond and back again to bring us a menagerie of wonderful games from the lands of Europe!

Please join us for a special series of Game Nights featuring these great games!

 

  • Drum Roll (Artipia Games) [Greece]
  • Dwarf King’s Hold: Green Menace (Mantic Games) [United Kingdom]
  • Exposaurus (Mücke Spiele) [Germany]
  • Interstellar Mayhem (Soylent Games) [Germany]
  • Jurassik (Ilopeli) [France]
  • Magnum Sal (Gry Leonardo) [Poland]
  • Mare Balticum (Gry Leonardo) [Poland]
  • Modern Society (Tuonela Productions Ltd.) [Finland]
  • Rice Wars (Kuźnia Gier) [Poland]
  • Rumble In The House (Flatlined Games) [France]
  • Sherlock (Ilopeli) [France]
  • Star Wars: Angriff Der Rebellen (Kosmos) [Germany]
  • The Eagle & The Star (Gry Leonardo) [Poland]
]]> http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2011/10/30/this-just-in-from-essen/feed/ 1 Larry Roznai, President and COO of Mayfair Games, to deliver Keynote http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/18/larry-roznai-president-and-coo-of-mayfair-games-is-creativeu-keynote-speaker/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/18/larry-roznai-president-and-coo-of-mayfair-games-is-creativeu-keynote-speaker/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:17:04 +0000 Monica Valentinelli http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1982 – Neoncon, an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture, announced today that Larry Roznai, the President and COO of Mayfair Games, will be the keynote speaker at CreativeU. ]]> LAS VEGAS, NV – October 18, 2010 – Neoncon, an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture, announced today that Larry Roznai, the President and COO of Mayfair Games, will be the keynote speaker at CreativeU during the convention. This year, Neoncon 2010 will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th.

“Larry Roznai is the ultimate success story in the hobby games industry,” stated Doug Daulton, executive director of Neoncon. “He came to Mayfair as part of a demo team and now he is the President/COO of the company. CreativeU is all about inspiring and empowering current and aspiring creative professionals and game designers. Larry’s story certainly fits that bill.”

Produced by Neoncon, CreativeU is a forum designed for entertainment industry professionals to connect with fans, aspiring and other established professionals through workshops and seminars. As keynote speaker, Larry Roznai will talk about non-traditional jobs in the industry, jobs in the game industry that do not necessarily require art, editing, or design skills, and the opportunities such as warehouse managers, clerks, accountants, and other positions that are vital to any companies success.

Convention attendees are encouraged to check the Neoncon 2010 Event Schedule located at http://www.neoncon.com for more information about CreativeU.

About Neoncon: Neoncon is an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, Neoncon will be held at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th. Convention events will feature CreativeU, an open and organized play track, an exhibitor hall, and more!

On the Web: http://www.neoncon.com

About Mayfair Games: Mayfair Games encompasses a wide array of great board games, card games, dice games, with content easily accessible to families and gamers, including one of the world’s best selling game brands of all-time, The Settlers of Catan®. The Mayfair catalog of over 150 products offers a variety of fun and educational games that are full of intrigue, interaction, and provide outstanding replay value. In addition to being the world’s leading train game manufacturer, Mayfair publishes games in partnership with a number of international publishers. The company provides complete diversity in its products to satisfy all game enthusiasts. The topics of Mayfair games range from kid-friendly elk and sheep to strongly themed games of collecting rare specimens in the Amazon, saving citizens from the fall of Pompeii, or forging your Trans-continental railroad.

On the Web: http://mayfairgames.com/

Media Contact: Bill Fogarty
E-Mail Address: billf (-at-) mayfairgames.com
Phone: 813-707-6659

]]> http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/18/larry-roznai-president-and-coo-of-mayfair-games-is-creativeu-keynote-speaker/feed/ 0 Iron GM Regional Semifinal to be Held at Neoncon 2010 http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/first-iron-gm-competition-regional-semifinal-to-be-held-at-neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/first-iron-gm-competition-regional-semifinal-to-be-held-at-neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada/#comments Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:00:23 +0000 Monica Valentinelli http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1864 LAS VEGAS, NV – October 8, 2010 – Neoncon, an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture, announced today that it will host the first Iron GM Regional Semifinal Competition. This special event will be held during Neoncon in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th.

