Satisfy your gaming lust at ECCC

27 FEBRUARY 2017

Did you watch The Walking Dead last night? If so, did you feel a surge of childhood nostalgia when Eugene was gaming away on an Atari? I know I did - partly because the way he was hunched over in front of a small TV looked so authentic, unlike when I played Space Invaders in a bar last month.

Well, guess what. Emerald City Comicon understands your polygaming appetites, and they are prepared to cater to them. Here are just a few of your options this week in Seattle:

• Board games - new and old, courtesy of the ECCC Lending Library
• Tabletop and card game tournaments - and demos for beginners
• Various gaming panels (but you knew that)
• Raffles to win games
• The Unpublished Board Game Playtesting program
• An Indie Games Showcase
• Dungeons and Dragons (also briefly floated in TWD last night)
• Pathfinder Society game events
• "Classic" Role Playing Games
• Pinball and arcade games, from 1980s-2017
• Social Deduction gaming
• Gaming After Dark (photo ID required)

And - I'm giving this more of a description because it's more multifacted - Living Computers: Museums and Labs will feature the making of video games, along with AI, virtual reality, IoT, robots, and other fascinating attractions.

If your typical gaming nights are with your friends in someone's living room, it's always fun to play against strangers - especially smart ones. You might even pick up new tricks and skills to take back home. So put gaming on your Emerald City dance card, and prepare to show off your chops.

Play Call of Duty with Seattle Seahawks at ECCC

26 FEBRUARY 2016

If you're a Call of Duty warrior - or a football fan - you may want to buy one of the last remaining Thursday tickets for Emerald City Comicon. Why? Because you might get to play Seattle Seahawks stars Bobby Wagner and Richard Sherman in the ECCC Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Open.

6 players will win a spot on their teams in the championship round. To get there, you'll first need to reserve your spot for the qualifiers. Sign-ups open on 8 March. The actual qualifiers happen on Thursday, 7 April from 2-4 pm (and will be livestreamed on one of the ECCC channels, so don't be camera shy.) From there the 6 chosen players will participate in the championship round from 4:30 - 5:00 pm with Sherman and Wagner.

As Comic Con stories go, that should be a pretty classic one to dine out on. I know a lot of gamers say Call of Duty requires no real skill but I'm guessing many of you will be furiously practicing anyhow throughout March. Good luck.

Smash Bros 3DS Tournament & Nintendo Cosplay

7 JULY 2015




In addition to their Pokemon Tournament, NintenDiego is hosting another SDCC event: a Smash Bros 3DS Tournament and Nintendo Cosplay Contest. 

This one's a little different from the Pokémon tournament, which takes place at GameStop and is all ages. This will take place at Mission Brewery (adults only) and will feature two contests with prizes, courtesy of Pixelated Geek:


1. Nintendo Cosplay Contest. Wear a Nintendo-themed costume and you could win a prize in one of several categories.
2. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS Tournament. You'll need to bring your own copy of Super Smash Bros for 3DS - and it must be patched and up to date.

 This will take place Saturday night at 8 pm. If you're not familiar with Mission Brewery, it's on the corner of 14th and L Street. The bar is also hosting Super Video Game Land the night before on Friday.

 

What you should know about Gam3rCon

20 JUNE 2015

If you're a serious gamer, you're probably anxiously awaiting SDCC's announcement of the gaming tracks - the tournaments, board games, MTG, D&D, video demos, the Nintendo and Xbox Lounges. All of which is very enticing, no doubt. But if you want to take advantage of every gaming opportunity during Comic-Con - or you just have a free day - you will definitely want to look at Gam3rCon.

It runs during SDCC at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center, so it's very accessible - and because it runs until midnight every night, you can always do the Con during the day and Gam3rCon at night.

If you go, you'll find four floors of the following:

Tabletop gaming
Video games
Tournaments (cash prize and not)
Gaming Demos
A Retrocade with old Nintendo, Sega, Atari
Workshops
Gaming-themed Art Exhibits
Panels
Live Theatre
Movie screenings
Comedy shows
Rooftop parties
Cosplay
Happy Hours

That gives you an idea of why you'll want to visit - so here's another. You can still buy tickets now and you can navigate the entire experience without the ridiculous lines of SDCC. Week passes are $60, day passes $20.

