The Cosplayer Survivor Support Network is a volunteer organization dedicated to improving the convention community and providing peer-to-peer support for members of cosplay community who are survivors of harassment, trauma, sexual assault, and/or abuse. To that end, we provide convention programming to educate congoers on the importance of consent, the aftereffects of trauma, and how to be an effective bystander. We want to create a safe community where survivors are treated with the respect they deserve by their peers, convention staff, and society at large.
Our conventions team consists of:
- Trickssi, CA: A cosplayer and formal ball specialist, Trickssi is the founder of CSSN and has been teaching and speaking in front of large crowds since about 2008. In addition to presenting panels on consent and trauma, she runs dance lessons for convention formal balls and is passionate about accommodating every kind of dancer regardless of age, ability, experience, orientation/identity, partner acquisition, and any other factor that might hinder someone from enjoying dance elsewhere. She was a volunteer with Uplift on their conventions team from 2017 until their dissolution in 2023.
- Feytaline: A cosplayer and photographer, Feytaline has been with CSSN since its inception. She has been working with conventions since 2005 and was a member of Uplift's social media team from 2017 until their dissolution in 2023. As a survivor herself, she is devoted to creating a community where people are safe to express themselves and where harmful attitudes are not accepted or rewarded.
- Fractali, CA: A writer and cosplayer, Fractali has a bachelor's in biology and psychology with a focus on personality and social psychology. Her honors thesis studied the effect self-esteem can have on rape myth acceptance in individuals who identify as female. She has almost twenty years experience working and volunteering with survivors of intimate partner violence, child abuse, and neglect and has completed courses with the Office for Victims of Crime's Victim Assistance Training. As a writer for CSSN, she's examined prejudices in the nerd community and their impact on trauma survivors and those with mental illness.
Both Trickssi and Fractali are nationally certified victim advocates (since 2021).
If you would like to have our conventions team present CSSN-sponsored content at your convention, please contact Trickssi at info@cosplayer-ssn.org with the subject line "Booking" and details of your offer.
If you wish to help fund our programming, you can donate via our PayPal. These funds are not tax-deductible and will be applied to any costs not covered by the convention, such as travel expenses or purchase of research/technical materials.
General Convention Programming
These panels are our bread and butter: simple but thorough lectures with special attention to harassment, stalking, abuse, and/or sexual assault in the cosplay and convention community. We are happy to tailor one of these existing panels or create a new one specific to your convention's needs and culture.
Topics in these panels are treated with the respect and responsibility they deserve and are introduced with appropriate content warnings. Typically, these panels do not provide space for Q&A due to the sensitivity of the topics.
| Blurb |
Our convention community has a real problem with harassment, but “Cosplay Is Not Consent” has not been fixing that OR the stalking, abuse, and assault that can occur. The Cosplayer Survivor Support Network (CSSN) would like to show you what’s really going on as a result of that phrase and offer solutions for today’s conventions and online experiences. #WeBelieveYou and your voice matters for safer, more enjoyable conventions for everyone, not just cosplayers. |
| Description |
Let us be frank: every convention wants to have a panel about “cosplay is not consent” typically given by guesting cosplayers of unknown origin. Why does ours stand out? We tell you exactly why “cosplay is not consent” is NOT helping the community, cosplayers and regular attendees alike, and then provide actual solutions. This isn't just "101: #MeToo, harassment happens, be positive!" This is "our organization has worked since 2016 to fight for convention-goers' safety with concerns of marginalized groups (especially among cosplayers) and we have studied the effects of this catchphrase in relation to written policy."
