The days of gamers being relegated to the fringes of society, marginalized for their unusual tastes and choice of leisure activities is over. The gaming industry is booming, consistent increases in computing and graphics power has brought gaming into the mainstream. Coupled with the advent of the internet it’s never been easier to hook up with a few friends or strangers and pummel a digitized avatar into the dirt. That’s all well and good but modern video games are lacking in an area that tabletop gaming cemented decades ago, namely the ability to sit down in the same space with a group of people and crush them face to face.
At times like these it is apropos to remember the words of Conan the barbarian (or Genghis Khan depending on your source material) when he was asked what is best in life he responded “To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women (or men, or gender neutral noun of your choice) within the predetermined rules and safe confines of a board game.”
Crom laughs at your en passant. He laughs from his mountain.
What better way to experience the life changing feeling of face to face victory than with a three day gaming celebration. SaltCON 2015 is just around the corner, it will be held at the Davis Convention Center beginning March 12 at 10:00 AM and doesn’t stop until March 14 at midnight. Events are schedule through all three days but the place doesn’t shut down at night. Overnight open gaming is available on the evening of March 12 and 13.
The mission statement of SaltCON is “to bring people together with games.” And that’s exactly what they do with tournaments and a massive game library available to all attendees. SaltCON is also the home of the Ion Award which is given to recognize excellence in unpublished games. Finalists will be judged on the first day of the convention and announced on the final day, finalists and their games include:
Light Game Finalists:
Kingsmen – Rex Caffee
Elemental Empire – Mike Holyoak
Stalag Escape – Matt Jensen
Rising Empires – Rex Caffee
Strategy Game Finalists:
Race to Innovation – Mike Holyoak
Hungry Oni – Michael Brown
Serfs & Soldiers – Shea Nash
Moar Moai – Michael Brown
The opportunity to play the games that have always interested you without having to commit to a large purchase is worth the price of the ticket alone, the opportunity to meet and play with real live people who share the same interests is an added bonus. And even if you’ve never played tabletop games before, this is the perfect opportunity to get your feet wet, or jump completely in the deep end. Before last year my game collection consisted of Star Wars Monopoly and an unopened copy of Scrabble given to me as a Christmas gift so many years ago I don’t even remember. Now, as a direct result of my experience at SaltCON 2014 I am threatened by a looming and potentially structurally unsound tower of board game boxes that could fall and crush me at my desk as I type.
Last year over 675 people called SaltCON home for a three day period of camp style camaraderie and this year promises to be even bigger with over 800 people anticipated to attend. So grab your lucky dice, or your favorite card deck, or even just some snacks and come play some games with us. It promises to be an excellent time.
The Davis Convention Center can be found at 1651 N 700 W, Layton, Utah 84041.