The Connections Oz conference has been running for over a decade thanks to the efforts of many contributors across the Australian wargaming community.
As the conference and blog move into their next phase, we are seeking input from the community to help shape future events and activities.
This short survey will help determine how the conference should run in the future and what the Australian professional wargaming community needs most.
Please follow the link to a google survey: Survey Link
Connections Oz has closed for another year. Thanks so much to all the presenters who gave up their time and everyone who participated.
While the online format is not as engaging as face to face and lacks the networking, it does seem to provide the most flexible way for us to get together.
Videos will be posted as soon as I can check they worked.
Please provide any feedback either as a comment here or via email.
I look forward to another conference next year around the same time.
Thanks again to everyone who presented and attended Connections Oz 2020.
I have begun uploading videos of the various presentations. Please have a look at the archive found here. We will keep adding videos as the presenters confirm they are happy to have them released.
For those who attended, please leave a comment below and stay tuned for information about 2021.
Also, don’t forget that Connections North (Canada) is on 19-21 Feb. Information is here https://paxsims.wordpress.com/connections-north/
Connections Oz is over for another year. Thanks to everyone who attended and for the enthusiastic participation. Thanks in particular to our two international visitors and keynote Jeff Appleget and Rob Burks from the US Naval Postgraduate School and to our second keynote speaker Dr Fred Bowden from DST Group.
Thanks also to the University of Melbourne and the team at the School of Computing and Information Systems for hosting us again.
I have archived the program here http://www.kriegspiel.com.au/connections/2017/Connections2017.html and put links to the slide decks that I have so far received.
Stay tuned for details about next year.
Feedback:
On the positive side:
three days seems about right
best to keep a mix of lectures and activities
it is great to have international participation
the game night and social activities are important
Room for improvement:
the goals/ mission/ identity of the group are not clear
add an activity on designing a game
broaden the connection to non-defence industries
involve military history academics
include some relevant side visits (as extra activities for later in the week)
get the program out much earlier
consider an icebreaker opening activity – such as a large game
Please post some further comments.
The 2016 conference has concluded. While the number of attendees was lower than past years, I believe we can call it a success.
Thanks to all those who presented, attended and participated in the activities with such enthusiasm. Slide decks etc will be available on the Resources page shortly. Please comment on the feedback below.
Looking forward to 2017.
We held a short feedback session and considered the following points:
Mix of activities and presentations
The venue
Breadth of topics/ guests/ participants
Relaxed atmosphere
Small group size – approximately 20
Exposure to new techniques
Relaxed social evening
Comfortable for novices to attend
Poor marketing
Connect with other industries
Invite game designers – for insights into game design
Game design workshop
Tighter schedule – build in explicit time for Q&A
Increase to 3 days
Consider charging a fee – encourage commitment and allow for some funds for marketing etc
Consider alternate locations – interstate?
Mariana put together a summary of the feedback from 2015. Please download the document from here and post comments below or send us an email.
Connections Oz 