Gamers made an impact on the local Arizona community at GameCon 2.5 Thursday on the Polytechnic Campus.
GameCon is a semesterly food drive that requires all attendees to donate at least five non-perishable food items to gain entry.
Megan Workmon, Student Engagement specialist for the College of Technology & Innovation, cosponsored the event.
“Students can play tournaments against each other as well as sustain Sparky’s Pantry,” she said.
Sparky’s Pantry is a student-led initiative that was formed with the purpose of providing basic essentials for ASU students and community members so they can focus their efforts on education, responsibility and success.
GameCon was sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Government, the ASU Changemaker Central team, the Programing and Activities Board, the Residence Hall Association and the College of Technology & Innovation.
Graphic innovation and technology junior Stetson Finch is RHA's marketing director. He said he helped advertise the event.
“I did all the social media and advertising and other forms of marketing,” he said. “I also designed the posters.”
Changemaker agent Marcus Hansen helped coordinate the event. He said it was called GameCon 2.5 since this was the third semester ASU has hosted it.
“GameCon started recently two semesters ago,” he said. “It started with a small group of people that got together to have some fun with computers and stuff.”
Hansen said the idea came when they wanted to do a food drive.
“We thought, ‘What’s the best way to get people to donate food? Oh wait, video games,’” he said. “GameCon was born with the department of Microsoft and BestBuy."
They brought consoles, they brought video games and demo games. Hansen said they also encouraged students to bring their own games.
“So they could hopefully show off the things that they have as well,” he said.
The team behind the event hopes to continue the initiative and expand. GameCon also fosters community connection and involvement by bringing people together for a fun evening of gaming and change-making.
“We’re trying to expand,” Hansen said. “I don’t want this to be just a Poly event, I want this to expand to all four campuses next year.”
Next year, GameCon wants to partner with LANFest. LANFest is a nonprofit organization that holds LAN parties and gaming events to raise money for local charities.
“It’s basically the largest gaming party in Arizona,” Hansen said.
Graphic information junior Abby Daniels said she went to GameCon last semester.
“I thought it was a lot of fun,” she said. "I met a friend and he brought his PC and we played games and now we are playing games again. It’s technically free. You only have to bring five food items."
Reach the reporter at kgrega@asu.edu or follow her on twitter @kelciegrega