This panel is a lecture in three parts. First, we discuss the history of harassment at conventions, from "glomping" through the "Cosplay is not Consent" eras, and place it in context of the #MeToo movement. Next, we cover what makes a good convention harassment policy and the ways in which conventions can improve them. Last, we provide resources and encourage individuals to have the hard discussions with friends and family. There is no Q&A during this panel.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages sixteen (16) and older. |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
FanimeCon 2019, Digicon 2020, ComfyCozyCon 2020, E-hayocon 2021 |
| Description |
A guided group discussion/town-hall type workshop that focuses on recent events in the cosplay community, as well as how rape culture and current U.S. events are shaping the "nerd" community at large. Discussions include how "consent" in its many forms occurs in gaming of all types, anime communities/clubs, conventions, and/or anywhere else the audience volunteers to speak about. The audience will be asked what consent means to them and where the concept is or isn't working in their lives. We encourage—but do not mandate—audience members to share experiences or ask for advice.
Throughout and bookending, we provide resources for further education on peer-to-peer assistance, how to be an active bystander, how fandom can help or hurt its participants and/or creators, how consent ties into dating for geeks/specialized interest groups, support for survivors of sexual assault/abuse and those with mental health concerns, with a highlight on resources local to the convention. The workshop element develops organically as people present what they've noticed in the community.
The panel directly confronts themes of stalking, harassment, abuse, gaslighting, PTSD, depression/suicidal ideation, and rape/sexual assault; however, this information will not be presented in an obscene manner which would require an 18+ rating. We believe it's very important that all ages of audience be allowed to access the information of the panel. Even if it may seem that these themes may be difficult for younger attendees, it is vital to us that the resources and guidance from the panel be available for all ages, since these offenses can happen to anyone at any age.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages fourteen (14) and older. |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
Tekko 2019 |
| Blurb |
Despite the ubiquity of the phrase "cosplay is not consent" and efforts to revamp harassment policies, the patterns start to show. There's still a culture of harassment at conventions—but we can't fix it if we never face it! In this panel, we're shattering the silence. Trickssi, Ali, and Feytaline from the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network and Benjamin Woo and Kathryn Fedchun from the RoCCET Lab at Carleton University share what they've learned from reviewing and analyzing the codes of conduct and anti-harassment policies from hundreds of fan conventions. |
| Description |
TBD
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| Rating |
Recommended for most ages |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
[Upcoming TBD] |
| Blurb |
While Pitt JCS has worked with PAAR and Uplift to improve harassment policy, awareness, and intervention at its events, most other conventions aren’t as thoughtful. [We] discuss ways to stay empowered when conventions can’t, or won’t, protect you, and what to do in worst-case scenarios. |
| Description |
The Cosplayer Survivor Support Network guides you through ways to prepare yourself before and during a convention to feel safer. We'll advise about self-defense courses and dispel myths about how unsafe situations at conventions can happen. Lastly, we'll provide resources for you as a target, you as a bystander, and the community at large.
Please note: This panel was given as a one-time offering to PittJCS during Sangawa Project 2019, but can be updated to suit your convention.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages thirteen (13) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
Sangawa Project 2019 |
| Description |
This panel is in lecture format and explains why "Cosplay is not Consent" fails as a sufficient harassment policy at conventions. We discuss their own experiences at conventions and highlight how the simple, ubiquitous catchphrase didn't help. During the panel, we focus on what "Cosplay is not Consent" doesn't cover—such as attendees out of cosplay, abusive content in panels and other programming, how to find help when needed, and consequences for those harassing others.
The final part of the panel covers how anyone—whether in a position of power or not—can help improve policies and help those in trouble, and discusses how organizations like the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network (CSSN) and Uplift are banding together to create a positive change for a safer community for everyone at anime/gaming/nerd conventions. |
| Rating |
Recommended for ages fourteen (14) and older. |
| Panel Length |
Usually one (1) hour. |
| Previous Presentations |
Anime Mini 2017, Tekko 2017, Colossalcon 2017, Tekko 2018 |
| Blurb |
Through rose-colored cosplay lenses, all the red flags just look like flags. CSSN’s founder, a self-professed former “mean girl” turned advocate, shares how she grew away from being a casual cosplay bully only to have to survive years-long alleged cyberstalking in the same community. This panel will help differentiate “drama” from trauma, share basic crisis intervention skills, explain the BITE model, and provide resources for those who may be struggling. |
| Description |
This panel is exclusively given by Trickssi and is one of our most representative panels in terms of what our work aims to teach.
