Three Twitch channels! Four days! So much streaming, so much PAX, and so much good stuff! Who’s ready to watch it all?
I’m well aware that far from everything here is about indie games, but I’d say there’s enough to make the schedule worth covering. That and the source is likely to contain new content for the next one, so archival purpose… I guess? Anyway, as always, (a ton of) links below!
Storytime: Mike Bilder, Jackbox Games
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: PAX1
From classics like Drawful, Fibbage, and Quiplash, to newcomers Tee K.O., Champ’d Up, and Talking Points, Jackbox Games has seen enduring success since the first Party Pack was released in 2014, and its CEO, Mike Bilder, has been there every step of the way. Join Mike as he shares the history of his 20+ years in the game industry, shows us the secrets of his Chicago team’s success, and maybe draws a bird with a bra at some point. (Probably not.) (But what if?!)
Mike Bilder [CEO, Jackbox Games]
The Use of Traditional Animation in Games
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Location: PAX3
Traditional animation is a great way to give characters life in your game. Many different game genres use traditional animation in different ways to highlight the gameplay. Join Sara Pocock, Marc Gomez, and Jesus Lopez as they talk about their use of traditional animation in different games and why they chose to use traditional animation instead of other forms.
Sara Pocock [Studio Art Director, Tic Toc Games]
Marc Gomez [Art Director, WayForward Technologies]
Jesus Lopez [Animation Manager, Former EA]
Rock Paper Shotgun Indies Uncovered – Thursday
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: PAX2
Join RPS, the world’s best PC gaming website, as they showcase some of this year’s most anticipated indie releases and some gems you may have overlooked!
Penny Arcade Make-A-Strip!
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Location: PAX1
We’re starting the weekend off right, with a funky fresh finale to the Mike Krahulik era of the Penny Arcade Make-A-Strip panel. Join the internet’s Jerry “Tycho Brahe” Holkins and Mike, “Gabriel, the Art Angel” Krahulik for their final on-stage attempt at drawing an entire comic strip in the space of one calendar hour. Join in this historic PAX moment and help support Child’s Play Charity with text-in donations!
Mike Krahulik [Artist, Penny Arcade]
Jerry Holkins [Word Artist, Penny Arcade]
Let’s Race: How Devs & Speedrunning Communities Be Friends
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: PAX3
Glitch or glitchless? Any% or 100? So bad it’s good, or so good you can’t resist? Speedrunners have Thoughts(TM) on what makes a game great for the community that raises millions for charity every year. When developers take those things to heart, everybody wins. Hear from speedrunning experts and game developers: Why do some games go the distance and become GDQ mainstays? Why has your favorite game failed to garner much speedrunning attention? And how can the games of tomorrow attract both runners and fans?
Salaar Kohari [Game Director and Founder, CAGE Studios]
Chris King (he/him) [Founder, Batterystaple Games]
Spikevegeta (he/him) [Host and Speedrunner, Games Done Quick]
Mark Medina (he/him) [Editorial Producer, IGN]
Kasumi Yogi (she/her) [Director of Marketing, Games Done Quick]
Celia Schilling (she/her) [Marketing Manager, Yacht Club Games]
Making a Difference Playing Video Games in the Hospital
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Location: PAX2
Thanks to the generosity of donors and fundraisers like you, Child’s Play Charity has been busy funding full-time Gaming Technology Specialists at Children’s Hospitals across the nation. What are Gaming Tech Specialists? We are the specialists who play with the kids who need it the most… and get paid for it! From D&D to Fortnite, Smash Bros to Beat Saber, we do it all with an eye to the therapeutic benefits games can provide. Come join a roundtable of Specialists and learn about this exciting new field, how you can support us or make a living playing games with kids who need it the most yourself.
Alexander Pereira [Patient Technology Specialist, Methodist Children’s Hospital]
Marty McMahon [Child Life Gaming Activity Coordinator, Texas Children’s Hospital]
Andrew Gabanyicz [Patient Technology Specialist, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital]
Garrett Goody [Therapeutic Gaming and Technology Specialist, Seattle Children’s Hospital]
Braxton Bitsoi [Patient Technology Coordinator, Primary Children’s Hospital]
MY.GAMES Presents: Blast Brigade and Friends
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: PAX1
Join MY.GAMES as they showcase their upcoming games, as well as updates to their greatest hits. Dive into the world of Blast Brigade with an exclusive in-depth look at the gameplay of the explosive Metroidvania. Take a sneak peek at the development of World War 3 and learn about a brand-new Season for medieval action MMO Conqueror’s Blade and the tactical first-person shooter Warface.
Research Report: Mental Health of Streamers During COVID
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: PAX2
Last summer, a team of psychologists, researchers, and Twitch streamers ran a study on the mental health of streamers during quarantine. Using in-depth interviews, we uncovered several major mental health themes faced by streamers as well as recommendations by streamers on improving the streaming space regarding mental wellness and safety. This panel will share our findings and what it means for streamers and their communities going forward.
Kelli Dunlap [Psychologist, American University]
Mxiety [Partnered Streamer, Mxiety]
Jocelyn Wagner [Researcher, American University]
The Inherent Queerness of the Cyberpunk Genre
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: PAX3
Cybernetics, genetic alterations, transhumanism. Wanna’ replace an arm, a leg or an eye with something that has a better set of features? Maybe this body isn’t working out? Let’s hot swap your brain into another shell! Time to root your hardware and disconnect from the norm as we discuss the inherent queerness of the Cyberpunk genre.
Cade Peterson (loves all pronouns) [CEO, MidBoss]
Emma ‘Eniko’ Maassen [President and Founder, Kitsune Games]
Ana Valens (she/her) [Reporter, Editor, Daily Dot, Polygon, Fanbyte]
Jacob Burgess (he/him) [COO, Ysbryd Games]
Veronica Ripley [Content Creator, Nikatine (Twitch Channel)]
For the Love of the Game
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: PAX1
Catch a slice of life dive into the exciting upcoming games published by Freedom Games. Our indie developers take center stage as they showcase fresh gameplay, share their stories, and open up about their struggles. From Space Colony farming simulators (One Lonely Outpost) to pet business managers (To The Rescue!, Cat Cafe Simulator), to hardcore Souls-like and Metrodivania titles (Sands of Aura, 9 Years of Shadows), there’s something for everyone! Tune in to catch trailers and gameplay for 17 upcoming games!