Organized by Iron GM, LLC, the National Iron GM Competition was designed to turn adventure role-playing into a competitive sport for both new and experienced game masters. At the start of the event, GMs will be asked to craft adventures based on the 3.5 System Reference Document (SRD) using three secret story ingredients. Then, it’s up to their players to decide who will be crowned the Iron GM.

The winner of the first Iron GM Regional Semifinal at Neoncon will win a free trip to GenCon: Indy 2011. Additionally, all participants will be eligible to receive a prize.

Iron GM participation is open to all NeonCon attendees for a small registration fee. Attendees are encouraged to review the schedule and register on the Neoncon 2010 website located at http://www.neoncon.com.

About Neoncon: Neoncon is an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, Neoncon will be held at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th. Convention events will feature CreativeU, an open and organized play track, an exhibitor hall, and more!

On the Web: http://www.neoncon.com

About Iron GM, LLC.: Iron GM puts an exciting tournament system in the hands of game store owners and convention organizers – a competition of wit, stamina and creative potency. The annual Iron GM Championship at Gen Con Indy attracts worldwide competitors.

On the Web: http://irongm.com/

Media Contact: Ed Healy
E-Mail Address: ephealy (-at-) ephealy.com
Phone: 253-777-0296

###

]]> http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/first-iron-gm-competition-regional-semifinal-to-be-held-at-neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada/feed/ 1 First-Ever UFS National Championship to be Held at Neoncon 2010 http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/first-ever-ufs-national-championship-to-be-held-at-neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/first-ever-ufs-national-championship-to-be-held-at-neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada/#comments Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:00:02 +0000 Monica Valentinelli http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1856 LAS VEGAS, NV – October 10, 2010 – Neoncon, an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture, announced today that it will offer the first-ever UFS National Championship to be Held at Neoncon in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th. To celebrate their first appearance at Neoncon, Jasco Games will also announce the next set of UFS cards at the show.

Produced by Jasco Games, the Universal Fighting System (UFS) is a popular collectible card game that allows players to choose their favorite fighters from multiple video games, comics, and other genres. Opponents range from Tekken, Street Fighter, Soul Calibur, Penny Arcade, and more!

UFS National Championship highlights include:

  • Free admission to all Neoncon 2010 attendees
  • Complimentary gift for all tournament participants
  • Tournament legal Character Card for main event winner in his or her likeness

    • Participants are encouraged to check the Neoncon 2010 Event Schedule located at http://www.neoncon.com to review the times and types of events available.

    About Neoncon: Neoncon is an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, Neoncon will be held at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th. Convention events will feature CreativeU, an open and organized play track, an exhibitor hall, and more!

    On the Web: http://www.neoncon.com

    About Jasco Games: Established in 1998, Jasco Games offers an online store and a retailer store location in Lubbock, Texas. In 2010, Jasco Games acquired the Universal Fighting System CCG which was originally published through Fantasy Flight Games.

    On the Web: http://www.jascogames.com/

    Media Contact: Jason Hawronsky
    E-Mail Address: Jason (-at-) JascoGames.com
    Phone: 806-368-5938

    ###

    ]]> http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/first-ever-ufs-national-championship-to-be-held-at-neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada/feed/ 0 Neoncon 2010 Offers North American Catan Championship Qualifier http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada-to-offer-north-american-catan-pre-qualifying-championship-from-mayfair-games/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada-to-offer-north-american-catan-pre-qualifying-championship-from-mayfair-games/#comments Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:00:52 +0000 Monica Valentinelli http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1850 LAS VEGAS, NV – October 8, 2010 – Neoncon, an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture, announced today that it will host a pre-qualifying North American Catan Championship from Mayfair Games. This special event will be held during Neoncon in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th.

    Produced by Mayfair Games, the North American Catan Championship utilizes the Settlers of Catan Board Game 4th Edition.

    Neoncon will host a North American Catan Championship Qualifier for all attendees, and will award the winner with a free trip to GenCon: Indy 2011. Mayfair Games will provide the Neoncon winner with a spot in the final championship at GenCon. The winner of the GenCon: Indy 2011 tournament will then proceed to compete in the WWCC World Wide Catan Championship in 2012. The Championship Qualifier is free to enter for all NeonCon attendees.

