Swancon 2016 @ Pan Pacific Hotel,

Timetable | Tags | People

Thursday

Art Show Registration and Traders
Desiree Heald
Venue: Centre Ballroom (Traders and Art Show)
Tags:
Ends: 18:30

17:00

Dinner
Ends: 18:30

Events Continuing at 17:00

Art Show Registration and Traders From 16:00 until 18:30

18:30

Opening Ceremony
PRK , Evan Beasley, Jack Bridges, Jane Espenson, Lian Hearn, Laura Hodge, Samara Morgan, Michael O'Brien, Fe Waters, Frames White, Isobel White
Venue: South Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tag: Core
Ends: 19:00

We officially open SWANCON 2016! Welcome!

Professor Len Collard will be facilitating our welcome to country.
Prof. Collard is a Whadjuk Ballardong Nyungar man with an interest in Australian Indigenous language and place names. As an ARC Chief Investigator with the School of Indigenous Studies at UWA, his groundbreaking theoretical work has put Nyungar cultural research on the local, national and international stages.

Open console gaming
Adam McCaw
Venue: Pilbara (Video Gaming Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, interactive, Video Games
Ends: 23:30

Come play some consoles! Try new games, play with friends or catch up on a game you haven’t finished yet.

19:00

Meet the AV Guy
Andy Hahn
Venue: Hamersley North (Small Panel Room)
Tags:
Ends: 19:30

Attention Swancon panelists, this session has been allotted for you to come and check out the standard A/V setup of your panel room. Should you require to test your devices, now is the time! Your friendly A/V Guy, Andy Hahn, will be available to chat to if you have any questions or requests.
It will continue directly into Moderating the Moderators

Hitch Hiker's Guide to Swancon
PRK , Naomi Butcher, Michael Cogan, Chris Coman, Kim Fenwick, Owen Godfrey, Brian Johnson, Damian Magee
Venue: Hamersley South (Discussion Room)
Tag: a launch in five parts
Ends: 19:30

#ALaunchInFiveParts – This is the story of that terrible stupid Contastrophe and some of its Consequences. It’s also the story of a Con Book, a Con Book called The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to Swancon.

A series of short “from book” performances, and a welcome to Swancon, for new and old members alike. Come along and get your Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster On.

Undead dilemmas
Jessica Davey
Venue: South Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, presentation, Academic, AdultsOnly
Ends: 20:00

Death comes! What happens to a body after death? Fiction has a history of reanimation, vampires, zombies, ghouls and Frankenstein’s monster. The human body isn’t designed to continue beyond expiration so what environmental challenges would these fictional beings have to contend with? What affects Australian corpses in particular? Full abstract is online at https://2016.swancon.com.au/content/article/60

Z-Z-Z-Zenith
Kitty Byrne, Dave Cake, John Parker
Venue: North Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Comics, panel, ExportMe
Ends: 20:00

Or Grant Morrison’s most insane superhero story (And that’s saying something!)
In 1987 no-one expected 2000AD’s first serious superhero to come out of the gates quite like it did. A rock star lead hero (literally signed up by Stock Aitken and Waterman) fighting Cthuloid Ubermench leftovers from perverse Nazi Science, Evil versions of Richard Branson and horrors from beyond the stars (Or are they?) aided by people like a super powered Tory MP and an Aceeed fuelled Robot riding a technicoloured Dinosaur!

Art Show Registration and Late Night Trading

Venue: Centre Ballroom (Traders and Art Show)
Tags:
Ends: 21:00

Events Continuing at 19:00

Open console gaming From 18:30 until 23:30

19:30

Safe Spaces
Maia Bobrowicz, Andy Hahn
Venue: Hamersley South (Discussion Room)
Tags: Core, discussion, Does Not Need Moderator, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, ExportMe, Round table
Ends: 20:00

This discussion is on how to have a good, and safe, time at swancon.
Attendance is expected from all :-) people who are at the Con.

Moderating the Moderators
Frames White
Venue: Hamersley North (Small Panel Room)
Tags:
Ends: 20:00

We run down what moderators should be doing. If you are a moderator, attendance is strongly advised; particularly if you have never been to this program item before.

This is a closed program item is only open to moderators and panelists.

