[Deptheads] As we grow...

Mon Jun 13 17:17:12 PDT 2011

Ryan's idea and Victor's points are well made. I'd like to point out a
couple of things that may help make my position a little clearer. I'm not
against having kids in the video gaming room - we are the de facto
"babysitting" room as it is, after all. But by making a "Kids Area" or "Kids
Room," you are making a subtle suggestion that the kids are not welcome
elsewhere in the convention. This is to be avoided *at all costs.*

Before you jump to say, "Oh, we don't do that..." yes, *we* do, as a group.
Preteens are particularly unwelcome in some of the more "mature" gaming
areas, such as miniatures and historical tactical gaming. And I'm not
claiming to be above it, myself - when I play Werewolf, I prefer to not play
with preteens, because most of them simply aren't capable of the kind of
logical deduction that the game calls for. One kid in particular is
well-known for trying to be the center of attention, including such things
as accusing another player of being a werewolf just because that player has
a beard, or declaring at the start of the game that he IS a werewolf because
he thought that saying it would make people believe that he wasn't (and, it
turned out, he was). But the point is that there are ways to include them
without giving out a, "Go 'way kid, ya bother me," vibe. The GMs for the
late-night games for both Werewolf and Ca$h & Guns are great about this,
incidentally.

While it's understood that you don't want some kid jostling your elbow when
you're fighting a tough battle in a tournament, it doesn't hurt to explain
what you're doing when it's not a critical battle or turning point in the
game. And while there are some games (in every category, for that matter)
that simply aren't for children (an 8-year-old isn't going to understand the
*Call of Cthulhu* RPG, for example), it helps to guide the children to games
within the same category that are more accessible.

If a kid is asking questions, odds are good that he's genuinely interested
in what you're doing. If you can't explain or help him to understand what
you're doing, try to direct him to someone who can. There are games in every
category that are better-suited to younger players. For example, while not
strictly a miniatures game, Robo Rally serves as a decent introduction to
tactical miniatures gaming.

Every department needs to be more inclusive to the people who don't normally
play those sorts of games. That is, incidentally, the reason for the
"adults-only" time after 10 PM in the video gaming room - many adults don't
feel comfortable trying out video games when there are skilled kids around
insisting on playing multiplayer against them, and the time after 10 PM
gives them a chance to do that. In the same way that not every Warhammer
player is a Grand Tournament contender, not everyone who picks up a
controller is a top-level Street Fighter champion.

Please note that all of the above is not targeted at any one person or group
of people. While I seem to be picking on miniatures, that's simply because
it's a gaming group that I know fairly well, even if I don't play them at
'con. My whole point is that the kids, for better or worse, are the gamers
of tomorrow. Include them, make them welcome, and you may find that they're
not quite so annoying. A lot of childish annoying behavior is little more
than attention-seeking. Give them some positive attention, and it'll take
less time than giving them negative attention, and you may find yourself
with a new competitor.

