“Look, it’s bigger on the inside,” exclaims Jennifer Montgomery as she inspects the replica TARDIS. She was one of hundreds that attended the first annual MosaiCon on September 12. Rolling board games, video games, cosplay, and general nerdy fun, MosaiCon offered something for everyone. The upper cafeteria at VIU was packed with booths and console games, while the Royal Arbutus Room on the second floor buzzed with board and card gamers.

Event coordinator Marc Gervais developed the idea for MosaiCon when he realized there were no conventions of this style anywhere near Nanaimo—people had to travel around the Island or over to Vancouver to indulge in the fun. Being the first year, MosaiCon was a way to test the waters and see what the interest level was like in Nanaimo. A quick glance at the Facebook event page, or Mosaic IT’s page, shows glowing success. Plans are already underway for next year’s event, and complaints are being met with enthusiasm and comments like, “We have room to grow to make this even more amazing.”

This year, event-goers were able to enjoy a wide range of activities. Video games included Mario Kart, League of Legends, and a retro Nintendo console that had people playing some classics. MosaiCon even hosted a League of Legends tournament with cash prizes. Local business Two Headed Giant held a Nintendo Championship, with contestants participating in a triathlon of Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer, and Tetris.

For card and board game fans, a Magic: The Gathering tournament was available, and a Dungeons and Dragons Adventure League was open to all ranges of skill. One of the exhibitors also brought over 60 different board games for guests to play with. Settlers of Catan, Forbidden Island, and even Blokus had people gathered around tables.

With excitement already brewing for future events, MosaiCon can easily be hailed as a success. The merging of interests and events seemed to be the smart way to go. This little event held its own this year and, as was stated before, “it’s bigger on the inside.”

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