What Is SGC?

            Back in the early days of gaming (1980s and 1990s), during a time period where the people who played video games were outsiders, it was tough to meet people who loved video games. It was not because no one played video game, but instead everyone who played video games was afraid to get picked on. This sounds a bit cliché. The nerds getting picked on at school and banished from the “normal” circle, but it is something that happen. Video games were not cool. Fast forward to modern time. Now games are cool, which is a good thing. People proudly go to rooftops and shout-out their love for a geeky past time that some still see juvenile. The gaming pride got so out of control the other side started criticizing our hobby. Comments that flared a fire, “video games are for little kids.”

“Video games are not art.”

“Video games provoke violent behavior.”  

            Okay so maybe our pride got the best of us but we finally get to say, “FUCK YEAH! THE NERDS WON!” So, in order to keep our behavior in check for modern society, we need an event to go bat-shit about an interest we all love. An event to meet people who are just as crazy as you, and who you can go to the rooftop with and shout your love for video games. Enter the ScrewAttack Gaming Convention (SGC).

            SGC is a self-funded convention created by the people at ScrewAttack, a gaming website that is dedicated to a community known as G1s. SGC first launched in 2009 then again in 2010. Then there was a three-year gap of no SGC, leaving hungry gamers with no outlet to release their energy. Then in 2013 ScrewAttack went to their G1 Nation for help to bring SGC to them. They started a Kickstarter collecting their money and their fans money to bring SGC back. The Kickstarter was a success thanks to their fans, allowing them to bring SGC to their fans. Now in 2014 ScrewAttack brings SGC again to Dallas.

            As I walk down the city of Dallas with my SGC badge, with a matching T-shirt, and as I post my excitement for the event on social media, I begin to wonder what I look like to the other side. The side that does not know what SGC is and what it means to the gaming community. To them it might seem like another gaming convention. But SGC is more than just another gaming convention. It is a convention where regular people (like us) who are bat-shit about gaming meet and scream about gaming. Think of us a bunch on teenage girls at a 1D concert.

This is what SGC is…

            Sitting at room where the opening ceremony takes place, you see the ScrewAttack team sit down on the stage, after a heart-warming intro video created by a long-term G1 member (HybridRain). As they introduced themselves we get to the heart of things in understanding what SGC means. Craig opens up talking to all his G1s saying SGC is a gaming party, “It’s so much different than any other event in the entire world not because of us, but because of you. Everybody in this room makes SGC what it is.” The G1 nation cheers as their importance is admired. After announcing things to part take in SGC, the ScrewAttack gang brings it full circle when they showcase a video by Angel Rodriquez (Director of Awesome). Angel attended past SGCs and is known for bringing the energy to the party. Angel stands in front of the camera talking to the audience as if he was actually there. He tells us his reason for not attending and to tag him in everything SGC related, so he can “watch, I can see, and I can feel everything that is going on at SGC.” He continues his inspirational speech telling the G1 Nation to keep the word “inspire” in their minds, and to inspire to do new things. I would be lying if I said his speech did not have a hand on this article. At the end he tells us to join him as he does the SGC hand gesture, and we do, we join him. We raise our hands just as he did and perform the SGC chant. Although his physically body was not there to bring the energy, the G1 Nation can feel his energy from their hearts as they preform the chant, “SGC WOOOOOOO!”

            I stand as I form the hand gesture and chant. A smile sneaks onto my face as I preform the action. A smile of joy as I find the place I know I belong. This is my second time attending SGC, and every time someone asks me what is SGC about I cannot find words to justify for this event. SGC is more than just another gaming convention and it is more than just a gaming party. It almost feels like a family reunion, where you meet family members you never knew you had. It is a convention that brings a community together, so they can all go to the rooftops and shout their love for gaming. It is a convention that insures us we are not alone.