Inside Heartland Gaming Con — How a local event is resh…

From rare collectibles to handmade crafts, miniatures, and tournaments, the 2nd Annual Heartland Gaming Con took over the A.C. Brase Arena Building on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. Drawing guests from across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the convention brought together gamers of all kinds — from tabletop RPG players to video game fans, cosplayers and collectors.

At the heart of the event are cousins Nicolette Tanksley of Cape Girardeau and Chris Elfrink of Jackson, who created the convention out of their shared love for gaming and a desire to build something local.

“We’re both nerds, we like nerdy stuff,” Tanksley said. The two grew up together, often staying up all night playing video games at Tanksley’s house. “Chris’s parents wouldn’t let him play them,” she added, laughing.

That lifelong enthusiasm turned into action when Elfrink asked himself, “After going to different gaming conventions, I thought why can’t we do it here?”

Part of the convention’s mission is to challenge stereotypes about gaming. “The stereotypical gamer is reclusive and kind of doesn’t get out — and we wanted to get past that,” Elfrink said.

Tanksley added, “Yes, this provides a space for them to link up and make friends and find some other gamers. There’s all kinds of gamers and they clearly are here.”