First-timers, it should be obvious by now that official SDCC programming is only half the story. The outside events and activities are often just as compelling. You could make the decision to keep it simple and just focus on Comic-Con; there's nothing wrong with that. But if you are a dedicated gamer or simply want something fun and nerdy to fill your nights, you really should give Gam3rCon a shot.

Book a Fan Meeting Room now

17 JUNE 2015




How exciting - Comic-Con has grown. Not in numbers (god forbid) but in the venues and opportunities open to fans. And one of the changes helps attendees create the Con they want to be at - the introduction of Fan Meeting Rooms.

These are over at the Hyatt and you can schedule a session in one of them by emailing programs@comic-con.org. Include your first, second and third options for time and date and they'll send you an email confirmation if you get in. These could obviously be great for setting up a fan meetup or some other kind of mingle, especially if you don't see your particularly fandom represented yet in or out of the convention center. So don't wait - these will probably book up fast.

A few other changes:

• Marriott Marquis did away with some of our old stomping grounds, so a lot of external resources are at the Hyatt now. That includes the Hospitality Suite, the International Film Festival, most gaming tournaments, one of the main film tracks, and....

• The Fulfillment Room, now called Programming Premiums. First-timers, this is where you'll go to pick up the free t-shirts and other swag certain panels will bestow on you. These range from cheap trinkets to really generous merchandise packs.

• The San Diego Central Library will have 2 programming tracks - one devoted to education and literacy and one devoted to podcasts and web series.

It can't be denied that SDCC is starting to look like the alternative suggested when the expansion financing got shot down - an event that sprawls over multiple city blocks and venues. It might not be as convenient as having all programming on site, but it shouldn't be too much of a hardship either. Just be ready - as always - to do a lot of walking.

Mental health support at Comic-Con

5 JUNE 2015

"The idea of 'Nobody would miss me if I'm gone' is a pervasive one in our community."

Every year you'll see a smattering of self-care tips shared across the blogosphere right before San Diego Comic-Con. From what shoes to wear to avoiding the Con flu, everyone's full of advice on getting through what admittedly is an arduous 4-5 days. I myself am brimming with guidance. But there's one topic not too many of us talk about and that's protecting our mental health at Comic-Con.

Phoenix Comicon had an interesting panel on navigating the Con for attendees who are bipolar, borderline, struggling with depression or anxiety disorders or dealing with any other challenge. I thought it was a great idea. Consider how difficult the Con can be for anyone in terms of:

• Sharing a room with multiple people, one of whom might be loud, messy, inconsiderate, etc.
• Being surrounded by massive crowds in every direction
• Having to sit or stand in one spot for hours at a time
• The crushing disappointment of missing the celebrity or collectible that was your #1 priority
• Being tired from travel and out of sorts from too much heavy restaurant food
• Getting sore and grumpy from walking more than you anticipated
• The bombastic noise and dazzle of the Exhibit Hall and the vendors and protestors shouting outside

Comic-Con can fray anyone's nerves. Now add in a mental illness or other struggle and it's easy to see why any Con - exciting and fulfilling though it might be - can act as one giant stressor. Or simply increase a sense of emotional isolation.

Some Cons like Emerald City have offered quiet rooms to help attendees cope with panic attacks or mental overload; now we know SDCC could have some of the same thanks to IGN and Take This, a nonprofit group that addresses mental health issues in the gaming community. They will host AFK rooms at various Cons to give people a break from the sensory storm that is your typical Comic-Con and help them manage their stress levels.

This is good news for anyone who tends to get overwhelmed at Cons. Whether you get anxious in crowds, are sensitive to light and noise, or have an illness you're managing, a quiet room can be a welcome haven. If you've never been to a major Con before, I don't want to imply that they're pure screaming chaos; the amount of stimulation depends on where you are. Some attendees (like me) actually thrive on the crowds and energy. But having the option to duck out of it for a bit is a safety net for attendees who want some control over their environment.

As a result of their partnership with IGN, Take This is also making a documentary about mental illness in the gaming community, which will be out later this year. "The idea of 'Nobody would miss me if I'm gone' is a pervasive one in our community," the trailer says; a reminder for all of us that while attendees bring different issues and needs to the Con, we are one community - and ideally we can offer the right resources to ensure every attendee feels safe and supported.

