GREENEVILLE – Everyone who enjoys gaming, esports and cosplay will find a way to showcase their interests and skills during a daylong event coming to Tusculum University in April.
Some members of the gaming and esports clubs and their coaches take a break from planning to encourage people to attend Pioneer Con. Left to right are Joseph Cole, Adriann Aldridge, Dr. Harold Branstrator, Emme Foster, Dr. Nick Davidson, Joseph Medeck and Hughston Burnheimer. They are in the esports and gaming lab on the fourth floor of the Scott M. Niswonger Commons.
Tusculum’s gaming and esports clubs are hosting Pioneer Con Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at locations across campus. Everywhere attendees turn at Tusculum, they will see games and tournaments taking place and will be able to play and potentially win prizes. In addition, several gaming and esports vendors will be on hand with their products for people to purchase.
“This event will provide a terrific platform for those with a passion for gaming and esports to compete with others who have the same affinity,” said Dr. Harold Branstrator, an associate professor of management at Tusculum, who is one of the organizers. “Pioneer Con will cater to people at all skill levels and will support our guests’ pursuit of these leisure activities in a fun and inviting atmosphere.”
Among the games and tournaments that will be happening are Madden, Rocket League, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40k, chess, Dungeons & Dragons and cosplay. Pioneer Con will also feature a costume contest as well as cosplay and Dungeons & Dragons workshops.
The event is open to people of all ages and costs $3 for admission. The price is an additional $10 for each tournament or game a participant enters. Payment for both of these is by cash.
People can purchase food from a couple of food truck vendors that will be on campus.
Check-in for Pioneer Con is inside the main entrance of the Scott M. Niswonger Commons on campus. The games and tournaments will be held in multiple spaces within the commons, including the newly created esports and gaming labs. Other games and tournaments will take place on the lower level of the Thomas J. Garland Library and outside in the area between the library and Tusculum’s iconic Old Oak Tree.
Supporting the event will be local businesses and organizations: House of Games, On the Stax, Playmore Games, Greene County Makers, Artificer Alley and The Pink Cauldron. Artificer Alley and Ben Foulks, its founder and game master, have worked closely with Dr. Branstrator to make Pioneer Con a success.
The media company, which provides space for people to play Dungeons & Dragons and other games, will offer professional tabletop role-playing game experiences to attendees. It will also develop a panel and discuss its expertise and experience in professional gaming as well as the business side of that profession. In addition, the company will work with Tusculum students to broadcast events on Twitch and YouTube, establish internships and enable these Pioneers to build their résumés and portfolios.
Foulks said Pioneer Con will be a great event for Tusculum and the community. He views his company’s participation as a way to give back to the community. He notes that gaming has grown considerably as an industry in the last decade. Many more potential connections remain locally and on a professional level in this field, and Artificer Alley wants to highlight them and make people aware what is available, he said.
“It’s our hope that this event offers a chance for the community to come together and see how gaming unites us, regardless of medium,” Foulks said. “From esports to tabletop games, everyone enjoys the chance to participate in a fun, welcoming environment. If this event can become a regular community offering, we can use this to bring the community into Tusculum University so local students can see what opportunities are developing here in their own backyard.”
The university has also collaborated with Issac Ebrahimi, owner of House of Games, on this event. Dr. Nick Davidson, chair of Tusculum’s Sport Management Department, said he has been tremendous help with the planning.
“We’re excited to be part of the event,” Ebrahimi said. “We’re thrilled to see everything coming together. It will be a pleasure to see the community in person at this fantastic event at Tusculum.”
Dr. Nick Davidson, right, watches Joseph Cole play a game of Rocket League.
Esports and gaming are growing at Tusculum and have attracted a committed group of students mentored by Dr. Branstrator and Dr. Davidson. The use of the two labs led to the university providing a larger space in the commons for students play the games when they are not completing their coursework.
During the fall semester, Tusculum formed an esports team. The esports Valorant team won its first-ever National Association of Collegiate Esports contest in October against Michigan Tech. The team later defeated Lake Michigan College and qualified for the National Association of Collegiate Esports playoffs.
“We are thrilled with all that has transpired with esports and gaming at Tusculum and are excited about the future,” Dr. Davidson said. “We are grateful for the community support for this event and look forward to seeing a great crowd at Pioneer Con. The collaboration we have been fortunate to establish with local vendors is instrumental in our success.”
For additional information or questions about Pioneer Con, please email Dr. Branstrator at hbranstrator@tusculum.edu or Dr. Davidson at ndavidson@tusculum.edu. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.