Local Flavor: I Play Games! Brings Community and Fun to C2E2 2026

Kevin Fair, founder of I Play Games!, discusses how his organization is enhancing the convention experience with inclusive gaming spaces and tournaments.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract close-up photograph of a sleek, reflective video game controller, capturing the high-end, luxurious texture and materiality of modern gaming hardware in dramatic studio lighting.The vibrant gaming experiences curated by I Play Games! at C2E2 2026 reflect the industry's growing influence and the need for conventions to embrace diverse community-driven programming.Chicago Today

I Play Games!, a Chicago-based organization founded in 2009, has become a fixture at C2E2, the city's premier comic and entertainment convention. Led by Kevin Fair, I Play Games! creates inclusive gaming spaces and tournaments that bring the local community together through a shared love of video games. From hosting events at schools, libraries, and community centers to sponsoring tournaments at conventions, Fair and his team have made it their mission to make gaming accessible and fun for everyone.

Why it matters

I Play Games!'s presence at C2E2 highlights the growing importance of the video game industry and the need for conventions to cater to a diverse range of interests beyond just celebrity guests and merchandise. By focusing on community, friendly competition, and safe spaces, I Play Games! is helping to redefine the convention experience and make it more inclusive and representative of the city's vibrant gaming culture.

The details

I Play Games! has grown from local meetups at venues like the Logan and Emporium to a powerhouse name in the video game world. The organization now hosts sponsored tournaments with companies like Trolli, serves as a Keynote Operator for the Dell Technologies Virtual Esports Conference, and has established esports teams in over a dozen high schools in the Chicagoland area. Beyond just tournaments, I Play Games! also organizes movie premieres, gaming lounges, and other events that bring the community together around a shared love of video games.

  • I Play Games! was founded in 2009.
  • The organization has been a fixture at C2E2 for over a decade.

The players

Kevin Fair

The founder of I Play Games!, an organization that creates inclusive gaming spaces and tournaments to bring the local community together.

I Play Games!

A Chicago-based organization that has become a powerhouse in the video game world, hosting events, tournaments, and community-building activities around the city and at conventions like C2E2.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I like to say that I Play Games! was in my brain, but a group of us really helped found it together, you know, kind of through the fun of all of it. And then, yeah, we come up with these really cool experiences for people to have.”

— Kevin Fair, Founder, I Play Games!

“Anytime you have a good well-meaning adult that enjoys the activity, you really get to make a kind of... of quality time that boasts, but that also has some social and emotional learning capabilities. Because guess what? A lot of them just talk to me about how their day was, more like what they experienced.”

— Kevin Fair, Founder, I Play Games!

What’s next

I Play Games! will be hosting a movie premiere weekend for the new Super Mario Galaxy movie at the Logan Theater, where attendees will be able to play the latest Super Mario Wonder DLC in the theater's lounge.

The takeaway

I Play Games!'s presence at C2E2 demonstrates the growing importance of the video game industry and the need for conventions to cater to a diverse range of interests. By focusing on community, friendly competition, and safe spaces, I Play Games! is helping to redefine the convention experience and make it more inclusive and representative of the city's vibrant gaming culture.