I had the pleasure of talking to the fantastic people at SaskGames about their 24 hour board gaming marathon, 'Play With Your Food', which was set up to raise money and awareness for a good cause. Check out the interview below :).
In 2013 we began to reflect that a large thriving community had recently formed around the hobby of boardgames in Regina, SK. It was obvious there was an appetite for more events in the community so we decided to try to harness the power of the community to do something that would give to those in need. In essence, if we have the luxury to sit at a table to play a tabletop boardgame, then we are truly among the blessed and could pause to reflect on those less fortunate. That was the initial thought behind the event from a SaskGames Leadership team.
On a more personal note, my mother passed away in December of 2011 and she was a person who always wanted to feed the world. She donated her time to the food bank in Nova Scotia where she lived, and one of her final acts of charity and kindness was when she had us take her to Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in Regina so she could donate some Christmas baking for the homeless. That inspired and moved me to want to get involved in causes related to food security. I run a small local gaming convention for friends and as a pre-cursor to the large 24 hour event, BixCON donated a small amount in 2012 and 2013 under the banner of "Play with Your Food". Mom would be very proud of what we are doing.
-Matt Robertson
Tell us a little bit about the shelter you are helping out.
Souls Harbour Rescue Mission provides a variety of programs and services including; Men’s & Women’s Emergency Shelters, a ‘Free’ Clothing store, a feeding program (soup kitchen), the Dean Smith Youth Center, Little Souls Daycare, affordable housing (Harbour House), and the Shayil Home Women’s Addiction 12-month live-in program for women and their children.
-Murray Bennett
Is this a cause close to your heart?
I spent most of my life farming, both grain and cattle and as long as I remember we always delivered some of the meat we couldn't use when butchering to Souls Harbour or its previous shelter under a different name.
Since I quit farming I have supported our work program called Drive Away Hunger and this project seemed like a great extension of these things.
There is so much waste in the food world that I have always felt we should try and find a use for what is leftover, it really doesn't take any work to make it a part of your life.
Since I quit farming I have supported our work program called Drive Away Hunger and this project seemed like a great extension of these things.
There is so much waste in the food world that I have always felt we should try and find a use for what is leftover, it really doesn't take any work to make it a part of your life.
-Murray Bennett
How long have you been running this event?
This was my first year being involved with this event - I was asked to be the chairman and I thought it would be fun!
This was the third year for the 24 Hours to Play with Your Food event.
This was the third year for the 24 Hours to Play with Your Food event.
-Murray Bennett
How popular has it become?
The event has grown to now have 120 participants of which 43 stayed the entire 24 hours this year! We run the event in the Souls Harbour facility and I feel our maximum capacity is probably 150.
Tickets for the event went on sale in March of 2015 and we were sold out in August!
-Murray Bennett
What has been the wildest thing that has happened at the past events? Has anyone fallen asleep face-down on their meeples?
My friend Adam has fallen asleep in his chair in the middle of a game at about hour 22-23 each year:
Year 1 while playing Doom: The Board Game: I had to nudge him each time it came back to his turn.
Year 2 while playing Carcassonne: Adam picked up a tile, took a few seconds to scan the map to determine where to place it, and promptly fell asleep, the tile slipping from his hand to the table. I think he still beat me...
Year 3 while playing Res Publica: Adam kept falling asleep while holding his hand of cards -- you could only tell he fell asleep because his eyes were closed. I had to snap my fingers to wake him up about half a dozen times.
Year 1 while playing Doom: The Board Game: I had to nudge him each time it came back to his turn.
Year 2 while playing Carcassonne: Adam picked up a tile, took a few seconds to scan the map to determine where to place it, and promptly fell asleep, the tile slipping from his hand to the table. I think he still beat me...
Year 3 while playing Res Publica: Adam kept falling asleep while holding his hand of cards -- you could only tell he fell asleep because his eyes were closed. I had to snap my fingers to wake him up about half a dozen times.
-Ryan Newell
There seems to be a large gaming community in Saskatchewan, do you feel SaskGames has helped strengthen the popularity of gaming?
The SaskGames website was launched in the summer of 2010 to bring together many fragmented groups in the hopes of growing the gaming community as a whole.
Boardgames are a niche hobby, and specialized gaming sites and groups are a niche within a niche. It is hard for us all individually to achieve inertia. That is where the critical mass of a centralized community makes sense. The key is getting everyone to go to the same oasis in the desert for their “gaming” drink of water. I think umbrella sites such as SaskGames.com fill a very important role in this manner. We have achieved a lot of momentum and events have seen a substantial uptake in the number of attendees. There are now over 900 registered members on the SaskGames website and monthly page views exceed 175,000. Every month we are seeing more new faces at events and it is heartwarming to see the hobby and the community grow. One of the most important metrics of a community is the number of new friendships formed; in that regard SaskGames has been very successful.
