Very uunfortunate

The Ohio state legislature recently passed a bill requiring people to use the restroom that coincides with their assigned gender at birth, casually called a “trans bathroom ban.” In Ohio, the statehouse is controlled by the same party as the governor, and the bill is expected to be signed into law without a veto.

As such, we’ve updated our LGBT State Status page accordingly. Access to public restrooms is, of course, a major factor as to whether LGBTQ+ con attendees can feel safe at the events they attend, so this single act has placed Ohio, our own home state, on the Caution list.

Once we are able to read the full text of the bill/law to confirm aspects, we will be able to better inform our desicions on which conventions we can reach out to and ensure the people who attend our events can feel as safe and comfortable as possible.

 

Moving forward

To our fans, friends, sponsors, and invaluable partner conventions:

It’s been just over a week since the 2024 election in the US, and my heart is still a whirlwind of emotions: profound sadness, burning anger, an unsettling fear for the future of our communities, and an even stronger determination about my place in the monumental journey that lies ahead—our mission until January 2029 is clear: to survive and to uplift each other in this struggle.

Those of you who know me well understand that I may not be the one at the forefront of protests, fighting bravely for change. Stepping into that role would put both my communities and myself in jeopardy—an unacceptable risk that I cannot take.

Instead, through Anime Game Show Party Studios, I will channel my energy into nurturing our community’s spirit to keep us engaged and inspired. I want to be a refuge for all those who need to escape the turmoil, for those who are overwhelmed by the chaos of our times—both now and in the days to come. I pledge to deliver professional, high-quality, entertaining, and enlightening game shows, panels, and live events at conventions across the US. I am re-committing myself to enriching our shared experiences through my Twitch channel, where laughter and connection will abound.

Those on the front lines of this battle can’t fight forever; they deserve moments of rest. None of us can navigate the relentless tide of information—and misinformation—along with the upcoming increases of harassment and bullying alone.

Both the Twitch channel and the convention spaces I perform in will be safe havens where everyone is encouraged to express their true selves and revel in the joy I strive to provide. Hate, in any form, will be met with swift, decisive action: removal from an event and connection with convention staff for potential violations, or, in the realm of Twitch, an immediate ban from the channel accompanied by a formal report.

I want to assure you that none of these ideas for the upcoming months are new; they’re the values I have always held dear and a vision of what I want Anime Game Show Party Studios to embody.

In the spirit of transparency, I will be sharing the full written Guiding Principles document on our website for anyone to peruse. Please look for it in the coming days.

Though the world feels overwhelmingly uncertain right now, remember that none of us stand alone. Together, we will navigate this storm—and ultimately, we will rise and thrive.

Please take care of yourselves, and tell the folks you love that you love them.

Sincerely,
Dustin “Dusty” Riley
Founder/Producer, Anime Game Show Party Studios

Surveys updated

We have more surveys available! This update includes three new Card Sharks polls: One general survey for all anime/manga fans, one for anime/manga fans who are single, and one for anime fans who are ina relationship of some kind.

That brings us up to FOUR surveys available, enough to kill a good 20 minutes or so. You can send the survey page link at animegameshowparty.com/surveys to a friend and have them contribute too!

Thank you, Matsuricon 2024!

Matsuricon has come to a close, and it was a wonderful experience as always!

Huge thanks to the programming staff for having me back after a long absence thanks to COVID and medical recovery. Running Livin’ the Con Life, Jackbox, and Family Feud were experiences that went over well with attendees and I learned more about what works well and what needs to improve with each time I perform these events. In addition, the live premiere of Wipeout went incredibly smoothly and the atmosphere in the room was electric during the bonus round!

I also caught up with many longtime friends and recharged my batteries a bit.

Read more

“Tell the people you love that you love them.”

I got a recent ask on Tumblr about why I’ve begun to add this phrase to the end of my shows, streams, and panels.

It’s to remind me, and everyone, how important it is to actually say out loud, that you love the people you love. Whether they’re family, extended family, lovers, children, friends, friends-turned-found-family, even pets. Every single one of the people you love deserves to hear that. And you deserve to hear it in return.

I didn’t get the chance to say it to Granny before she died earlier this year, and I wouldn’t want my worse enemy to go through the grief I have over not having that chance, and feeling like they didn’t express their love to the people who have gone before.

Never Too Early to Celebrate Anime Crossroads!

We’re pleased to be returning to the Indiapolis area for another exciting year of Anime Crossroads!