The panel gives a quick synopsis of Trickssi's story about bullying (and eventual stalking and harassment) in the cosplay community before launching into 6 key takeaways: that anyone can become a bully and ways you can avoid becoming one; if you’re experiencing interpersonal conflict, ways to tell whether what you’re going through is “conflict” or actual abuse/criminal behavior (Steven Hassan’s BITE model of authoritarian control is highlighted to contrast “Mean Girl” style cliques); if you don’t know what to do in a situation of prolonged cyberstalking, options for how you can pursue justice for yourself; red and green flags of friendship with examples specific to the cosplay community; tools from the crisis intervention toolkit that you can use to help a friend in an intense situation (inspired by the NOVA model, Safety-Security/Ventilation-Validation/Planning-Preparation); and trauma-informed resources for every type of community member to help build safer communities.
This is a lecture with accompanying slides/images/brief videos, injected with humor for entertainment value. Mean Girls and Heathers the musical references provide a relatable gateway into more specialized topics. This panel is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as legal or medical advice, and that fact is disclaimed throughout.
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| Rating |
Recommended for most ages; best understood age thirteen (13) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour–1.5 hours |
| Previous Presentations |
Anime Crossroads 2020, Maple Gel Con 2020, Tekko 2021, FanimeCon 2022, Tekko 2022, Ohayocon 2023 |
| Blurb |
Join Greater Than Games and the Cosplayer Survival Support Network in an introduction to CSSN's goals and ways to find support in our communities. |
| Description |
This is a panel about harassmeng in the gaming community and how individuals can help.
Please note: This panel was given as a one-time offering for GenCon 2022 with Greater Than Games, but can be updated to suit your convention and/or collaborators.
|
| Rating |
Recommended for most ages |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
GenCon 2022 |
| Description |
This is a group discussion/town-hall type workshop that allows individuals who have been stalked, harassed, bullied, abused, or sexually assaulted within our community to discuss their experiences with CSSN and discover resources for healing as well as bettering the nerd sphere. The panel serves as a "safe space" for people to talk about their concerns and experiences, as well as to ask for advice. Partipants are not required to share personal experiences, but for those who volunteer to, they are encouraged to avoid real names to protect the privacy of all involved. Anything that is shared during the workshop is not to leave the room.
As the workshop develops organically, we may touch on topics such as how to be an effective bystander, what to do if someone confides in you, and how to reach out to conventions to request that they update/improve their harassment policies. Resources—both national and local—are provided as needed and at the end of the workshop.
|
| Rating |
Recommended for ages sixteen (16) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
FanimeCon 2019 |
| Blurb |
Share your creepy or bizarre con experiences that can only be summed up in one word: YIKES! Interactive venting is led by your Cosplayer Survivor Support Network (CSSN) ambassadors for commiseration in a supportive environment. |
| Description |
Almost every con has one of these panels, but what makes ours the most successful and appropriate for your convention? We’re founding members of the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network (CSSN) and instead of simply moderating, we provide resources for anyone in attendance whose story is more serious than they may want to admit. More than half of the stories shared with us at any given con, any given year, are based in some form of harassment, stalking, abuse, or sexual assault—sometimes people telling the story don’t even realize it unless or until we point it out to them. We’re experts in moderating with inclusivity as well as comedic relief, so even if the topics become dark or difficult, we steer it to a safe place. We end with deescalation so that anyone who feels like they might need help afterward knows where to go and doesn’t leave the room without feeling like they are physically safe.
Our goal: prove that you can discreetly provide inclusive resources for victims of “horror stories” that address harassment AND be funny.
The format of this panel is mostly interactive wherein both panelists and audience members are guided to share relevant stories of times they experienced a “con horror story.” This could range from a prereg badge line catastrophe to being made uncomfortable by a stranger to a cosplay malfunction that ruined the weekend. We enstate a strict 2-minute story limit ensure that stories are engaging and appropriate at all times (at 2 min, the audience can vote for a continuation if they’re interested), as we are aware of an inappropriate use of time from a previous attendee. This panel is rated 18+ for the purposes of transparency and to provide a comfortable environment for people to express themselves and their stories. We will not tolerate hate speech, racism, sexism, or threats of violence.
