Final thoughts and testimonials from the Adventure Game Fan Fair 2024

• Features by Jack Allin
• Published:

It’s only been three weeks since the Adventure Game Fan Fair, and yet it’s all starting to feel like a dream. The build-up was so long, so careful, so deliberate – a full year-plus of planning and meetings and fundraising and promotion, including some furious last-minute adjustments when the rug was pulled out from under our feet in the most adventure gamey way imaginable, leaving us temporarily homeless with only weeks left to go. Then suddenly it was upon us: a jam-packed, whirlwind weekend of fun and fellowship with gamers and industry legends alike in the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. And just as suddenly, it was all over, with fast new friends headed back to all corners of the globe for life to resume as normal.

Did all that really happen? Well, it must have, since we’ve been busy covering everything that took place, from the game demos to the awards ceremony to the Hall of Fame inductions. But it went by like a blur – even in the moment. There I was sitting at home in Toronto, and before I knew it (not counting being stuck in an airport for ten hours after a delayed flight) I’m nearly 4000 km across the continent, meeting longtime friends and colleagues for the first time in person, and rubbing elbows with a who’s who of adventure game royalty. I lost count of the number of “pinch me” moments that occurred throughout the weekend.

A few words after the fact will never do the experience justice, but it was truly one of the more memorable weekends of my life. In no particular order, and with absolutely no disrespect to anyone or anything not mentioned here (if we met at the fair, it was an honour and privilege to meet you all!), there were a few particular standout moments for me. First, of course, it was a pleasure to be able to spend time with two different long-distance “families,” including Joshua and Julie Cleveland and the rest of the Adventure Game Hotspot (and AGH Network) team who were there, as well as my wonderful game crew from Fogtown. I couldn’t ask for better groups of people to be associated with, and I instantly felt so comfortable and familiar with them all that it seemed impossible we’d never met many times before.  

I enjoyed my time hosting the Shannara panel, chatting with a large cast of Sierra greats about their Legend Entertainment game – if that sounds confusing, that’s what the panel was for! There we all unanimously settled on how the game should be pronounced, and then none of us did anyway. I had a great time talking shop (and not-shop) with the incredibly talented indie developers who were showcasing their games. Such smart, friendly, thoughtful people, every one, and they fill me with such encouragement for the future of the genre. A particular thrill was meeting Tex Murphy’s Aaron Conners, whom I’ve corresponded with for years, but it was a whole different experience to be shooting the breeze over barbecued hot dogs at an after-hours backyard bash.

Speaking of Fogtown, the AGFF marked the world debut of the demo for A Rum Case in Fogtown, a game I’m co-writing. It was so new, in fact, that I hadn’t yet played it myself! The last I saw of it was words on a page, before Sean Parker, the amazing voice actors, programmers and puppetry team turned it into FMV magic. It was both exciting and nerve-wracking watching people play the game before my eyes, but the feedback was so enthusiastically positive that we’re confident we’re on the right track. Our very short game slice will be expanded before being released for broader public consumption soon enough, but in the meantime, the TV pilot episode of Fogtown (I can shamelessly plug this, since I’m not personally involved in that one) is ready to make its grand premier later this week. Then it’s full steam ahead for the game team on designing more choose-your-own-adventuring-style interactive fun. 

I think that’s about it. Did I miss anything? Oh, that one other minor trifle! Yes, the reunion of so many Sierra legends, some of them getting back together for the first time in decades. Wow! I could say more, but really “wow” kind of encapsulates my feelings on the matter. It was incredible to see these superstars of classic adventure gaming up close and personal. Even I – not one for celebrity worship – was a little starstruck by saying hello to Jane Jensen in person, just hours before I’d be personally introducing her as the first inductee into the Adventure Game Hall of Fame! (Mind. Blown.) And all of them were such warm, down-to-earth people, willing to sign autographs and chat with everyone in long lines of devoted fans. The Hall of Fame ceremony, wonderfully coordinated by Alex and Daniel Greenberg of Winterion Game Studios, was a special opportunity to honour these legends, and easily one of the highlights of the entire weekend was the moment when all of the Sierra alumni gathered on stage for a rousing standing ovation that clearly touched them. It was a magical moment that bound us all together in a way that will remain with me (and no doubt everyone else involved) forever.

