Riot at PAX West

Riot·Aug 24, 2018·2 votes·48,511 views

PAX West 2018 kicks off in less than one week, and we’re headed back to show our support for one of the best communities in games.

Our headline event this year is Playoffs in the Park, a two-day viewing party for NA LCS Semifinals but also much, much more! Expect a ton of stuff to do, including Cosplay Meetups & Showcases, Meet & Greets, and Team Liquid Giveaways. You’ll also get to watch some amazing streamers do their thing live from our Alienware Streaming Truck, including:

Rin the Yordle | DaraDef | Bacheum | Asta Young | CassieFoxHeart (Dildont) | ScarizardPlays | YouGelly | AzaleaLura | Narz

Event details:

Saturday & Sunday (9/1-9/2): 10 AM - 8 PM
Westlake Park (4th Ave & Pike/Pine St)
Semifinals begin: Saturday (9/1) @ 2 PM/ Sunday (9/2) @ 12 PM
No PAX badge required!

At PAX itself, writers and editors from Riot’s narrative team are hosting a panel to discuss their approach to story craft and lore building within Runeterra. Join us for Stories Beyond Summoner’s Rift: Narrative at Riot Games at 2 PM on Sunday (9/2) in the Main Theater.

We’re also bringing back our always-popular Cosplay Repair + Creator Pit Stop to support the incredible PAX cosplay & creator community. Throughout the event, any and all cosplayers & crew are welcome to drop by Room 614 for rest or repairs.

Right next door in Room 613 we’re hosting a variety of sessions to support women and non-binary folks who are interested in getting into games professionally. Stop by to learn from and get to know some of the badass women of Riot! Tentative schedule below, but all subject to change—stop by the room Friday-Monday for a daily schedule.

10 AM-12 PM: 1-on-1 resume review & feedback
12-3 PM: Presentations including:

Art + Champions/Skins Design
How to be a Producer
Narrative Writing
Production Careers
Game Design
Advanced Cosplay

3-4:30 PM: Meditation / quiet space hour (except Sunday)
4:30-6 PM: “Ask a Rito” (Stop by and chat with a Rioter)

Attending PAX is always one of our highlights, and we can’t wait to see you there or at Playoffs in the Park!

127 Comments

RaharuAug 28, 201839 votes

Are the game development and career presentations exclusive to women and non-binary folks? I am deeply interested in the subject matter and meeting Rioters is always fun, but I am neither a woman or non-binary. Am I still welcome to check these events out?

RiotRiot swimbananasAug 29, 201811 votes

The first two events of room 613 will be only open to women and nonbinary folks.(there might be some exceptions. I will try and post on Twitter the sechedule everyday) However, all the activities of the room will be open to all after 3pm, including the "Ask a Rito" time. :D

Dat FlankAug 31, 201887 votes

Can you explain to me how being sexist against all men solves Riot's sexism problem? Do men just have a free ticket into games or something? How is the problem any different for women and "non binary" people? If a man wants to get into games why isn't he allowed in the room? Great job trying to solve your sexism with even worse sexism 👌 literally pathetic.

LazlitoSep 1, 201816 votes

based and redpilled item 2003

Glyph of ChangeSep 1, 20183 votes

Can you explain to me how being sexist against all men solves Riot's sexism problem?

This is a straw man - you're addressing a claim no one made.

Do men just have a free ticket into games or something? How is the problem any different for women and "non binary" people?

Yes, men have a massive advantage in getting into games. There is no other explanation for why a conservative 75% of people in game development are men, with even higher percentages for executive roles and jobs seen as more "engineering"-focused.

Women and non-binary people have different problems because they have different experiences.

If a man wants to get into games why isn't he allowed in the room?

The events in the room are "to support women and non-binary folks." Men simply aren't the target audience.

If a doctor has an appointment to try and help a patient with a health problem they're having, it's not an attack on anyone else when the doctor takes that patient into a private room to talk about their issues. Other people can have health problems too... and they can see other doctors, or even the same doctor at different times - they don't have a right to get into that room, too.

DyzziSep 1, 201827 votes

It's about them banning men, this is blatant sexism. If it were the opposite, and it was a men only room because "women aren't the target audience, and wouldn't be interested in it" there would be uproar. I fail to see how this is any different. They are just ostracizing a large portion of the community, simply for a PR stunt.

SKT T1 IUs Oppa Sep 1, 201823 votes

Ever since the misogyny/immaturity scandal broke out, I knew riot would counter with far-left policies rather than actually fixing the problem. That's what most large companies do after all.