Rules for participants will be announced and displayed on the projector for the duration of the panel and are as follows: 1. The use of real names should be avoided—this isn’t your callout post. 2. Keep it simple. 3. Keep it interesting. 4. Continue to respect all [convention] rules. (At the bottom, we list any phone number or email the convention gives out for crisis situations.) We hope that attendees will enjoy some schadenfreude at the mishaps of their peers while also learning about what to avoid or how to cope with a “con horror story” situation. Given its fast-paced, peer-driven nature, this panel is sure to attract attendees and bond them together as a community.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages eighteen (18) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour–2 hours |
| Previous Presentations |
Tekko 2017, Matsuricon 2017, Tekko 2018, Tekko 2019, Sangawa Project 2019 |
Media Panels
The presentations in our Media Panels series typically focus on a single popular or cult-classic video game, video game series, or multiple different video games in the context of mental health, trauma, or survival of sexual violence. Some feature extensive research on advanced (grad level) education and connections to other media, such as anime, film, fiction or non-fiction books, or general pop culture. These discussions can help expand awareness as to how themes in games like these reflect and affect (or don't!) real-life people and situations.
Content in this series will not be presented in any obscene manner when it is accompanied by an 18+ rating; in fact, it's important that all ages of audience be allowed to access the information of the panel, as we discuss important aspects of survivorship and provide resources that may be applicable to those of all ages. Typically, when we designate a panel as 18+, it's based on the ESRB rating of the game(s) discussed, not an attempt to gatekeep knowledge and resources. However, we are happy to tailor any presentation down to a 13+ or 16+ rating as desired.
| Blurb |
Won’t someone think of the children?! The Cosplayer Survivor Support Network details controversies—justified or not—in video game history. From the 1976 arcade game Death Race to the most recent Assassin’s Creed, video games seem to constantly cause controversy. Join us as we navigate the neverending moral panic stoked by global media and discuss what outrages were justified, overblown, engineered, or just plain asinine. We’ll cover the following and more: Mass Effect, Ready or Not, Super Columbine RPG, Rule of Rose, Martha is Dead, and Mouthwashing.
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| Description |
After a brief introduction and a review of media moral panics including the Satanic Panic as well as the more recent Q Anon, we will discuss games that feature controversial topics such as general violence, school shootings, sexual content (including sexual assault), and bigotry. We’ll be delving into what games handled the topics well, which ones didn’t, and which controversies were exaggerated, misunderstood, or invented by the developers themselves. Some of the games covered include Mass Effect, Ready or Not, Super Columbine RPG!, Rule of Rose, Martha is Dead, Assassin’s Creed, and Mouthwashing. If we have the time, we’ll even go into the “hot coffee” scandal from GTA San Andreas! Spoilers will be noted accordingly for each work to give the audience the opportunity to decide whether they want to be spoiled if they haven't played it. As always, the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network's panels rest on the backbone of our strong beliefs in inclusivity, accessibility, and community education, so we cover tough topics like mental illness and sexual assault with respect and tact.
