Kelly Tutors
Events &
Reviews
Wise people always say, “Never be the smartest person in the room,” so we’ve got that covered!!
-
The blogs blend humor, storytelling, and insightful commentary about the experience of attending top-industry events as an outsider trying to learn. I document what is said (and not said).
Gamifying Education? Not Likely Against the Lobbying Curriculum Cartel
TLDR: Author attends a gaming-in-education panel featuring a Portal game designer and school district tech directors, learning that curriculum lobbying cartels and strict Common Core standards make it nearly impossible for indie game developers to get educational games into classrooms.
MOTHER WOLF TARGETS: Landfill Avoidance, Fashion Passion, The ‘Snowpiercer’ Breakdown, Orphanage Reflections, and Bean Farm Memories (Upon the Ma’amtrak Express)
TLDR: Kelly documents a train trip covering topics from landfill avoidance and fashion sustainability to orphanage reflections and gaming nostalgia, weaving together personal stories about parenting, travel observations, and cultural commentary.
Can Not Stop, Will Not Stop: The First Ever “Pull Party”…?
TLDR: A chaotic and comedic account of the author trying to attend GameStop's first-ever Pokemon "Pull Party" event, bouncing between two store locations where staff didn't know about the event, broke their own rules by picking winners early, and ultimately failed to deliver the advertised experience.
A Side Quest at the Gaming Showcase
TLDR: Kelly visits the indie section of a downtown gaming convention, rating her top and least favorite games while reflecting on the need for more educational and value-centered game design instead of themes glorifying destruction and escapism.
Honolulu Kawai’i Kon and Co.
TLDR: A working mom's account of attending the Kawaii Kon anime convention in Honolulu with her toddler, finding the venue underwhelming and food expensive but enjoying the interactive opening ceremony, Super Smash Bros tournament, and figurine painting station.
Launching a Product to Epic Proportions! Viral Marketing 101
TLDR: Two indie game developers share contrasting stories -- one whose game flopped and another whose game went viral -- delivering a masterclass in market research, Steam algorithms, streamer outreach, and launch strategy applicable to any product.
Seattle Creative Economy MXR SEA, 2024
TLDR: A multi-track creative technology event covering MXR/spatial entertainment, video game UI/level design, concept art, immersive storytelling, and VR trends -- plagued by tech issues and scheduling overlaps but rich in industry insights.
Gaming Convention, 2024
TLDR: A sprawling 10-floor gaming convention featuring live Tekken competitions, massive Nintendo exhibits, indie games, and immersive brand experiences. While the scale and energy were impressive, the post calls for more wholesome, educational games in the industry and critiques the prevalence of dark, violent, and oversexualized content aimed at young audiences.
Featured Blogs
