October 14 – 17, 2026
Rochester, NY
Sustaining Human Connection through Play in the Digital Age
As our lives rely more and more on digital tools, we end up spending a lot more time interacting with our phones, tablets, smartwatches, and computers on our own. Most of our time with technology is individual and asynchronous, meaning we are spending less time having meaningful interactions with other people.
This is where play comes in.
Play is not frivolous. Games have been an integral part of the human experience for thousands of years for educational, entertainment, and cultural purposes. They help us think through hard questions together. They provide moments of shared joy and alignment. They allow us to build new skills and learn crucial information in memorable ways.
This year’s conference will explore how play can be a major ingredient in ensuring that we can still have rich social lives in our digital world.
We will be opening up the RFP for speakers and conference registration in March 2026. More details coming soon.
About Rochester, NY
Rochester has a long, understated relationship with non-digital game design, shaped less by entertainment markets and more by systems thinking, education, and play as a serious human activity. Rooted in its industrial heritage of precision, iteration, and process design, the city fostered a culture comfortable with rules, constraints, and feedback—core mechanics of tabletop games, simulations, and role-play. This ethos is most visibly preserved and amplified by the Strong National Museum of Play, which positions board games, toys, and analog play as cultural artifacts worthy of study, not nostalgia. Across community groups, classrooms, and professional training spaces, Rochester has historically treated non-digital games as tools for learning, experimentation, and social meaning—less about escapism, more about understanding how people think, decide, and cooperate within well-designed systems.
Rochester Weather in October
Mid-October in Rochester, NY, brings cool, crisp fall weather with average highs around the low 60s°F (16-17°C) and lows in the upper 40s°F (8-9°C), becoming progressively cooler as the month ends, with more overcast days and the first hints of winter approaching, though significant snow is unlikely until November.
Accommodations and Travel Logistics
Getting to Rochester
By Air:
Airport: The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) is serviced by the following major airlines:
Allegiant
American
Delta
Jet Blue
Southwest
United
The airport is a short taxi or ride share from the hotel (4 miles, about 7 minutes), and should cost about $25.
By Train:
Amtrak Station: Louise M. Slaughter Station
320 Central Ave
Rochester, New York, 14605
The train station is a 15 minute walk or 3 minute taxi or ride share trip from the hotel.
By Car:
Rochester is located right off the New York State Thruway (I-90), exits 45 and 46.
Where to park
The Hyatt is connected to the South Avenue Garage (City-owned) at:
39 Stone Street
Rochester, New York, 14604
Garage day/visitor rates (City of Rochester posted rates): $2.00 per hr./Daily Max $10.00
More details about hotel parking can be found at https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/roche-hyatt-regency-rochester/parking-and-transportation.
Justification Letter
Need help convincing your organization to support your attendance? We offer a customizable justification letter that outlines the professional development benefits of the North American Simulation and Gaming Annual Conference, including hands-on training in educational gaming techniques, networking with industry leaders, and applicable knowledge that directly enhances teaching and training effectiveness. Simply click the link below to download the template, which you can personalize with your specific professional goals and organizational needs.
Hotel Information
The conference will take place at:
Hyatt Regency Rochester
125 East Main Street
Rochester, New York, 14604
Room rate: $159.00 per night (plus 14% tax)
To reserve your room under the NASAGA room block, please use this link:
https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/ROCHE/G-GAME