ETA: Take This will be participating in SDCC in some way, but not necessarily with an AFK room. Stay tuned.

The SDCC Daily

5 JUNE 2015

Today wasn't the most exciting day but it wasn't devoid of news entirely. Let's see what we have.


First off, CCI shared a glimpse of Jim Lee's art in their gallery show. They promise to share more art previews leading up to the 20 June opening. My question: will there be an official SDCC t-shirt with some of the gallery art? It seems like there should be, given how proud CCI is of this show.

This is probably my favorite collectible so far: a Doctor Strange box set designed like the Book of Vishanti. Inside are Strange, Dormammu, Brother Voodoo, Magik and Hela. Unfortunately we have to navigate the hellish rituals of Hasbro to get our hands on it. "But maybe Hasbro will be better this year," an optimist might say. To which I say: doubt it.

If you're breathlessly awaiting the next Batman v Superman trailer, the current prediction is that it will be attached to Star Wars in December - with a special teaser for the Con.

Speaking of Star Wars, how badly do we all want to play Star Wars: Uprising? We know Star Wars: Battlefront will be showcased at E3 week after next, so let's hope we can get some kind of Star Wars gaming peeks at SDCC.

The Zombie Walk driver will stand trial for last summer's accident.

We may not get yesterday's R2-D2 refrigerator, but we will have a shot at getting this jumbo R2-D2 from Gentle Giant.

We'll also get this Big Bang Theory collectible from Entertainment Earth.

Mission Brewery is hosting Super Video Game Land on Friday, 10 July from 6 pm - midnight. This isn't "just" a gaming event - though plenty of classic games will be available for play - but will also have game artwork and arcade music.

We finally got some Fear The Walking Dead images that weren't just Robert Kirkman scratching his beard on set. And they're... kind of boring. This article goes into the various family relationships and dynamics that will apparently drive the story but I'm hoping they're just saving the apocalyptic thrill kill chaos for an incredibly mindblowing SDCC panel.

And of course some of the biggest news that rolled out today: Marvel is doing a massive relaunch this fall to the tune of 55-60 titles. Officially called "All-New, All-Different Marvel" (hyphens theirs), the relaunch hasn't offered up much detail yet which means we'll probably get a few promotional panels dropped on us at the Con. A special 64-page Previews is supposed to be in comic stores 1 July.

Orphan Black & X-Files games coming out in July

20 MARCH 2015
 

                                                      courtesy of Hollywood Reporter

Happy spring, everyone - especially you beleaguered Northeasterners who've had such a hellish winter. (I grew up there and remember it well; now I have a palm tree in my front yard and I send you my sympathies.)

If you're eagerly awaiting announcements on the kind of exciting toys you can buy at SDCC, well, we haven't seen many official items yet. BUT we did get some interesting news from IDW Games this week on nerdy items they're releasing in July. Will these be at San Diego Comic-Con? They didn't say - but the marketing team would be squandering a golden opportunity if not.


X-Files Board Game

This will be drawn "from the first years" of the show, which I hope means we get Flukeman, Eugene Tooms and Leonard, the little twin from Humbug. It's designed by Arkham Horror's Kevin Wilson with art direction from menton3, who's been involved with the X-Files comic book. Apparently you can play Scully or Mulder, but let's hope you can be other characters as well because I know we all want to be Cigarette Smoking Man.


Orphan Black: The Card Game

Everyone's favorite clone show recently became a comic book; now it's going to be a game as well. Players in the card game can join up with the Proletheans, the Bird Watchers or the Neolutionists. A big-box tabletop game will come out further down the line.


IDW is also coming out with Kill Shakespeare and 30 Days of Night games this spring, and The Godfather card game will be out in August. In other words, there needs to be a Comic-Con tournament.

Nerd HQ tickets on sale today

19 JULY 2014

At long last, tickets are going on sale today at noon PST for Nerd HQ. Back in Petco Park all four days of the Con, Nerd HQ is mostly free but tickets for panels are $22; by participating, you'll help support Operation Smile. This year the panel series “Conversations for a Cause” will have Norman Reedus, Evangeline Lily, Jared Padalecki, Adam Baldwin, Andrew Lincoln, Jeff Bridges, Brenton Thwaites and cast appearances by The Walking Dead, The Giver, and many more.

