‘Nerds’ to take over campus Oct. 6-7

Hundreds of self-professed nerds are preparing to descend on the University of Wisconsin–Madison for a weekend filled with video games and miniature collectibles. The first Geek.kon convention is slated to take place from 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, in the Mosse Humanities Building.

The free gathering is designed for anyone who enjoys a wide range of activities such as role-playing, video gaming, dressing up in costume, rocking out to "Guitar Hero," or reading science fiction, anime or fantasy novels.

Also included will be anime and science-fiction viewing rooms, a dance mixer, "Dance Dance Revolution," a LARP costume masquerade, local area network gaming, live-action role playing, collectible card games, role-playing games and other video and board games.

More than 600 students have pre-registered for the event, which is sponsored in conjunction with the East Asian studies department. However, registration is available to the public at the door.

The event has been organized by Geek.kon, a registered student organization formed mostly from members of already-existing student organizations the Sci-Fi club and the Anime club.

"As proven by representation in both of our clubs and in the population of gamers in this city, we’re ready for some geek gatherings," says Geek.kon’s public relations co-chair Sarah Eichhorst.

Special guests and new video game demonstrations are also planned. Among those expected to attend:

• Matt Sloan and Aaron Yonda, the writers and directors of the online video series "Chad Vader"
• Monte Cook, writer of RPG books and a designer of "Dungeons and Dragons"
• Sarah Monette, writer of the Melusine series of fantasy novels
• Joan Vinge, best-selling science fiction author known for her Hugo Award-winning novel "The Snow Queen"
• David Salo, UW–Madison alumnus who expanded the elvish language for the "Lord of the Rings" movies
• Luke Ski, a comedy singer who sings about pop culture subjects ranging from "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars" to "Spider-Man" and Keanu Reeves.