Swancon 2024

Welcome to the (archive) site for Perth's premier Science Fiction and Fantasy convention!

In 2024 we are returning to The Rise in Maylands for a two day convention, from Saturday 20 April to Sunday 21 April 2024.

Come along to share in our love for Science Fiction and Fantasy in print, TV, art, gaming and other forms!

Our Major Sponsor

We thank The City of Bayswater for their support.

Venue

Swancon 2024 will be at The Rise in Maylands, on Guilford Road at Eighth and Ninth Avenues.

The venue has two rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs, giving us two rooms of panel/discussion/workshop with built-in AV upstairs, and gaming and Something Else downstairs.

It’s near the 41, 48 and 55 bus routes and the Maylands trains station. There are numerous restaurants including fast food chains nearby, and an IGA supermarket which advertises meal-style food next door.

There’s a lift and stairs going between the floors. It’s a modern venue and includes wide doors, no-step access and accessible unisex toilet. There are ACROD bays on Ninth Avenue at the north side of the building, connecting via a shallower-than-one-in-fourteen-slope footpath to the venue. There are additional ACROD bays off Eighth Avenue at the old Maylands Hall; and more underneath the venue, which connect to the venue via elevator.

Convention Rules and Code of Conduct

Members must obey the following rules when attending events organised by a subcommittee of the Western Australian Science Fiction Foundation Inc. (WASFF). Breaches of the rules may result in refusal of membership, revocation of membership, expulsion from the convention, or expulsion from WASFF.

Conduct

Member behaviour at WASFF events shall not be aggressive, offensive or harassing. Anyone whose behaviour disrupts the enjoyment of, invades the privacy of, or makes the environment unsafe for other attendees, or disrupts the running of the event, may be asked to moderate their behaviour or leave the event by venue staff, committee members or WASFF board members.

Illegal activity within the convention venue may be considered a breach of the rules.

The convention venue may set any additional rules for use of the venue. Convention members must respect any requests made by the convention venue, and entry to the convention venue is subject to venue staff assent.

Obey legitimate directions of venue staff, committee members, and WASFF board members.

Attire

Wear your badge at all times when within the convention area. Unless otherwise stated by the convention committee, when in the convention space, you should present your badge and dress appropriately for a public, child-friendly event.

Weapons or replica weapons are not permitted unless authorised by the committee. The committee may set any conditions on wearing or display that they feel appropriate. These conditions will typically include peace binding where appropriate.

Minors

Minors remain the responsibility of a responsible adult member of the convention. Children under the age of 12 must remain under the direct care of a responsible adult. Events and individual program items within the convention may be age restricted, and it is the responsibility of the responsible adult member to be aware of these rules and ensure that they are abided by.

Dealers

Merchandise is only to be sold in designated dealers areas. The Swancon committee may make the decision that any merchandise may be inappropriate for sale or display within the convention area.

Photography

Photography is permitted in public assemblies (more than 6 people), unless directed otherwise by a committee member. Photographers must obtain the permission of individuals or small groups (6 or less people) to photograph them.

Anti-Harassment Policy

We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone. We do not tolerate harassment of convention participants in any form including (but not limited to) offensive verbal comments, stalking, physical assault, or unwelcome physical attention.

Attendees and participants engaging in harassing behaviour will face sanctions and may be removed from the convention.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of Swancon Committee or a WASFF board member.

If you cannot find a committee or board member, anyone at the Swancon registration desk will be happy to assist.

Please also see the WASFF Values.

Accessibility Policy

We are dedicated to providing an accessible event. An accessibility coordinator will ensure that venues are evaluated based on their accessibility and will be available throughout the convention to address related issues as they arise.

If you notice any issues or room for improvement please raise them with the committee.

About Swancon

Swancon is Perth’s premier science fiction and fantasy convention and has been running for over 40 years.

Swancon 2024 is a two-day event featuring special guests, stallholders, authors, panels, games, activities and more! City of Bayswater residents can attend the first day for a gold coin.

Compared to other conventions you may have been to, fan-run conventions like Swancon focus less on things like autographs and more on being able to talk to people, including our guests. This year's programme has two streams of panels, presentations and workshops; one room dedicated to board games, with a focus on creating a welcoming environment to those who would like to learn a new game or get seated with a group to play a game; one room dedicated to console gaming; and one room for dealers and traders.

Come along to share in our love for science fiction and fantasy in print, TV, art, gaming, pop culture and other forms!

