OREGON S LESS IAN/GAY/B l/TRAN S/QU E E R NEWSMAGAZINE
er attendees take to the older video games,”
says Van Pelt. “I think the simplicity o f some
o f the old games is very appealing. Adult at
tendees like the newer games well enough,
but the really amazing moments come when
the older generation o f players sits down and
shows their kids the games they played. It’s a
really social event in that way.”
The social role is taken a step further when
considering Portland’s emerging LG BTQ _
gaming community, most readily visible in the
hallowed halls o f Ground Kontrol’s monthly
queer gaming night, Joystick. As promoter
Samuel Clark explains, it’s the camaraderie
involved in getting out and about with like-
minded queer gamers that’s accounted for the
recent boom in gayming.
“It gives an opportunity to let your nerd
loose,” says Clark o f Joystick. “I know I find it
extremely frustrating to feel like the only one
into this stuff. I f I didn’t do it, I’d really hope
someone else would.”
Ground Kontrol is also the location for
P R G E ’s official pre-party on September 17.
“Gay gaming nights are an amazing way
to say, ‘Hey, we know you are out there, come
on down, you are welcome here,’” explains
Sabrina Miller, deejay for 7 he Nerd Report on
PD X .FM , which will be covering the P R G E
for the second straight year.
Gamer Candise Branum o f PD X group
She 6c D, a crew consisting primarily o f queer
ladies who play Dungeons & Dragons, reiter
ates the need to let down defenses and geek
out with friends.
“I think D & D continues to be popular
with queers because it’s a chance to complete
ly let go and be ridiculous,” she says. “M ost o f
us never got the chance to play it as a kid; I
wanted to fit in and I couldn’t be seen playing
a nerd game. But as an adult, you don’t really
have to deal with that pressure anymore.”
SEPTEMBER 3 2010
35 , [ # !
“Most of us never got the
ch a n ce to play [D6D] os
o kid; I wonted to fit in
and I co u ld n ’t be seen
playing a nerd gome. But
os on adult, you d o n ’t
really hove to deal with
that pressure anymore."
- CANDISE BRANUM
She 6c D started out exclusively as queer
ladies, most o f whom had never played D & D
before, who wanted to get involved in gam
ing culture without feeling threatened by the
learning curve. Now, Branum reports, only
half the group is queer.
“I think it is super important to be able
to have queer gaming groups because most
o f these games are so straight-dude-centric,”
adds Branum. “One o f our rules for She 6c D
was that everyone had to have a queer char
acter, so even people who have heterosexual
inclinations get to be a little queer. I f you can
create a make-believe world, why not just
make everyone gay?”
Whatever your orientation, your taste in
pixels or whether you prefer wires to wireless,
the 2010 PRG E will have classic gamers as well
as N ES novices covered. Just make sure to drink
lots o f water, and remember to blink. ! • :
TILE
HARDWOOD
STONE
CARPET
For a fu ll schedule of 2010 Portland Retro Gam
ing Expo offerings, visit retrogamingexpo.com.
For more information on She & D, visit sheandd.
wordpress.com. Joystick happens every third Mon
day at Ground Kontrol Bar cade (511 NW Couch
St.) from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and is always free with
DJs and revolving themes.
* u r in 9
Jim
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