Staff reports
The Beaufort Independent Games Conference (BIG CON) returns to USC Beaufort for its second annual offering Friday, Feb. 20, from noon to 5 p.m. in Room 204 of the USCB Center for the Arts at 805 Carteret Street.
This year’s schedule is full of exciting events, including some incredible guest speakers representing the AAA video game industry and academia.
Those who attend the conference for the entire day will be entered into a drawing for one of two $100 gift cards to be given away: one $100 gift card for Steam, and one $100 gift card for the Nintendo eShop. The drawing will be held at 5 p.m. after the last speaker session has concluded. There will be a number of other giveaways, as well.
The event is free and open to the public, and no tickets are required, but the free food offered during the poster/demo session is limited.
2026 Beaufort Independent Games Conference (BIG CON) schedule
Noon to 1 p.m.: Poster/Interactive Demo Session featuring games created by past and present USCB students. Plus free lunch, while supplies last.
1 to 2 p.m.: Transitioning into Game Production — presented by Jesenia Vargas, a North Carolina-based game producer and independent consultant who is the current producer for the popular mobile game Heads Up! and has contributed to a number of well-known franchises including Madden and NBA Live.
2 to 3 p.m.: How to Win a Visual Effects Society Award — presented by David Johnson, founder and CEO of UndertoneFX in Savannah, who previously led Activision/Infinity Ward’s award-winning visual effects team for Call of Duty (and also worked on VFX for Halo and Destiny while at Bungie).
3 to 4 p.m.: Becoming Unmarketable – Appreciating Imperfect Games — presented by Evan Meaney, a tenured, award-winning full professor of game design and media arts (and media arts program coordinator) at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, whose projects include a number of experimental/abstract video games and VR experiences.
4 to 5 p.m.: Gaming Trends of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow — presented by Ken Fox, a longtime entertainment executive who has led teams at Meta, Activision, and LucasArts (LucasFilm Games), and most recently was the Charleston studio head for Side Inc., a QA (quality assurance) company that partners with a number of AAA publishers/developers.
Logistical notes
— USCB students with a valid Sand Shark ID or parking permit should park in the gravel/grass lot (Lot D) located between USCB Center for the Arts and the Grayson House building (entrance is near the intersection of Carteret & Greene streets).
— Those not affiliated with USCB should plan to park in one of the other lots on campus (including at 1100 Boundary Street, the Sea Islands Center gallery lot, etc.), anywhere along Carteret Street, or elsewhere in downtown Beaufort.
— The 2026 Beaufort International Film Festival is happening at the same time as BIG CON 2026, so parking may be a bit harder to come by than usual — plan accordingly and arrive early if you can!