I’m just skimming the surface (the interactive museum, the trivia, the songs, the parties, Leisure Suit Larry and more!), as a weekend wasn't nearly enough time to do everything I wanted, and meet everyone I didn’t get a chance to say hello to. But then, that’s what future Adventure Game Fan Fairs (we hope) are for! We want this to be a regular occurrence, and I didn’t talk with a single person who didn’t share that same sentiment with me. The sense of community that always binds adventure game fans so closely together was never felt more strongly than those wonderful days in Tacoma.

But don’t take my word for it! Several of those in attendance were graciously willing to share their personal Fan Fair experiences, so after enjoying this delightful video wrap-up of the weekend by our friends Jeremy and Nicole at Pixel Pond Productions, read on to hear more first-hand reflections on this wonderful event.

When I was first approached to coordinate the Fan Fair’s panels and events, I don’t think I realized just what an awesome opportunity it was going to be. It’s a special kind of convention, unlike any of the others I have worked with before – one that both brought together industry legends and connected us with the devs carrying the genre into the modern gaming world. Getting to pair these voices from across generations on music, art, and game retrospective panels was so rewarding. It was inspiring simply to walk from the museum that showcased genre-defining games from my childhood, directly next door into the Exhibitor’s Hall and meet the people behind the releases we can look forward to in the upcoming years.

But for me, nothing encapsulated this more than during the Awards Ceremony itself. Between our celebrating the best modern adventure games of the 2020s and the inductions into the Adventure Game Hall of Fame, we asked the Sierra On-Line alumni to the stage to be recognized for all their hard work and achievements. Even though I knew this was part of the evening – it was even printed in the Guidebook’s program, which I myself wrote – I could not help but be overcome with emotion at the amount of talent onstage, and the appreciation I have for everything narrative games and the people behind them have done for my life and the lives of everyone at this event and around the world. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and I felt very lucky to be a small part of it.

- Alex Garcia Greenberg

It was great to meet the legends of the video game industry who worked on the games I played as a child. Those games inspired me to become an artist and learn programming on the side because I longed to create something similar. For those of us growing up outside the U.S., these text-heavy games were a great motivation to learn English so we could progress further.

It was unimaginable back then that I would ever be in the same room as Roberta and Ken Williams, Jane Jensen, Al Lowe, Rand Miller, and many more creators of games that left a huge mark on me, such as King's Quest 6, the Leisure Suit Larry series, Myst, and others. And yet, it happened!

On top of that, speaking for both my colleague Radim (Jurda) and myself, we had a great time attending the talks and had a lot of fun. Everyone was so friendly! We are grateful and honored to receive the Best Art & Visual Design Award for Creaks. We tried out many of the games presented there, such as the perfectly written Perfect Tides, the humorous President Rocket Game, and the handcrafted A Rum Case in Fogtown. We’re sorry we couldn’t try them all!

- Jan Chlup (artist, Amanita Design)

The Fan Fair was a dream-come-true event for me. It may have been a nightmare to plan out and execute, especially with the last-minute change of venue, but none of that was felt by the people who attended. Everything flowed smoothly and professionally, thanks in large part to Alex and Daniel Greenberg, who tirelessly worked to keep the panels and schedule on track, and Joshua and Jack for having the ambition and determination to see this through. 

For some reason, they invited me to fly out and host a couple of panels and a trivia contest (with the incomparable Anna Vigue as co-host). I even got to play on stage with Al Lowe alongside my band Error 47, which was an absolute surreal and delightful high point for me. 