    For those players interested in entering this pre-qualifying Championship, be sure to check the Neoncon 2010 Event Schedule located at http://www.neoncon.com.

    About Neoncon: Neoncon is an annual celebration of gaming and geek culture in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, Neoncon will be held at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino from November 4th through the 7th. Convention events will feature CreativeU, an open and organized play track, an exhibitor hall, and more!

    On the Web: http://www.neoncon.com

    About Mayfair Games: Mayfair Games encompasses a wide array of great board games, card games, dice games, with content easily accessible to families and gamers, including one of the world’s best selling game brands of all-time, The Settlers of Catan®. Mayfair Games offers a variety of fun and educational games that are full of intrigue, interaction, and provide outstanding replay value. The complete diversity in our products is sure to satisfy all game enthusiasts.

    On the Web: http://mayfairgames.com/

    Media Contact: Bill Fogarty
    E-Mail Address: billf (-at-) mayfairgames.com
    Phone: 813-707-6659

    ###

    ]]>     http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/10/08/neoncon-in-las-vegas-nevada-to-offer-north-american-catan-pre-qualifying-championship-from-mayfair-games/feed/ 1     NeonCon provides official live video stream of Gen Con 2010 http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/08/03/neoncon-to-provide-official-live-video-stream-of-gen-con-2010/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/08/03/neoncon-to-provide-official-live-video-stream-of-gen-con-2010/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:21:23 +0000 Doug Daulton http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1646 NeonCon 2010

    &

    Gen Con 2010 Live

    are proud to bring you

    GEN CON LIVE 2010

    LAS VEGAS (August 3rd, 2010) — Known for bringing cutting edge new media to social games, NeonCon is proud to partner with Gen Con, Pixel Corps, LiveStream and LiveU to bring you Gen Con Live … streaming video updates from the floor of Gen Con 2010. Using technology provided by the Pixel Corps and LiveU, Team NeonCon will be on the floor covering Gen Con 2010 from every angle. Interviews, product announcements and behind the scenes extras … all brought to you as they happen via LiveStream.

    For the first time ever, worldwide viewers will be able to participate in the Gen Con Indy in real-time. Co-hosts Doug Daulton and Juliet Meyer will cover all the action from the opening ceremonies on Thursday to the close of the Exhibit Hall on Sunday evening. Along the way, you’ll meet your favorite game designers, publishers and other special guests from across the industry.

    “Since the early days in Wisconsin, Gen Con has a long tradition of excellence. And, there are no better fans. After covering NAB, CineGear and Siggraph with the Pixel Corps, I knew we had to bring this technology to Gen Con. When I mentioned it to Scott Elliot, he got it immediately, which is one of the reasons we are proud to have Gen Con as a partner.” — Doug Daulton, NeonCon

    Gen Con Live will be streamed simultaneously on www.neoncon.com, www.gencon.com, www.livestream.com and infrno.net. Viewers can tune in to watch and chat live online or through social media tools Twitter and Facebook, allowing producers to engage participants, interact with their audience, and viewers to virtually share the moment with others. Online publishers will be able to embed the Livestream video player along with its social media tools on their sites and make the webcast available to their communities.

    Gen Con is about connecting gamers. People come from all over the world to play games here in Indianapolis and to meet their heroes: game designers, writers, publishers and world champion game players. We are excited to have a strong partner in NeonCon, who can help to extend the reach of the Gen Con Indy experience to people who could not attend this year.” — Scott Elliott, Gen Con LLC

    Where to Watch

    Gen Con Live will begin at 10:00 am on August 5th, 2010 and end at 6:00pm on August 8th, 2010. The show will be available at www.neoncon.com, www.gencon.com and www.livestream.com, infrno.net and many other websites. Additionally, Livestream offers widgets of varying sizes for bloggers, webmasters, and digital media outlets to embed in their own sites as a source of fun and entertaining content. For more information on the variety of non-commercial widgets available and the embedding codes, please visit www.livestream.com/neoncon.

