Unicon Roleplaying Convention

Infobox Convention
name = Unicon


caption =
status =
genre = Role-playing
genre =
venue =
location = Melbourne
country = Australia
first = 1997
last =
organizer = Infinite Images Roleplaying Club
filing =
attendance =
website = http://www.unicon.asn.au/

Unicon Roleplaying Convention or just Unicon is a role-playing convention run in Victoria, Australia and is one of the many Role-playing conventions held in Victoria. It runs during the September school holiday period, usually the weekend after the Australian Rules Grand Final.

History

Unicon began in 1997 when members of Infinite Images Roleplaying Club (II) of the University of Melbourne and Monash University Roleplayers decided to run a combined convention. The Monash University Roleplayers (MURP) had previously run their own convention, Capricon, but it was decided to start a new Convention to ensure that both clubs started on an equal footing.

UniCon ran for three years as a combined convention at the University of Melbourne, but at the end of 1999, MURP faced a lack of interest from the general members of the club and withdrew. Infinite Images planned Unicon 2000 along with the Science Fiction and Gaming Association (SFGA) of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), but due to issues with some of the events, the SFGA were forced to withdraw.

Unicon 2001 was planned, but did not actually run. Instead, II ran a single day convention called Intensicon.

In 2004, the organising committees of both clubs had gone through an effective generation and were now filled out by members who had not been involved in the first iteration of Unicon. Interest in running a combined convention led to Unicon 2004. This event ran sufficiently well that there was enough enthusiasm to continue, and the convention was run again in 2005.

Controversies

Although the following are minor on a global scale, they should perhaps be considered in the context of the amount of emotional energy that participants invest in the convention.

"Worst Trophies Ever"

Although there are always robust discussions on the appropriateness and aesthetic value of trophies awarded as part of roleplaying conventions in Victoria, Unicon is infamous for one year's offerings. The trophies consisted of unadorned blocks of 4*2 posts that had been inexpertly sawn off and left unsanded (and in several notable cases, splintery). They have provided a bottom-rung standard for all conventions since.

"MURP withdrawal"

At the end of 1999, MURP withdrew from organising Unicon. Although this was mostly due to a lack of interest from the general members, it was also partially inspired due to frustration with differing organisational styles and goals between the two clubs. Although never formally articulated, it led to some strain across the con scene and some long term bitterness amongst some of the organisers.

"SFGA withdrawal"

The SFGA withdrawal was primarily due to issues arising from one of the potential games for Unicon 2000. This game was presented from the point of view of German military personnel during World War II. Although the blurb for the game stated "The contents of this game are not intended to discriminate, promote or condone the various historical aspects of the game, rather it is an examination of the why, how and wherefore of what happened -", the SFGA and their funding body determined from the blurb's text that it was still in violation of their operating ethics and withdrew from the convention. In addition, some of the general populace of convention attendees expressed concern that the events in question were not an appropriate topic for role-playing games, highlighting that the medium is fundamentally a form of entertainment. Although the matter faded from sight, it still stirs some controversy if raised today.

External links

* [http://www.unicon.asn.au/ Unicon website]
* [http://murp.arsimagica.net/ MURP website]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/infinite_images/ Infinite Images livejournal]