Jason
Video Gaming

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 1:43 PM, Victor B <fhoenix88 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Good idea.
> Hammering it out will take time to do right.
> There are different groups of "kids". Small children that are
> daycare/pre-school age. Grade school kids. Tweens. Teenagers.
> Gaming will be different for the different age groups.
> Gaming for kids will also have to be coordinated across all teams so
> saturday noon does not have 6 events everywhere then 3 pm has none or simon
> sez at same time as kids rpg and kids miniature game.
>
> Daycare will still need to be addressed during our break as there are
> several parents that wish to drop off their kids for a bit and take a break
> from them while they game, shop, etc. in peace.
> And there are spouses and kids that are along for the ride and do not wish
> to be future or current gamers. Alternate programming tracks that are for
> each of them. Gamer spouse programming is popular.
> Liability also...since by having specific kid's games where we tell parents
> they can drop off their child we accept liability (which is why the pokemon
> workshops and other kid's events I do not list as
> "kid's only"). Also know that not just anyone can GM a game, and this
> means not just anyone can gm a game with kids. Some of them will run around
> during the game, talk over you, not understand, be disruptive,
> argue at every turn or whine...and that is the adults. The kids are
> sometimes the same but you have to handle them differently than an unruly
> adult. Our past kid's programming staff and volunteers included 3 school
> teachers who were used to dealing with children and they burned out so it is
> not easy teaching gaming/supervising other people's children at a
> convention. I do it each strategicon and at several other cons for the past
> bazillion years and it adds to my grey hair.
> Because I also do it I was able to get 2 other volunteers to help with the
> kid's gaming I have each day at strategicon.. Both work with kids in their
> professions. I didn't ask people to do it-- I asked people to help me
> continue doing it.
> Same with video game room. They have volunteers to help them with the kids
> as a team.
>
> And the idea of "exposure to a wide range of games" does not need to stop
> with kids.
> We can use the same point system for adults or do cards.
> Several cons successfully use cards that encourage gaming in all areas. At
> rincon you can take out your badge and it opens up like a greeting card that
> lists different departments and specific events within each you can play and
> have checked off. There were 6 areas/departments and 2-4 events for each.
> Have 1 square or more checked off in each area/dept. and you get a special
> ribbon (the kind that sticks under your badge). Fill up your entire book and
> you get a prize. We can design a card/flyer that has several squares for
> each area and checking off  3 or more in each would complete that area.
> Complete all areas and get a prize. Complete entire card and get a con
> t-shirt. GMing an event counts. Something challenging and fun to do but
> neither easy nor impossible. I have several video game and game related
> t-shirts to donate as well as us giving away a few con t-shirts (for kids
> club as well as adult cards).
>
> -Example: Wear a costume,  participate in rock band or a motion game, sit
> thru awefully bad movie night. Participate in paint-n-take, take a tour,
> enter a miniature in paint contest, attend a seminar.
> Complete any 3 of those for that Area to be completed. Sally does
> paint-n-take, takes the convention tour, and attends the improv showcase
> seminar by Bill chott. She completed that Area.
> -Example: Participate in a euro boardgame, participate in a wargames
> bootcamp event, participate in a card game, participate in a party game,
> participate in a rail game, check out and play a game from the library,
> win a tourney in boardgames area, participate in a playtest session,
> participate in a game with a guest, participate in a steve jackson game.
> Complete any 5 of these for this Area to be completed.
> -Example: Participate in an rpg event, participate in a pathfinder event,
> participate in a larp, participate in an rpga event, participate in "are you
> a werewolf".
> Complete any 2 of these for this area to be complete.
>
> Same for other areas. Plenty of variety in each so you have several
> choices. And doing something in all areas has gamers seeing the entire
> convention and for many seeing and trying new things they didn't know we
> offered.
> Good ideas have been coming in from several people that need to ironed-out,
> coordinated, and implemented for our 2012 season.
>
>
>
> V
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Ryan McMullan <rmcmullan at gmail.com>
> *To:* deptheads at strategicon.net
> *Sent:* Mon, June 13, 2011 8:24:42 AM
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Deptheads] As we grow...
>
> If we want to grow gamers, but not tempt day care, we could build on
> Roberts idea by creating a punch card where they would get a
> stamp/sticker/etc. for each event they participate in, with points for
> collecting one of each kind (CCG, RPG, boardgame, etc.).  That would give
> them exposure to a wide range of games and recognition for their efforts.
> It could even become a mini-game (each event is 5 points, do 3 events in the