There's also a dance party Thursday night and a ton of gaming and new tech to dive into:

• SEGA will showcase Alien: Isolation, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA and two titles under the new Sonic Boom franchise – Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for the Wii U system and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system. Fans will be able to play demos of each title.

• Maker Studios will have an exclusive stage for performances and panel discussions from various partners including Dodger, Stampylonghead, JonTron, Markiplier, Jesse Cox, The Game Grumps, CaptainSparklez, and Ninja Sex Party, with appearances by KassemG and Amy Pham.

• Intel will show off a variety of tech toys and activities. Attendees can create custom green-screen photos with Intel-based tablets, enter for a chance to win over $40,000 of prizes and try the first modern digital version of The Settlers of Catan board game.

• Finally, Facebook will unveil a new activation; the innovative Facebook Fan Question Station. Comments from the Nerd Machine Page will be sourced and the Facebook Fan Question Stationwill randomly select fan questions for talent to answer in the NerdHQ green room.

Don't forget to get the Nerd HQ App to help you organize all of this. It will provide the schedule of “Conversations for a Cause,” Maker Stage events, parties, maps, and more.

You can get tickets here.

Gamer's guide to Comic-Con

18 JULY 2014

Today CCI published their gaming schedules, from board games to video gaming to D&D to Magic: The Gathering and more. I'm always grateful for these tournaments because they keep a high number of people absorbed and out of the panels. But if you're a gamer who would rather wander around and see what's afoot, there's a lot going on this year. That goes for experienced gamer fanatics and the mildly interested.

Every single thing listed here is free and open to anyone with a badge - except Gam3rCon.


Exhibit Hall and Panels

Nintendo will have a booth at the San Diego Convention Center dedicated entirely to Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Tetsuya Nomura and Hideo Kojima will be signing autographs - but you have to buy a Play Arts Kai Figure at the Square Enix booth, #3829.

The Witcher fans get to see a brand new live 30 minute demo on Thursday.

Microsoft is bringing several panels, including a first look at Halo:Nightfall on Thursday at 11:45 am and Friday at 10:15 am, both in 6BCF, and a panel on Sunset Overdrive on Thursday at 5 pm in 5AB.

The documentary Atari: Game Over will be shown Friday at 3:30 in 5AB.

Battlefield Hardline panel will be discussed on Friday I room 5AB at 2:30.

Bioware will host a panel on Mass Effect 4 on Saturday at 2:00.

New details will be revealed about Tekken 7 at the Bandai Namco panel.

Ubisoft will show off a new demo for Assassin's Creed Unity.



Xbox Lounge (Hyatt)

Besides playing on the Major League Gaming main stage, you can have your pick of dozens of games, including Evolve, Forza Horizon 2, Super Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix, The Evil Within, The Crew, and Project Spark.

And don't forget this contest.


Nintendo Gaming Lounge (Marriott)

They will host a Smash Bros tournament, this one for the 3DS version. You can register on site starting Friday the 25th, but space is limited. You'll also get time with upcoming 2014 games like Hyrule Warriors, Bayonetta 2 and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker - and much of it will be streamed on Twitch.  Find out more here.


     

Nerd HQ

SEGA.will have on hand Alien: Isolation, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd and two titles under the new Sonic Boom franchise – Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for the Wii U system and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system. This is the first time fans will be able to play demos of each title. The gaming gallery will have the first modern digital version of The Settlers of Catan board game, Catan Anytime.


Events

"Bayonetta: Bloody Fate" from FUNimation Entertainment will be screened Friday at 9:35 p.m. PT in Marriott Hall Room 4 at the Marriott Marquis & Marina hotel.

The Assassin's Creed Experience will give out free t-shirts to anyone who survives their obstacle course by the Hilton Gaslamp.

The PIXELS Electric Dreams Factory Arcade is at the Hard Rock Hotel and has retro video games available.

Square Enix and Deep Silver are hosting an arcade (open to the public) at the Whiskey Girl from 11 am Friday to 2 am Saturday. You'll see a bunch of upcoming titles, including Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and multiplayer title Nosgoth and the Hitman Go and Hitman: Sniper mobile games, as well as Escape Dead Island, Metro Redux and action RPG Sacred 3.