Swancon 2024 Programme Guide

Convention time for Australia/Perth, shown in bold.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
08:00
Open console gaming
Board Room,
Track: Console games,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Come play some console games and feel free to ask for a game you want to play!
09:00
Mario Kart tournament
Board Room,
Track: Console games,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Want to prove you're a good racer? Then come race against others as characters from Nintendo on a variety of courses.
10:00
Opening Ceremony
Large Panel Room,
Track: ConComm,
Panel,
Saturday,
We open the convention. We introduce the guests and committee, and discuss the running of the convention and the many events you can enjoy.
10:30
Is this your first convention?
Large Panel Room,
Track: Fan Interest,
Panel,
Saturday,
If you have never been to a convention before, or never a Swancon, or are wondering how it works and how to find the fun, and curious about this thing called science fiction fandom and how it works, this is the panel for you.
11:00
RPGs as Spectator Sports
Small Panel Room,
Track: Gaming,
Panel,
Saturday,
For most of the history of table top RPGs, the idea that they would be spectator sports would have seemed funny. But now they are real and real money, from both gaming community heroes like Matt Mercer and Critical Role, and celebrities from Wil Wheaton to Aunty Donna. This seems a new, and possibly transformative, direction for the hobby, but how will it change it?
Are the Omens Good?
Large Panel Room,
Track: Media,
Panel,
Saturday,
After the writer’s strike we now have confirmation that the 3rd and final season has been confirmed and we have Questions, so many Questions. Was there anything in the coffee? What is the Metatron up to? Who was Crowley originally? How many times will Aziraphale have to do the apology dance in season 3? How much emotional pain did S2E6 cause worldwide? (Will contain spoilers).
12:00
Pokemon TCG Tournament and meetup
Gaming,
Track: Gaming,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Players can compete in the tournament, learn to play the Pokemon TCG and trade or swap cards. Rental decks available.
Space Ship Building contest
Family,
Track: Family,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Using an assortment of materials provided, make and build a spaceship! Then show it off and explain your creation.
Moving Out trials
Board Room,
Track: Console games,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
As a certified F.A.R.T. it's time to see which of you can work as a team to move the clients furniture and stuff the fastest and best!
Queer/LGBTQIA+ Publishing
Large Panel Room,
Track: Writing,
Panel,
Saturday,
There is a vibrant local publishing scene for queer/LGBTQIA+ genre fiction that does not get a lot of mainstream attention.
Electrify all the things
Small Panel Room,
Track: Science,
Panel,
Saturday,
Electricity has been one of the foundations of modern industrial society for over a century - and now almost everything about it is changing, and must change more. How we generate it, what we use it for, how we pay for it, how we distribute it.
12:30
Dealers room Saturday
Traders,
Track: Fan Interest,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
All the things!
14:00
Design a board game workshop
Family,
Track: Family,
Workshop,
Saturday,
Using an assortment of bits and pieces provided, come up with a board game and then play test it with your fellow creators! This programme item is aimed at younger creators.
Juliet Marillier guest interview
Large Panel Room,
Track: GOH,
Interview,
Saturday,
Juliet Marillier is interviewed by her friend Carol Ryles about her life and work.
15:00
Quick play games
Gaming,
Track: Gaming,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Come learn to play an assortment of quick to play board games.
Smash Bros Ultimate tournament
Board Room,
Track: Console games,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Compete in this multi franchise fighting game to see who's the best fighter and best character in a brawl.
Character & Creature Design with Austen
Large Panel Room,
Track: Art,
Workshop,
Saturday,
Join Austen Mengler; concept artist, illustrator and creature designer for horror, science fiction & fantasy films, comics and videogames as he walks you through the beginning stages of creating concept artwork digitally in Photoshop. From prompts from the audience Austen will create an original monster while also explaining his process of mixing traditional & digital artwork
Conventions from Hell
Small Panel Room,
Track: Communities,
Panel,
Saturday,
Conventions can be wonderful. And conventions can be not so wonderful... but what happens when conventions don't go well can make for good stories. A few convention and event organising veterans talk about when it didn't go so well.
16:00
Play test your board games
Family,
Track: Family,
Workshop,
Saturday,
Using the board games you've created, play test them with friends and other creators!
