UPLINK Con
In 2020, I founded UPLINK Con - a LIVE virtual gaming convention bringing gamers from around the world to share their passion for retro gaming in a web environment that would best mimic the emotional experience of an in-person convention, but also introduce unique experiences only possible through digital means. Featuring a slew of the biggest influencers in gaming ranging from content producers, filmmakers, artists, musicians, historians, authors, and more, the first edition of the convention was a massive success, totaling over 65000 HOURS (yes HOURS) of content viewed and leading to multiple vendors selling out of product.
Coming off the success of UPLINK 2020, I dialed up the production of the convention to a new level, completely taking over all of programming, booking, marketing, PR, merchandising and production for UPLINK 2021.
Unlike other “virtual cons” in the gaming sphere that focused more on the commercial aspect of gaming or Q&As with influencers (typically stale and banal content that add no level of artistic elevation for the medium of videogames), I positioned UPLINK as a hub for the sharing of ideas celebrating gaming culture that would showcase the artistic significance of gaming as told through the lens of various key personalities in the gaming/geek sphere.
Over 100 Panels across 2 Editions (Summer 2020, Winter 2021)
over 90,000 hours viewed
the largest attended virtual con for retro gaming
I also took this opportunity to explore concepts in gaming seldom covered or too “taboo” for other gaming conventions including discussions into the monetization of sexuality amongst gaming personalities leading to the mainstream legitimization of premium content platforms, the complex and often illegal history of gaming in tertiary markets, and the artistic legitimacy of gaming as a form of art in relation to more accepted, critically analyzed mediums.
What resulted was the booking of over 100 guest speakers, the largest program ever assembled for a retro gaming convention (virtual or in-person) from around the world. In addition to curating the program, I also scripted/produced the majority of all 50 panels to ensure the best possible discussion for viewers leading to a number of them being used for educational and industry case studies.
In overseeing marketing for the convention, I targeted three audience segments of focus: existing convention patrons, industry insiders, and to the talent themselves.
For marketing to talent (for purposes of booking), I had produced personalized welcome video invite packages with comprehensive plans for promoting their appearances.
Here is a sample list of the 100+ panels I produced for the series.
Join Limited Run Games CEO Josh Fairhurst and COO Doug Bogart of acclaimed indie publisher LRG as they discuss how they forever shaped the gaming landscape and reinvented the distribution model for physical media.
The Legend of Zelda: The Past 35 Years
Join a distinguished group of Zelda creators as they discuss the cultural and emotional impacts of the beloved series.
The Artistic Magnificence of Nintendo Power
Join historian Stephan Reese of The Art of Nintendo Power in discussing the artistic wonders found in Nintendo Power
ONLYFANS and The New Icons Succeeding in Gaming’s New Frontier
Join some of the most influential gaming and geek-culture creators on OnlyFans on how the platform has transformed the gaming industry and how they are pioneering this new medium
True Blind Gaming: True Inspiration
Blind gamer and Zelda completionist Terry Garrett discusses his remarkable journey in overcoming the odds to become one of the premier Zelda “let’s play-ers”
Amiibo: The Beginnings, The Now and The Future for Nintendo
Join NintendoWire Editor in Chief Jason Ganos and Nintendo Ambassador Ganda Kris in discussing the early inklings of the toys-to-life platform and how it both highlights Nintendo’s creative past and future.
Portugal: The Alternate History of Video Game History
While the majority of the gaming industry worldwide saw the Nintendo and Playstation brands succeed, the Portuguese market saw them fail. Join the top retro gaming content creator in Portugal, St1ka, as he presents this alternate reality of gaming’s past.
Life on (Sega) Saturn
He lead Sega to become a leading, dominant brand in the 90s but his decisions for the launch of the Sega Saturn shaped the company’s future forever. ProjectCOE and the SaturnShiro Podcast crew meet with former Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske to speak candidly on the Saturn hardware’s failed launch and why it all made sense at the time.
When Indie Games Become Retro
Indie games rarely get the artistic credit they deserve, despite many key titles’ massive successes. Their lack of physical distribution has many questioning how their preservation will turn out years from now. A distinguished group of leading voices in indie gaming join together to talk their artistic significance and efforts to preserve them.
The Thrill of Resident Evil
Join Kai Morgan, known to fans as InkRibbon as he analyzes what makes the iconic Resident Evil franchise so appealing to fans and beyond.
From Homebrew to Developer
A pioneer in the art of emulation, ModernVintageGamer discusses how he took his background in homebrew development into a budding career in creating the engines that power emulation for retro games on modern hardware.
Working Out & Gaming
Fitness and gaming are two concepts that don’t often go together. A unique group of gaming panelists with different backgrounds in fitness come together to discuss the parallels between the two lifestyles and how they can influence each other’s workout and gaming habits.
Fashion X Gaming
5 Fashion in gaming has come a long way. From the medium’s initial beginnings as a pixel art commodity to becoming a natural extension of gameplay, fashion in gaming has never been as big as it is now. Join in this group of gaming-fashion influencers as they discuss the legitimacy of fashion in gaming.
The Art of Shadaloo
Art Director of Street Fighter The Movie, Randy Vellacot, discusses the unique background and details of what went into creating some of the most iconic set pieces in 90s movie history and of course the creation of what would become an internet meme phenomenon - The Bison Dollar.
The Evolution of Handheld Modding
Modding gameboys is no longer just a hobby, it’s an art. Join the medium’s most notable modder extraordinaire The Retro Future alongside the team behind RetroModding.com in discussing the medium’s history and where it goes from here.
3DO M2: The What If….
Forgotten and abandoned, 3DO’s fabled M2 hardware was meant to be a killer platform in the late 90s but would soon be fated to vaporware. Yet unbeknownst to many, the M2 could have lived on in other successful platforms. Videogame Esoterica discusses the many possibilities of what could have been…
The Importance of Key Frames in 8/16 Bit Animation
Are We Gaming Into Oblivion
Gaming as Therapy
HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER AT THE BEACON
Hiss Golden Messengers brings Americana to the venue that's become mecca for the genre.
KEHLANI AT THE FORUM
Behind the scenes with Kehlani's first appearance at The Forum.
Games Developing Us
Day In the Life of A Modding Company
Preserving Sound of Classic Computers
Obscure Pokemon Media Archiving
How Wrestling Games Effected a Generation
Open Your Eyes to Fitness Gaming
Retro to Gen-Z
Welcome to Vita Island: A Look into the PS Vita’s Incredible Library