Retro gamers unite in support of Lighthouse Mission
WINNIPEG, MB—Sturgeon Height Community Centre played host to Winnipeg’s first retro video-gaming convention in early April, an idea brought to life by Nathaniel Calanza, who believes video games and the people who play them can have a positive effect on community.
Calanza met with 20 video game fans with a particular affinity towards games released in years gone by in December 2013, to dream and plan for this event that took place only four months later. The convention was held in support of Lighthouse Mission, Winnipeg’s longest running homeless shelter.
“Lighthouse Mission doesn’t turn anyone away,” says Kyle Rudge, communications coordinator for Retro Gamers Winnipeg. “That’s why we chose them to support. Gamers often feel like the misfits of society, so we saw a perfect link between the two.”
Rudge was pleasantly surprised at the turnout for the Retro Gamers Unite convention.
“We were expecting maybe 100 people, and over 500 showed up throughout the day,” he says. “We had no idea how many would come out! We’re planning for a bigger venue next year.”
The convention was an all day event that included a silent auction, tournaments and prizes. Various vendors sold retro games, collectables, toys, and other swag, while the gaming lounge celebrated a smorgasbord of classic games for longtime players to relive, or new ones to enjoy for the first time.
Donations of clothing and food in exchange for silent auction tickets were encouraged, and the event volunteers ended up bringing truckloads more to Lighthouse Mission than they had expected.
“We thought we would get a few pounds of donations and a few dollars to give Lighthouse at the end of the day,” says Rudge, “But we ended up raising more than $1,500 and 500 pounds of food and clothing for the mission.”
Rudge says his favourite part of the convention was watching gamers cheer each other on through the games, challenges, and tournaments.
“I sat at a gaming station for a lot of the day watching people attempt the Mario Kart and Super Mario Bros. challenges,” he says, “and people would crowd around, shout out tips, and coach you through the levels if you didn’t know what you were doing.”
“It was amazing to see a community of gamers supporting each other and Lighthouse Mission.”
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