WASFF Annual General Meeting
Small Panel Room,
Track: ConComm,
Panel,
Saturday,
The Annual General Meeting of the West Australian Science Fiction Foundation. This will include election of the next board, and consideration of the bids for future Swancons. Details: https://wasff.sf.org.au/?q=announce
Juliet Marillier Reading
Large Panel Room,
Track: GOH,
Reading,
Saturday,
Juliet Marillier reads her work.
17:00
Introduction to ChatGPT and generative AI
Large Panel Room,
Track: Science,
Lecture,
Saturday,
a short introduction to the history of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. I will discuss some of the benefits and pitfalls of these new technologies. I will then give a live demo of ChatGPT using examples of how it can help with writing tasks. We will conclude with time for discussion and questions in an open and informal setting.
19:00
Ticket to Ride tournament
Gaming,
Track: Gaming,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Come complete in a tournament to be the best rail baron! Starting tickets for all players and games will be preset at the start!
Nerf target range
Family,
Track: Family,
Panel,
Saturday,
Come try some nerf guns and fire at targets to get your score! Safe goggles and help with loading guns provided.
Halo Madness
Board Room,
Track: Console games,
Participatory Event,
Saturday,
Come play in some crazy shoot 'em up matches against other players! Enjoy several game modes, maps and shenanigans!
The State of your Privacy
Small Panel Room,
Track: Communities,
Panel,
Saturday,
Every year it seems there are new threats to our privacy - AI, medical records, discount and 'loyalty' schemes, security demands, face recognition, and new legal powers for law enforcement. The panel discusses the current state of privacy and threats to privacy: legal, technical, business and social.
Finding the Good Stuff in the streaming world
Large Panel Room,
    Track: Media,
    Discussion Group,
    Saturday,
    A lot of fantastic science fiction and fantasy content can be found on various streaming service - Netflix, Stan, Amazon, Apple and others are making a lot of fantastic SF content, and huge quantities of older content is available as well. But amidst this torrent of content options, where and how do you find the really good stuff?
    20:00
    So what actually is an incubus?
    Large Panel Room,
    Track: Literature,
    Lecture,
    Saturday,
    An incubus or succubus is just a vampire who's abandoned all plausible deniability, right? Is there really anything more to the idea that evil is sexy? Was there ever any real incubus folklore? Come down to hear all about (literal) horny devils, sleep paralysis, witch hunts, bad Freudian analysis, how demons build new bodies out of all the semen you waste by masturbating, and that one time James I of England published a three part screenplay just to convince the Scottish public it's all true.
    21:00
    I've got 99 anxieties but (car) range ain't one
    Large Panel Room,
    Track: Science,
    Panel,
    Saturday,
    An overview about my experiences (and learnings) about electric car ownership, from how charging works, where you can charge, what apps to use, what costs are involved, taking long trips and general care and feeding of an electric vehicle. This is a revised and revisited version of the presentation from GenghisCon 2023, with additional facts and anecdotes from the 16 more months I’ve had with the car!
    K-pop
    Small Panel Room,
    Track: Music,
    Discussion Group,
    Saturday,
    Come talk about K-pop! Who is your favourite group? What do you like or dislike about K-pop?
    22:00
    Among us in person!
    Board Room,
    Track: Console games,
    Participatory Event,
    Saturday,
    Bring your phone, tablet or laptop and join in around the table for in person among us with in person emergency meetings!
    Sunday, April 21, 2024
    09:00
    Pokemon VCG Tournament
    Board Room,
    Track: Console games,
    Participatory Event,
    Sunday,
    Come participate in the Pokemon VG game tournament. Battles are singles team of 6. You will need your own Switch and game to join.
    10:00
    What makes a great setting for a game?
    Small Panel Room,
    Track: Gaming,
    Panel,
    Sunday,
    What are the great settings for games, and how do you make one? Is a great setting the same as great world building? What are the all time classics?
    11:00
    Independent Publishing for Literature and Games
    Large Panel Room,
    Track: Maker,
    Panel,
    Sunday,
    If you are interested in producing your own publication, both books and magazines, and games (such as through DriveThruRPG), in digital or print, come hear from some people who have been involved in multiple publications in multiple roles.
    Enumerating Cartesian Products of the N-Spheres
    Small Panel Room,
    Track: Science,
    Lecture,
    Sunday,