> same department is +15 points, do 1 event in each department is +30 points,
> do event with your parent or sibling +5 points, etc.).  Create cool names
> for different thresholds (50 point = dedicated gamer, 75 points = hardcore
> gamer, etc.) and you have recognition and achievement, prizes would be a
> bonus.  This way, there's not one room that tempts day care (and scares
> volunteers), but each department needs to try to provide events, then we
> create the punch card each con based on what each department was actually
> able to come up with.
>
> Grist for the mill,
> Ryan
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 9:42 AM, Robert LaMarre <r.m.lamarre at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Why don't we treat it more as a "Kid's Club"?  There should be scheduled
>> events throughout the day for kids (board games, video games, children's
>> games like Simon Sez) and kid/parent team events (co-op games, maybe even an
>> RPG for younger participants).  The main thing is to distinguish the
>> difference between a club and a day-care and to encourage kids to do more
>> than just sit in front of a video game all day and try new things.  We're
>> growing future gamers here.
>>
>> Maybe there could be special awards given to club members for
>> participating in different events?  At the paint and takes, they have
>> something to take home with them that they are proud of.  I can't tell you
>> how many kids I've seen showing off their work.  If we could capture that
>> kind of feeling in other areas, I think that could go a long way.  Or we
>> could give each kids club member something that shows they are part of the
>> club, similar to VIPs getting special gear.
>>
>> Just pitching in my two cents...
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 8:34 PM, <fad23 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> One of my new volunteers approached me last weekend and had one item of
>>> conversation which she felt we (the convention) must consider as we grow:
>>> how we deal with our child guests.
>>>
>>> At the moment we have a "family Sunday" which seems like an attraction.
>>> At other times it appears that children are left by their parents in the
>>> video game room, or roam with no real direction. This is just an
>>> observation, but I imagine that means that we could implement some idea that
>>> could give these visitors some real content.
>>>
>>> For the last convention, I brought in Bill Chott to do Simon Sez. I'm
>>> sure he'd come back to do it again, but I think we could do a lot more!
>>>
>>> I'm not suggesting a specific plan at the moment. I'm not a parent, so I
>>> can only guess the concerns of the gamer parents I know who attend. The aim
>>> of this message is to spark a discussion that might lead to ideas that
>>> eventually become a plan.
>>>
>>> Obviously there are many issues that would be of concern: content,
>>> staffing, scheduling, and other practical matters. I suppose I'd like to
>>> read your thoughts on this notion, and consider them as much as I am able.
>>>
>>> Then there's the idea of a short term plan and a long term plan - things
>>> I can add to the schedule for Gateway and what we imagine as the shape of
>>> the convention in the years to come. Just in the typing of this message I'm
>>> getting inspired. Any light bulbs popping over your heads?
>>>
>>> I expect I'll be opening this discussion up to my friends in private. In
>>> the mean time, if you have opinions or ideas, I'd be interested in reading
>>> them.
>>>
>>> Thanks for your time. I look forward to reading your responses.
>>>
>>> twenty-three-skidoo,
>>>
>>> Neil Figuracion
>>> Fad23
>>>
>>> Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: "Eric M. Aldrich" <ealdrich at mac.com>
>>> Sender: deptheads-bounces at strategicon.net
>>> Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:10:01
>>> To: <Deptheads at strategicon.net>
>>> Reply-To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>>> Subject: [Deptheads] A few new additions to the list
>>>
>>> I've added three new people to the list -- one way overdue :-(
>>>
>>> The overdue one is Fred Upton -- he's the second on the RPGA side. He's
>>> been actively helping us for years, and Mickey and Mike have frequently
>>> asked me to add him and I've flaked, so he's finally here.
>>>
>>> The next person is Taralyn Frasqueri-Molina, or "TL" as she goes by.
>>> She's the person behind lining up the artwork and is working with marketing.
>>> Thanks to her we had the wonderful conbook cover art and TShirts this last
>>> show.
>>>
>>> Finally, we have someone who is genuinely new, Frank Vassallo, who is
>>> taking over for Harmon Ward running the historical end of the miniatures
>>> team for at least this show. Harmon is still on the list as well. Things are
>>> a little complicated right now, but more on that later.
>>>
>>> Glad to have the three of you here!
>>>
>>> I still need to add some of Neil's board game assistants.
>>>
>>> Hopefully we'll have final numbers from Gamex soon. They're looking
>>> pretty good.
>>>
>>> Eric
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Deptheads mailing list
>>> Deptheads at strategicon.net
>>> http://mordred.punk.net/mailman/listinfo/deptheads
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> http://mordred.punk.net/mailman/listinfo/deptheads
>>>
>>
>>
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>
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