Events Continuing at 19:30

Undead dilemmas From 19:00 until 20:00
Z-Z-Z-Zenith From 19:00 until 20:00
Open console gaming From 18:30 until 23:30
Art Show Registration and Late Night Trading From 19:00 until 21:00

20:00

Why You should run Swancon 2018
Chris Coman, Stephen Griffiths
Venue: Hamersley South (Discussion Room)
Tags: discussion, Does Not Need Moderator, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, ExportMe, Fandom/Conrunning, Round table
Ends: 21:00

Running a Swancon is a good idea.
Recently we have had very few (read no) bids to run.
Why you should not be scared to bid, and the great fun running swancon can be,
Ideally the outcome of this discussion is a skeleton of two competing bids

Crime Fighting Flies
Ellora Ker
Venue: Hamersley North (Small Panel Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, presentation, Academic
Ends: 20:30

How the great Australian pest is an important resource in crime investigation. The first documented use of entomology (the study of insects) in a forensic setting was in China in the 13th century, when farmers were instructed to lay down their scythes, revealing a murderer by the attraction of flies to their bloodied blade. In the last few decades forensic entomology has developed into an important tool in crime scene analysis. Applications range from the determination of the time since death to detecting the movement of the body, to an analysis of chemicals in a body. Forensic entomology is also applied in cases of food contamination, and in animal or human abuse or neglect situations. Our pesky fellow Aussies can be more helpful than hindrance. Full abstract is online at https://2016.swancon.com.au/content/article/60

Fantasy that is not Western European
PRK , Prema Arasu, Kitty Byrne, Demelza Carlton, Lian Hearn
Venue: North Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Fantasy, panel, ExportMe
Ends: 21:00

European Fantasy is actually just Western European. Lets talk Eastern European, as well as all other continents/cultures fantasy.

Does Art Make the Game
Eeshwar , Michael Cogan, Michael O'Brien, Ian O'Toole, Fe Waters
Venue: South Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Art, Gaming
Ends: 21:00

We talk about the importance
(or lack) of good art in a games. Where art falls into the design process.
How its use in boardgames differs form RPGs — and art in general

Moderator: Fe Waters

Events Continuing at 20:00

Open console gaming From 18:30 until 23:30
Art Show Registration and Late Night Trading From 19:00 until 21:00

20:30

Let's talk about boobs, baby.
Anna Hepworth
Venue: Hamersley North (Small Panel Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, presentation, Academic
Ends: 21:00

A rambling discussion of the biology and chemistry of human lactation, not limited to looking at cells in human milk, gene expression, micro RNA and other funky things. Full abstract is online at https://2016.swancon.com.au/content/article/60

Events Continuing at 20:30

Why You should run Swancon 2018 From 20:00 until 21:00
Fantasy that is not Western European From 20:00 until 21:00
Open console gaming From 18:30 until 23:30
Does Art Make the Game From 20:00 until 21:00
Art Show Registration and Late Night Trading From 19:00 until 21:00

21:00

What does a Day at Work look like for me?
Jane Espenson, Rebecca Handcock, Lian Hearn, Michael O'Brien
Venue: North Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Creative Works, Fandom/Conrunning, Gaming, TV/Movies, Written Fiction
Ends: 22:00

Hear what a day of work as a RPG/TV/Book Writer/Producer looks like; and the rest of our panellists jobs.

Moderator: Rebecca Handcock

Ch-ch-ch-changeling - The Many Faces of Bowie
Tom Eitelhuber
Venue: South Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, ExportMe, presentation, Loud, Music
Ends: 22:00

David Bowie died earlier this year. During his life Bowie was relentlessly creative, working in music, film and other media in a career spanning almost 50 years. Invented characters like Ziggy Stardust have played a fascinating role in Bowie’s output, as he told their stories through concept albums and portrayed them in music videos. Take a brief chronological tour through Bowie’s musical career, with a focus on some of the wonderful masks that were worn by this ever-changing artist.

Discuss: Attracting and Keeping New Members
Doug Burbidge
Venue: Hamersley South (Discussion Room)
Tags: discussion, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, ExportMe, Fandom/Conrunning, Round table
Ends: 22:00

How can we get people who’ve never come to Swancon to come to Swancon?
Swancon’s not exactly low on numbers, but more is always better.
How can we get them, and make them stay even when they are not getting first timer perks?
Let’s brainstorm.
Moderator: Doug Burbidge

New Epics: Deeper Plots, Greater Magics
Jake Alexander, Chris Coman
Venue: Hamersley North (Small Panel Room)
Tags:
Ends: 22:00

This is the coolest new SF*F you must read now today already OK?
This panel will focus on the work of Brandon Sanderon, Brent Weeks, and Patrick Rothfuss; it may touch on others.

Events Continuing at 21:00

Open console gaming From 18:30 until 23:30

22:00

Beefcake The Fourth!
Kitty Byrne
Venue: South Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, ExportMe, presentation, AdultsOnly
Ends: 23:30

That’s right, it’s here again! Come along to laugh, drink, and — of course — spend a little time ogling the man candy on offer. 18+ only.

