Annual JohnCon attracts gamers

Science fiction and fantasy fanatics gathered at Levering Hall this past weekend for JohnCon, an annual science fiction and fantasy convention at Hopkins. JohnCon included 48 hours of continuous video gaming, tabletop gaming and science fiction and fantasy screenings.

The interior of Levering Hall was transformed into a fantasy world for the weekend. The Glass Pavilion hosted video games; the Sherwood Room featured anime shows; the Arellano Theater provided movie screenings; and the Great Hall accommodated board games.

The Hopkins Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (HopSFA) teamed up with the Johns Hopkins Animation Club (JHAC) and Hopkins Pen and Paper Gaming (HPPG) to sponsor JohnCon. Each group offered its expertise and resources to provide events for the "Con."

"This convention is for any and all things fun and nerdy, ranging from anime to role playing to laser tag," Jeffrey Bismayer, a HopSFA board member and one of JohnCon's key organizers, wrote in an email to The News-Letter.

JohnCon attracted a diverse audience, including current Hopkins students and Hopkins alumni, as well as members of the local Baltimore community. Some JohnCon participants hailed from outside of Maryland - one loyal JohnCon attendee trekked to Baltimore from Virginia in order to attend the Con.

Some of the weekend highlights included the Lord of the Rings Trilogy marathon on Saturday night, student run panels on topics such as "Hacking in the Movies versus Hacking in the Real World" and "Classic Modeling," and several pick up games of laser tag.

The panel on "Classic Modeling" focused on building and painting role-playing figurines, as well as different techniques used to make them appear more realistic. Hobbytown USA, based in Timonium, MD, sponsored this panel and provided gift cards for members of the audience.

Walt's Cards and Games is another long standing vendor and attendee of JohnCon. This year, they sent a representative down to set up shop in the Great Hall.

Bismayer cited this year's inauguration of laser tag as one of the most successful events of the weekend. JohnCon hosted laser tag battles of six versus six on the quad. Participants played for several hours each night. HopSFA hopes to purchase more laser guns in the future to enable games on a larger scale at JohnCon, as well as to incorporate laser tag games at HopSFA meetings throughout the year.

The Con produces a more intimate setting than some of the larger science fiction and fantasy conventions, which allows for larger games against more players.

"The event provides a fun weekend-long break from school and the like, so that people can come out and play board games, role playing games and video games; watch anime, sci-fi and fantasy films; buy things from local hobby shop vendors; and enjoy the occasional pack of Japanese treats, such as Pocky," Bismayer wrote.

HopSFA, JHAC and HPPG spent the entire year planning this year's JohnCon. Levering Hall was reserved in early September. This year, the only weekend available happened to fall over Easter and Passover, which affected attendance. Although many Hopkins students went home for the weekend, around 60 people attended JohnCon this year - more than double the HopSFA club member count.

"I was surprised at how active it was," Bismayer said, "Overall, I found the event very successful. It was quieter this year than last year, both in attendance and overall events, but there were plenty of options available to attendees to have fun and experience something new."

In order to attract a wider following, this was the first year that the organizers of JohnCon waived the entrance fee.

As Bismayer graduates from Hopkins, he looks forward to handing his key role as head organizer to his successor.

"I intend to pass on my experience to my predecessor, and he will have, hopefully, what he needs to do to make this Con as good as it was last year and make it better," Bismayer said.

HopSFA will begin the early stages of planning for JohnCon '13 in the upcoming months.

?