Game Study: The Educational Power of Video Games
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
Location: PAX3
We believe that games have a transformative power in education and are able to bridge the gap between what students love to do at home, and what they have to learn at school. We also believe that learning how to use games in education should be easier. Join three industry professionals (Zack Hartzman: High School Teacher and founder of Hey Listen Games, Mike Washburn: Director of Engagement at Participate, & Steve Isaacs: Education Program Manager at Epic Games) for a live game study. We will take a deep dive into a video game series that your students know and love. You are bound to leave with some great ideas for future class activities.
Zack Hartzman (He/Him) [Founder, Hey Listen Games]
Mike Washburn (He/Him) [Director of Engagement, Participate]
Steve Isaacs (He/Him) [Education Program Manager, Epic Games]
Omegathon Round 1: Brawlhalla
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: PAX2
Welcome to the first round of the Omegathon, a spectacle of delicious competition played out over the course of the show. For our first trick, we’ll need to turn 8 people into 6 people. How do we do that? Simple. Make them battle for supremacy in the greatest free-to-play cross-platform arena fighter of all time: BRAWLHALLA!
Podcast Unlocked: IGN’s Weekly Xbox Show
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM
Location: PAX1
IGN’s biggest Xbox superfans gather to discuss the week’s biggest Xbox news, from Xbox Series X to Xbox Game Pass to xCloud. Hosted by Ryan McCaffrey, Miranda Sanchez, Destin Legarie, and Brandin Tyrrel.
Ryan McCaffrey [Executive Editor, IGN]
Miranda Sanchez [Executive Editor, IGN]
Destin Legarie [Senior Features Producer, IGN]
Brandin Tyrrel [Events Manager, IGN]
Building a Community on Budget
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: PAX3
Hear from top Community Managers across multiple titles on how to build up and empower the gaming community at large. If you are an indie developer and have a tight wallet, this panel will give you tips and advice on how to get started. One of the biggest things games face is managing the expectations of the community, this panel will show the best practices to achieve success in the ever crowded gaming space.
Stephen Darkis [Director of Community, Skystone Games]
Margaret Krohn [Community Marketing Lead, Interpid Studios]
Linda Brasse [Director of CX , Mod Squad]
Bill Murphy [Co-Founder, Team Critical Hit]
When Talking Is The Game, Or How Do Asymmetrical Co-Op Games Create Even More Cooperation?
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM
Location: PAX2
This past year, due to the pandemic, more gamers than ever turned to cooperative games as a way to stay connected with friends and family. These indie developers have found innovative ways to push co-op gameplay in a relatively new and unexplored direction: that of asymmetrical co-op gaming. In these games, the two players can’t see each other’s screen and must therefore rely on verbal communication to move forward. In other words, talking is gameplay here. The result is the potential to appeal to a broader range of players – men and women, young and old, casual and experienced. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in designing for asymmetrical co-op play, what we hope to see for the future of this co-op genre, and what we learned about the way we play together.
@cleverplays [Game Director and Co-founder, Operation: Tango, Clever Plays Studio]
@dragongallucy [Managing Director and Co-Founder, Total Mayhem Games, We Were Here Series]
@AmandaFarough [Co-Founder, Freelance Journalist , F-Squared Consulting, SuperParent, Ready Player Mom]
Mira Dorthé [Co-Founder, Programmer, Designer, Other Tales Interactive, Tick Tock: A Tale for Two]
#ActuallyAutistic GMs
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 7:45 PM – 8:45 PM
Location: PAX3
Many autistic individuals struggle across social settings, but really shine behind a dungeon master’s screen. Join our panel of autistic game masters to learn more about what makes tabletop role-playing games, and the GM seat specifically, such a good fit. We’ll share some great stories and provide concrete tips for setting you and your party up for success on your next adventure.
Dr. Jared Kilmer, PhD (he/him) [Director of Counseling Services, Game to Grow]
Dr. Raffael Boccamazzo, PsyD (he/him) [Clinical Director, Take this]
Shawna Spain [Volunteer Coordinator, Game to Grow]
Dr. Virginia Spielmann, [Executive Director, STAR Institute]
Dr. Elizabeth D Kilmer [Director of Education and Training, Game to Grow]
Always Check the Toilets: A Ranking of Bathrooms in Games
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: PAX2
Yep, you read that right. Bathrooms are often a real dump when it comes to game design – sometimes necessary, but often an afterthought. Who gives a crap, right? But hold onto your pants, because we’re here to defend this noble throne room. As home to some of the most iconic moments in gaming history, from dropping out of vents and dispatching enemies to finding voice logs in the toilet bowls, the bathroom has got your back(side). Join our panel of game developers and experts as they plunge into what makes a great game bathroom, what developers can do to make their own sinks and stalls shine, and celebrate some of the best bathrooms in video game history that have been ignored for far too long.
David Galindo (he/him) [Game Designer, Vertigo Gaming Inc.]
Victoria Tran (she/her) [Community Director, Innersloth]
Xalavier Nelson Jr. (he/him) [Game Designer, Strange Scaffold]
Dorm (DormStreams) [Artist/Content Creator, DormStreams]
Fire Escape x Nextlander PAX Takeover Extraordinaire
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM
Location: PAX1
CHILDREN OF THE BOMB. Fire Escape and Nextlander come to PAX and put Dan, Mike, Merry, Vinny, Alex and Brad to the test on the latest video games they’ve been playing. Also what’s a PAX without going down memory lane and revisiting some of our fondest memories during conventions. You won’t want to miss a special LIVE edition of The Fire Escape Cast/ Nextlander
Dan Ryckert [Co Owner, Fire Escape Cast]
Mike Mahardy [Co Owner, Fire Escape Cast]
Mary Kish [Co Owner, Fire Escape Cast]
Vincent Caravella [Co Owner, Nextlander]
Alex Navarro [Co Owner, Nextlander]
Brad Shoemaker [Co Owner, Nextlander]
A Thirst Unquenched? Sexy Game Characters for The Rest of Us
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: PAX3
Back for a second round of PAX Online, this panel explores the joys of sweetness, shirtlessness, and sex appeal for non-straight-male audiences. Join a diverse panel of developers and industry veterans to squee over their favorite video game crushes and lust objects, speculate about how such characters are created, explore how they can engage and inspire audiences, and learn how – and why – the industry can do better at producing them.