    Want to learn a bit about N-dimensional geometry? Stretch your brain with some mathematics? An actual jargon filled and equation dense lecture about toratypes and prototypes, including original made up shapes such as the torishere and the duo cylinder.
    12:00
    Quokka Games
    Gaming,
    Track: Gaming,
    Participatory Event,
    Sunday,
    Our Sponsor Quokka games has sent over some games for you to enjoy! Come learn how to play them!
    Craft a plushie!
    Family,
    Track: Maker,
    Workshop,
    Sunday,
    Come make a plush toy creature or friend! Materials and tools provided.
    Genshin Impact and Star Rail meetup
    Board Room,
    Track: Console games,
    Participatory Event,
    Sunday,
    Join other trail blazers and travellers in Tavat and the Astral express on some adventures together. You will need your own phone, tablet or PC to play!
    DnD hop-in hop-out quick sessions
    Gaming,
      Track: Gaming,
      Participatory Event,
      Sunday,
      Ever wanted to learn Dungeons and Dragons? Then come play in our easy to learn hop in hop out quick play sessions.
      Dealers room Sunday
      Traders,
      Track: Fan Interest,
      Participatory Event,
      Sunday,
      ALL THE THINGS!
      ACE representation in SF Media
      Small Panel Room,
      Track: Media,
      Panel,
      Sunday,
      Asexual and Aromantic representation in SF Media. One of the invisible orientations, as it were, because it's more noticeable when people are interested in romance etc., than when they're not; for those of us who fall under the Ace umbrella, it is nice to find examples of representation in media we consume, whether TV, movies, video games or books. Panel will contain discussions on known examples and recommendations will be welcome, etc.
      Music in science fiction and fantasy
      Large Panel Room,
      Track: Music,
      Panel,
      Sunday,
      Music has always been a popular part of fantasy and science fiction, and music has become an iconic part of science fiction and fantasy media. We take a look at key and favourite music over time.
      14:00
      Plush toy wars
      Family,
      Track: Gaming,
      Participatory Event,
      Sunday,
      Bring your plush toys, bring your newly made creations and battle it out to see whose is the ultimate plush toy!
      Practical Uses of Artificial Intelligence
      Small Panel Room,
      Track: Science,
      Panel,
      Sunday,
      The technologies known as Artificial Intelligence and/or Machine Learning have exploded in capabilities and use recently. They have gone from science fictional dreams to standard workplace tools. What is it like using them in the workplace, and what are the issues to be aware of?
      Storytime with Pauli
      Large Panel Room,
      Track: GOH,
      Panel,
      Sunday,
      Novels, comic, games and anecdotes!: Paul Kidd - a life of storytelling
      15:00
      War games with Fan Guest of Honour Pauli Kidd
      Gaming,
      Track: Gaming,
      Workshop,
      Sunday,
      Interested in war gaming and miniatures? Then come play and explore war gaming with our Fan Guest of Honour, Pauli Kidd.
      Jack box games
      Board Room,
      Track: Console games,
      Participatory Event,
      Sunday,
      Bring your phone or tablet and some friends for some fun party games on jack box TV.
      Square Kilometre Array
      Large Panel Room,
      Track: Science,
      Lecture,
      Sunday,
      A presentation on the current state of the Square Kilometre Array project, WA's own Big Science project that can potentially provide many new insights and details about the universe.
      Storytelling within a Story
      Small Panel Room,
      Track: Writing,
      Panel,
      Sunday,
      When the character of the storyteller becomes a character within the story, and the nature of the narration becomes part of the story itself.
      16:00
      Colouring-in contest
      Family,
      Track: Family,
      Participatory Event,
      Sunday,
      Come colour in some pictures and show off your creativity.
      Feedback for the committee
      Large Panel Room,
      Track: ConComm,
      Panel,
      Sunday,
      An opportunity to provide feedback to the committee about how the convention could be improved.
      16:30
      Closing Ceremony
      Large Panel Room,
      Track: ConComm,
      Meeting,
      Sunday,
      The Closing Ceremony. There will be awards. Many people will be thanked.
      17:00
      Bump-out
      Large Panel Room,
        Track: Roomturn, etc.,
        Room Turn,
        Sunday,
        Help us clean up. Pull all tape off the floors; coil cables and put them on the presenters' tables. Stack chairs in stacks of, um 10, I think, and stack them at the window side of the rooms. Venue staff will deal with tables and partitions.
        18:30
        Dead Dog party
        Seasonal Brewing Co,
          Track: Fan Interest,
          Participatory Event,
          Sunday,
          Join us at the Seasonal BrewingCo after the convention closes, and we shall dine and imbibe together.
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