For the Fans, By the Fans – The QuakeCon Experience

It’s absolutely sweltering in Dallas, but inside the Hilton Anatole the attendees of QuakeCon 2016 seem unaffected by the heat outside.

This year was my first time experiencing this epic con, and I can honestly say it may be my new favorite show. Now in its twenty-first year, North America’s largest LAN party is a heartfelt love letter to all fans of gaming.

QuakeCon isn’t just for the fans, it’s also by the fans. Every year, dedicated volunteers come together to help stage the entire show. They lay cable in the BYOC, set up the exhibit halls, manage the rowdy show floor and so much more. The show really wouldn’t be possible without them. That’s why Bethesda interviewed these fans to produce a documentary that shines the spotlight on these individuals and what they do every single year to make sure QuakeCon is amazing for everyone attending.

I’ve been to my fair share of conventions over the years – from E3 to the various PAX shows and San Diego Comic Con – but none of them feel anything like QuakeCon. Every single person I met was exceedingly kind and just so damn happy to be there. I honestly can’t think of a single other show I’ve ever been to where I felt so welcome.

The show floor was alive with competition and excitement as folks participated in contests and tried out all the games on offer. The line for the VR section was always overflowing, and people walked away loudly exclaiming things like “I got to pet Dogmeat” and “I seriously felt like the Spider Mastermind was right on top of me!”

Meanwhile The Elder Scrolls: Legends (which is now available for everyone to play for free) and DOOM saw a steady crowd of enthusiastic players. Some were already familiar with these games and took the opportunity to show off to the gathered crowds; others were there to try something new with their fellow con-goers.

From panels and exhibits, to afterhours shows like Master Pancake Theater, there is always something to do. I even spent a good chunk of my time hanging out near the Dallas Pets Alive booth (one of the charities Bethesda partnered with for QuakeCon) so I could play with their adoptable dogs. But the convention takes on a new life starting around midnight. The BYOC area is open 24 hours, and from about midnight until 4am (or maybe later; I’m too old to be up that late) it’s like one big party. It’s here that you really get a sense of the event’s history, thanks to the constant stream of chatter, banter and in-jokes. Some of these people have been coming since QuakeCon began, and for many this year marked a decade since their first started attending.

Age Required

I made my way around the BYOC at about 2am on Saturday night, and though some people had already moved their stuff out of the hall, I could still see the glow of hundreds of monitors. Every couple of rows I would stop to examine someone’s custom rig and get pulled into a friendly conversation about what went into building it, how long that person had been attending and what some of their favorite show moments have been. Everyone I spoke to was more than happy to chat with a QuakeCon beginner and give me the insider’s story.

“You have to try Captain Bawlz.”

“I entered my keyboard in the Dirty Keyboard Contest. I guess I should be happy that I didn’t win.”

“Just wait until you see Shirtless Quake.”

It was an honor to spend a weekend surrounded by this awesome crowd of devoted and enthusiastic gamers, and I’ll definitely be back next year. See you all at QuakeCon 2017. Until then: Peace, love and rockets!

For a look at everything revealed at this year’s QuakeCon, head to: QuakeCon 2016 – News & Updates