51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

Way-Con, Come on Down!

                  Students with props Student with frame display

51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ is set to host its first comic-con! On Saturday, October 30th from noon until 8 pm, the Moody Science Building and the Atrium will be transformed into nerd heaven. The event has been organized by the School of Languages and Literature in conjunction with The School of Math and Sciences, headed up by the Dean of L&L, Dr. Kimberlee Mendoza.

“We developed a table-top gaming design degree. Many of those students are involved in our Gamer’s Guild and we need to have an event for them,” Mendoza said. “There is a huge community of people who enjoy these things and nobody is doing anything for them. So, I thought, let’s do it.”

Thus, Way-Con was born! The event has secured more than 20 vendors, and there will be tons of activities to enjoy. From a photo scavenger hunt to the chance to throw a pie at Coach Sweeney, there is sure to be fun for all ages. Grab a raffle ticket or two as well, as there will be prize drawings throughout the day. Admission is free to enter and join in on the fun, but vendors may cost money.

The Moody Science Auditorium will host 7 workshops throughout the day for anyone interested in learning how to construct worlds in D&D or different tabletop games. Mike Edlin will be presenting the “Inside Scoop: Lucas Films” workshop, speaking from his experiences working at Skywalker Ranch, and Chloe Barham will be talking “Cosplay 101,” teaching interested cosplayers the ins and outs of great cosplay. Speaking of cosplay, come join the fun and dress in your best costume because there will be a cosplay contest!

The Atrium will house the tabletop gaming events. There, attendees can play Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, and many other games or just enjoy the Art Museum and watch others play. Tabletop not your speed? The E-Sports Lab will be open for videogame players! Show off your skills in the FortNite or Smash Bros tournaments, or just come to game with others. If trivia is more your jam, attendees can test their knowledge on Lord of the Rings, superheroes, Star Wars, anime, and science fiction. There is something for everyone!

Come find the L&L booth to discuss the new table-top gaming degree offered at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ. The humanities degree focuses on game design, storytelling, and marketing—taking your game idea from concept all the way to the marketplace.

For more information about Way-Con, contact Dr. Mendoza at mendozak@wbu.edu.

Images by Asta Edlin