Add to that the opportunity to meet some of the absolute legends of Sierra On-Line, especially my good friend Ken Allen and of course my hero Mark Crowe, as well as other equally legendary people like George Sanger, Graeme Devine, and Aaron Conners — not to mention my friends in the Adventure Game Hotspot Network — and it's no surprise that I would describe this as one of the best weekends of my life. I look forward to the next Fan Fair with the greatest of impatience.

- Troels Pleimert (Space Quest Historian)
For more insights into SQH's Fan Fair experience, check out his his latest YouTube video.

I grew up with adventure games as a child, and credit Zak McKracken with a lot of positive influence because this was the first medium that made me immerse myself into the wider world that wasn't just my home and close surroundings. So when I saw the announcement of an adventure game-themed convention that was actually in the country I reside in (no transatlantic travel needed, yay!) and actually just down the road, it felt like Zak having his dream: it must be a sign, and I must go there.

At first, I was a bit worried because I am not a Sierra person (to my knowledge, the games weren't localized into my language until the point-and-click era, when I was already firmly in camp Lucas), but I was just blown away by how approachable, friendly, and, well, normal everyone was. I got to talk to Ken Williams about the improvements of the Quest 3 over the Quest 2 VR headset, which was pretty awesome. Seeing how in-depth the panels were was also great – it wasn't a bunch of companies carting out celebrities to promote something, but actual people passionately talking about behind-the-scenes stuff. It really felt like "just a bunch of people talking about adventure games," and that was fantastic! (The same is true for the audience; just lovely people all around!)

The thing that stood out the most positive to me, though, is that it wasn't just a celebration of nostalgia, but actually a highlight of how bright the future of the genre is. There were a dozen or so showcased games, and while some are clearly more inspired by/rooted in the classics, each one of them was doing something fun, unique, and fresh. I doubled the size of my Steam wishlist that weekend, because all of the games there had good reason for me to check them out on their own merits. It was nice to see that the past 15 years produced genuine classics that can stand with the golden age classics, and that there are many more to come.

You could hold AGFF 2026 in Antarctica and I'll find a way to get there!

- Mike Stum

The Adventure Game Fan Fair felt surreal from the start. One minute I was mentioning it to my husband, a first-time event with an awards show, panels, a get together, a computer museum and more, the next he was watching from the audience as I was co-hosting a trivia night with the Space Quest Historian! It wasn't just that one event, though. I also found myself dressed as Passionate Patti, sharing the stage with Leisure Suit Larry (aka Gareth Paterson) for the costume contest, presenting a Best Sidekick award alongside Paul Korman (my sid...uh... co-host from the Classic Gamers Guild podcast), and even hosting a Phantasmagoria 2 panel with Matt Aukamp (from the Save Your Game podcast), where we had the opportunity to chat with Paul Morgan Stetler (the game’s star Curtis Craig), and then after a little bit of a delay in travel, the always amazing Lorelei Shannon showed up with tales of cosmic horror! 

The entire weekend was a whirlwind of meeting Sierra alumni, from developers to the iconic Ken and Roberta Williams themselves. Panels, AMAs, and casual conversations filled the air with a shared passion for adventure games. It was overwhelming in the best way possible. Looking back, I can't help but laugh at my initial disbelief. Who knew a new adventure convention being put together for the first time would turn into such an unforgettable experience? 

I'll tell you who knew: all of the people that worked so hard to make this event happen, from beginning to end, from the moment the idea was thought of all the way through implementation, up to and including this current time as things are still happening, videos are still being produced and released, retrospectives are being recorded, pictures are being shared, and the next event is being planned. The work never stopped, and it won't stop, as the tireless efforts of the Adventure Game Hotspot, and all of its affiliations carry on entertaining, informing and being there for the adventure game community and beyond.

- Anna Vigue (co-host of the Classic Gamers Guild Podcast)
Be sure to check out the latest podcast recapping their AGFF experience.