    Appearing on Gen Con Live

    The Gen Con Live schedule includes interviews with special guests like Stan! (with fellow Super Geniuses Hyrum Savage and Owen K.C. Stephens), Matthew Grau (CthulhuTech & Infrno), Monica Valentinelli (Hack/Slash & Queen of Crows), Adam Jury (Eclipse Phase), Justin Gary (Ascension & World of Warcraft Minis), Rob Doughtery (Ascension) and many more. Additional interviews and special event coverage will be announced shortly.

    If you would like Doug or Juliet to cover your product or event on Gen Con Live, please email the producers at live@neoncon.com.

    About Gen Con

    Gen Con, LLC produces the largest consumer hobby, fantasy, sci-fi and adventure game convention in North America. Its operations include Gen Con Indy and licensees for European and Asia Pacific Gen Con shows. It was acquired in 2002 by former CEO and founder of Wizards of the Coast Peter Adkison, who owns the company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Gen Con is a consumer and trade experience dedicated to gaming culture and community. For updates, follow Gen Con on twitter @gen_con.

    For more information on Gen Con, contact:

    Stacia Kirby
    206.363.1492
    stacia@speakeasy.net
    www.gencon.com

    About Livestream

    Livestream provides everything needed to easily live stream video and engage an audience. Producers can use Livestream to stream live, linear and on-demand Internet television to multiple devices through a single, highly customizable player. The service is available in both Free (ad-supported) and Premium (ad-free, white-label, higher-quality) packages. Unique features include the ability to mix multiple live cameras, overlay graphics, desktop streaming with 3D effects, and social chat. Founded in 2007, the Livestream is based in New York and includes Gannett Co. as a minority shareholder and investor. For updates, follow Livestream on twitter @livestream.

    For more information on Livestream, contact:

    Jennifer Levine
    646.495.9707
    jennifer.levine@livestream.com
    www.livestream.com

    About LiveU

    Based in Paramus, NJ and Kfar Saba, Israel, LiveU (www.liveu.tv) designs, develops and provides a real-time video uplink solution at broadcast quality which provides instant setup time and connects to any video camera. LiveU frees video broadcasting from uplink limitations and allows the color and excitement of live broadcasts to be shared by TV Broadcasters, Web Platforms and Video Prosumers, anywhere and at anytime. LiveU’s services have been deployed successfully by leading TV networks and other media companies to transmit news, live sporting events, concerts, and reality shows. LiveU is a privately held company, backed by top tier international technology investors. For updates, follow LiveU on twitter @LiveU.

    For more information on LiveU, contact:

    Ken Zamkow
    Director of Sales and Marketing
    917.623.3739
    ken@liveu.tv
    www.liveu.tv

    About NeonCon

    Founded in 2007, NeonCon is a celebration of geek culture held each fall in Las Vegas, Nevada. Built around social games, NeonCon brings together players and publishers, fans and creators for a weekend of fun and learning in the entertainment capital of the world. For updates, follow NeonCon on twitter @neoncon.

    For more information on NeonCon, contact:

    Doug Daulton
    Founder & Executive Director
    702.767.8025
    doug.daulton@neoncon.com
    www.neoncon.com

    About Pixel Corps

    Pixel Corps is the global industry guild for the next generation of digital craftsmen. Devised to create a global production community capable of generating content around the world, Pixel Corps offers production training designed to create production artists. Pixel Corps is preparing artists for the next media revolution by blending extensive training, access to the industry’s most advanced applications, real-world challenges and community participation unlike anything else available. Founded in 2002 by industry veteran, Alex Lindsay, Pixel Corps has grown to more than 1,500 members in over 35 countries. For updates, follow Pixel Corps on twitter @pixelcorps.

    For more information on Pixel Corps, contact:

    Alex Lindsay
    Founder & Chief Architect
    415.495.4775
    alex@pixelcorps.com
    www.pixelcorps.com

    ###

    ]]>     http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/08/03/neoncon-to-provide-official-live-video-stream-of-gen-con-2010/feed/ 2     The Future Is Now http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/07/27/the-future-is-now/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/07/27/the-future-is-now/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:11:20 +0000 Doug Daulton http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1637

    Welcome,

    It seems like only yesterday that I sat across the table from Mike Sanchez, my co-founder, and talked about what we both wanted from NeonCon. Almost four years later, NeonCon has become everything Mike and I planned and so much more. As a regional gaming convention, it has already met or exceeded every plan we put on the table, despite the difficult economy that has touched us all these past few years.

