Moose Jaw’s gaming community filled the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts and Culture with board games, card tournaments, tabletop role-playing campaigns and retro video game challenges over the weekend, as the annual GAX convention returned Feb. 6 to 8.

Hosted by Moose Jaw Gamers, the three-day event drew steady crowds throughout Friday and Saturday, with organizers saying early numbers suggested this year may be one of the strongest turnouts yet.

“It’s a big gaming convention. We’re filling up the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts and Culture,” said Nathaniel Suwala, acting vice-president with the association. “We’ve actually got a big crowd out there today.”

GAX featured a “board game library” where attendees could borrow games and play on-site, along with a packed schedule of tournaments and drop-in activities designed to appeal to casual players, families and longtime hobbyists.

He said the board game selection was made possible through the generosity of local members, including Janice Lamb and her husband, who brought in a collection for public use over the weekend.

A major feature of this year’s event was a provincial qualifying tournament for Settlers of Catan, which Suwala said was “pretty well received,” and served as a national qualifier for players looking to advance to higher-level competition.

The convention also included a dedicated “CardCade” space for trading card games such as Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Pok?mon, which was run by a volunteer named Travis.

“He’s been running systems for them so people can have a nice time playing,” Suwala said.

Beyond tabletop games, the event included video game stations, including Super Smash Bros. and retro gaming supported in part through an ongoing relationship with Saskatchewan Retro Game Con.

“We have done stuff with them in the past,” Suwala said, adding the groups have attended and supported each other’s events.

While the weekend offered a wide range of gaming activities, it also served as a fundraiser, with proceeds supporting Creative Kids Saskatchewan, a charity that helps children access creative opportunities in art, music and other programs.

GAX also featured tournament programming sponsored in part by Saskatchewan Retro Game Con, including a Donkey Kong relay race, along with a vendor area featuring four local businesses: 3D Creators Collective, Apothecary Station, Kurtz Gaming Accessories and Samurai Sam 3D.

Suwala said the weekend remains the association’s largest annual event, but the group stays active year-round through monthly meetings and smaller community activities when feasible.

“This is our big event for the year,” he said. “We tend to host monthly meetings. Anyone is welcome to join in on those.”

To learn more, visit MJGA.ca or “Moose Jaw Gamers” on Facebook.

Aaron Walker

Reporter

Moose Jaw Express