Gaming Tournaments San Francisco

Oakland Game Night

EBBG East Bay Board Game Convention and Protospiel

East Bay Board Game Convention returns for its third year! Coming to Oakland July 17-19 to Oakland Marriot City Center. Convention features include: 24 hour access to gaming rooms Library of over 1,000 board games Play-to-win games Flea Market Hot Games Room Dedicated TTRPG space Seminars Protospiel board game playtesting **[Convention Website](https://tabletop.events/conventions/ebbg26)** **Location:** Oakland Marriot Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 (2 mintue walk from 12th Street Oakland City Center BART) **Hours:** While the con is open nonstop from Friday morning til Sunday night, the Protospiel board game playtesting area will be officially open during the following hours: Friday: 9am - 10pm Saturday: 9am - 11pm Sunday: 9am - 4pm **Cost:** You must purchase a badge online or in person at the convention to enter the venue. Protospiel playtesting is included as a free event as part of the convention. **Protospiel Participation:** One of the many awesome things to do at the con is playtest board games at the convention's own Protospiel event! Play prototype tabletop games, meet local designers, and learn about the board game industry in a casual friendly environment. The Protospiel is a playtesting area where designers run their prototype tabletop games looking for feedback. Prototypes can be any kind of physical / analog game and in any stage of development. Anyone can join in as a designer and/or player, no experience needed! The Protospiel will be a combination of scheduled playtests, which you can submit throught the convention website in advance and describe it as "playtest", and mostly open unreserved drop in testing. Open tables are not reserved and not exclusive - designers are expected to share table access throughout the con and play each others prototypes. Playtesting is the focus, don't run games that are finished or not open to changes. Staff reserves the right to exclude prototypes that are deemed inappropriate or offensive. We'll be giving out a prize to a random participant every hour til late, so the more you hang out the more you can win! The Protospiel is co-run by Golden Gate Gamemakers. **Protospiel Team:** Velgus, Chaz Glassmaker, Andrew DiLullo.

Legal Essentials for Game Developers: Privacy, Safety & IP

SF Game Development is excited to be featuring two incredible talks on the legal essentials every game developer needs to know — privacy, safety, and intellectual property. Join us in person at **DNA Lounge** on **Tuesday, July 21st from 5:30pm–9:00pm**. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from industry experts, who will take the stage at 7:00 pm. Whether you're a seasoned game developer, an aspiring artist, a student, or an indie creator, this event is designed for you. Come mingle with like-minded professionals and enthusiasts, and enjoy some pizza sponsored by SF Game Development and any additional pizza available for purchase from the DNA restaurant. There's a full-service bar at the venue with all proceeds supporting the venue. Your participation helps us continue hosting fantastic events in their 3,000 sqft space. You'll also get a chance to demo indie games and meet the speakers involved with the event. **Get Equipped With IP Tips & Tricks** **Jonathan Downing — Attorney & Storyteller at Tyz Law Group PC** Intellectual property law can be complicated, and there can be very real consequences for getting things wrong. But by equipping yourself with some basic understanding of the ins and outs of how this body of law operates, you can both avoid costly missteps and better protect your work. Jonathan has been gaming since the days of blowing dust out of NES cartridges and trying to figure out how to work a Power Glove, and combines that lifelong passion with over a decade of experience in the video games legal space. An intellectual property counselor with expertise in copyright across the entertainment and technology spaces, he's worked both in-house for a AAA game studio and as outside counsel for developers and publishers of all shapes and sizes. At Tyz Law Group, he helps clients protect and enforce their IP rights in an increasingly crowded market. (He never did figure out how to work that Power Glove, though.) **Kid's Privacy and Safety: Navigating Unprecedented Complexity** **Joe Newman — Senior Legal Counsel at k-ID** Today, a frankly outrageous number of new laws and regulations are targeting kids, games, and online interactions. Learn how a team of gaming compliance veterans (and mega-nerds) have been rewriting the compliance playbook for the whole tech industry. Joe has spent over a decade in the video games industry working on kids' privacy and safety issues — at think tanks, as in-house counsel for Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, and in private practice counseling everyone from indie teams to some of the largest video game publishers in the world. At k-ID, he builds automated compliance solutions that scale for the next generation of online services, delivering meaningful global compliance while empowering kids and teens everywhere. **See you all there!** Thank you everyone for RSVPing for our SF Game Development event with our fellow indie game developers. We can't wait to see everyone there. Make sure to arrive at 5:30pm for networking and game demos. You MUST RSVP on Meetup, Luma, or Eventbrite to secure your spot.

Hype o'clock Game Dev & Tea Time

Come hang out, have some tea, and work on/share your projects with other cool folks! Please see the "How to find us" section below for more info. This event is scheduled for every 3rd Saturday of the month.