Nerdist is hosting Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel-themed laser tag on the top floor of Petco Park. 3 games will run per hour, with 50 people each, and it's free - but people with a badge get priority access.

Gam3rCon, unlike everything else here, is not free - but it's not that pricey either. $20 for a day or $50 for the whole thing. And while that gives you panels on games in addition to demos and play, you also get parties, bands, and other events.

 

Win an Xbox One at SDCC

18 JULY 2014

Here are two contests that should get you in the mood for Comic-Con.

Contest #1: Xbox is giving away 20 custom, collectible consoles at the Xbox Gaming Lounge (Hyatt). How to win? Take a picture of your favorite one and tweet it with the hashtags #XboxOne and #XboxSweeps (and of course follow @Xbox.) Winner gets a custom Xbox One.

Contest #2: Nerdist is giving away a Nerdist collectible Xbox One console. This one's a little trickier - follow @Xbox on Twitter and watch for a "very special tweet with more info." Retweeting it gets you into the running.

I'll have my guide for gamers up this weekend. There is a lot going on this year for games, so be ready.

First look at outside attractions

9 JULY 2014



10 years ago, when you left the convention center, you were mainly accosted by people handing out postcards for their store sales and club parties. Sometimes there would be a promotional set-up on the grass but for the most part any events and attractions took place at a venue somewhere.

Not anymore; now there are tons of things to do all over the area, whether it's going through a funhouse in the Petco Park parking lot, boarding a pirate ship, having your face painted like a superhero or getting your picture taken as you sit in the Iron Throne. Last year was really good in this regard and I'm sorry I missed so many of the possibilities. Learn from my experience; while you calculate how much time it's worth to stand in line for a panel, remember everything else you're giving up. Instead of waiting 4 hours to see a 50 minute panel, you could be strolling around and crossing off 3 different things on your wish list.

At any rate, CCI has listed a few we can expect and they sound just as tantalizing as last year's:

• Homer's Dome outside the Hilton Bayfront
• Godzilla Display behind the convention center next to the 5th Ave pier & ferry landing (hopefully this will be as good as last summer's Godzilla experience, in which he stomped past your building)
• The Adventure Time Conquest Fulfillment Center across from Children's Museum
• Game of Thrones: Survive the Realm Experience at the Omni Gallery
• The NBC Experience at Gaslamp Square - okay, they could have picked a more enticing title for that
• The Assassin's Creed Experience next to the Hilton Gaslamp
• Sony's Pixels Arcade at the Hard Rock Hotel

And of course the Nintendo Video Game Lounge is at the Marriott and Xbox Lounge is at the Hyatt. I'll post more details on those when I cover gaming at the Con.

Obviously the Game of Thrones one is going to have an insane line, so do it sooner rather than later; that's good advice in general when it comes to these things. Often word spreads throughout the Con, so that the lines get longer each day for them.

Kinect Sports Rivals finals will be at Comic-Con

27 JUNE 2014

If you've been following the Kinect Sports Rivals World Championship, you know it launched across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, the U.K., France and Germany in April. Microsoft calls this "the first ever global competition in a motion-controlled sports game" - and now the finals will be taking place at San Diego Comic-Con. 

 

Microsoft is flying the 11 finalists to San Diego. Prizes range from $500 - $10K and a trip to Bora Bora, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu or the Swiss Alps. What a worldly contest.

If you're interested in spectating this great gaming event, it's happening in the Xbox Gamers Lounge at the Hyatt from 11 am - 8 pm on Saturday the 26th.

 

 

Comic-Con for gamers

15 JULY 2013



This weekend CCI posted their Gaming schedule, which includes everything from video games to board games to rpgs. Magic: The Gathering, D&D, it's all there. But there's lots of other stuff going on in and around the Con for gamers of all levels and interests.

Such as:

PS4 and Xbox One will both be playable in the Exhibit Hall, offering the first opportunity to test out the revamped Xbox One controller and the DualShock4 controller.

Gam3rCon  will set you back $16-$45 but is pretty much like gamer heaven, so kind of worth it.