Michelle Clough (she/her) [Partner / Writer / Narrative Designer, Talespinners]
Ashley Ruhl (she/her) [Lead Cinematic Designer, BioWare Austin]
Souha Al-Samkari (she/her) [Vice President, Truant Pixel]
Sharii (she/her) [Vice President, Candle Glow Studios]
Aenne Schumann (they/her) [Narrative Designer, Fiction Factory Games]
The Best Bars in Games
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 9:15 PM – 10:15 PM
Location: PAX2
Everyone knows that the greatest adventures all start over drinks at a Tavern. Bars have always been an integral part of video game history, whether serving as the testing ground for Pong, stressing us out in Tapper, or acting as venues for gatherings of game developers to share ideas in real life. Strap on your beer goggles and raise a glass with Liana Ruppert of Game Informer, Matt Kim of IGN, Tomo Moriwaki of Hyperkinetic Studios as we serve up a great conversation about the game industry’s relationship with Bars.
Matt Kim [News Editor, IGN]
Liana Ruppert [Associate Editor, Game Informer]
Tomo [CCO, Hyperkinetic Studios]
Richie [CEO, Hyperkinetic Studios]
Geek Trivia Hosted by Geek Therapeutics & Geeks Like Us
Thu, Jul 15, 2021 • 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: PAX1
Being a geek is super fun and one amazing way to horde lots of random facts about EVERYTHING. Our esteemed panelists are walking geek encyclopedias that will test your knowledgeable boundaries. This panel is going to test the knowledge of the audience within the realm of Video Games, Anime, Board Games, and more! Prizes will be had for the winning answers! Think you know your stuff? Come and play to find out!
Rock Paper Shotgun Indies Uncovered – Friday
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: PAX2
Join RPS, the world’s best PC gaming website, as they showcase some of this year’s most anticipated indie releases and some gems you may have overlooked!
The History of Hacking in Games with Midnight Protocol
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Location: PAX1
Tech Journalist David McClelland (BBC, TechRadar) tells the story of how hacking became such a prominent theme in video games. Then he’s joined by the team from LuGus Studios, the developers of Midnight Protocol, to explore how that history – the real and the fictional – is represented in their upcoming tactical RPG controlled entirely by the command line.
Hidden Gems of PAX Online
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Location: PAX2
As you peruse all the fun and games PAX Online has on offer, you may be wondering, “what are the must-see games this week?” Allow us to answer that question for you! Tune in as our esteemed panelists from across the games industry convene for the first virtual Hidden Gems, where we’ll show you the games you won’t want to miss and the demos you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home!
Dylan Ilvento (He/Him) [Co-Founder, Ward Games]
Felix Kramer (They/Them) [Producer, Polytron]
David Lucio (He/Him) [Co-host, El David y Estefi Show]
ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: PAX1
A deadly Alien stalks the crew of the commercial starship NOSTROMO while they struggle to survive. Work together to move through the ship, gather supplies, and craft items. Tread carefully as you work through your missions – the ALIEN could be just around the corner! Remember, in space no one can hear you scream.
LoadingReadyRun Q&A Panel
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: PAX2
Internet Comedians of Comedy on the Internet LoadingReadyRun answer your Qs! Except we asked for the Qs earlier, so they might not be yours! Tune in to see if they are!
The Tetris Effect: Why Tetris is the Ultimate Puzzle Game
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: PAX1
Over the years, Tetris has become more than a game where you stack blocks and clear lines thanks to iterations like Tetris Effect, Tetris 99, and Puyo Puyo Tetris. Classic versions of the game like NES Tetris have also found new life in esports thanks to events like the Classic Tetris World Championships. Essentially… Tetris is amazing. In this panel, we’ll be talking about Tetris, Tetris, and more Tetris! Specifically, different versions of the game and why they stand out, what the “Tetris Effect” is, and why Tetris reigns supreme as the ultimate puzzle game.
Morgan Shaver (they/them) [Editor-in-Chief at Prima Games, Community Manager for Tetris, Greenlit Content]
Lucas White (he/him) [Editor at Prima Games, Greenlit Content]
Jonathan Holmes (he/him) [Editor at Nintendo Force and Destructoid, Nintendo Force and Destructoid]
Brenden Groom (he/him) [Host and Editor-in-Chief at Pass The Controller, Pass The Controller]
Jesse Vitelli (he/him) [Editor at Prima Games, Prima Games]
Charlie Wacholz (he/him) [Host of Comfort Food Podcast, Editor at Twinfinite, Comfort Food Podcast, Twinfinite]
The Art of Queer Influencing: The Business Side of Inclusion
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Location: PAX2
Desperate due to tanking car sales, in the early 1990s Subaru launched a new ad campaign. Still seven years from Ellen Degeneres’ coming out, and flanked by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and The Defense of Marriage Act, they took a risk and decided to target the LGBTQIA+ community. Sales skyrocketed, and Subaru was the only car company in the US to not lose market shares during the recession. The queer community is powerful, influential, and can make, or break a brand. So how do you meaningfully, organically, and effectively target this demographic? Join our panel of queer creators and brand managers to discuss how queer audiences can build brands & generative income, all while working towards a more inclusive esports and gaming space.
Dr. Lindsey Migliore [Executive Director , Queer Women of Esports]
Amanda Solomon [CEO, Tyrus ]
iamBrandon [Talent Recruiter, SoftGiving]
24th Annual #DICEAwards Game of the Year Roundtable Premiere
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: PAX1
Tune in for the premiere of the full panel discussion with the Game of the Year nominees from the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, celebrating the games Hades, Ghost of Tsushima, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, The Last of Us Part II, and FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE. Kahlief Adams (Spawn On Me) moderates a candid discussion with Amir Rao (Supergiant Games), Brian Fleming (Sucker Punch), Nate Bihldorf (Nintendo), Neil Druckmann (Naughty Dog), and Yoshinori Kitase (Square Enix) as they give insights into how each of their games were developed as well as celebrating their achievements with one another.