ZaddnSep 2, 20182 votes

The funny thing is that during the Clash event, the comment section consistently reminded everyone that Riot isn't a large company. They used that excuse to defend Riot for Clashes failure to run smoothly. Which is understandable. That being said, it's funny to me that the same excuse isn't except-able in defending them here. My point is that Riot, not being governed by a large business, should know better.

RabblerouserSep 4, 20182 votes

This more a reply to Zaddn than Oppa, but the comments don't support going that deep:

I think "small indie company" has been said ironically. People who take that meme at face value are... well... they need to realize Riot has global offices now. They are not a "small indie company" anymore.

ArakadiaSep 1, 20181 votes

I agree with you except for saying that this is 'worse' sexism. I don't know if you were trying to gatekeep sexism but it comes off as you trying to invalidate rape claims or blatant work sexism.

Dat FlankSep 9, 20184 votes

Banning all men is worse sexism than anything they've done to women.

ItsFreakinHarrySep 1, 201830 votes

Hmm, so basically it isn't discriminatory if it is against men instead of women, right?

Sure I know yall are desperate to fix the major issues plaguing women in the company but this is not a valid excuse for something like this at all.

BALDG1VEN BOOMERSep 1, 20183 votes

I think Glyph explained it pretty well, everyone here is just overreacting trying to play double standard SJW.

Point being said in public events sometimes we split people based on gender, such as sports event, everyone is invited but those whom are playing will most likely be separated on their gender if you were playing say basketball.

ntbcoolSep 1, 201814 votes

They aren't splitting genders, they are literally taking a large part of their content and making it women only to try and cover a scandal. That is extremely sexist.

BALDG1VEN BOOMERSep 2, 20183 votes

So promoting women in the video game industry is wrong? Cool

A Palmtop TigerSep 2, 20188 votes

{quoted}

So promoting women in the video game industry is wrong? Cool

So I guess promoting one gender specifically at the expense of the other is wrong? Cool.

It is almost like the definition of sexism!!! [zombie-brand-mindblown]

BALDG1VEN BOOMERSep 3, 20182 votes

How is it at the expense of another when the majority is already 80%?

Just because they tried to make a room to promote their ideas towards a certain group that doesn’t have a big population doesn’t make it sexism.

ntbcoolSep 3, 20186 votes

You realize 613 is the ONLY room there are no other workshops, besides some shitty ass ask riot for an hour. Even if you think this was a good thing to do, people (mostly men) had got tickets to PAX to see riot games and are now banned because they are men. That's fucking stupid, and so shitty especially because it's all a PR move to try and cover up their recent controversy.

This is not genuinely being done to help women, it's being done to save face with the female community.

A Palmtop TigerSep 3, 20188 votes

{quoted}

How is it at the expense of another when the majority is already 80%?

Just because they tried to make a room to promote their ideas towards a certain group that doesn’t have a big population doesn’t make it sexism.

Sexism is discrimination against any gender. Riot is very clearly discriminating against men in this scenario.

By your logic, I guess it should then be acceptable to ban women from entering nursing conferences for the first 2 hours because the majority of nurses are women.

Discriminating against a certain group to try to FORCE equal representation is still discrimination at the end of the day.

LimmieSep 1, 20183 votes

If they're doing this to try and make up for Fartgate, it backfired hilariously.

Dat FlankAug 31, 201864 votes

No because according to Riot all men get a free ticket into games and you don't get to see whatever Riot has to say because that would be sexist against women and "non binary" if men got to have the same rights.

It's a fact that when it comes to:

Art + Champions/Skins Design

How to be a Producer

Narrative Writing

Production Careers

Game Design

Advanced Cosplay

men naturally know it all by default

that's what Riot games thinks so it's ok to be sexist against all men that's fine

cheese8584Aug 31, 20185 votes

oof someone sounds upset

MagmaprincessAug 31, 201859 votes

Sexism is generally pretty upsetting, yeah.

Lunar ArcSSep 1, 20185 votes

Imagine wanting to encourage minorities in male dominated areas being a bad thing.. Holy fuck this was so embarrassing to read.

Do you know how many women get shit c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y for just playing the game. My main account is plat 3 as a mid lane main and I still get shit like "You got boosted bc you are girl"

Like Sexism is heavy in gaming communities and god forbid riot does something to try and make up for it? Holy Christ.

