What Is Open Game Protocol? W/ Justin & Kanto
- Date
- 2025-10-04
- Host
- ICM.RUN
About this event
Open systems are reshaping how games are built, shared, and experienced, but most people still only have a partial picture of what that actually means in practice. What Is Open Game Protocol? W/ Justin & Kanto is an in-person conversation designed to make the topic clearer, more concrete, and far more useful for anyone trying to understand where gaming communities and game infrastructure may be heading next. If you have heard the term "Open Game Protocol" and wanted a real discussion instead of vague buzzwords, this meetup gives you a place to dig in with other curious people. Expect a social, community-driven evening where ideas can be tested out loud, questions are welcome, and the point is not to posture, but to understand. About the Event This event is an in-person meetup centered on a focused question: what is Open Game Protocol, and why should people in games and adjacent communities care? With Justin and Kanto leading the conversation, the evening is built to help attendees get a grounded sense of the concept, the surrounding ecosystem, and the kinds of opportunities or open questions it raises. Rather than treating the subject like a closed technical lecture, this meetup is better thought of as a live community conversation. The format suggests a blend of explanation, discussion, and room-level exchange, making it a strong fit for people who want both context and connection. Because the event is tagged across community, networking, meetup, social, and other, it is likely to attract a mix of attendees: builders, gamers, operators, researchers, and curious observers. That mix is part of the value. Conversations around open protocols become much more interesting when they include people with different perspectives on ownership, interoperability, incentives, and player experience. This is also a useful event for people who do not yet have a fixed opinion. You do not need to arrive as an expert. You only need enough curiosity to ask good questions and enough interest to engage with others who are trying to map the same space. What to Expect Expect the evening to revolve around a clear central topic, with Justin and Kanto providing the anchor for the discussion. In practice, that usually means attendees can look forward to a mix of framing, shared examples, reactions from the room, and informal follow-up conversations before or after the main discussion. You can likely expect the event to include: A concise introduction to Open Game Protocol, including what the term means and how it differs from broader, more loosely used language around open systems in gaming A live conversation with Justin and Kanto that helps surface key themes, tensions, and practical implications Audience questions and discussion, giving attendees a chance to push beyond surface-level definitions Networking and social time with other people interested in game ecosystems, community design, and emerging infrastructure Because this is an in-person meetup, one of the most valuable parts may be what happens between formal moments. You may hear how others are interpreting the space, what they are building toward, where they remain skeptical, and which questions still feel unresolved. Those side conversations often turn abstract concepts into something more actionable. The late-evening timing also gives the event a slightly more relaxed social energy than a standard daytime panel. That can create space for more candid discussion, stronger back-and-forth, and a less rigid atmosphere overall. Why Attend If you care about where games are going, understanding protocols matters. They influence how developers coordinate, how communities form, how data and identity move across environments, and how value may be shared or controlled. This event gives you a chance to explore those ideas in a setting that is conversational rather than overly formal. There is also practical value in hearing how others are thinking about the topic right now. Whether you are a builder, player, community leader, or simply someone tracking the space, being in the room helps you move from fragmented online impressions to a more grounded understanding. You should attend if you want to: Get a clearer definition of Open Game Protocol and the surrounding conversation Ask direct questions instead of relying on secondhand summaries or online threads Meet people with overlapping interests in games, open systems, and community-driven technology Pressure-test your assumptions by hearing perspectives from both hosts and fellow attendees Leave with better language for discussing the topic with collaborators, teammates, or friends For many people, the biggest takeaway will not be a single answer but a sharper framework. Understanding what the protocol is, what problem it may be trying to solve, and where the real debates are can help you participate more intelligently in future conversations and opportunities. Practical Details This is an in-person event, so plan to attend on site and leave room for the kind of spontaneous interaction that works best face to face. If your goal is to meet people as well as learn, arriving with enough time to settle in and introduce yourself will make a difference. Date and time: Friday, October 3 at 10:00 PM EDT. The event sits at the intersection of meetup, networking, community, and social gathering, so it makes sense to come prepared for both conversation and connection. You do not need to treat it like a formal conference session. A curious mindset, a few thoughtful questions, and openness to meeting new people will go a long way. If Open Game Protocol is already on your radar, this is a good chance to deepen your understanding with other people who are paying attention. If it is new to you, this meetup offers a practical entry point: start with the core question, hear how others frame it, and leave with a much stronger sense of why it matters.
Who should attend
This is for people who want a clearer, more grounded understanding of Open Game Protocol and who enjoy learning through live conversation with others who are actively paying attention. - **You work in or around games** and want to understand how open protocols could affect development, distribution, identity, community, or player experience. - **You are curious about emerging game infrastructure** but have found most explanations too abstract, too technical, or too full of jargon to be useful. - **You like thoughtful meetups over passive panels**, and you want the chance to ask questions, compare notes, and hear different points of view in the room. - **You are building communities, products, or experiments** and want sharper language and better context for where open gaming conversations are heading. - **You enjoy meeting smart, curious people in person** and want a social setting where networking happens naturally around a real topic. - **You do not need to be an expert**, but you should have genuine interest in games, protocols, or how open systems can change the way people participate.