Open Board Gaming !

We play and teach games every Thursday [at](https://www.itsyourmoveoakland.com/)[ Its Your Move Games](https://www.itsyourmoveoakland.com/clubs) until 11pm. The cost is $5. Drop in any time from 7:00pm to 10:30pm or so and you're sure to find something to play! Bring your games from home or use any of the games from our extensive used game library. We often have many tables going on at once for lots of variety. The earlier part of the evening is ideal for families with kids. We play all sorts of board games and card games on Thursday nights, but also: We are at[ 7th West](https://www.7thwest.com/) Every Wednesday night with a nice sized board game library. There is no cover charge there and they have Pin Ball machines a great menu and a large patio for smoking. Got a favorite game you'd like to find others to play? Bring it along! Let us know in advance if possible so we can help with recruiting players. In addition to these Thursday Meetups and the ones linked above, there are yet more game-specific events for adults and youth over the course of each week, including Scrabble, youth Pathfinder, youth chess and youth Go classes/play, so check out our full schedule here (http://www.meetup.com/oaklandgames/pages/Event_schedule/). There's more to come, so be sure to stay in touch! We request a donation of $3 to help offset the cost of keeping the store open so late every Friday. Hope to see you soon! \-\- Chris Specker and Will Kreber \(owner/managers\)

SF - Marina Chess Club Night

♟️ **This isn’t your typical chess meetup** Every week **20+ people** show up We play in bars. We bring the vibes. Whether you’re a total beginner or a blitz addict—this is your place. ➡️ **Want to officially join the SVCC community?** Sign up before the event → [sv-chess.com/community/registration](https://sv-chess.com/community/registration) 🫱 Hosted by your **CVO (Chief Vibes Officer) Isaiah** – expect high energy, good convos, and games with people who love chess and community just as much as you do. **SV Chess Community = Chess + People + Vibes** We’re the **largest social chess community in NorCal**, bringing people together across the Bay through the love of the game. 🧩 **What to expect**: – Chill blitz & casual games – No judgment, no pressure—just good vibes – Great convo, good drinks, and new friends – Boards provided—just show up and play 🍻 All games happen at the bar. Didn’t sign up ahead of time? No worries—we’ll help you join at the event. **Join the movement. Make your move. We’ll see you over the board.** 📲 Follow us on Instagram → [@sv_chess_community](https://www.instagram.com/sv_chess_community/) 🌐 Learn more → [sv-chess.com/community/about](https://sv-chess.com/community/about) 📝 Register now → [sv-chess.com/community/registration](https://sv-chess.com/community/registration)

Board Game Playtesting at Victory Point Cafe Berkeley - 3rd Mondays

Come to Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley to playtest some games in development! This event is twice a month, 1st Wednesdays and 3rd Mondays, and exists as two separate listings on our meetup. This is a relaxed chance to try new board / card / tabletop games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and learn about the game industry. Designers and interested players welcome, no experience needed. Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your own prototype to be tested. Drop in and out any time and participate as much as you'd like, and just observing is fine too. RSVPing is appreciated but not required. Organizers: Glenn and Velgus * COST - Participants may pay the regular $12/person reserved gaming fee or waive it by buying at least two menu items from the cafe. Pay or start a tab at the front counter upon entering. * PARKING - Street meters should be free from 6pm onwards. There is free street parking on the street behind the venue and on surrounding streets during the day and evening. * BART - Downtown Berkeley BART station is a straight 8-minute walk away. [See GGG's full Code of Conduct here](https://goldengategamemakers.com/Code_Of_Conduct/). Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at [meetup.com/playgoldengate](https://www.meetup.com/playgoldengate).

Match Point Brewing: One Last Game Night!

Game Night Fun with Just Spades!

Join us for an entertaining evening filled with strategic gameplay and fun times at our upcoming Just Spades event! Whether you're a seasoned Spades player or new to the game, all are welcome to come and enjoy a night of card games and socializing with fellow enthusiasts. Connect with new friends, test your skills in a friendly atmosphere, and experience the thrill of playing Spades in a vibrant gaming community. Don't miss out on this opportunity to have a fantastic time filled with laughter, competition, and memorable moments. Let's gather, shuffle the deck, and make the most of our game night with Just Spades!

