Below is an archived version of the Connections 2018 agenda.  Presentations are linked at each agenda item if they are available for distribution.

2018 Agenda

2018 Theme/Goal: (War)gaming for Understanding

Day 1, Tuesday, 17 July 2018

Day 2, Wednesday, 18 July 2018

Day 3, Thursday, 19 July 2018

Day 4, Friday, 20 July 2018

For additional information about some of the components of the conference, see below for short descriptions of the following segments: Game Showcase, Demonstrations and Posters, Game Lab, Game Night.

Game Showcase

The Game Showcase is intended to expose Connections participants to different game formats, especially from commercial game designs.  Games and facilitators are pre-arranged to cover a range of formats.  The focus during this session is for a facilitated overview of games with open discussion of each’s design choices and their advantages/dis-advantages.  Because of the large number of parallel games running during this session, there may be opportunities for shorter engagements with games or partial play-throughs that cover the key mechanics but do not involve a complete run of a longer game.  Bottom Line: Organizers select games and recruit facilitators to present a range of game formats to Connections participants to broaden their awareness of game structures and mechanics through game play.

Demonstrations and Posters

Held alongside the Game Showcase, the demo and poster session is an opportunity for Connections participants to show off things of interest to other attendees.  This can include games, but is not limited to them and may include other topics or tools expected to be of interest, generally connected to wargaming.  Presenters during this session volunteer to bring what they want to present during this session, notifying organizers ahead of time to make arrangements for space and any other requirements, such as availability of a power outlet or projection capability, which will be accommodated to the extent possible.  Bottom Line: Participants volunteer ahead of time to bring something to share with their fellow attendees.

Game Lab

The Game Lab provides an opportunity for small group discussions of specific gaming-related issues among Connections attendees.  Questions are submitted by participants and attendees have the option to join whatever table’s conversation they like.  The Game Lab fosters conversations across experience levels and backgrounds, resulting in some of the most focused exchanges of the conference.  Questions relate to game design challenges, both topical and methodological, and the participants who submit questions then lead the subsequent conversations.  These questions will ideally focus on a contextualized discussion of a methodological challenge.  Depending on scheduling, there may be multiple rounds of questions and discussions within a single session of the Game Lab. Prior to the conference, participants will be asked to submit topics, challenges, and questions. The responses will form the core of Game Lab with a limited number of spots available for the additional topics raised at the conference.  Bottom Line: Small group discussion of specific, participant-submitted questions and topics related to game design challenges.

Game Night

Traditionally held on the second night of the conference, the Connections Game Night is both a social event and a chance to play some games that might not otherwise be available in the conference program.  Participants bring games they want to run or play, in an environment with ample table space and a pool of conference attendees to draw from as players.  There is also an opportunity for the Game Night co-chairs to make specific arrangements for particular games of interest to take advantage of the longer, uninterrupted block of time available.  Bottom Line: A focus on volunteers who bring games they want to run or play, with the opportunity for prearranged games of particular interest.