Adult Themes Trailer Park
Lex Burke, David Gunn
Venue: North Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: ExportMe, Horror, panel, AdultsOnly, Loud
Ends: 23:00

What is the best Horror, and otherwise not child friendly, films coming out in the next few years?

Events Continuing at 22:00

Open console gaming From 18:30 until 23:30

10:00

There is no shame in enjoying Paranormal Romance
Sue Ackermann, Shona Husk, Rebecca Laffar-Smith, Katherine McFarlane
Venue: North Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Fantasy, Does Not Need Moderator, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, ExportMe
Ends: 11:00

We all have our guilty and not so guilty pleasures. Is it even worth drawing a line between paranormal romance and urban fantasy?
Moderator: Susan Ackermann

Discuss: How to Sort your Library
Sally Beasley
Venue: Hamersley South (Discussion Room)
Tags: discussion, Does Not Need Moderator, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, ExportMe, Written Fiction, Round table
Ends: 11:00

Alphabetically? By size? What do you do with series with multiple authors?
Moderator: Sally Beasley

Collaborative Storytelling Games
Leonard Goulds, Rob Masters, Adrian Smith, Leece Smith
Venue: Hamersley North (Small Panel Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, ExportMe, Gaming, panel, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters
Ends: 11:00

Explore storytelling games/RPGs like Fiasco, Microscope and Once Upon A Time, as a movement in gaming and as writing tools.

Martial Arts and Martial Characters in SpecFic
PRK , Jane Espenson, Lian Hearn, Susanna Rogers
Venue: South Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Fantasy, panel, Scifi, ExportMe
Ends: 11:00

Plenty of our favorite shows, books and comics have characters that are martial artists. We talk about characters the fight, and have a fighting mindset.
How realistic are they, and why do we like them.

Moderator: PRK

Mash up Comics
Margaret Watts
Venue: Boardroom (Family Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, interactive, Family
Ends: 11:00

Can Green Lantern escape from Better Homes and Gardens? What is Black Widow doing in Woman’s Day?

Hyrule warriors

Venue: Pilbara (Video Gaming Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, interactive, Video Games
Ends: 13:00

Play as characters from the Legend of Zelda games. Fight against endless hordes of foes and special bosses to reclaim Hyrule from an evil dark power. This game is variant on the Dynasty warriors games

Credo Playtest
Michael O'Brien
Venue: Goldsworthy (Gaming Room)
Tag: Gaming
Ends: 13:00

A playtest session of the new edition of Credo, the Game of Dueling Dogmas. This is a card game simulation of the Council of Nicaea.
Space for 4 participants. Sign up in the games room, to hold your place.

Traders and Art Show

Venue: Centre Ballroom (Traders and Art Show)
Tags:
Ends: 13:00

11:00

What makes a Good Game Start?
Tash Maitland, Damon Ross, Daniel Ryba
Venue: Hamersley North (Small Panel Room)
Tags: ExportMe, Gaming, panel, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters
Ends: 12:00

So many problems with a “bad” game can be traced back to the very start — character generation and the first session — or even the choice of players and system. How can you make sure all your new games are good ones?

NonViolent Video Games
Sophie Ambrose, Kitty Byrne, Jon Hayward, Danica Zuks
Venue: North Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: ExportMe, panel, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, Video Games (outside the gamesroom)
Ends: 12:00

Violence in video games can be great, but it can also feel inescapable. What are some ways video games can remain entertaining without relying on violence at all, or at least not as much? And what are our favourite examples of games which have eschewed or explored violence in cool and interesting ways?

Moderator: Jon Hayward

Encouraging reading in children
Anna Hepworth, Rebecca Laffar-Smith, Fe Waters
Venue: South Ballroom (Large Panel Room)
Tags: Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, panel, Written Fiction, ExportMe
Ends: 12:00

How can we help to get more children to read, what are the strategies?
As a generation of children grows up in an environment where there are so many entertaining and educational experiences that compete with the good old book, how can we get them to enjoy this classic hobby and way of learning?

Discuss: The Best Book I read in 2015 was
Sue Ackermann
Venue: Hamersley South (Discussion Room)
Tags: discussion, Does Not Need Moderator, Does Not Need More Panellists/Presenters, Written Fiction, Round table
Ends: 12:00

What was the best book your read in 2015? Why? Is it old, or is it new? Is it read or is it blue?

Moderator: Susan Ackermann

Frankenplushies
Julia Watts
Venue: Boardroom (Family Room)
Tags: Does Not Need Moderator, interactive, Family
Ends: 12:00

We have a box of plushie parts to sew together. Make a new scary or friendly toy, and bring it to the plushie toy war.

Events Continuing at 11:00

Hyrule warriors From 10:00 until 13:00
Credo Playtest From 10:00 until 13:00
Traders and Art Show From 10:00 until 13:00