The Fan Fair was unutterably magical. Like a tornado that sweeps you up and spins you in a whirlwind for 3 of the best days of your life – except in this case the tornado was made out of, like, glitter and candy and childhood dreams. The entire weekend was an adventure (how on-brand). I arrived Friday morning with my 9-year-old son and “we” quickly got to “work” setting up a booth to demo my game The Phantom Fellows, and it was then I met Meredith Gran, developer of Perfect Tides and its upcoming sequel, Station to Station, and sparked the first of many actual, you-can-feel-it-in-your-tummy, bonds with a new friend. Next thing I know I’m – for the first time – hanging in person with my beloved co-host and dear friend Anna Vigue when suddenly I found myself tuning a guitar and rehearsing the Leisure Suit Larry theme with none other than the Space Quest Historian (and a decent sax player named Al). Before I could pinch myself I’m hugging OneShortEye, laughing with Francisco González and holy crow, is that Dave Gilbert playing my game?! 

Before Friday ended I was up on stage playing the Larry theme with Al, Troels, Erik Elsom and Mick Counsell, and I have to say that was an electric moment. My late father absolutely adored Al Lowe’s humor and games, and I could feel a sense of connection and purpose playing that infamous theme with Al, and to get off stage and have my son run up to me and say, “wow Dad, you guys were great!” was an epochal moment I’ll never forget. With just enough time to soak it in, Saturday was upon us – meeting the Williamses, Mark Crowe, Ken Allen… it washed over all of us in a way that gave reason to wonder for a moment if perhaps we all had died on a staircase and this was the heaven we heard about in the brochures. To conclude the day, my son and I adorned ourselves with some evening wear and went to the awards ceremony where Anna and I had the honor of presenting an award, but not before being brought up on stage by Dominic Armato and being a little shticky with each other first. 

Sunday was now upon us, and Alex and Daniel Greenberg were still assiduously carrying the panels with the love and grace a conductor shows their orchestra during their finest symphony. I found myself once again in the presence of heroes who became peers and were now friends. I was being interviewed by the AdventureGameGeek, I was hosting a panel on pixel art with Tom Hardwidge, Meredith Gran and Julia Minamata, and then I was whisked onto another panel with Ben Britton, Josh Mandel and Lori and Corey Cole, and by now this weekend felt like I had found the cheat code to a genie’s lamp. The apotheosis of the weekend came when I once again joined Error 47 on stage to play “The Ballad of Freddy Pharkas,” the crowd sang along and then the curtains fell. And I had the time of my life. 

Thank you to Joshua, Jack and the Adventure Game Hotspot for making this all possible.

- Paul Korman (developer of The Phantom Fellows, co-host of the Classic Gamers Guild Podcast)

When I was 13 I had the opportunity to visit Sierra On-Line in 1989. During that brief visit I met my heroes, including Ken and Roberta Williams, Lori and Corey Cole, Mark Crowe, and many others. What I didn’t know at age 13 was what an impact these games and these people would have on my entire life, and being able to join them again at the Adventure Game Fan Fair was more than I could have ever wished for. The level of intimate access we were able to have with these pillars of the gaming industry was incredible, far beyond my wildest hopes. In addition to that, I was able to see and chat with some of the fantastic talent that has grown from Sierra including rock stars like the Space Quest Historian, Julia Minamata, and OneShortEye! I wish I could adequately thank all those who helped make this a reality; it was truly an experience of a lifetime. I can’t wait to do it again!!

- Pete Liesenfeld

Adventure games have been marinating in my brain since the early 90s, and I couldn’t get rid of them now even if I wanted to. When I started speedrunning, I, of course, chose adventure games. And when I started making YouTube videos, there was no way I was talking about anything else. 

