Here’s my current PAX East schedule. Until the official schedule is posted, all things are subject to change. I Need Diverse Games will also be in the Diversity Lounge again!

None of You are Free of Sin: Gamer Crimes Friday March 29th, 5:00pm Albatross Theatre

Camping at the spawn point. Drinking BAWLS energy drink. Hanzo mains. Our community is rife with sin and crime. Like Hammurabi of days gone by, we shall write the first set of gamer laws and mete out punishment. Join the jury and bring tales of the greatest gamer crimes you have witnessed. Let’s be petty together.

Trin Garritano [Digital Outreach Lead, Kickstarter], Dave Lang [co-CPO, Iron Galaxy], Maya Coleman [Community Manager, Trogdor!], Tanya DePass [Director and Founder, I Need Diverse Games], Anya Combs [Games Team Lead, Kickstarter], Graham Stark [Creator, LoadingReadyRun]

A Seat for Everyone: Inclusivity and RPGs Saturday March 30th, 10:00 am BumbleBee Theatre 

Saturday March 30th, 10:00 am BumbleBee Theatre 

We’ve said it for years: The world would be a better place if everyone could play RPGs together.  Come to this panel to learn some tips and tricks to make your game table more welcoming to diversity, more accepting of differences, and more fun for everyone involved.

Panelists: Adam Davis [Executive Director, Game to Grow], Tanya DePass [Director, I Need Diverse Games], Raffael Boccamazzo [Clinical Director, Take This]

Queer Quests, Bi Battles, & Terrific Transformations Saturday March 30th 3:30 pm Bobcat Theatre

Video games offer thousands of experiences. Have you ever explored an entire virtual world just because you could? Ever play as a different gender or another sexuality? Games not only offer us a glimpse into fantastical universes but can allow us to experiment with our own identities. This can be especially influential for LGBTQ+ folks. Join GaymerX & friends in a retrospective of queer quests, sapphic stories, bi battles, and terrific transformations in games that helped us discover who we are.

Katie Kaitchuck [Executive Director, GaymerX], Tanya DePass [Diversity Liaison / Founder, GaymerX / I Need Diverse Games], Brian Kunde [Volunteer Director, GaymerX], Kyle-Steven Porter [Board Member & PAX Diversity Lounge Manager, Geeks OUT]


Gritty is Antifa: Fandom Beyond Capitalism Saturday March 30th, 6:30pm Bobcat Theatre 

We’re all fans of something, and oftentimes we are encouraged to express that fandom through consumption and capitalism. But what about when you want to express your love for your OTP or favorite comic without contributing to a flawed economic system? Our panelists will guide you through celebrating fandom with alternatives to your purchasing power.

Trin Garritano (Moderator; Kickstarter), Tanya DePass (I Need Diverse Games), Dave Lang (Iron Galaxy), Maya Coleman (Trogdor!), and Graham Stark (LoadingReadyRun)

Rivals of Waterdeep Live – Season 3 Finale!
Saturday, March 30th at 9:30pm in Albatross Theatre

Rivals of Waterdeep is a group from the Chicago area that combines new players of D&D with experienced roleplayers to show just how easy it is to have a good time creating a story together with your friends. They have joined forces to produce a weekly livestream that features an all POC cast to tell a story set in one of the most iconic cities in the Forgotten Realms. Rivals of Waterdeep streams on the D&D Twitch channel (twitch.tv/dnd)

Tanya DePass [Director, I Need Diverse Games], Shareef Jackson [Founder, Gaming Looks Good, LLC], Cicero Holmes [N/A, Independent], Surena Marie [N/A, Independent], Brandon Stennis [Influencer Manager, Vs Evil]

Inner Demons: Anxiety and Depression in Gamers Sunday, March 31st at 11:00am Bobcat Theatre

Anxiety and depression are inner demons you can’t always vanquish, but you can learn to keep them at bay. You’re not alone in this fight! Tabletop game designers Brian Liberge, Tanya DePass and other members of the gaming community share their mental health stories and strategies to beat them back.

Brian Liberge [Founder/Designer, Beer Star Games], Tanya DePass [Founder/Director, I Need Diverse Games], Natalya Waye [Gamer, Gamer Assembly]

Published by cypheroftyr

Tanya DePass is the founder and Director of I Need Diverse Games, a non-profit organization based in Chicago, which is dedicated to better diversification of all aspects of gaming. I Need Diverse Games serves the community by supporting marginalized developers attend the Game Developer Conference by participating in the GDC Scholarship program, helps assist attendance at other industry events, and is seeking partnership with organizations and initiatives. Tanya is a lifelong Chicagoan who loves everything about gaming, #INeedDiverseGames spawn point, and wants to make it better and more inclusive for everyone. She founded and was the EIC of Fresh Out of Tokens podcast where games culture was discussed and viewed through a lense of feminism, intersectionality and diversity. Now she’s a co-host on Spawn on Me Podcast. Along with all of that, she’s the Programming Coordinator for OrcaCon, she often speaks on issues of diversity, feminism, race, intersectionality & other topics at multiple conventions throughout the year. Her writing about games and games critique appears in Uncanny Magazine, Polygon, Wiscon Chronicles, Vice Gaming, Paste Games, Mic, and other publications.