2D Con President Talks All Things Charitable and Creative
Joseph Opsahl Took Some Time to Talk About the Charitable Giving and Creative Elements of 2D Con
2D Con is the biggest video game and esports convention in Minnesota. The annual event benefits the community, is dog-friendly, and celebrates all things gaming and creativity! Joseph Opsahl, the President of the convention took some time to talk about the convention ahead of the August 23rd-25th edition of the convention. Attendees can expect to interact with the voices from their favorite games, cosplay, channels, and more.
Joseph Opsahl Interview
How Did the Charitable Concept for 2D Con Start?
”2D Con was always intended as a community event, and we knew the best way to focus on that was to give back to those in need. Our goal has always been to provide a 5-star event at 3-star prices while promoting the fundamental good that the gaming community can do.”
What Organizations Have Benefited From the Convention?
“Over the years we have benefited many organizations. Through 2D Con and our side events, we have raised over $100,000 for various causes including Extra Life (Childrens Miracle Network), SAVE (Suicide Prevention, Information, and Awareness), The OI Foundation, Childrens Cancer Research Fund, and Guild Services.”
Each Year Has a Theme - What is the Creative Process Like Creating the Theme for the Year?
“Every year we try to choose a theme that ties into the previous year's theme while being gaming related. We always try to choose a theme that is specific, but also broad enough to be creative.”
Year One – 2015 – Press Start to Begin
Year Two – 2016 – All Your Base
Year Three – 2017 – Pixel Paradise
Year Four – 2018 – Critical Hit
Year Five – 2019 – Wasteland
Year Six – 2020 – Remaster
Year Seven – 2021 – Theme Unknown
Year Eight – 2022 – Simulation
Year Nine – 2023 – Another World
Year Ten – 2024 – Survival
“You can learn more about this year’s theme, Survival on the 2D Con website.”
With the Event Being Heavily Volunteer-Run, What is the Atmosphere and Vibe Like Working With Everyone That Chooses to Give Their Time to the Convention?
“As cheesy as it sounds. Our team is like a family. We have over 100 volunteers that work year round to make the convention happen and we work very hard to keep everyone engaged. One thing that is important to us is that we ensure that everyone has a purpose and feels like they belong. We are all just fans of gaming that want to put on the best event possible.”
What Kind of Networking Can Independent Developers Expect from the Convention?
“Independent games are a very important part of gaming. We have a few different tracks for indie devs ranging from our indie island, where developers can showcase their games to attendees and gather feedback, or our game jam, where developers have 24 hours to create a game from scratch.”
”All of the indie games, including the game jam games are eligible for awards at our awards ceremony.”
What can fans expect from the 2D Con Discord Server?
“The 2D Con Discord is an amazing place to engage with other attendees and get to know the staff. We all believe that having a personal connection with one another is one of the most important things for a community-based event.”
A huge thank you to Joesph for taking the time to answer these questions! Are you planning on attending? Sound off below.