|
| Rating |
Recommended for ages eighteen (18) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
Sangawa Project 2025, FanimeCon 2025, Tekko 2025 |
| Blurb |
Would you kindly attend this panel discussing the effectiveness of plot twists in video games? How can creators employ deception without frustrating the player or making them feel cheated at the end? If you've ever thrown your controller after finding out someone was dead all along or had a chill run down your spine realizing you were actually the villain, this panel's for you! We’ll cover the following and more: Bioshock, Spec Ops: The Line, Danganronpa, Braid, Dead Space, Rain Code, and Zero Escape. |
| Description |
The panel will start with defining criteria for a plot twist (as opposed to a plot reveal, such as discovering the killer in a murder mystery), as well as the criteria for a compelling plot twist or effective deception. We will then review common tropes in video games (e.g. someone was Dead All Along, you were Secretly the Bad Guy) and discuss examples of when these were done well and when they leave the player disappointed. The panel will discuss the Bioshock series, Spec Ops: The Line, Danganronpa, Braid, Dead Space, The Zero Escape Series, AI: The Somnium Files, Rain Code, Soma, Amnesia, Silent Hill, and Little Hope. We also just played 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, so that’ll probably sneak in there, too, as much as a game that’s a long series of twists could be “snuck!” Spoilers will be noted accordingly for each work to give the audience the opportunity to decide whether they want to be spoiled if they haven’t played it. As always, the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network’s panels rest on the backbone of our strong beliefs in inclusivity, accessibility, and community education, so we cover tough topics like suicidality and mental illness with respect and tact.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages eighteen (18) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
Sangawa Project 2024, FanimeCon 2024, Tekko 2024 |
| Blurb |
A panel has been discovered! From the series formerly known as “Trauma in…” hosted by the ’kumas of the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network, this panel delves into everyone’s favorite classmate murder game! Spoilers limited to Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and Ultra Despair Girls.
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| Description |
We could make an entire panel dedicated to Toko alone, but just for you, we’ll add in Junko, Sakura, Celeste, Chihiro, and the very-needing–therapy Warriors of Hope from Ultra Despair Girls! While putting characters’ traumas on trial, we’ll discuss cults, LGBTQIA+ reflections, dissociative identity disorder, and the presentation of other mental illnesses. Quoth your un-bear-ably intelligent headmaster, “Sometimes the murders people forgive are far more abnormal than the ones they don't!” Finally, we’ll offer resources for anyone interested in further study or trauma-informed response. Spoilers are limited to Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and Ultra Despair Girls and further game and anime sequels are not discussed (we’d need a whole other murder game—we mean panel, this is definitely a panel—for that).
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages eighteen (18) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour or up to 2 hours when combined with Part 2 |
| Previous Presentations |
Tekko 2021, Ohayocon 2022, Fanime 2022 |
| Blurb |
From the series formerly known as “Trauma in…” and hosted by the experts of the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network, this panel delves into the psychology and trauma theories behind everyone’s favorite classmate murder game! This is a continuation of the previous lecture "Psychology in Danganronpa," with spoilers for DR2 and DRV3. This panel is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as legal or medical advice. We also provide resources and citations at the end of each section. |
| Description |
This panel is a lecture incorporating historical cases, tropes, DSM definitions (guided by a graduate of psychology), resources, and humor. We’ll explore aspects of the characters Peko, Mikan, Gundham, Akane, and Nagito; Kaede, Ryoma, Kaito, Miu, Korekiyo, Angie, Kokichi, and Gonta. We’ll also discuss sibling abuse, cults, LGBTQIA+ reflections, dissociative identity disorder, and the presentation of other potential mental illnesses in various characters. Importantly, we’ll review the differences between characters who exhibit signs of resilience as opposed to those who exhibit behaviors more seen in survivors of trauma. Finally, we’ll offer resources for anyone interested in further study or trauma-informed response. Spoilers are limited to the second games with perhaps a nod or two to carryover characters from the first game, and the anime will not be discussed. Our content is built from the backbone of CSSN’s mission to center trauma survivor-led stories and help better their reality through the mirror of fiction.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages eighteen (18) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour or up to 2 hours when combined with Part 1 |
| Previous Presentations |
Tekko 2022, Ohayocon 2023 |
| Blurb |
Follow the psychological journeys of characters from Tales of Symphonia, Tales of the Abyss, Tales of Zestiria, and Tales of Berseria who have experienced trauma such as betrayal, body possession, dismemberment, and more. We will confront the appropriate and inappropriate responses of the narrative to survivorship and recovery as it relates to the needs of real-life survivors. Spoilers will be linear and explicitly noted for those who would like to hear about some games, but not others. |
| Description |
This panel follows the psychological journeys of characters from Tales of Symphonia, Tales of the Abyss, Tales of Zestiria, and Tales of Berseria who have experienced trauma such as betrayal (kind of an inside joke with the Tales Of community, but it leads into the topic of respect and consent), body possession, grooming, dismemberment, and more. We confront the appropriate and inappropriate responses of the narrative to survivorship and recovery as it relates to the needs of real-life survivors.