Mon at Victory Point Cafe

Game night is back, come on out to Victory Point Cafe and check out the Berkeley Board Gamers. The only reason restrictions are being lifted is because most adults that can be vaccinated are being vaccinated. In fact, vaccines are going to be available for 5 and up. Let me state clearly right now, if you are NOT FULLY UPDATED on your boosters, you should NOT come out to any of these events for your own health and safety. Fully updated means 2 weeks after your latest booster dose of vaccine. The Berkeley Board Gamers has no power to verify whether someone is fully updated, so if you make the choice not to listen to this warning, then you are assuming that risk yourself. We may also meet in a place with non-members, the Berkeley Board Gamers definitely has no power or influence over non-members. To be clear, you should only consider these game nights if you are fully updated! The venue we are meeting at is the charming Victory Point Café. The normal gaming fee at the café is $7.50. Instead of paying the normal gaming fee the café has generously offered to let us simply purchase any 2 items from the menu. If you have a dietary restriction that makes this requirement difficult, please let me know and we can work something out. The link below includes the cafe's menu: https://www.victorypointcafe.com/pages/menu

Board Game Design Deep Dive - 3rd Wednesdays San Francisco

Join us at Gamescape SF on 3rd Wednesdays for a night of gaming and design discussion. This Month's Topic: To Be Announced. These games tend to have [to be announced]. Popular games in this category include: [to be announced] **IMPORTANT:** This is a limited capacity event. You must RSVP on the [Gamescape website](https://www.gamescapesf.store/product/monthly-game-deep-dive-abstract-strategies-hosted-by-golden-gate-gamemakers/TANAUWXQBYSA5LEKSR4ZEBLR) to guarantee a space and pay the $5 event fee. Design Deep Dive is an event where we will be playing published games within a certain scope (a specific mechanic, genre, designer, etc) and discussing the design and experience of those games. There will be a selection of games provided as options, and attendees may also bring their own games to share if they fit the month's topic. We are assessing published games, no playtesting allowed for this event. The event is led by a regular host to greet and coordinate, as well as a rotating "Dive Instructor" that will provide a short presentation and guide discussions on the monthly topic. This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to play fun games while breaking down what makes them fun. No experience in designing or playtesting is needed. Organizer: Chaz Glassmaker [See GGG's full Code of Conduct here](https://goldengategamemakers.com/Code_Of_Conduct/). Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at [meetup.com/playgoldengate](https://www.meetup.com/playgoldengate).

Showcase Showdown

**WIKI:** https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Showcase_Showdown # Showcase Showdown 2nd & 4th Fridays Showcase Showdown is an indie game showcase and fighting game tourney featuring Smash Melee competition. * **WHEN: 2**nd and 4th Fridays at [Noisebridge](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Noisebridge "Noisebridge") at 7pm-12am. * **WHAT:** Play indie games showcases & competitive games like [Super Smash Brothers Melee](https://www.noisebridge.net/index.php?title=Super_Smash_Brothers_Melee&action=edit&redlink=1 "Super Smash Brothers Melee (page does not exist)"). * It is part of our [Fighting Game Fridays](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Category:Fighting_Game_Fridays "Category:Fighting Game Fridays") alternating with [School of Melee](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/School_of_Melee "School of Melee") 1st and 4th Fridays. * It started as Noisebridge's first [GDC](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/GDC "GDC") IndieSmash event in 2026. * **WHERE:** [Noisebridge](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Noisebridge "Noisebridge") Hackerspace, [272](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/272 "272") Capp St. San Francisco, CA * **COST:** **FREE!** Noisebridge runs on donations and 24 hour access card memberships. # Indie Games Showcases * **GAMERS:** Do you want to see the next generation of games being showcased and playtested? * **DEVS"** Do you have a game in the works or released that you'd like to share? ## GAMERS COME PLAY THE NEXT WAVE We have a wide variety of exciting new games in development or recently released for you to try! * Meet the developers and share your playtesting feedback to help shape the future of gaming. ## DEVS COME SHOW YOUR HARD WORK We are seeking games to show so get in touch and show up with your games to share! * We can help you set up your demo station and promotional materials to help attendees play, wishlist, give feedback and buy your game. * Come to [Gamebridge](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Gamebridge "Gamebridge") Wednesdays and we'll set you up. * Introduce yourself on our [Discord](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Discord "Discord") #games channel and tell us about the game you want to showcase and what promo material and setup you plan to have. # Competitive Game Tournaments ## Smash Melee Tourney Smash Melee is our founding game tourney that we began with and will continue every event. ## Halo We are planning a Halo tourney soon with some folks volunteering to do that. ## Street Fighter & Marvel VS Capcom Street Fighter games are at the roots of the fighting game community and we play these games too. ## Soul Calibur A tale of souls and swords, the soul still burns from our days with the Dreamcast. * We would like to have a Soul Calibur 6 tournament soon. * We could play console Calibur games if we get the right set of consoles and discs or figure out how to get them. ## Aether A newer kind of fighting game. ## Skull Girls A really artistic and cool fighting game. ## Bring them blue sparks! Suggest a game Do you have a game you'd like to arrange to play at Showcase Showdown?