So when the Adventure Game Hotspot organized the Fan Fair, it was like an event made specifically for me. Seeing and meeting my childhood heroes — Roberta and Ken Williams, Richard Aronson, Jane Jensen, Robert Holmes, the Coles, too many others to mention — was both surreal and completely natural. I still remember my heart beating in the line to meet Roberta, and then my joy when she asked about speedrunning and gave her seal of approval! 

But even more important were the bonds I made with the members of the Hotspot and other fans. Very quickly, these folks who I had only known from Discord calls and DMs transformed into people I trust and call my friends. Finally, I feel honored to have hosted the last panel of the convention, along with Julia Minamata, and I like to think we did justice to this amazing event. 

It feels like my whole life had been leading up to this. I’m not exaggerating when I say the 2024 Fan Fair was best weekend I’ve ever had.

- OneShortEye
For more of OneShortEye's reflections on the AGFF, be sure to check out his YouTube video.

The Adventure Game Fan Fair was hands down one of the most incredible experiences in my life as an adventure game junkie. The alumni from Sierra and other adventure games were very generous with their time, regularly mingling with fans throughout the event. For me, the brightest highlight of the event will always be the tribe of fellow adventure gamers that attended, and how much like family they all felt to me.

- Tyler Drinkard (lead programmer for SpaceVenture)

I always start my videos with "Hello there, fellow adventurers!" Well, at the Adventure Game Fan Fair I got to say that in person, with a group of friends who all share their love of adventure gaming. I flew all the way over to Tacoma, Washington from the UK, but it was more than worth the trip and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Check out my video of the highlights, but there's so many things I could mention... Getting my vinyl records signed by composer Erik Elsom and Space Quest Historian... Seeing all the Sierra alumni together in one place after all these years... Inducting King's Quest into the Adventure Game Hall of Fame and handing the award to none other than Ken and Roberta Williams... Meeting the stars behind the games like Paul Morgan Stetler (aka Curtis Craig from Phantasmagoria 2) and Rand Miller, co-founder of Cyan who also played Atrus in the Myst series... Interviewing Paul from The Phantom Fellows... Witnessing OneShortEye speedrunning eating a banana... Cheating on the quiz show (actually, forget that last one). Most of all, I got to hang out with everyone and be part of this amazing community.

- AdventureGameGeek

For me, Adventure Game Fan Fair captured the true essence of the adventure game community. The inclusiveness, the generosity, the kindness and the lack of pretense. Fans, developers and industry professionals with careers spanning almost half a century came together to tell stories, discuss ideas and share a deep love for the genre. The Fan Fair embodied all of this, with Joshua, Jack and the team creating a safe, exciting and, most importantly, fun event which I hope will live on for many years to come.

As a punter, panelist and exhibitor, I was able to experience the event from a few different angles and, even though my journey from the UK was long (and certainly not cheap), it was 100% worth the trip across the pond. I will be attending as many future Fan Fairs as my wallet can cope with, and look forward to seeing what the organisers have in store.

- Tom Hardwidge (Tall Story Games, developer of Lucy Dreaming and Heir of the Dog)

AGFF was a wonderful trip down memory lane while also looking ahead to a bright future. It may have been small and cozy as cons go, but the sheer amount of incredible talent wandering the halls made for an unforgettable experience. You couldn't walk ten feet without bumping into a current or former adventure game design legend, and the folks in attendance who weren't game makers more than made up for it with their sheer infectious passion for the genre.

I'll never forget George "The Fat Man" Sanger serenading my toddler with his music from the Putt-Putt series that she's such a fan of, nor the times I inadvertently summoned Dave Gilbert just by whispering "Wadjet Eye," or having the honor of Roberta and Ken Williams happily PLAYING my game on the show floor, and especially meeting the enigmatic Jack Allin in the flesh, at long last! It's a convention that I simply cannot imagine missing out on next time it happens, and I dearly hope it sticks around for a long, long time. For a genre that gets a reputation for being a rather solitary experience (the videogame equivalent of reading a book), the community that came together to celebrate it made me feel anything but isolated.

