I’ve always been a gamer my entire life, but I never knew how to get into the gaming industry. I
ended up becoming a librarian instead. Born and raised in the Bronx, where our borough has
historically been neglected, the arts and STEM even more so. I thought I had to become
fluent in Japanese, learn to code, and move to Japan in order to create the video game of my
dreams, which would be something as classic as Final Fantasy 7, or Metal Gear Solid to many
gamers.

Once I started playing Dreams and doing the tutorials I saw how easy and fun it was to make a
game on this platform. I enjoyed making Frozen/Sailor Moon-inspired games with my daughter.
I even made a spiritual recreation of the library greenhouse I had done years ago. Once I felt
comfortable with Dreams, I thought “let’s try using the software the actual experts in the gaming industry use.” So, I started to learn Unreal Engine. I learned how to make my character walk
using the visual scripting language, Blueprints. It looks difficult at first, but over time it became much easier. Then I discovered Lindenwood University’s MA in Game Design program. I told
myself, why not? My employer has tuition assistance, and school is going to force me to keep at
this game design work. Let’s do it!

I made the first game I ever made for my Game Development class, “The Map of the
Missing Library Books.” I wanted to make a video game about librarians, and about what we
do every day. Often, when searching for books on hold, it’s like a game in that you
have to now try to guess where the book could be.

During my tenure at Lindenwood, I had to write a research paper in which I picked the topic to
be libraries and gamers. I read Hideo Koijma’s “The Creative Gene,” in which I realized my hero,
is a librarian. Think about it, he recently released a booklist. Who else talks
about books like that? Librarians. I also realized while reading his book that Kojima needs a
successor. And perhaps as a librarian, maybe I could be the one to train and empower
that person. For all I know, maybe they are from the Bronx just like me, but don’t have the resources or don’t feel empowered to do so. I don’t have to create video games, I just have to
teach others how to make their own.

And this is how King Pangnapa was born, my fictional King of the Librarians.  I wanted to make a video game that redefines what it means to be a librarian in the 21st century. I wanted to make a
video game that shows that no, we don’t just sit and read books all day, we are community
leaders, and we are the deliverers of information in the age of misinformation. Amateur, yes, and I made this knowing in the future I will have to make a remake, but in a span of eight weeks I was able to learn enough to be able to create my own story, and that is the story of King Pangnapa.

I write this to inspire all my librarians to listen to that artist within, if you have a dream or
passion, pursue it! The number of friends and people I met in the gaming industry, and the
support I’ve received, have been incredible and amazing. I am truly grateful to everyone, and
I’m looking forward to the day King Pangnapa is released.

The post Librarian Turned Game Designer first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Libraries that offer gaming programs or circulate games should consider attending Gen Con to better serve their patrons.  Gen Con is a great place for librarians to learn about and playtest games to add to their collections.  I was at the convention for 3 days, and I still wasn’t able to experience everything.  While there I learned about many games I’d never even heard of. Moreover, I was able to playtest games that are currently out, as well as upcoming releases.  Reading reviews of board games, and even seeing them played on YouTube, are nothing in comparison to getting my hands on the actual games themselves, and playing through with a group of people.

The convention is broken up into an exhibit hall, a large play hall in the back, and multiple rooms with different events happening throughout the convention center.  Purchasing a badge allows you into the gaming area and the exhibit hall, but many of the events cost extra.  Many of these events require tickets, which often sell out very early. Next year I plan on deciding what events to participate in ahead of time and purchasing those tickets as early as possible.

Librarians are able to get a special pass and attend on Trade Day (Wednesday), which I think could be particularly helpful.  I was overwhelmed by all of the information and gaming that was offered throughout the website and at the convention, and I was lucky to attend with friends.  I would suggest that any librarian who is attending Gen Con for the first time should partner up with someone who has been there before.  Another suggestion would be to look through the programming book, available in PDF form on the Gen Con Indy website.  The program book is currently for this year’s convention (which just wrapped up), but should be updated soon.  Even if the program book is slightly out of date, it gives an idea of what is available at the convention.

Gen Con was an amazing experience.  I left the convention with multiple new games, and an even longer list of games that I want to purchase soon.  As a librarian, I am excited to get some more table-top games to add to our ever growing selection.  I can’t wait to attend the convention again next year.

Cover Image Credit: SuSchu

The post Games, Games, and More Games – Experiencing Gen Con as a Librarian first appeared on Public Libraries Online.