Kahlief Adams [Host, Spawn on Me]
Amir Rao [Studio Director, Supergiant Games]
Brian Fleming [Co-Founder, Sucker Punch]
Neil Druckmann [Director, Naughty Dog]
Yoshinori Kitase [Producer, Square Enix]
Nate Bihldorf [Senior Vice President, Product Development & Publishing, Nintendo]
Omegathon Round 2: Fall Guys
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: PAX2
Our remaining 6 Omeganauts will face off in one of the most irritating challenges we’ve ever devised. Yes, through the dialectic of FALL GUYS, the singular experience of getting thrown from a high place in the company of strangers, we will judge our surviving 6, and from that, decide which 4 are the superior guys, and which two must…fall.
Team Eurogamer’s Resident Evil 7 Nightmare Challenge
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM
Location: PAX1
Join Aoife, Ian and Zoe from Team Eurogamer as they brave waves of Molded in the musty basement of the Baker family farmhouse. Who will last the longest and who will scream the loudest? Find out in this little slice of Eurogamer brand chaos!
The Inaugural Black Video Game Character Hall of Fame
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM
Location: PAX2
As video game fans from marginalized backgrounds, we all found a particular attachment to video game characters who looked and sounded like us. Bonus adulation points for ones that weren’t embarrassing stereotypes. It’s time to canonize our video game heroes in a form of immortality that they truly deserve: an online Hall of Fame! Join Jarrett Green (Irrational Passions), Ashley Parrish (Kotaku), Madame Em (Twitch Affiliate), Cam Hawkins (IGN Host and Contributor), as we root through the long list of deserving men and women to find the very first class of the Black Video Game Character Hall of Fame!
Jarrett Green (he/him) [Editor-at-Large, Irrational Passions]
Cameron Hawkins (he/him) [Host/Contributor, Feat. on IGN]
Madam Em (she/her) [Twitch Affiliate, twitch.tv/mad_madame_em]
Ashley Parrish (she/her) [Staff Writer, Kotaku]
Kahlief Adams (he/him) [Owner/Host, Spawn on Me]
A Look Inside MSI
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: PAX1
Get to know the team inside MSI and learn about how we operate.
Pat Baer’s Anime Club: Yelling About the Shows We Love
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: PAX2
HEY WE LOVE ANIME AND WE’RE GOING TO YELL INTO MICROPHONES ABOUT THE ANIME WE LOVE. WE’RE TIRED OF PEOPLE NOT LISTENING TO US SO NOW WE’RE GOING TO YELL UNTIL THEY DO. WE’LL HAVE SPEECHES TO MAKE AND YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE NOTES! There will be swearing and we might not always yell. Pat Baer talks about anime on Twitch and YouTube and Decider once called him an expert.
Pat Baer (He/Him) [Ring Announcer, League of Heels]
Ian Horner (He/Him) [Member, LoadingReadyRun]
Heather Dery (They/Them/She/Her) [Member, LoadingReadyRun]
Soundtrack Scramble: The Game Music Arrangement Challenge
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM
Location: PAX1
Watch in real-time as professional composers are challenged with flipping the emotions of some of the most recognizable tunes in all of geekdom. Each challenger will draw, at random, the name of a video game and the name of a musical style or emotion. They will then have only the length of a PAX Panel to re-arrange that tune to match the given style or emotion. Join Chel Wong [Kine, Whisker Squadron], Jasmine Cooper [Kindred Fates, Gigabuster], Megan Carnes [Divinuet, Helheim Hassle], Kris Kirk [Good Lookin’ Home Cookin, Fragments], and Trevor Whitaker Black [Kill It With Fire, Kingsman] as they challenge “The Wheel of Tunes”, frantically arrange music, and show you their process along the way.
Joshua Altman (He/Him) [Co-founder, Digital Daydream]
Chel Wong (She/Her) [Composer and Sound Designer, Freelance]
Megan Carnes (She/Her) [Composer and Sound Designer, Freelance]
Kris Kirk (He/Him) [Composer and Sound Designer, Freelance]
Trevor Whitaker Black (He/Him) [Composer and Sound Designer, Freelance]
Jasmine Cooper (She/Her) [Composer and Sound Designer, Freelance]
You Wake Up in An Asylum…
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 9:15 PM – 10:15 PM
Location: PAX2
We love horror games! We really do. But so many horror games rely on outdated (and overused) tropes of mental health, disability, race, gender, and many others! Our panelists passionately bring expertise in game design, editing, writing; mental health research, treatment and teaching; and diversity outreach, and they bring practical advice on improving the horror genre while avoiding marginalizing (and uncreative) tropes. Whether you’re running your own TTRPG game at home or designing video games in a studio, this is the panel for you if you want to look at horror games through a more updated lens. Presented by TakeThis.org.
Doctor B [Clinical Director, Take This]
Jay Justice (She/Her) [Editor, Cosplayer, Freelance Consultant]
B. Dave Walters (He/Him) [Streaming Personality, Freelance Writer]
Cassandra Walker (They/Them) [Owner & Psychotherapist, Intersections Center for Complex Healing]
Kelli Dunlap, PsyD, MA (She/Her) [Adjunct Professor, American University]
Friday Night Concert – insaneintherainmusic
Fri, Jul 16, 2021 • 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: PAX1
Tune in for a jazzy evening show with insaneintherainmusic. Carlos Eiene (insaneintherainmusic) is an American / Filipino multi-instrumentalist and online content creator. Carlos produces jazz arrangements of video game music, and posts them on his YouTube channel “insaneintherainmusic”. Carlos is also a freelance session musician and composer, contributing performances and compositions to video games and other media. Originally from Seattle, WA, Carlos graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2020.
