Myth: Video Games Lead to Social Isolation Part 3

On the previous blog post, I wrote how active video games have decreased the stigma that video games cause social isolation.  Now, I would like to talk about how gaming events have also proved that games can bring people together.


Video Game Events

While playing games in your own home might be comfortable, sometimes it is good to get out and play games with others. The only way to play games with others in a public place used to be that you had to go to the local arcade. Now, we are able to meet up with gamers at many different types of public events.  These events can vary from size to a small gathering of gamers getting together to play Starcraft II or to a convention where gamers and video game developers from around the world gather to celebrate everything about video games.  

Recently, I had the chance to go to two gaming events here in the Dallas, Texas and I would like to share my experiences with you all.


Gearbox Software 2nd Annual Community Day
  

 

On Saturday, September 15, 2012, Gearbox Software held two separate events.  The first event was the Gearbox Community Day 2012 celebration which was a real treat to attend.  I have been a fan of Gearbox Software's video games for years but I had never met anyone from the company or attended any of their past events. This event had a wide variety of things to do which included the following:

• Meet with hundreds of Gearbox fans and celebrities from around the world
• Play old and upcoming games from Gearbox's extensive library
• Meet and play games with Gearbox staff
• Get exclusive behind-the-scenes access to information not released to the public
• Open discussion panels with the Gearbox staff
• Access to exclusive merchandise that was both sold and given away for free
• And much more! 

I enjoyed the event very much because it gave me a chance to interact with the fans and the developers. I had discussions with people about what they loved about certain games and got to see that the developers really appreciated their fans.

Borderlands 2 Launch Party 

The second event of the day was the Borderlands 2 launch Party.  This event had less people than before because there was a strict 21 and up age requirement to attend (due to alcohol being served).  However, this event had a more relaxed atmosphere and seemed to focus on celebrating the game more than showcasing it.  While you could still play Borderlands 2, the focus was more on socializing with people and listening to music.. The musical performances were by The Flametrick Subs, The Heavy, and DJ Jazzy Jeff.  Overall, the performances were fantastic and gave the attendees a chance to let loose.

These two events were fun and showed me that gamers love to come together. There are many different events like these that take place throughout the world if you look online. Here is a list of ways to find events like these that you can attend in your area:

• Follow your favorite companies on Twitter or Facebook to see if they have events planned in your area.
• Go to the game developer's website and join the community to find out info.
• Find or create a club at meetup.com to have a gaming event in your area.   

If you have attended a gaming event or would like to know more about gaming events please leave a comment.