Break Invaders will be at Dick's Last Resort (345 4th Ave) with classic arcades and gaming competitions. Thursday the 18th from 11 am - 5 pm and 7 pm - 2 am; then again on Friday from 11 am - 5 pm. Free, except for whatever you order off the menu.

Team Shifty and Pac-Man Project Gaming Event offers freeplay arcade, live-streaming stage, cartoon and gaming demos. Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, 401 K Street. Also free.

XBox Gaming Lounge at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, Manchester Ballroom is free and has games from 2K Games, Capcom, Disney Interactive, Konami, Ubisoft and Warner Brothers Interactive. You do need a SDCC badge to get into this.

Ditto the Nintendo Gaming Lounge at the Marriott Marquis.

Assassin’s Creed IV Pirate Ship will be available Friday and Saturday, 10 am - 7 pm, behind the convention center. Ubisoft is hosting a ton of other events too.

Mad Cats Unveiled is 8:00 at Reuben H. Fleet Science Center at 1875 El Prado, with live gaming exhibitions on IMAX screen and pre-release titles. $50 to get in.

If you know of any others, drop me a message.

Ubisoft games, panels and events

3 JULY 2013


Are you dying for some gamer news? Fear not - Ubisoft has a major presence planned for the Con, a presence so intense that you could even call it an onslaught. It also has events for gamers who don't have a Comic Con badge. I admire their inclusiveness even as I dread the idea of more people pouring into the area.

Watch Dogs - never-before-released footage showcasing game protagonist Aiden Pearce's hacking prowess in a fully connected recreation of Chicago will be shown. If you pre-order Watch Dogs from Amazon, you get a free t-shirt.

Rayman Legends - for those of you who aren't going to Comic Con, and so probably aren't reading this, you're invited to the Xbox Gaming Lounge at Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel OR the Nintendo Gaming Lounge at the San Diego Marriott Marquis. Inside the Con, you can test it out at the Gamespot booth.

The Jackdaw, Black Flag's ship, will be docked at the 5th Avenue Landing behind the Con. Three levels will be open to the public on July 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.;  attendees will experience a new single-player demo and get hands-on time with the multiplayer and Game Lab. Todd McFarlane will be on board July 19 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and July 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. signing an exclusive Assassin’s Creed poster and showing off the new McFarlane Toys’ Assassin’s Creed figure line and resin statue. There will also be a live weapon demonstration from noted pirate weapon historian Mike Loades. Gamers who pre-order Black Flag will receive a free t-shirt while supplies last. 

On July 20, there's a free concert at the San Diego Civic Center, brought to you by Amazon Video Games and Assassin’s Creed. The concert will be open to all – no Comic Con badge necessary. You might be asking what bands are playing. So am I. 

Onto panels:

South Park: The Stick of Truth, Thursday, July 18, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. room 6BCF: The creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, will discuss their upcoming South Park videogame, South Park: The Stick of Truth. Parker and Stone will talk role playing games, their vision for an interactive South Park adventure, and creating The Stick of Truth, the epic quest to become… cool.

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, Friday, July 19 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. room 6BCF: Featuring a live demo and in-depth look at the Golden Age of Pirates, meet and ask questions to the current torchbearers for the Assassin’s Creed franchise including Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag writer Darby McDevitt, comic book writer Brenden Fletcher and legendary comic book artist Todd McFarlane

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist, Friday, July 19, from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. room 23ABC: Ubisoft Toronto’s Creative Director Maxime Beland, Game Director Patrick Redding, and Art Director Scott Lee will provide an in-depth look at Sam Fisher and his latest, most thrilling mission to date. Comic Writer Nathan Edmondson will also provide details on the companion comic, Splinter Cell Echoes

Watch Dogs Saturday, July 20 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. room 23ABC:  Aiden Pearce, the protagonist in Watch Dogs is a tech-savvy modern-day vigilante who can hack the infrastructure of Chicago at a moment’s notice. But just how realistic are Aiden’s abilities? Hosted by Aisha Tyler, panelists will include security consultants from Kaspersky Lab® to talk about hyper-connectivity and the realities of how secure we really are. Kevin Shortt, lead story designer, will explain what it’s like writing for a next-generation game, as well as unveiling never-before-seen footage.

Learn more here.