NEONCON

PLAY · Social Games

What is a social game? In the current vernacular, social games refer to things like Evony, FarmVille and Mobsters or Mafia Wars, all of which are online games which leverage the power of online social networks like Facebook and MySpace. One could also argue that MMORPGs … like World of Warcraft, EverQuest and Warhammer Online … are also “social games”

While both sorts of games engage large communities of players to work together or against one another in the process of game play, we reject the notion that either is truly a social game. While either sort of game can be fun, community games is a name which fits them better.

What is a social game?

Simple. A social game gathers people in real life to enjoy one another’s company, with or without the presence of competition. This definition includes board games, card games, live action role-play (LARP), miniature wargames, and role-playing games (RPGs). Historically, this category has been called “hobby games“, but we don’t think that moniker really does the category justice.

Do any computer or console games qualify as social games?

By our definition, no computer games qualify, largely because they are built around a single user interface. Even if that player interacts with hundreds of players online, the game does not meet the definition. However, an exciting trend in console games, first driven by the Nintendo Wii, has emerged.

The Wii encourages players to gather, share controllers, move their bodies and create a compelling, fun group experience. Games like Wii Sports Resort and Rockband are excellent examples of this new/old social gaming paradigm. Following the lead of the Wii, the XBox and Playstation now have interesting social games and controllers in development.

Social Games at NeonCon

NeonCon offers three days full of social games. In addition, we offer a special “welcome session” to early registrants on Thursday night. For an overview of the schedule, review the chart below. The number of games offered is too numerous to list here, but be sure to check out the 100+ groups we’ve created to help you connect with other players in advance of the show and plan your optimal social games experience.

To help you narrow down your search, we’ve categorized the games as follows: Board Games, Card Games, Live Action (LARP), Miniature Wargames and Role Playing Games (RPGs). And, you can select the groups for our featured games directly from the drop-down menus at the top of every page.