Playing Games Can Help Build Houses
Just by rolling the dice, you can visit other worlds, engage in intergalactic battles, take on fire-breathing beasts and help Spokane families buy homes.
The 17th annual Game Faire, which raises money for Habitat for Humanity, plays out at Spokane Falls Community College Friday through Sunday.
Every year, gaming enthusiasts from all over the Inland Northwest converge on the fair to engage in a veritable plethora of games - from role-playing fantasy games to miniature games (pieces are miniature figurines) to more traditional games like chess and board games.
About 400 people turned out each of the three days last year, and nearly $1,000 was raised for Habitat for Humanity.
David Smith, manager of Merlyn’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Store and one of the fair’s organizers, expects to pull in more people and more money for Habitat this weekend.
This year’s Game Faire, sponsored by Merlyn’s, features more games, a costume contest, a panel discussion, a game auction, dealer and memorabilia tables and special guests from gaming companies.
“We’ve kind of covered everything to interest everybody,” says Smith.
The game auction (the money is divided between the game owner and Habitat for Humanity) is a substantial draw at Game Faire.
“A lot of people just come in for Saturday so they can get into the auction,” Smith says. “A lot of stuff shows up that you just don’t see anymore, stuff that’s out of print that we can’t get. Somebody will dig it out of their closet and bring it in, and people just go crazy over it.”
One of the other big attractions ought to be “Magic: The Gathering,” an infectiously popular card game that melds gamesmanship with fantasy. “Magic: The Gathering” is a battle of technical and strategic abilities.
“‘Magic’ just has a huge, huge, huge following,” says Smith. “That’s the one that all the kids in high school and all the kids in college are playing. It took the place like wildfire.”
Not all games require expertise or previous experience. Family games like “Advanced Civilization” and “Little Green Men” take minutes to learn.
Game Faire will be held Friday from 5-11:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Spokane Falls Community College Student Union Building, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Tickets are $8 Friday and Sunday, and $10 Saturday. A weekend pass is $20. You can pre-register for Game Faire at Merlyn’s, 1 N. Post, or pay at the door. For more information, call David Smith at Merlyn’s at 624-0957.
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