- Sean Parker (co-creator of Fogtown)

I've been to a lot of anime conventions, and those are great. However, this experience was different to me. It was smaller with a lot of close connections, and I loved that I got to experience all the panels instead of having to pick and choose which I wanted to. I was writing a ton of notes while listening, and that journal is going to be a great reminder of the wonderful warmth that I felt among so many kind and funny people.

Unlike many there, I didn't grow up with adventure games, but I found them as I grew older and loved them dearly. So many people spoke of how their lives and times with their families changed because of those games. I can't say the same, but I can say some of them have affected me deeply because of their characters and stories. The Blackwell series is one of them, and I felt honored to get to hear Dave Gilbert talk and to speak to him in person!

It was also awesome to get to dress up as Susan Ashworth (in her Cat Widow outfit) from The Cat Lady and have people actually recognize me! I love cosplaying, but usually the characters I pick aren't that well known. It made me feel great to have people share in the love of one of my favorite games. I'm trying to get a bit more involved with the community after meeting the attendees to this event, and I can safely say the Adventure Game Fan Fair 2024 was one of the best events I've ever attended.

- Kateland

Having seen the AGH team's passion and dedication to building a wonderful community for adventure game players and fans, I knew that if the team put the same heart and soul into the AGFF, it would be a fantastic event. Right from the start, you could feel the good vibes. Despite its modest size (forgivable given it was the inaugural convention), the caliber of guests and panels rivaled what you would expect at much larger events.

It was magical to meet so many adventure game legends in an intimate setting, where the vibes of friendship and camaraderie meant everybody could converse as if they were old friends. Meeting followers of our games face-to-face and listening to their thoughts, memories, experiences, and ideas was a significant highlight.

To see so many smiling faces literally travel from across the globe to share their love of adventure games brings a smile to my face, knowing that the adventure game genre is alive and well and in good hands thanks to the folks at AGH and the AGFF, and I thoroughly look forward to the next one! Thanks for inviting me, and next time, I hope to have more of The Last Ark to share!

- Mat Van Rhoon (founder of Terabbit Games, developer of The Lask Ark)

It is rare that I go to a convention or any event for that matter that feels like a true passion project. As soon as I walked into the convention center on July 26th, I was immediately struck by how quiet it was. I've been going to conventions as far back as I can remember, and I had gotten used to the over-the-top nature of these kinds of events through shows like PAX and SDCC. But this show was going to be different – everyone was here to celebrate their love of adventure games, and it was incredibly refreshing to be around so many people with such a specific niche they love in gaming. 

Being able to hear stories from industry legends who had created not just some of my favorite games but arguably created one of my favorite genres in games was an amazing treat. Getting to meet Dominic Armato, the voice behind one of my favorite characters not just in games but media in general. Walking up to Mark Crowe and having a casual conversation while he's signing my copy of Space Quest I. Talking with Ken Allen while looking at vinyl records and not realizing who he was until he takes out a pen and mentions he should probably sign a few of the vinyls for music he composed (and then getting to purchase a copy of the Space Quest IV vinyl soundtrack that he had signed, which has since been played an embarrassing amount of times on my record player). Having the opportunity to meet Jane Jensen and Robert Holmes and getting to discuss how she rewrote The Beast Within's script from scratch to have the story flow better as a novelization. Hearing from Rand Miller how he created one of the most influential game worlds ever made in Myst, Riven, and beyond…

I could go on, but suffice to say the AGFF was an experience my spouse and I will never forget. Thank you for putting on such an amazing show, and I'm hopeful that the Spring 2026 follow-up ends up being even better!

- Sam Amiotte-Beaulieu

When I walked into the Adventure Game Fan Fair's Expo Hall Friday morning to set up, I was awestruck. Assembled in that room were some of the most interesting, innovative games I'd ever seen, created by some of the most dedicated, passionate storytellers I'd ever met. While every table on the expo floor featured an adventure game, no two games were alike in theme, character, or content. These were deeply personal tales, and getting to see their creators walk players through their demos was an absolute treat.