Penny Arcade Q&A: Origins
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: PAX1
Penny Arcade’s Gabe and Tycho (the professional aliases of Jaforty Hole Kids and Mech Kabrewing) answer YOUR pre-submitted questions in THEIR pre-recorded panel which WE will watch together, on the internet, at a specific time! Wow that’s cool! Can’t wait. Yay!
Merv Halloumi [Artist, Penny Arcade]
Jelly Hoppins [Writer, Penny Arcade]
Rock Paper Shotgun Indies Uncovered – Saturday
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: PAX2
Join RPS, the world’s best PC gaming website, as they showcase some of this year’s most anticipated indie releases and some gems you may have overlooked!
Neon Doctrine’s Demo Debuts
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Location: PAX1
Tune in to the show as Vlad & Iain of Neon Doctrine introduce five unique indie games at PAX Online. From kung-fu action, colorful platformers, and zany card battlers to dark fantasy and survival horror, there’s something for everyone from one of Taiwan’s premiere video game publishers, all with playable demos for people to try!
Atari Game Design
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Location: PAX2
Game design is a wide subject. The best approach to mastering it is to focus on the fundamentals, and what better place to do that than with Atari 2600 games? Join us for a deep game design analysis of classic competitive Atari games like Outlaw, and how their core concepts extend to modern games. When you can literally count the pixels with your eyes, and the code will fit in your calculator, the core principles of good (and bad) design become starkly apparent.
Rym DeCoster [Producer, GeekNights]
Scott Rubin (He/Him) [Host, GeekNights]
Sprites Giveaway and More!
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: PAX1
Sprites Entertainment is giving away goodies, announcing a PS5-prize tournament, and showing you how to play the new Sprites Battle Brawl for Free.
Latinx In Gaming Presents: The Artist’s Journey
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: PAX2
The games industry encompasses so many different roles in many areas. Artists are responsible for bringing many of the ideas to life eventually contributing to the final games we all know and love to play. Join us for a conversation around how we as artists, designers, and illustrators brought our own experiences with our identities to the forefront with our own projects and how we plan to tell our stories moving forward in the future.
@YeseniaAticum / Yesi [Digital Artist and Designer, Hermes Systems]
@firizarryart / Fabi [Concept Artist and Illustrator, Freelance]
@LaMalaMuerte [Illustrator, Freelance]
@milagres.art / Milagres [Illustrator/Concept Artist, Freelance]
@MiriamKarina / Miriam [Digital Artist, Seashell Studio | Broad Strokes]
@atanqi / Anqi [Illustrator, Freelance]
Game Maker’s Notebook: Blizzard’s J Allen Brack
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: PAX1
The Game Maker’s Notebook is coming back to PAX Online for the second year! Join us as host Ted Price, President & Founder of Insomniac Games and Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Board Member, chats with Blizzard Entertainment’s J Allen Brack (President). Presented by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the Game Maker’s Notebook is a podcast series featuring a series of in-depth, one-on-one conversations between game makers and provides a thoughtful and intimate perspective on the business and craft of interactive entertainment from a variety of voices within the games industry.
Ted Price [Founder & President, Insomniac Games]
J Allen Brack [President, Blizzard Entertainment]
Tea With The Grand Dames: Grandmas Talk #$%@ about Games
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Location: PAX2
It’s a virtual tea party, complete with flowered hats, lace gloves and lots of grandmas! We plan to let it all out when it comes to gaming and what we love (and hate) about our favorite games. From Skyrim to The Sims to Borderlands to Final Fantasy, we touch on all kinds of gaming experiences. So if you ever wanted to watch a gaggle of Grandmas giggle and gossip about gaming, here is your chance!
Jessa [Dame, The Grand Dames]
Haughty [Dame, The Grand Dames]
Shirley [Dame, The Grand Dames]
Merrie [Dame, The Grand Dames]
Kotaku Splitscreen 2.0 LIVE
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: PAX1
Each week, Kotaku’s Nathan Grayson, Ash Parrish, and Mike Fahey dig into video games one painfully specific topic at a time, but now they need your help–or want it, because, you know, collaboration can be fun. We’ll go egregiously deep into a series of listener-voted topics, no matter how upsetting or pedantic they are. Spiders, different iterations of Master Chief’s suit, video game mods that make everybody naked, why so many JRPG heroes have blue hair, or something else entirely. Whatever you want, we’ll give it a shot. And if we don’t pull it off, at least it will be funny.
Nathan Grayson (he/him) [Senior Reporter, Kotaku]
Ash Parrish [Staff Writer, Kotaku]
Mike Fahey [Senior Reporter, Kotaku]
Pan Chicken & Potholes: The Rocky Road of Jamaican Game Dev
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: PAX2
How do you build an industry? How do you craft a career from scratch? How do you stay motivated without a clear path forward? Join 4 self-made game industry folk, in various stages of their professional journey, as they discuss their trials navigating the murky waters of the nascent Jamaican Game Development scene. Learn about the needs of early-stage creative communities, how to market yourself on the global stage and how to patch a metaphorical bent rim.
Glen Henry (he/him) [Project Director, Spritewrench Studios]
GrahamOfLegend [Independent Game Developer, GrahamOfLegend]
Raccine Malcolm (She/Any) [Community Engagement and DEI Manager, The*GameHERs]
Zane Francis (He/Him) [Independent Game Developer, JusDevStudios]
The Top 10 Nintendo Games Of All Time
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM
Location: PAX1
For decades Nintendo has brought us into amazing worlds, given us unmatchable memories, and delivered some of the most recognizable characters both in video games and pop culture– but today it’s time to get a little selfish and pit these games against one another. Join a star-studded panel of certified Nintendo experts from Pass The Controller, Kinda Funny, Six One Indie, Game Rant, and Sony Santa Monica as we take up the unthinkable and try and craft a list of the top ten Nintendo games of all time. Will the mustachioed plumber prevail or will the tunes from an ocarina overshadow the rest? Only one way to find out.