Boardgames are a niche hobby, and specialized gaming sites and groups are a niche within a niche. It is hard for us all individually to achieve inertia. That is where the critical mass of a centralized community makes sense. The key is getting everyone to go to the same oasis in the desert for their “gaming” drink of water. I think umbrella sites such as SaskGames.com fill a very important role in this manner. We have achieved a lot of momentum and events have seen a substantial uptake in the number of attendees. There are now over 900 registered members on the SaskGames website and monthly page views exceed 175,000. Every month we are seeing more new faces at events and it is heartwarming to see the hobby and the community grow. One of the most important metrics of a community is the number of new friendships formed; in that regard SaskGames has been very successful.
-Matt Robertson
So how does the marathon work? Do you have an itinerary of the game segments or are the teams spontaneously gaming?
The day is kind of a combination of those two things. The 120 participants were made up of 25 teams of varying sizes. We maintained a schedule of games based on selections chosen by the participants which included larger games that required more than their own group or after midnight a third of the people had left so the teams are less cohesive after that time.
In the weeks leading up to the event, attendees had the ability to plan games and solicit players through a scheduling thread on SaskGames.
Participants brought games to the event and there were a lot of spontaneous games throughout the 24 hours or requests from people to have someone teach a game.
In the weeks leading up to the event, attendees had the ability to plan games and solicit players through a scheduling thread on SaskGames.
Participants brought games to the event and there were a lot of spontaneous games throughout the 24 hours or requests from people to have someone teach a game.
-Murray Bennett
Would you like to see other gaming organisations around the world helping their communities in such a positive way?
Absolutely. I think the model of local groups raising money for local causes is very important. Once communities reach a certain size, it is important for them to develop a social conscience and social responsibility. It is very rewarding when the community adopts of culture of caring. We do not live in a vacuum.
-Matt Robertson
Which games are firm favourites at this event?
There are a mix of epic games, party games, co-operative games and just about anything you can think of. Dead of Winter has been a hit since it game out in the last 2 years.
We did a big 20 player game of Codenames using a projector and that went over really well. One of our members wrote a Werewolf style game called The Thing based on the movie and around 20 were involved with that.
Flick 'em up was popular too!
Friedrich, Kremlin, Dune, Firefly, Castles of the Mad King Ludwig - so many games and so many different styles. That is really one of the big appeals to the event, you get to see so many games and play something new or a game that you just don't get out very often
Flick 'em up was popular too!
Friedrich, Kremlin, Dune, Firefly, Castles of the Mad King Ludwig - so many games and so many different styles. That is really one of the big appeals to the event, you get to see so many games and play something new or a game that you just don't get out very often
-Murray Bennett
Which games do you generally play the most?
As Murray shared, there is a large variety of games played at this event. I personally like a mix of long epic games with some shorter games mixed in. This past year I played three beasts: Friedrich, Dune, and Fief: France 1429. I also played Castles of Burgundy, Star Realms, Machi Koro, Kingsburg, Affentennis, Infinite City, & 7 Wonders. Quite a mix. In years past I took my large scale custom Merchant of Venus game for some epic gaming goodness as well as a combined Eastern USA / Western USA Railways of the World game.
-Matt Robertson
What advice would you give someone who is about to attempt a 24 hour gaming marathon?
The older I get, the more I need to pay attention to tips and tricks to give me the endurance for a 24 Hour boardgame marathon. Here are a few pointers:
(1) Take stretch breaks frequently. I often get up and walk around a bit just to keep the circulation moving. Being a bit active keeps me more alert.
(2) Drink lots of water. Sounds cliché, but it helps. Has the added benefit of making me get up to use the washroom so induces regular short walks.
(3) Go easy on coffee and/or energy drinks. I love coffee, but I pace myself during events like this.
(4) Do not overeat at event. Snack on nuts, fresh fruit, and veggies.
(5) I take a bottle of chewable vitamin C with me. I like to up my resistance to colds and such, especially since my immune system will be sleep deprived.
(6) Have a healthy mix of fun, light, interactive games to keep the event energy levels up.
(7) Do not take games or yourself too seriously. Have fun and laugh often. It is amazing how this simple credo will energize me for long haul sessions. I truly enjoy the hobby and the people involved in the hobby so this one is easy.
(2) Drink lots of water. Sounds cliché, but it helps. Has the added benefit of making me get up to use the washroom so induces regular short walks.
(3) Go easy on coffee and/or energy drinks. I love coffee, but I pace myself during events like this.
(4) Do not overeat at event. Snack on nuts, fresh fruit, and veggies.
(5) I take a bottle of chewable vitamin C with me. I like to up my resistance to colds and such, especially since my immune system will be sleep deprived.
(6) Have a healthy mix of fun, light, interactive games to keep the event energy levels up.
(7) Do not take games or yourself too seriously. Have fun and laugh often. It is amazing how this simple credo will energize me for long haul sessions. I truly enjoy the hobby and the people involved in the hobby so this one is easy.
-Matt Robertson
Thanks for reading!
Marisa xx