I grew up playing Sierra adventure games, and to call those experiences 'formative' would be an understatement. Some of my fondest childhood memories are playing titles like Space Quest IV and Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness with my best friend on our Windows 3.1 desktop. These games and others in the Sierra library set bricks down in my psyche, laying a foundation for game writing and interactive storytelling that evolved into my current career path writing for games—and making my own Sierra-inspired adventure game.

The Adventure Game Fan Fair put the creators of my favorite Sierra game growing up right across the Expo Hall from our own War of the Western Deep. Being able to chat with Lori and Corey Cole in addition to the other incredible adventure creators showing their games was unforgettable—a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Being able to walk out into the hall and see Ken and Roberta Williams chatting with a massive line of supporters and adventure game enthusiasts (many carrying the very same King's Quest V box that I brought with me to have them sign) was mind-blowing. And being able to tell Mark Crowe that Space Quest IV was a formative comedy experience for me—that's not an experience I'll get at any other game or pop culture convention.

The Adventure Game Fan Fair brought all this together—the old and the new. Adventure games by their very nature are a celebration of what came before and what the next generation brings to the table. I have never felt more excited by the future of adventure games, nor have I ever been as humbled by the presence of so many industry luminaries who lit the way for what's coming next. 

When it comes to adventure games, everyone is inspired by someone. And for three days in late July, it felt like all those people were gathered together in the same spot in Tacoma, Washington. I for one can't wait to go back.

- Alex Kain (founder and game director of Sunsgrove Studios, developer of War of the Western Deep)

Although I’ve been an adventure game fan since the age of 6 (almost 30 years now), and have met plenty of fellow fans over the years, this was the first time I’d ever had the chance to gather with a large group of people with as much enthusiasm about the genre as I have. While of course there’s plenty of community online and elsewhere, video games in general, and adventure games in particular, are largely a soloist hobby. That’s an aspect I enjoy, but it can be a little isolating at times, particularly since most of my friends and family are supportive of my interest, but don’t necessarily share it. When you have the opportunity to be with people who not only share your love for these games, but some of whom have also made them their career, there’s no other feeling like it. I got to listen to the stories of industry legends I’ve admired for years, learn about some brand-new creators who really excited me, and connect with fellow fans in a way that’s just not the same online. My love of this genre has been reinvigorated in a way it hadn’t been for a long time, and I have renewed appreciation not only for where it is now and where it’s going, but where it came from. I had a wonderful, unforgettable time at AGFF and can’t wait for the next one, and hope anyone who wants to go (whether or not they made it this time) will have the chance. Thank you to AGH, and congrats on a fantastic event!

- Lisa (LunaMoth116)

Ever since having returned to the gamedev wasteland that is Nuremberg, Germany, I've been having a bloody difficult time trying to single out some of my favorite memories from the Fan Fair. It sounds corny, I know, but I have a nice memory attached to almost everyone I met at the event.

The Fan Fair couldn't have started any more memorable. Of all people, it was none other than Dave Gilbert who was the first person to play our demo for President Rocket Game. Being a fan, that meant a lot to me. Chatting about your game with one of the absolute legends of the genre is beyond valuable. But so were the chats with all of the devs in the exhibition hall. I took home so much feedback, hints and even some industry secrets and made new friends who I can't wait to meet at future events. Dave went on to play all of the demos in the hall over the weekend. Just like all the other devs did. And that was probably the most awesome part of the whole event. Everyone who was involved was also a fan of the genre.

I quietly went to have my fanboy moment as well, when I took a picture with Mark Crowe and we also had a short little chat. What a nice guy! Space Quest 3 was the first game I played and finished. I don't think I'd be the sci-fi geek that I am today if it weren't for SQ3. Hear that, Chris Roberts!? All that cash I blindly throw at Star Citizen: it's all because 12-year-old me couldn't stop flying around in the Aluminum Mallard.

