I had the opportunity to go check out a convention called Open Sauce. It is a STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) themed convention, where creators showcased their ambitious creations. Each booth ranged from environmental friendly science to robots fighting other robots.
What were the booths like?
The majority of the booths were focused more on promoting their creations to the public, and not profiting from their products. Very few tables actually had merchandise that you could buy. I spent more money on my lunch than I did buying anything at this convention, and there were a lot of companies giving out some very high quality free swag, and LOTS of stickers.
The Future Of Our Young Engineers and Scientists
A chunk of this event consisted of high school robotics clubs showing off their creations. The challenge for each school was to create a robot that can pick up and shoot the most balls into the hoop. Honestly, I don’t care about who won that challenge, because this is truly one of those scenarios where everyone’s a winner for working together and creating a fully functional robot.
Within the vast robots were also science clubs as well. One small group was explaining to me how fire could be lit on the skin without burning!
Robots vs. Robots
Speaking of robots and challenges, one room had a corner completely dedicated to robots duking it out in an arena. Examples were Battle Bots, Bot Bash and Ultimate Fighting Bots.
Of all the robot battle events, the Battle Bots was the most prominent, with its massive arena that was encased in thick plexiglass. You could hear the banging of the two robots across the entire convention room! The robots were bashing each other until one flipped over. Then the other robot would flip itself over, and try again to attack their opponent again. Each group decorated their robots to really fit their personality. Some were really stylish, while others looked horrifying and dangerous.
NASA
One of my favorite booths was the massive NASA booth. There was someone who worked for NASA that answered all the questions we had about working there. It’s really hard to describe the incredible feeling of seeing a burnt piece of metal of a rocket that once left Earth’s atmosphere. There was even an actual piece of moon rock on display! I’m not sure what metal was embedded in the rock, but there was a glittery-like subtle metal glint in it. Photos really can’t capture the magic of seeing it in person.
A LOT of games to try out
The section for indie games was so enormous, I thought I went to Magwest early that year! There were all sorts of games that people made, and all sorts of consoles that were used to operate them. Some were more ridiculous looking than others, but they were all enjoyable in one form or another. I tried to ask some people what their idea was for making some of these things, and everyone’s answer was pretty much the same. “‘I just really wanted to make it.”
Every game was made with many, many months and possibly years of passion, and it really shows with each one.
There’s one particular game I’d like to highlight. This creator decided to dedicate his abilities to make a car racing game that detects your hands, and then it drives when you make a six-seven motion. The faster you can six-seven, the faster the car drives. If you had to turn, you needed to change position of your arm motion. As per every creator’s answer when I asked why they made it, “I just really wanted to make it”, he said.
Taser Knife Fighting
Taser knife fighting is not a game for babies- your goal is to be the first one to get three hits on the other person with the knife. It’s still dangerous because you are getting stabbed, but the knife is very blunt, so you do not bleed from the stab. Before you could participate, you have to sign a contract with them regarding the safety and liability of the fight, and then make sure to wear the helmet. When the game begins, the players are also given a small shield. You could hear the taser spark the moment the match begins!
The daggers aren’t sharp at all, but you can still feel the taser. Someone decided to try the knife on their arm to see how strong the taser was, and one of the sparks landed on my finger. Eep! It felt like a hot pinch on my skin, but nothing I’d really consider life threatening.
The Dark Room (full of lights)
One small room was completely dedicated to artists who created LED and other light art. The dim light settings really helped give these creators the best possible atmosphere to show off their work. This was very considerate for the people who ran this event, so kudos to the convention.
How big was this event?
The event managed to get some really big name sponsors and streamers to come, and there were massive stages for the guest streamers too. For a convention that’s only had two years, it is surprisingly large; I had to wait in a really long line before I could step in. In addition to a large number of guests, there was also a number of press interviewing the creators as well.
There were companies that were advertising their upcoming products, showing sample pieces, or even on-the-spot demos. The products mostly consisted of 3D printing contraptions and cutters showcasing how they worked. I even got to bring home this souvenir from Makera!
Conclusion
This event celebrated STEM at its peak. It showed that engineering and science can really make a positive impact on the environment, the advancement and utilization of current technology, and create entertainment for consumers. The cost per ticket is on the high side, but considering the amazing things I experienced those two days, it’s worth checking out another year. Currently, the date has already been set up for next year, with an early-bird discount.
Also, a bonus shout out to Crafty Sorceress who introduced me to this event. She had a booth, and was able to help answer some questions I had about about Open Sauce. Thank you very much, and if you ever need creating any custom LED projects, go check her work out!
