ARGFest-o-Con 2014
Press Release
ARGFest-o-Con is an annual conference, festival, and meet-up designed to offer presentations and events related to (but not limited to) Alternate Reality Gaming, transmedia, interactive fiction, and serious games.
Our event has been held in many different cities over the years since 2003, and this year we are excited to be heading back to the Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center in Portland, Oregon from July 31st to Aug 3rd, 2014.
ARGFest-o-Con began as a social gathering of people who found this new type of interactive entertainment exciting, fascinating and more importantly fun. Over the years, it has grown into a gathering of professionals, players, creators and fans coming together from all parts of the globe to help shape the philosophy and direction of this emerging entertainment genre.
This year we are adding an additional day of sessions at the beginning of the conference, Thursday, July 31st, branded the Interactive Design in Entertainment and Arts Symposium (or simply, IDEA Symposium) for discussions and presentations geared specifically towards creators, developers, designers and companies. We plan to bring together innovators and experts in areas related to transmedia, alternate reality gaming, interactive fiction, augmented reality, storytelling and other industries and provide a forum where the creators of this new medium can interact on a personal and frank level and discuss the business end of the art. Though geared towards creators, we strongly encourage players and fans to attend the IDEA Symposium as well.
Over the years, as ARGFest has evolved from that initial gathering of friends, it has also become a unique social setting where creators can have frank discussions of their work with the people who are actually interacting with their creations. Players and fans also get a peek behind the proverbial curtain and get to see the work and processes that go into the making the games and interactive experiences they enjoy.
The IDEA Symposium will be wrapped up with featured speaker Puzzle Master Mike Selinker of Lone Shark Games with a talk on Deconstructing the Maze of Games. Afterwards, attendees are invited to join in the traditional Thursday night meet and greet Kick-Off Cocktail Party. This popular event is an informal time to rub elbows and share ideas with community, professionals and non-professionals alike.
Friday, August 1st, at ARGFest-o-Con is going to be focused on the games and experiences in this interactive space. ARGFest will highlight games that are currently underway, celebrate games that have helped create the genre and introduce folks to new and exciting interactive experiences. There might even be some new games announced during the day.
As part of our 10th Anniversary Celebration of I Love Bees, there is a special interview set up in the afternoon with Jordan Weisman of Harebrained Schemes, discussing his part in the creation of this classic ARG.
The night will wrap up with the Keynote Dinner featuring Jim Stewartson, CEO and founder of RIDES.tv, as well as a member of our 10th Anniversary Celebration of I Love Bees. This will be followed by a special event concert by Portland’s own geek chic rockers, The Doubleclicks.
Saturday, August 2nd, will continue with the interactive experiences and more celebration of the games loved by our attendees. We will continue our 10th Anniversary Celebration “I Love Bees” with a Creator’s Panel (featuring Elan Lee, Kristen Rutherford, and Sean Stewart) as well as a Player’s Panel, both groups reminiscing about their part in what was a ground breaking experience for all involved.
John Greg Gomez will be screening his film “The Age of Play.” Filmed over 5 years at many game events, including ARGFest, and featuring interviews with some of the biggest names in the industry.
And of course the day, and indeed ARGFest, winds up with our traditional FestQuest, a city wide puzzle hunt that is designed to bring the conference out into the city that surrounds it. This year the folks at Portland’s own Puzzled Pint are going to be designing the fun.
This year’s event is shaping up to be one of our best. Tickets are available in a variety of Pass packages, or à la carte for those only interested in specific events.
To register, go to http://2014.argfestocon.com/registration/
For more information on the history of ARGFest-o-Con: http://www.argfestocon.com/history.html
For more information on this year’s event: http://2014.argfestocon.com/
For questions, concerns, comments, or to sponsor an event at ARGFest-o-Con, contact info@argfest.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ARGFest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARGFest
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