The audience also had a great laugh or two at our current trailer. At least, that's what I'm told. Being jetlagged out of my mind, I was already zombie strolling back to the Airbnb and totally MISSED THIS!

But I won't miss the next Adventure Game Hotspot Fan Fair.

- Tilman Brunke (co-founder of Gloho Games, developer of President Rocket Game)

You’d think the Adventure Game Fan Fair would be all about the games, right? I mean, it’s right there in the name. But as I learned, there’s a whole other side to the convention that’s just as – if not more – momentous for any fan. When all is said and done and I look back on my time in Washington, it’s not so much the adventure games I think of (I mean, I do, but only secondarily). Instead, what I’ll never forget were the people I met and the times – brief as they were – spent with them. In retrospect, some of these moments seem surreal, but that’s the thing with brief snippets of real life: they can often be far more extraordinary than the twistiest adventure game plots.

Let’s talk about the up-and-comers, the young developers out there creating new games even as we speak who will make us fall in love with the genre all over again. Having a general awareness of who’s who or seeing names listed in credits is one thing, but hanging out with them is a completely different – and far more memorable – beast altogether. Sharing a car from the airport with Francisco González and Jess Haskins (the full Grundislav Games crew) to talk Riven and House of Leaves over lunch and strolling around downtown Tacoma, popping into game stores, was an incredible start to the weekend! Sitting around a backyard table later that night with OneShortEye, Cade Peterson (MidBoss), Julia Minamata, and Joshua Cleveland for a lively discussion about the Ninja Turtles is a memory I won’t soon forget. But perhaps best – and most out-of-this-world – of all was everybody lounging in the living room, listening to an extremely animated real-life detective story about a questionable box full of adult toys that had to be escorted thousands of miles across country borders to be reunited with its owner, all while Tom Hardwidge and Dave Gilbert swooped down onto a Halloween-themed puzzle featuring three adorable pups. 

But all of that’s just half of the story! The real bucket list items didn’t get crossed off until the convention got underway and the stars from the Sierra-verse began coming out. Though I’ve been fortunate enough to have chatted with Paul Morgan Stetler and Ken and Roberta Williams remotely via video conferencing before, it was amazing to see them, take some pictures, and hobnob – however briefly – with these icons in person. If I’d told young, teenaged me that one day I’d sit in a convention center lobby and discuss lunch with Richard Aronson (Cedric-the-freaking-Owl!), he’d have called me a liar. Another madcap moment came when I was at the Terabbit booth and realized I was chatting with none other than Aaron Conners, author of the Tex Murphy series of games (and books). But the absolute highlight was the chance to meet Jane Jensen. And so it came that, with both Gabriel Knight novels in hand awaiting signatures, I ended up chatting with Jane and Robert Holmes about the fabled Schattenjäger, what the games mean to me personally with my German heritage, and generally just to thank them for some of the best moments of my childhood. It’s a memory I’ll never forget, and, if I’m honest, never thought I’d ever experience in the first place.

So there you have it. Yes, the Adventure Game Fan Fair had plenty of amazing games to explore, but, at the risk of being murderously groan-inducing, the true treasure was all the friends I made along the way.

- Pascal Tekaia (Adventure Game Hotspot)

And that's finally a wrap! What a weekend it was, what an experience it was, and hopefully just the first of many. We'll be releasing polished, edited videos of all the panels, as well as the awards and Hall of Fame ceremony in the coming weeks, but for now the raw footage of (most of) the panel events for all three days can be viewed from our YouTube channel's AGFF playlist. Enjoy those for now, and we hope to see you at the next Adventure Game Fan Fair!

Some photos courtesy of Pascal Gnislew

Links

• Adventure Game Fan Fair 2024