Games to Gather

Games to Gather Games to Gather is a non-profit organization that builds a diverse community by offering public awareness raising gaming events. What is Games to Gather? No!

Games to Gather is a network of events featuring games that cultivate social consciousness through play, or that bring people closer together through play. We believe that our play can help make the world a better place for every person, gamer and non-gamer alike. If you are interested in playing eye and heart opening games, of if you are interested in social consciousness and would like to find s

ome camaraderie, then welcome to Games to Gather! We’re happy to have you. What about these games? As we mentioned above, there is a specific kind of game that Games to Gather draws special attention too. These games are referred to by the term engagist. Games that are engagist by design pursue the enrichment of it’s players first and foremost. This might be done by drawing attention to the dynamics of a given issue, or by involving personal and real-to-life subject matter. Through these means play can both raise awareness to an issue and practice empathy, two vital goals of developing and spreading greater social consciousness. Engagist games are in contrast to escapist games, which pursue the player’s entertainment over their enrichment, and often involve fantastic elements rather than factual elements. That’s not to say that one kind of game is better than another! You will find escapist games right along side engagist games at some Games to Gather events. However, escapist games already receive the lion’s share of attention, so Games to Gather focuses on engagist games and their value as a way of evening the odds a little bit. What do you play? Anything! Though different events may be differently focused, both digital and analog games are supported at Games to Gather events. That said, digital games are currently dominating the discussion on the value and impact of play, so Games to Gather provides ample opportunities for analog games. Is that all? Playing games is important, but examining games is important too! We also design and discuss games, so that we can come to a better understanding of how engagist games accomplish their goals. And, of course, so we can inspire the creation of a new generation of insightful games! How do I participate? First, of all, you should visit our Participation Note and familiarize yourself with our Conduct Agreements. Once you’ve done that, check out our calendar and find an event (or three!). All you need to do is show up ready to play, but it’s helpful for everybody is you RSVP on one of our social media event postings.

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11 NE MLK
Portland, OR

General information

These are our current events events at a glance. A few more odds and ends will be added in the near future. Please check out the specific event listings on our calendar for more information. Keep in mind that sometimes things happen, and on occasion the date, time, location and details of an event are subject to changes, so you are encouraged to RSVP for any and all events you are planning to attend. READY, SET, GAME https://www.facebook.com/groups/rsgpdx/ Ready Set Game is an easy-going indie roleplaying and story game event series. We play different games every week, and all you have to do is show up ready and willing to have a great time! No experience necessary. In fact, if you are new to this, then you are extra welcome! Story games are tabletop games where players create a narrative as a product of play. They tend to be rules light, easy to learn, independently published, and very diverse. Many story games have strong roleplaying elements, but often incorporate other techniques as well. If you have been wanting games that are truely story focused, then story games are what you've been looking for! Open Play 6pm 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ Guardian Games Open Play is exactly what it sounds like - everybody is welcome! The more the merrier! Femme Night 6:30pm mid-month Thursdays @ In Other Words (Odd Months Only) Femme Night is an event that is specifically for people who identify as women or an non-binary. If you don't identify as a woman, you can still support this event by telling the gaming women in your life about it! Queer Encounters 7pm mid-month Thursdays @ TBD (Even Months Only) Queer Encounters is an event that is specifically for people who identify as non-traditional gender and sexual orientations. If you don't identify as a such, you can still support this event by telling the queer gamers in your life about it! THE GAME GARDEN https://www.facebook.com/groups/thegamegarden/ Home-grown organic games. The Game Garden is an event series focused on the design and theory of games. Game Garden events include discussion circles, presentations, and playtesting. If you have a project you're working on, please come and share it with us! Seeding Circle 7pm 2nd Mondays @ the Green Dragon Got some ideas for a game you are working on, and want to talk it through and spitball your ideas? Working on a Game Chef game? Just curious? Then let’s talk! PORTLAND FREEFORM SOCIETY https://www.facebook.com/groups/portlandfreeformsociety/ Time, Date, and Venue Vary The Portland Freeform Society presents semi-live improv roleplaying and theater games. Often, a freeform games explore realistic scenarios instead of fantastical scenarios. Freeform games are very new, which means that we’re all new at this, so everybody is welcome to participate if they find a game interesting. Due to the variable venue demands of freeform games, the Portland Freeform society does not observe a regular schedule. Instead, members of the Portland Freeform Society host game whenever and wherever they can, often in somebody’s home. See the event in question for more details. GAMES FOR THE HUMAN HEART https://www.facebook.com/gamestogatherpdx 2pm 4th Sundays @ the Bagdad Theater Backstage Bar Sensitive games for sensitive people. At Games for the Human Heart we play tabletop and in person games that engage with real social issues. Admittedly, these games are serious and ask for a deliberate and respectful attitude. Though all are welcome to attend, this is not a casual gaming meetup, and it may not be the thing for you. Though the games are sure to be entertaining, the priority here is enrichment. We aim to explore an issues and engage with them through play. The games we’ll be playing are always posted in advance. Please see the event details for more information. PLAY GAMES DRINK PINTS https://www.facebook.com/gamestogatherpdx 7pm Last Saturdays @ Lucky Lab Beer Hall Food. Drinks. Tabletop games of all sorts. Hanging out and talking the night away. Bring your friends! Play Games Drink Pints is a much more socially focused our other events. If you are unsure about which event might be for you, then this is a great place to start! INDIE HURRICANE GAME DAY https://www.facebook.com/gamestogatherpdx 12pm Quarterly @ Vancouver Hilton Indie Hurricane operates the indie rpgs and story games at the GameStorm convention. Each quarter GameStorm hosts a game day, and Indie Hurricane is there to round it out with story games and indie roleplaying games! You can expect this to work much like the Ready, Set, Game Open Play events, except there are two slots (12pm - 4pm, 5pm - 9pm), and group dining and drinking is likely. GameStorm Admission is often a little cheaper when purchased at a game day, so come get your game on and get pumped for the GameStorm "Prime" in March! GAMESTORM'S INDIE HURRICANE https://www.facebook.com/gamestogatherpdx 9am - 11pm March 19th - 22nd 2015 @ Vancouver Hilton This is it! GameStorm is a general gaming convention and Indie Hurricane is the indie rpgs, story games, and freeform games department. Gaming non-stop all weekend long, Indie Hrricane included. Games, playtests, panels, special events, discussions, camaraderie! Get ready, because Indie Hurricane will blow you away!

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