    Now, on the eve of our first official appearance at Gen Con, I am excited about how far we’ve come and what the road ahead has in store for us. You see, 2010 marks a major turning point for the show.

    If you are one of our many partners, you’ve already heard much of what I am about to share publicly for the first time. And, for those close to the show, you have surely heard the rumblings of the coming changes. Change is good.

    As of this moment, NeonCon is no longer just about games. We are now a full bore celebration of geek culture.

    What does that mean? And, why are we changing? I’ll answer the last question first.

    There Can Be Only One

    When evaluating the performance of NeonCon 2009, it became clear that we had already accomplished everything we set out to do in those early days. It was also clear that we needed to grow and change. So, I started looking at other shows for inspiration and a model for the future of NeonCon.

    How about Gen Con? After all Gen Con SoCal was no more and the West Coast needed a major gaming convention. Almost immediately, I rejected that model. Aside from the fact that they are a valued partner, there is now and ever shall be only one Gen Con. Will we learn from Gen Con, absolutely. Could we ever be Gen Con? Never. The same holds true for the San Diego Comic-Con. Like the Highlander, there can be only one. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to keep my head. ;^D

    As I went down the list, I saw many shows I admired and knew we could learn from (PAX, Dragon-Con, I-Con etc.), but very few I thought it made sense to emulate. Why not? Mostly, it has to do with my philosophy that, in the convention space, we need more cooperation and less competition. If you want to know more of my thoughts on the subject, ask me about the cupcake axiom when you next see me.

    Suffice to say that I felt modeling NeonCon after these other shows would only produce more of the same and, therefore, breed more competition between all of our shows. Instead, I thought we needed a new spin on the old pop-culture con. Armed with this epiphany, it did not take me long to realize that South By Southwest (SXSW) was the ideal model for us. For the uninitiated, SXSW is a Music, Film & Interactive festival which attracts 36,000 people to Austin, Texas every spring.

    SXSW was not always this big. It started as a humble street festival for indie musicians. As it grew, it attracted more well-known bands which, in turn, started attracting film makers who were huge music fans. As a result, someone thought a film festival would be a great addition. This new, combined festival became a favorite of web developers, designers and other creative folks who were fans of both music and film. Not long after, Interactive became a core part of the show. The rest, as they say, is history.

    That is the power of genre cross-pollination. It is what want to do as well, but with social games at our core, not music. What will emerge to run parallel to Games? Only time will tell for sure, but the first real contender is Creatives.

    Rise of the Creative

    Last year, we brought you GamesU. Each and every speaker blew me away as they generously shared their knowledge of the social games industry. I knew it would be great, but I did not know the impact it would have over the coming year. Every session was recorded. While we still have a few more edit, most sessions have already made it up to our YouTube channel. The response has been overwhelming and humbling.

    Speakers tell me they have new designers approaching them to discuss the points raised in their presentations. Some have reported rewriting their business plans based on the advice and direction they were given at GamesU. Still others say the stories from the pros inspired them to pursue their creative dreams with a balance of passion and realism, which they feel is already helping them succeed.

    As powerful as GamesU 2009 was, we learned a lot from the experience and the feedback we’ve received. Folks wanted more. More sessions. Longer sessions. More diversity. So, we went back to the drawing board and launched CreativeU … everything that GamesU was, and more.

    CreativeU expands on GamesU both in format and focus; now including both talks and workshops.

    Modeled after the TED program, talks will be short, 20 minute events where the speaker address one topic about which they are both well-versed and passionate. Talks serve one purpose … to ignite the creative drive of the listener.

    Workshops will be “deep dives” into a broad range of the technical skills required to execute creative projects of all kinds, not just games. The guiding principle of every workshop is to “build better creatives”.

    These two formats reflect the new focus of CreativeU or, perhaps, it’s lack of focus. As the name implies, GamesU focused on games. CreativeU addresses all creative disciplines, most of which can directly apply to the design and development of games. By addressing a broader audience this way, CreativeU actually serves game designers better.

    In addition to accomplished game designers, CreativeU attendees have the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with seasoned artists, writers, web designer/developers, podcasters, film makers, actors, and many more.

    The Keynote Speaker for CreativeU 2010 is already in the fold and will be announced at Gen Con. We are very excited to have him on board. Like Erik Mona before him, I am sure he will give you plenty to think about.