MeyuuSep 1, 201850 votes

Oh yeah? I'm also Plat 3, and a female. I go in discord chats with my teams all the time.

Even if I get a LITTLE bit of rudeness from some players, I can genuinely say that most of my teams are 100% cool with me being female, or don't care(optimal). You're always going to get people who flame you because that's how videogame communities work. You report them and move on.

Whether it's racism, sexism, general harassment, it all sucks. But you're being sexist by encouraging the exclusion of males, end of story. As someone who IS working on an indie videogame, it's painful for me to conceptualize that we need to kick people out of such a great learning opportunity made by Riot. "Holy fuck this was so embarrassing to read" - Well I'm embarrassed to be a girl right now, because of people like you who will be attending this without a thought for the poor guys waiting outside.

Also if you can't handle the language of the game being masculine like "hey guys" and "bro, dude, man" .. as someone who always goes "wat up boiz" in the chat every ranked game to perk up the mood, I laugh to know you're offended by such a minuscule thing. Get a grip.

Siren of ResolveSep 2, 201813 votes

My boyfriend mentioned this to me earlier today, but it was so outlandish that I brushed it off thinking he was joking around. You don't fight sexism with sexism. Honestly, I expected so much better from Riot... Even with more and more people abandoning this game, I still had hope. In the 5 or so years I've been playing this game, I've been "harassed" 3 times, and one of those times was by a female. Even still, it's a video game. You shouldn't let what some random person in their parents'basement say affect us so heavily.

That being said, I demand a male only session as well (that I will respectfully wait outside of until the NORMAL "mixed/all group" session begins.

kaozbenderSep 1, 20185 votes

Just claim to be a woman or identify as one. By Feminist/LGBT's logic it wouldn't be ok to not accept you for what you identify as. Gottem.

DyzziSep 1, 201820 votes

Why should I have to lie to be treated equal? Kinda bull shit.

CrazyACESep 1, 201828 votes

Uninstalling league. Not only is the direction of the game gone horrendously bad but also its management decision-making on becoming a raging SJW organization

Dat FlankAug 31, 201815 votes

players have been banned for less sexist chat messages 👌

ntbcoolSep 1, 201813 votes

So if your a guy there is no point in going to PAX because basically all of the content is female only. Honestly, hope no one shows up because that's so fucking stupid.

SrigimigugSep 2, 201811 votes

Imagine paying for an event only to be told you can't attend at the door because you have a penis

TheFoxWolfSep 6, 20182 votes

Thanks to Riot I don't have to imagine anymore. Lol.

RiotRiot swimbananasAug 24, 20189 votes

If any cosplayers want to come to the league meet up, we would love to have you: https://www.facebook.com/events/215417959321646/

DyzziSep 1, 201855 votes

Unless you are a man, right?

JmmanSep 1, 20187 votes

So do I have to cosplay as a girl or gay to get it or are males allowed to cosplay. Just trying to get my head around all the new Liberal insanity.

CL0UDYSep 1, 20185 votes

just cosplay as taric or ezreal. Gotem.

Tenth LeperSep 1, 20188 votes

I don't want to join the downvote posse, so I will simply add my voice to this thread to mention to any purusing rioters that this discriminatory pax business is extremely unwelcome and unpleasant. I am not sure it is enough to make me stay away from your products forever, but it is enough to have me uninstalling for today to calm myself down.

Siren of ResolveSep 2, 20183 votes

Same here, Tenth, and I'm a woman.

Drago326Sep 2, 20188 votes

And now after reading this, I am 100% uninstalling this dogshit game.

Riot is nothing but a joke. bye bye retard company!

Wizard BlazeSep 2, 20188 votes

Should i chop off my genitals to come?

Siren of ResolveSep 2, 20187 votes

That being said, I demand a male only session (that I will respectfully wait outside of until the NORMAL "mixed/all group" session begins.

NorpheaSep 2, 20186 votes

I don't understand, You have a sexist issue within your company so you throw over half your player base under the bus? I think the problem you have might be within your company not the player base, pull your heads out of your asses please.

Stars ShaperSep 1, 20185 votes

Fascist move from Riot.

Alis ContritumSep 1, 20185 votes

good job riot games keep digging that hole you're in it'll work out somehow i'm sure of it

Poolparty SauronSep 1, 20185 votes

If there was ever a time to purge cancerous elements from your LA offices Riot. This is it. Top to bottom, full company reconstruction, no mercy if you want to keep getting money cus people are not here to suffer politics, they are here to play a damned game. Fix your fucking head.