Dakota State University is hosting the 20th Nanocon gaming convention this weekend.
The student-organized event features board games, videogame tournaments and other gaming-related activities. The convention free and open to the public, according to organizer Chad Compton.
“We run more approachable games for people who are not as into the board game or video game scene, like chess and poker,” Compton said. “We also have some more specialty type games like Magic the Gathering, [the] Pokémon trading card game and Warhammer.”
Other events include laser tag on Sunday and an e-sports “mystery tournament” where players will compete in a randomly selected video game.
This year's Nanocon has the theme “Into the Frozen Wasteland.”
“It not only fits well with South Dakota, but also some of the other events we’re running, like our Warhammer tournament,” said Compton. “We have this really cool, icy terrain the player gets to play on…we're able to build events around the theme.”
The conference is free to attend and is sponsored by local game stores and businesses. That makes the event accessible to a wider variety of people according to organizer Davis White.
“Making it free means that anybody can come in. Even someone who's in middle or high school doesn't have to worry,” said White. “We think that's really foundational to having a good con, because it's more about bringing people together to participate in those events.”
According to White, this year’s Nanocon is more elaborate than previous years. Organizers say 650 students, alumni and community members are expected to participate in the conference. The DSU gaming club is working with other campus groups to put on the conference. Members from the chess, esports and computer clubs are all volunteering for the event.
Jason Jenkins teaches computer science at DSU and serves as the gaming club’s faculty advisor.
“We're not just having the occasional collaboration with another club or student organization, we're trying to pull the whole campus in,” Jenkins said. “It's kind of what DSU is all about, right? It's an inclusive place for a variety of interests.”
Nanocon began Thursday at and will run through Sunday at 6 p.m. The event schedule is available at the convention’s website.