The con is in February 2025, but registration is open now. We’ll have a full docket of game shows and panels available later this year, around December or so. But don’t wait to register! Get the best price on your badge and book your room at the fantastic Embassy Suites Plainfield today!

In addition to updating our upcoming appearances, we’ve also added all our new shows to the Lineup page. Check it out to see what’s new!

CitrusCon lineup: Game On!

I can now tell you which events we’ll be performing at CitrusCon – and it’s all games!

  • Card Sharks (Premeire!)
  • Wipeout (Premeire!)
  • Wheel of Fortune
  • Fujin Pyramid
  • BL Against Humantiy (Revamped!)
  • Let’s Play LIVE!: The Jackbox Party Pack

CitrusCon is a FREE online BL conventions for fans 18 and older. Register today so you don’t miss out on the fun!

Matsuricon, here we come!

We have just gotten word that we will be heading to Matsuricon 2024 in Columbus, OH, just before Labor Day weekend!

Join us in Columbus from August 30 to September 1st as we present four events, including an at-con show premeire!

  • At-con premeire! Wipeout: A Fandom Game Show
  • Anime Family Feud
  • Let’s Play LIVE! The Jackbox Party Pack [18+]
  • Livin’ the Con Life: How to Get Started

Tickets are still available at matsuricon.org. We’re so excited to continue our long association with one of the best cons in the Midwest!

Thanks, Granny

My grandmother, Billie, died on Sunday, June 30, 2024, after fighting battles with heart failure, and dementia. She was 89.

Granny, as I call her, is such a big influence about what I do at conventions. She was a huge game show fan. She and I would spend summers during my grade-school years watching the afternoon game show blocks on cable TV and playing along. She would always smile and seem to enjoy herself when I started getting home versions of game shows as Christmas presents and was always a willing contestant for Living Room Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune.

Along with that love of the genre, she also gave me a desire to learn more about the world around me, and the courage and tenacity to be myself, even if I don’t neatly fit in.

My appearance at CitrusCon will continue as schedule, as will other events that may get added to the schedule. Though she never got to see any of them before… maybe now, wherever she may be, she’ll get to see what I do and how happy it makes me.

CitrusCon!

IT’S OUR FIRST GUEST APPEARANCE AT A CONVENTION!

I am so incredibly excited to be a Guest at CitrusCon, an online BL/yaoi convention, coming up in August. The full line up hasn’t been announced yet, but will include new Premieres and Exclusive Events you’ll see ONLY at CitrusCon!

CitrusCon is a FREE online convention for BL fans 18 and older, but you still have to register in order to secure your space and enjoy chats, camaraderie, and chaos, just like an in-person event!

We can’t wait to see you all there!

Update to LGBT State List

The list of states that we will not travel to has been updated with the most recent data from our sources.

Main changes:

  • Oklahoma moved down from Caution to Do Not Travel because of recent events.
  • Two new states,  Louisiana and North Carolina, were moved onto the “Caution” list.

This is not the direction we wanted to see things move, but there were a few states that had some positive updates to further cement their place as relatively safe places for visitors.

As always, please provide feedback on our list so we can better refine the list to our audience’s needs.

Ohayocon 2024: Final update

I will not be presenting at Ohayocon 2024. Unfortunately, the lead time I have been given to prepare and present panels is not enough to guarantee a quality event lineup for attendees or a pain-free process for staff members.

I wish the staff, panelists, and attendees of Ohayocon well, and I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.

–Dusty, founder/producer

THANK YOU and Hello, Anime Crossroads 2024!

We got some AMAZING news coming in this morning!
We have been accepted to perform a whopping eight panels at Anime Crossroads 2024 in Indianapolis, IN! On the docket will be all kinds of fun and thought-provoking content, including some premieres!

  • BL Against Humanity (In Person Con Premiere!)
  • You Got This! Chronic Illness, Conventions, and You
  • Anime Family Feud
  • Swords, Sorcery, and Spaceships: Final Fantasy IV, 30+ Years Later (Premiere!)
  • Anime Game Show Party
  • It Gets Better, 10+ Years Later: How to Make It Better (Premiere!)
  • Let’s Play LIVE! The Jackbox Party Packs (Including the new Party Pack 10!)
  • Anime Password Plus (Premiere!)

This is by far the MOST panels and events we’ve ever been approved to perform at a single convention! Our deepest thanks to the Anime Crossroads staff for giving us this amazing opportunity and putting their trust in us. We will make you proud!

This also means if you haven’t gotten your badge for Anime Crossroads, now is the time! You can save some money by buying your badge early at the link above.