Kapital Koopas: Board Game Khan Kon, Mario Kart at Nugget and More

Press F to pay respects to all the fallen goombas. It's time for a deep dive into China's gaming culture in our column, Kapital Koopas.

Carry your cards to Kahn Kon, a board gamer's delight

Not a fan of consoles and screens? Prefer epic analog journeys with fates decided by cards, tokens, and meeple? Then the ninth annual Beijing Board Game Khan Kon is for you! Whether you're looking to tumble through imaginative dungeons in the latest table-top role-playing battles or simply want to get your hands on some of the newest board games while chatting with the designers behind them, this is your best shot. Throughout the year, board game enthusiasts have been dealt a number of blows, as major events such as Dice Con were canceled due to COVID-19. Nevertheless, having been scheduled late enough in the year means that Khan Kon prevails as the capital's only major board game event to survive 2020's wrath.

And now for a shameless plug: As a novice game designer, I will be bringing my game, “Zodiac Run” to the exhibition. Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to trying it out with other attendees. See you there！

Khan Kon will take place at Dahogmen International Expo Center from Oct 31 to Nov 1. More details and tickets starting at RMB 98 can be found here.

Weekly Mario Kart Night at Nugget Café

Since its release in April 2017, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe consistently ranks among the top 20 most popular video games worldwide. Part of the nearly three-decades-old Mario Kart franchise, the game is easy to pick up but hard to master, and is best enjoyed in the company of others. That's why every Sunday night folks gather at Nugget Café for an evening of laughs, adrenaline, and turtle shells. There's no need to bring your own console, controller, copy of the game, or even any previous experience. What's more, free drinks are awarded to bracket and single-game winners every week, and a badge goes to the overall winner at the end of each month for 10 percent off everything at the café, which can be enjoyed until a champ is crowned the following month. Free. 8pm. Nugget Café

Beijing Smash seeks new recruits to join the fight

Beijing Smash is one of the oldest fighting game communities in China and is always looking for new members. From Super Smash Brothers Ultimate to Melee, this group plays it all. Events are hosted Tuesdays at The Great Outdoors, where you'll get the chance to practice against some of Beijing's best, as well as a rotation of competitive tournaments on weekends, ranging from Single Bracket, Doubles Bracket, and Round Robin.

Even if you're just starting out, the community is open to and inclusive of players at all levels. The monthly Arcadia Bracket, for instance, sees the top 10 players hang up their controllers for the night and coach others in a competitive tournament. Likewise, every tournament has an Adventure Bracket, reserved for players who don’t make it into the top 16. Whether you are looking for some tough competition, to learn the ropes among a supportive community, or just want to enjoy a good craft beer, Beijing Smash has it all. Check out their WeChat group (ID: Vanbuskirkcj) and stay up-to-date with all their events.

Pokémon forced to change Chinese names

Last week, Pokémon's official Weibo announced that a few Chinese translations of Pokémon names would be altered. Though no specific reasons were disclosed in the post, netizens began to notice a pattern in the Pokémon who had been targeted. Apparently, words such as 偷 tōu stealing, 盗 dào thievery, 死 sǐ death, and 毒 dú drugs/poison will no longer be tolerated in the Simplified Chinese version of Pokémon. On the bright side, however, some are pointing to the move as a sign that Pokémon games may soon be officially imported to the Chinese Nintendo Switch console. Ironically, some investigations have shown that the Pokémon gaming community is largely comprised of older teenagers and young adults who would be nonplussed by these largely inoffensive words. 

Read: Kapital Koopas: A Gamer's Guide to Chinese Culture and History

Images: 乐博睿, Nugget Café, Beijing Smash, The Pokémon Company, Nintendo