    What Else Does The Future Hold?

    To be perfectly honest, I do not know. And, I am OK with that. I am fairly certain they guys who started SXSW had no idea what lie just around the bend. Serendipity led them to a great place. I am sure it will do the same for us.

    One thing, I know for sure. Like SXSW before us, we will look for natural cross-pollination within our audience and take most of our cues from there.

    That is not to say we do not have plans. We do. Some will happen in 2010. Others are already in the works for NeonCon 2011. As these plans come together, we will announce them here and on Twitter and Facebook as well.

    This much I can tell you. We have a huge announcement coming just in front of Gen Con. So, stay tuned. I am sure you will be glad you did.

    See you soon. Until then, make this your mantra: “Create. Educate. Celebrate. Geek Life.” And, if you need a change of pace, “Play Games. Make Friends. Defeat Evil.” still applies as well. ;^D

    Peace,

    Doug Daulton
    Executive Director
    NeonCon & CreativeU

    ]]>     http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/07/27/the-future-is-now/feed/ 1     Social is the word … http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/07/19/social-is-the-word/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/07/19/social-is-the-word/#comments Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:58:31 +0000 Doug Daulton http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1620 I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the new face on NeonCon. Over the last four years, we have put a lot of thought and planning into each show and the tools we use to promote and support them. From the beginning, we knew we needed a social network to support all of the great people … attendees, storytellers, presenters, sponsors and last, but not least staff … that make NeonCon such a special event. Finally, it is here.

    What you are looking at is a full-fledged social network, built just for you. We’ve created over 100 groups dedicated to the games you know and love. Use these groups to connect with other players before, during and after the show. And, there are more to come.

    While we have been over the site with a fine-toothed comb, a few bugs may have slipped through the cracks. If you find one, don’t reach for a can of RAID! We are counting on you to let us know what you find by leaving us a message in Feedback.

    Before I go, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge a couple of the fine folks who helped make this launch possible. FIrst, we have Will Hammock, from the Museum of Mythical History. Will took some rough notes sketched on a piece of scrap paper and created the gorgeous theme you see wrapping this site. Thanks Will!

    While Will designed, we had a lot of help from John Hawkins (9seeds.com) and Brandon Dove (pixeljar.net). Both of these fine gentleman helped hunt bugs, clean up CSS and generally bend the WordPress platform to my will. Thanks to you both!

    With that said, I am off to get some much needed sleep. Get that Feedback coming!

    Peace,

    Doug

    ]]>     http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/07/19/social-is-the-word/feed/ 1     NEONCON 2010 http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/05/28/neoncon-2010/ http://www.neoncon.com/blog/2010/05/28/neoncon-2010/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 16:43:11 +0000 Doug Daulton http://www.neoncon.com/?p=1282 NeonCon is a three day celebration of geek culture held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Initially built around traditional hobby games, NeonCon expands every year to add new events.

    • The Bazaar – Our Dealer Room is open to the public
    • Pathfinder Society – Play an exclusive special scenario
    • Living Forgotten Realms – All of the latest releases
    • Cthulhu Mythos – Call of Cthulhu and Cthulhu Live
    • Games on Demand! – Indie Story Games Galore
    • White Wolf Camarilla – Vampire, Changeling & more
    • Magic: The Gathering – Exclusive tournament events
    • D&D Miniatures – National Arena Championship
    • Warhammer Fantasy/40K – Grand Tournament
    • Board Games – The new hotness & all your old favorites

    CreativeU — The unconference for professional and aspiring creatives

    Ever watched or participated in a TED Talk, WordCamp or similar unconference? If so, then you know what to expect from CreativeU! Primarily driven by peer presentations, CreativeU is all about sharing information to inspire and empower creatives. Visit http://youtube.com/neoncon to check out all of the sessions from GamesU 2009, the precursor to CreativeU.

    Thursday Pre-Con Events

    All NeonCon alumni and early-bird registrants will recieve an invitation to exclusive pre-con events on the evening of Thursday, November 4th.  Not a NeonCon alum? Register before September 10th for your invitation.

    [iframe http://www.eventbrite.com/tickets-external?eid=708302552&ref=etckt 100% 300px]

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