We directly confront disturbing themes such as gaslighting, PTSD, depression/suicidal ideation, and will reference rape and sexual assault as they relate to metaphors in the actual games.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages thirteen (13) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
Maple Gel Con 2017, MAGFest 2018, Ohayocon 2018, Tekko 2018 (Tekko Gakkou), FanimeCon 2018, Aselia Con 2019, Anime Crossroads 2020 |
| Blurb |
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| Description |
The Zero Escape visual novels' creator, Kotaro Uchikoshi, is known for subverting tropes in his works, as well as utilizing various science/sci-fi and philosophical themes (multiple timelines, anyone?). In this panel, we cover circumstances in the lives of some of the main characters that qualify as traumatic and look at how they deal with it. We also discuss implied themes of rape that never fully manifest and suggest options for how game makers can better support players who are survivors of sexual assault.
Spoilers will be linear and explicitly noted for those who would like to hear about some aspects but not others.
The lecture will cover violence, kidnapping, child abuse, intimate partner violence, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other themes which may be disturbing. We will ensure that anyone who may need to de-escalate or need advice/assistance afterward is directed to the appropriate resources.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages eighteen (18) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
Tekko 2019, MAGFest 2020, FanimeCon 2021 |
| Blurb |
[TBD] |
| Description |
[TBD]
|
| Rating |
Recommended for ages eighteen (18) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
[TBD] |
| Blurb |
Kotaro Uchikoshi, creator of the Zero Escape series, has done it again with AI: The Somnium Files and its recent sequel, nirvanA Initiative—that’s right, he’s made characters who are so unbelievably messed up, you find yourself saying, “they’re my little blorbo.” From the ones with childhood traumas to the ones with specified psychological disorders; the expert team of the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network (CSSN) will psync deep into how effectively or ineffectively the games portray all kinds of baggage. Spoilers for the sequel will be forewarned for those who would like to hear about some aspects, but not others. This panel is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. |
| Description |
In this panel, we explore similar themes in the latest of Kotaro Uchikoshi’s works, AI: The Somnium Files (2019), a critically acclaimed visual novel with a sequel forthcoming in January of 2022. AITSF explores dark themes of trauma survival, explicitly stated psychological disorders, child abuse and neglect, and death through its multiple weaving timelines, making it an excellent choice for our experts in post-trauma to discuss. At time of presentation, the sequel, nirvanA Initiative (AINI), and spinoff, No Sleep for Kaname Date (NSFKD), were not yet out and were not incorporated into the discussion. However, they could easily feature in future versions of the panel.
In our panel, we will cover the circumstances of the characters Mizuki Okiura, Renju Okiura, Date Kaname, Hitomi Sagan, Mayumi Matsushita, and a spoiler character we won't mention in detail here. We'll discuss how Mizuki uses self-defense to empower herself and when it fails, how important it is that the game does not victim blame her. We’ll also discuss ways you can help someone who discloses their trauma to you as well as discuss how the game mechanic of “somniums” will make you think about consent in the context of mind-reading technology of the future… and present.
Our discussion rests on the backbone of CSSN’s mission statement and resources. We will ensure that anyone who may need deescalation afterward or advice afterward is directed to the appropriate resources; we will also note spoilers for those who don't wish to be spoiled. We hope that by covering a newly beloved series, we can expand awareness as to how themes in games like these reflect & affect (or don’t!) real-life people and situations. We aspire to make our panel educational, informative, and entertaining despite heavy topics, as is the CSSN standard.
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| Rating |
Recommended for ages sixteen (16) and older |
| Panel Length |
1 hour |
| Previous Presentations |
Ohayocon 2021, FanimeCon 2021, Tekko 2021 (Tekko Gakkou), Ohayocon 2022 |