According to Matt Conn, founder of GaymerX, NIS America has allegedly stated that it will not be able to pay the sponsorship fees it promised. This has put the future of the relatively new convention at risk- but some other companies are pitching in to help.
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GaymerX is an event created to support LGBTQ gamers and developers, although it's open to everyone. Their second event just took place a few weeks ago in San Francisco and from all reports was a tremendous success- many developers displayed their upcoming projects there and there were a ton of interesting panels, some of which are up on YouTube for your perusal. Word is that the feel of the con was much friendlier and all-incusive than you usually get at conventions.
That happy note took a turn when it was revealed how it's not such a success financially, with word that they were struggling to put it on for next year. Conn got sponsors such as NIS America to signed as official sponsors to help things out.
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"They agreed to $3,000 to be the official sponsor of the VIP party and open bar," Conn told Polygon. "This was originally $5,000, which actually was 75% off the $20K asking, but we were desperate. We wanted to do a lot more, but basically we said 'all the drinks are paid for by NIS America' and we spent around 15K on the VIP party."
Then in this bitter tweet he reveals that he received this email, in which NIS says they simply can't afford to pay for the sponsorship they had already, y'know, sponsored.
I quit. @patriciaxh @Danielleri @xMattieBrice @Spacekatgal @salmattos @DanRyckert You can thank NIS America pic.twitter.com/Ur3m6sDdQY
— Matt Conn duh (@mattconn) July 28, 2014
"We were already in dire straights, but we were really relying on this $3K to pay for our artists who came and to take care of some of the outstanding hotel bills," said Conn. "This just further puts a nail into our coffin if we don't figure out a revenue stream very quickly."
While the future of the convention is in danger, people have already stepped up to help. The always-incredible Devolver Digital, who publishes some of the finest indie games around, immediately took to twitter to pledge their support... and cash.
We pledge $3,000 for a 2015 @GaymerX sponsorship and challenge other game companies that have the means to do the same. — Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) July 29, 2014
And it looks like it's working.
Mike Bithell (Thomas Was Alone) and Coffee Stain Studios (Goat Simulator) have each pitched in $3,000 of their own money, more than making up for the money lost by NIS. NIS seems to be in talks with Conn as well- they certainly don't want the bad publicity this will bring them, especially when so many smaller companies are contributing to the convention.
Could this be a shining example of a moment when the gaming community all comes together to save a wonderful thing? We hope so.
Find out more about GaymerX on their official site and @GaymerX.