Want to 'immerse' yourself in STEM, gaming and more? Henrico convention June 22-23 has you covered

An immersive experience designed to advance engagement and education within the STEM community while fostering pathways to new career opportunities – and providing lots of chances to have fun – is coming to Henrico County this weekend.

ImmerseCon will hold its first in-person convention June 22-23 at the Henrico Sports and Events Center in Glen Allen. Convention creators Jeramy Moore, Jarrell Springfield, Andy Gernux and graphic designer Joshua Lee (who formed the event last year) hope it will become a turning point for the STEM and gaming community within the region.

The group initiated the journey with the goal to “advance STEM careers and education, highlight local (geek) enthusiast communities in Central Virginia, and create the type of convention that we'd like to attend, one that is green, focused on experiences and looks ahead to the future instead of the past,” said Moore.

The convention will feature a variety of events, including a robotics gala, indie developer showcase, 2024 RVA esports, a free play arcade, table top games, panel discussions, artist alley, and a cosplay contest.

The robotics gala will allow attendees to interact with, control, program, and build a variety of robots. The Immersecon organizers also invited four robotics teams from the area to participate.

The indie developer showcase offers the opportunity for attendees to test five indie games, learn how they were created and speak to the developers themselves about the process and inspiration behind their game.

According to the ImmerseCon website, in addition to indie games, attendees will have the chance to “compete head-to-head with gamers worldwide in thrilling video game tournaments featuring your favorite titles.”

Titles include: Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Call of Duty: Modern War 3, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and Rocket League.

ImmerseCon also will offer attendees the ability to play with a wide variety of gaming platforms, featuring, Xbox, PlayStation, and Meta Quest. Each player will be limited to a 30-minute time limit in order “to accommodate as many enthusiastic gamers as possible,” said a spokesperson for Immersecon.

In order to facilitate players of all levels, Immersecon has a team of gaming ambassadors who will be at the ready to answer any questions or assist with the gaming devices.

Although this convention is centered around STEM and video games, it also offers a unique table top experience.

On June 22, the tabletop game available to players will be Warhammer: Age of Darkness Frontline, while the following day I r will be Warhammer: Age of Sigmar.

Another event open to attendees is an interactive panel.

According to the ImerseCon website, the panel will cover many topics with the intent to inspire listeners – “whether it's delving into the complexities of robotic engineering, exploring artistic expressions in VR, or discussing strategic advancements in video game development, our panels are designed to ignite curiosity, foster education, and facilitate networking among a wide array of interests and industries.”

The panel lineup is:
• 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Titus Walker, Polo, AV, and Speedie from the Ultimate Endgamers League;
• 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. – Eli Harris,;
• 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. – Tech 4 Troops.

The final panelist during the 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. time slot has not yet been determined.

The Ultimate Endgamers League will hold a discussion regarding the significance of diversity in gaming while exploring strategies to help foster an inclusive and welcoming esports community. Members also will reflect upon and share their own experiences about the diversity of the industry.

Harris has worked with companies such as Disney, Microsoft, Bethesda, and UFC. He describes himself as an advocate for veterans and the BiPoc community within the gaming and animation communities.

Tech 4 Troops is a nonprofit organization that works towards successful reintegration into civilian life for veterans by providing them with refurbished computers and technology training.

ImmerseCon also will provide an Artist Alley, giving local artists and creators the opportunity to display, present and sell their work. The intent is to applaud individual talent and encourage collaboration and strengthen the community and bonds between the artists themselves as well as the audience.

In addition, there will be a cosplay showcase encouraging all cosplayers from beginners to masters to showcase their work. Contestants will participate by walking on stage to exhibit their costumes where they will then be judged by a panel.

“We believe ImmerseCon can accomplish [our goals] this year,” Moore said. “The entire team is looking forward to advancing the features and offerings year over year.”

All tickets and forms to sign up for the array of interactive and immersive activities are available at the ImmerseCon website.