The First Day

Saturday, 11th of March

• I am in "Just Dance", "Retro Games", and "Free play areas" ↳ spending most time in freeplay

• Walking around, making sure everything is running ↳ Range of games: animal crossing, tetris, fortnite, rocket league, taiko drum game, fifa, street fighter, super smash bros, mario kart 8, etc. ↳ fits all players , (introvert, alone, multiplayer, competitive, etc.) ↳ prizes to be won in games when there were highs-ones (tetris, etc.) ↳ PC /keyboard games, nintendo, xbox ↳ x1 staff , a volunteer

• lots of competitiveness in freeplay zone in both individual and group games ↳ smash bros, tetris

• Bring your own computer zone (BYOC). Culture of playing video games in a public setting

• Collection of volunteering shirts

• Cosplayers - main stage

• "Artist's alley'' zone - fan made art, DND dice, clothing stalls

• The games expo - challenges for a reward, complete 6 challenges (e.g. Just dance, retro, car games)

• An attendee had asked me to verse them in Mario kart in the free play zone

• My shift - 2.30pm until 9.15pm. 30 minute break

• Name tag had my "gamer tag" on it & not my first name. this is interesting

• Super smash bros (SSB) arena . lots of spectators ↳ Very visible in groups & out groups / social categorisation → different communities ↳ to splay ↳ trading card games (TCG) (MagicTG, Pokémon) ↳ FPS games ↳ DND, board games

• Volunteers very open, playing / communication with attendees is high

• Ratio of attendees - range of ethnicities, age groups and genders ↳ predominantly male dominated convention (both in staff / volunteers 1 attendees) ↳ especially in free play zone I arenas . cow % of women

• Prizes that tempt individuals in the community (razer, racing chairs, t-shirts, RGB keyboards, headsets , marvel figures, game specific rewards (Rainbow 6 siege)

• Rhythm games zone: people bringing their own drumsticks

• Indie games zone: only 2 panels (one PC based game, one mobile)

• Bringing games from home into a public environment (Mario kart 8) ↳ "celebrating gaming culture" ↳ volunteers!

• People with and without skill - many different levels ↳ mobile gamers , but also Pc / console.

• Formation of groups in the volunteers: 4 team leaders, staff ↳ determined by whether they have volunteered before

• Lots of spectators around cosplay competitions, super smash bros competitions, speed running, etc. ↳ High levels of immersion ↳ Not a lot of time to speak to other volunteers, besides on break and handover (2:45pm)

• Social identification. in groups and out groups.

• AS A VOLUNTEER, YOU EXPERIENCE THE EVENT IN A WHOLE NEW WAY /LENS.

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My shift started at 2:45pm, however the handover was at 2:30pm. I had arrived at the games expo at around 1pm, as I wanted to take the chance to look around the convention myself. Part of this, included speed running the game expo challenge. When I first arrived, I spent my sweet time in the artist alley, appreciating the art and debating on whether I should buy some (I did). After that, I looked at the indie zone, where I noticed there were only two panels. Yeah - it's a lot smaller than PAX. After this, I had realized that I only had 30 minutes left before I had to go and prepare for my volunteer shift. And so, I of course started to speed run the game expo challenge. I had:

• Stayed at just dance for a few games

• Went to see cosplays

• Play a game at the retro area

• Played a racing car game

• Find the hidden QR code, sticky taped on the back of a volunteers t-shirt

• Take a selfie with the TGX mascot

Me and the TGX Mascot

After you completed at least 6 of the 9 challenges (the ones I did are listed above), you got a stamp. Once you had 6 stamps, you could spin the wheel, with varying levels of prizes to be won. Knowing my luck, I of course won the lowest prize possible - a keychain for a game I have never heard of. But that's okay, I had fun.

After this, I started to head over to the volunteer HQ, to begin my shift, from 2:45 to 9:15pm. I collected my volunteer t-shirt, (a very bright green), and then was taken to where I was allocated. I was in charge of the just dance, retro and freeplay areas, however, my team lead and the other volunteer in my area claimed to be in charge of just dance and retro. I was left with the last option, and so I took the freeplay zone.

Me in my cool volunteer shirt. I wore another t-shirt underneath so I could leave the venue easier.

The freeplay zone consisted mainly of me just standing there and helping attendees where need be, and logging new high scores made by them. It got kind of boring, I won't lie. However my attention was gained by the cosplayers at the event. I saw a massive snorlax cosplay, and the outfit seemed to have been fully handmade by whoever was inside of the suit. I made it a mission to try and get a photo of them (see below).

I went on break at roughly 6:30pm. This is when I was met with the news by the staff that the cafeteria was closed. They said that they may order McDonalds, however, I decided to take my break then and get food from an outside restaurant as I was starving, having not had lunch. The staff were extremely kind and professional, apologising as they had no clue, and since I was unable to use my $20 voucher for food at the cafeteria. Though, I was sort of annoyed as I had asked to go on break at around 4pm. But, that's okay. It was a learning curve.

Another thing that had caught my attention was a girl in the freeplay zone. I was walking around the area, ensuring everyone was having a good time. and she had asked me to verse her in Mario kart 8. So I did. And I lost. Horribly. It felt weird playing a game in the freeplay zone whilst I was on shift. But it was fun. It kind of connected me with the rest of the convention, and those attending. I gained a sense of community, and the way that people categorise themselves and place themselves in social situations. She wasn't competitive at all, and was purely looking to have a good time as someone that

had attended the expo alone. When I went back to patrolling the freeplay zone, I noticed the Super Smash Bros tournament happening opposite me. There was an extremely strong community, with seats filled up and people standing up around the seats watching the tournament play out. On the right, there were commentators with ring lights and their PC setups commentating it live through their PC to show on the big display behind the players in the tournament.

This is what TGX aimed for. A strong community event, with those with the same interests coming together and almost, in a way celebrating them in person. Even myself, someone who isn't a frequent player in Super Smash Bros, was intrigued and I ended up watching the tournament play through when I could.

At this stage, I was honestly more identifying myself with the attendees rather than the volunteer group that I was working with. However this could have been mainly due to the fact that I was working alone for a long period of time in the freeplay area, with little to no time to talk to other volunteers.