Brenden Groom (he/him) [Editor, Host, Pass The Controller]
Cameron Hawkins (he/him) [Writer, Host, Cameron Hawkins]
Tim Gettys (he/him) [Co-Founder, Kinda Funny]
Lily Zaldivar (she/her) [Host, Six One Indie]
Alanah Pearce (she/her) [Writer, Sony Santa Monica]
Greysun Morales (he/him) [Lead Guides Editor, Game Rant]
Omegathon Round 3: Overcooked 2
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM
Location: PAX2
Once pitted against each other, now our Omeganauts must band together to see which pair earn their place in the FINAL ROUND, where they will fight *each other* for the title. The situation itself absolutely erupts with drama, and that’s before we even GET to the game! (Which is Overcooked 2.) (A game about cooperation, and also you make food in terribly-designed restaurants.)
Super Art Fight
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: PAX1
Artists collide in an unpredictable drawing battle royale! Cheer your favorites to victory as they not only face each other in creative combat, but deal with the ever changing mechanizations of the crowd-sourced WHEEL OF DEATH! It’s unpredictable, completely improvised and absolutely hilarious, THIS IS SUPER ART FIGHT!
Marty Day (he/him) [Co-host/Producer, Super Art Fight LLC]
Ross Nover (he/him) [Co-Host, Super Art Fight]
DIETANIUM [Artist, Super Art Fight]
Baron Von Sexyful [Artist, Super Art Fight]
Stevie Speed [Artist, Super Art Fight]
Red Erin [Artist, Super Art Fight]
Kingdom Hearts III: The Good, The Bad, & The Heartless
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: PAX2
It will be an in-depth, yet brief, look a the story as a whole (2.8, Kingdom Hearts 3, DLC, & Melody of Memory.) and how the installment changed everything for better and for worse once the recap over, we will have a Kingdom Hearts to Heart. We will have a group discussion about what the story means for the series moving forward, what the story meant for the series retroactively, what could have been more transparent, and our negative/positive takeaways. There were some major contradictions we will debate as well, as we feel differently about them. We will compare community opinion to our personal views and develop feasible solutions that may have helped the game or things they should do going forward. At the end of the panel, we will reminisce about our favorite moments from the series and come together in enjoyment for an iconic franchise.
O’Dell Edwin Harmon Jr. (He/Him) [Host/Writer , The Game Fanatics]
Cameron Hawkins (He/Him) [Host/Writer , CamFinalMix ]
BlackKrystel [Host/Content Creator , The Game Fanatics]
Belinda Garcia (she/Her) [Narrative Designer, Sledgehammer Games]
Steamy or Silly? The Great Video Game Sex Scene Debate
Sat, Jul 17, 2021 • 9:15 PM – 10:15 PM
Location: PAX2
Back for its triumphant second year at PAX Online, this panel is a whirlwind tour of some of the best and worst sex scenes in gaming. Developers and industry insiders do a deep dive on their favourite (or least favourite) erotic moments in gaming: what works, what doesn’t, and what larger themes they’re a part of. But in the end, the chat shall decide… is it sexy, or silly?
Michelle Clough (she/her) [Partner / Writer / Narrative Designer, Talespinners]
Souha Al-Samkari (she/her) [Vice President, Truant Pixel]
Sharii (she/her) [Vice President, Candle Glow Studios]
Aenne Schumann (they/her) [Narrative Designer, Fiction Factory Games]
Ashley Ruhl (she/her) [Lead Cinematic Designer, BioWare Austin]
Penny Arcade Q&A: This Time With About As Many Q’s as Before
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: PAX1
Gosh, it’s looking like Gabe and Tycho of Penny Arcade (aka Meki Hakrulik and Jyrre Hilkons) are once again taking on YOUR digitally-rendered questions in THEIR private homes, via THIS weird little widget someone built, broadcast for OUR joy and entertainment! Wow that’ll be great! We’d love that. Can we have two scoops, please? Oh, please, papa?
Jerry Holkins [Writer, Penny Arcade]
Mike Krahulik [Artist, Penny Arcade]
A Case for Cozy: Why We Need Wholesome Games
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Location: PAX3
Playing *wholesome* and cozy video games has become more prominent and, dare we say, kinda cool? From Animal Crossing to Calico, from Ooblets to Kind Words, an increasing number of titles allow players to take a break, relax, and enjoy a gentler side of life, as well as provide more opportunities for inclusivity within the gaming community. Get comfy with us as we share what elements make a game ‘wholesome’ to us, how the use of the term has evolved in the last couple of years, and why these titles are an upcoming force in the industry! Of course, we’ll also share examples of our favorites, and discuss why we shouldn’t hide the fact we want kinder, gentler games to enjoy!
Jenny Windom (she) [Co-Owner, Producer (Soft Not Weak), Advisor (Kowloon Nights), and Organizer (Wholesome Games), Soft Not Weak, Kowloon Nights, + Wholesome Games]
Rejon Taylor-Foster (he/they) [Co-Owner/Lead UI/UX and Audio at SNW, Mad Scientist at Maximum Crash, Many Other Things at NDA]
Francesca (she) [Founder (Code Coven), Game Designer (Independent), Code Coven, Independent Game Developer]
Lu Nascimento (she) [Co-Founder, Art Director, Bunnyhug Games]
Kennedy R. (she) [Independent Content Creator, @Cozy.Games (TikTok)]
Can We Finally Admit That Games Should be in Classrooms?
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: PAX2
School has often been a source of frustration for many gamers. Too much homework, too little creativity, and no connections between content and real-life are some of students’ go-to responses. HOWEVER, what if we told you there are a bunch of teachers that are pushing the boundaries of the classroom to not only encourage gaming, but utilize game-based learning, tabletop games, and video games as perfect catalysts for student learning? Join Zack Hartzman: Social Studies/ ELA Teacher & Founder of Hey Listen Games, Harry Loizides: Math Teacher & Contributor to Six One Indie, and Adam Mills: Special Education/Social Studies Teacher & Author for a fun and honest panel where we advocate that games should absolutely be in classrooms. Feel free to follow us on Twitter! Zack Hartzman: @HeyListenGames_ Harry Loizides: @illgrillchill Adam Mills: @MillsWHHS
Charalambos ‘Harry’ Loizides [Contributor & Educator, Six One Indie]
Adam Mills [Educator, West Hempstead Union Free School District]
Zack Hartzman [Founder & Educator, Hey Listen Games]
The Past, Present, and Future of Mexican Game Development
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Location: PAX1
The story of Mexican game development is like a primetime soap-opera, filled with ups, downs, twists and turns and while differences are many, the similarities shared by those in this journey are more than worth listening to. Join world renowned Mexican developers, alongside experts and journalists, in a fun conversation about the many adventures, obstacles and successes of the Mexican game development scene.
Guillermo Vizca?no (He/him) [Head of PR and Marketing | Lead Writer, Lienzo]
Antonio Uribe (He/him) [Game Developer | Consultant, Freelancer]
Jorge Garc?a (He/him) [Director, Mecha Studios]
Diana Rodr?guez (She/her) [Director, Director and Co-founder at Big Monster Games]
Kate Sanchez (She/her) [Co-founder & Editor in Chief, But why Tho?]
Adolfo Rico (He/him) [Co-founder & Lead Programmer, Lienzo]
From War Games to Board Games; How Gaming Helps Veterans
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: PAX3
Gaming of all types is a common pastime among service members seeking diversion, social connection, and/or team building. But what about life after the military? Multiple challenges are inherent in the transition from military to civilian life. Veterans are often dispersed from their social networks, and encounter discrepancies between military and civilian expectations towards work, structure, and relationships. Gaming can be a connection for those who are active duty, as well as those who are transitioning or have transitioned to a civilian status. Join our panel of veterans and mental health professionals as we discuss the ways in which gaming and gaming communities can support veterans through connection and community.
Dr. Elizabeth D. Kilmer, PhD (she/her) [Director of Education and Training, Game to Grow]
Dr. Megan Connell, PsyD, ABPP (she/her) [Psychologist, Geeks Like Us]
Patrick Olsen (he/him) [Independent Contractor, N/A]
Dr. Allison Battles, PhD (she/her) [Postdoctoral Fellow, Minneapolis VA Healthcare System]
Chris Solo (he/him) [Founder, Fabled42]
James Martin (he/him) [Gaming & Engagement Specialist – Alumni Program, Wounded Warrior Project]
From Turnips to the Stars: The Evolution of Farming Sims
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Location: PAX2
Over the years niche genres have found their places in gaming and established lifelong fans. Among these is the relaxing and heartwarming experience of the farming sim, which took root in 1996 with Harvest Moon. This panel gathers farming fans and developers who all share a love for sewing seeds and personalizing a space designed for their own goals and tranquility in mind.
Brad Petry (he/him) [Project Lead, Aurorian Studios]
Reb Valentine (She/her) [News Editor, IGN]
Jinzee [YouTuber, Self-Employed]
Nicolas Guerin (he/him) [Creative Director – Spiritfarer, Thunder Lotus Games]
Lu Nascimento (she/her) [Art Director, Bunnyhug Games]
Bryan Herren (he/him) [Director of Marketing, Freedom Games]
The Best Retro Games You’ve Never Heard of
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: PAX1
What are some of the best games of yesteryear that have been mostly lost to time? Join us as we discuss some of our favorite “forgotten” retro games. What made these games so special? Why aren’t they more well known? And what can we do to make “hidden gems” played more?
Pat Contri (he) [YouTuber, Author, Contri Code Productions]
Alex Faciane (he) [YouTuber, Podcaster, n/a]
Norman Caruso (he) [YouTuber, Historian, n/a]
Kelsey Lewin (she) [Historian, Game Shop Owner, Video Game History Foundation]
Gaming in Libraries
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Location: PAX3
Librarians are passionate about gaming! Libraries run virtual games, video game tournaments and even circulate board game collections. As libraries transition to community spaces, gaming is increasingly being offered in what were traditional quiet study spaces. The premier American library professional organization, the ALA, has a round table devoted to helping libraries develop, grow and advocate for gaming. Join us, because just as every book has its reader, every game has its gamer.
Jessica Spears [YA Librarian, Brooklyn Public Library]
Thomas Vose [President ALA Games and Gaming Round Table, Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County]
Seeking Eureka: The Craft of Puzzle Design
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: PAX2
What are the design challenges and triumphs specific to puzzle games? How (or should) you balance difficulty and challenge for a wide range of players? Where do you get inspiration for innovative mechanics? How can you incorporate interesting narratives in puzzle games? How do you think about designing to encourage player insights? And should you lean into diabolically tricky puzzles? Join this panel of experienced puzzle game developers for a discussion on the nuances of creating puzzle games.
Gwen Frey (she/her) [Game Director, Chump Squad]
Luis Diaz Peralta (he/him) [Game Designer, Ludipe & Friends]
Lucas Lerín Salafranca [Game Designer, Le Slo]
Jason Newman (he/him) [Game Designer, Jason Newman]
Jord Farrell (he/him) [Creative Director, Rule Weaver]
Marcos Donnantuoni (he/him) [Game Developer, Marcos Donnantuoni]
Skip To The Good Part: Visual Novels with Voice Actors
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: PAX1
Visual Novels have enjoyed a recent surge in popularity, both as a genre open to experimentation and innovation (Dream Daddy, Hatoful Boyfriend) and as a marketing gimmick for non-gaming brands (I Love You, Colonel Sanders!). If you’re not already in the scene, it can be a hard genre to break into. In Skip to the Good Part, we’re bringing VN veterans and newcomers together to voice-act their way through a random game, but specifically a point in the narrative where things might get…heated. Join us as we Skip to the Good Part and see how much fun Visual Novels can be, even when you do it the wrong way!
Leeah [Visual Novel Enjoyer, ReedPOP] (she/her)
Laura [Visual Novel Destroyer, Penny Arcade] (she/he)
@RomGothSam [Founder, Romancing the Gothic] (all)
Freelance Life: How to succeed in indie games
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: PAX3
Getting into the games industry can be a big challenge when you’re starting out, and an even bigger challenge when you’re freelance. This panel features 5 devs who have been freelance for a combined time of over 30 years in areas of Sound, Production, Writing, Art and Programming, and will take you through the ins and outs of what it’s like being a freelancer in the indie space in their areas of expertise.
Kitty Crawford (She/her) [Producer, Ululab – General Interactive Co – That Silly Studio]
Charlotte Lacombe-Bar (she/they) [Programmer, Mooshoo Labs]
Neha Patel (she/her) [Composer/Sound Designer, Freelance]
Bertine van Hövell (she/her) [Designer & Writer, Lost Again]
Sophie Knowles (she/her) [3D Artist/Generalist, Playdeo]
Alanna Linayre [Founder, Creative Director & Head Developer, Toadhouse Games ]
NEED A MEDIC! – Unlocking the healing properties of Discord
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Location: PAX2
Even before lockdown, the struggle to socialise was real. Much of the time we found ourselves lonely even within the (sometimes) fully textured walls of games. But with platforms like Discord, many of us have found a new way to connect and create meaningful relationships with others irrespective of location. In this panel we’ll discuss the healing impact of Discord for mental health and the ways in which we can keep those relationships going even after it’s safe to go back outdoors.
Lauren Kaye [She Plays Games]
Jessie Lassiter [Method]
Mia Ginaé Watkins [SIE PlayStation]
Jennifer Scheurle [Blackbird Interactive ]
Jodie Azhar [Silver Rain Games]
Jade Leamcharaskul [Game Dev London]
AHHHHHH! How Narrative Designers Scare You in Games & Movies
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: PAX1
From Dead Space and The Walking Dead, to Saw and Friday the 13th, let’s talk horror and sci-fi. A panel of narrative game designers and writers come together to discuss what makes a truly terrifying game. R. Eric Lieb, Todd Farmer, Marc Bernardin and Kent Mudle will share some of the techniques they’ve applied in games (but also movies) over the years to evoke fear, dread, and skin crawling unease.
R. Eric Lieb [Senior Writer, Striking Distance Studios]
Todd Farmer [Actor and Horror Writer, Jason X, The Messengers, My Bloody Valentine]
Kent Mudle [Creative Director, Cinematic and Narrative Designer , Telltale’s The Walking Dead, Unannounced Project]
Marc Bernardin [Writer and Producer , Star Trek: Picard, Castle Rock]
Gayming Across the Pond: A Discussion of Topics Affecting LGBTQ+ Communities in Games
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
Location: PAX3
Gaymers from around the world play a selection of jackbox games that have a custom theme of issues and topics that come up for LGBT+ communities online. Join Gaymers from the US, UK and Canada as we make jokes, have a laugh and discuss more serious topics affecting LGBT+ gaymers around the world.
Popelady [Admin, London Gaymers]
Will (He/Him) [Organizer, PDX Gaymers]
Matt [Founder /Admin, Boston Gaymers]
Dan Kiwi [Admin, Vancouver Gaymers]
COPE Moderates: Esports Education & Career Paths
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: PAX2
Do you want a career in esports, but everyone tells you that you can’t make money playing video games? They are wrong. We are Coalition of Parents in Esports, a nonprofit founded by parents of pro gamers and content creators. We have seen the transferable business and social skills that are being gained here, as well as the vast education and career opportunities that span interests from video production, shoutcasting, healthcare, finance, marketing and journalism to name a few. Universities are actively recruiting gamers, streamers and others who have proven their potential and dedication. Schools and employers realize that esports is more than our dreams of being a pro player. Regardless of your gaming skill level, you can excel in this industry. Come learn from a panel of experts from K12 education, collegiate recruitment, OU’s university program and pro team Misfits Gaming on how you can find your path to success.
Chris Spikoski [CoFounder/CEO, Coalition of Parents in Esports]
Rick Saurez [Managing Director, Stay Plugged In]
Danny Martin [CoFounder/CEO, Esposure]
Mike Aguilar [Director, OU Esports]
Clint Kennedy [Chief Evangelist, Learn2Esport]
Hussain Moosvi [Misfits Gaming]
Improvisation in Roleplaying: How To Run A Game In The Now
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM
Location: PAX1
Are you a Game Master that dreads when your players go off script? Does the thought of the adventurers wandering back into town instead of into your intricately planned dungeon make you throw your intricately drawn maps out a window? Well, then, Improvisation in Roleplaying is the panel for you. Join an expert team of authors, comedians and expert tabletop maestros and learn the secrets of how to improvise and adapt so that you can handle anything your players can throw at you… either in person or online! All while having more fun!
John Serpico (He/Him) [Director/Instructor, ImprovBoston]
Auston Habershaw (He/Him) [Author, Harper Voyager Impulse]
Melissa Carubia (She/They) [Improviser/Instructor, The Company Theatre]
Samantha LeVangie (She/Her) [Improviser, Magic The Gathering The Show]
Bobby Smithney (He/Him) [Improviser/Instructor, ImprovBoston]
Imagining Better Worlds Through Games
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: PAX3
Can games be a vehicle for change? Can games inspire players to think about problems they’ve never considered before or points of view apart from their own? Can you make a game about cars that is fundamentally anti-car? And if you did, could it still be fun? Of course! This panel features creators of games, books, and fiction that encourage players to dream big about the problems of today and solve them through play.
Casey Lucas-Quaid (she/her) [Community Manager and Sci-fi Author, Dinosaur Polo Club]
Tana Tanoi (he/him) [Programmer and Designer, Dinosaur Polo Club]
Brian Gray (he/him) [Twitch Content Creator, urbanbohemian]
Cade Peterson (they/them) [CEO, MidBoss]
Jason Parks (he/him) [CEO and co-founder, ROTU Entertainment]
Omegathon Final Round: [[SUPER-SECRET]]
Sun, Jul 18, 2021 • 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: PAX1
Imagine a game that is skee ball mixed with bingo, where you roll a ball on a slanted surface onto a series of holes which are only slightly larger than the ball, and correspond with a light-up backboard. Get 5 across, vertically or diagonally, and you win. This game…is Fascination, and it is not our Omegathon Final Round game. The final round game is a secret! Obvi. Join our final pair of competitors as they battle LIVE on stream for the grand prize!
Travis Eriksen [Chief Omeganatech]
Jerry Holkins [Writer, Penny Arcade]
Mike Krahulik [Artist, Penny Arcade]
