New Zenkaikon App Replaces Printed Program Guide

With about two months to go until the con, we’d like to update you on some of the changes you’ll encounter at Zenkaikon 2023 if you’re a regular member of previous years. We’ve already told you about some of them through our Zenkaikon Evolutions updates – things like a cosplay repair room, a room dedicated to cosplay meetups, and doubling the size of our video gaming – but we wanted to dedicate a whole post just for this update.

We’ve been working hard to bring this to you, and we hope you’re as excited as we are! Announcing – the Official Zenkaikon App!

Before we get into what the App does and how it will make your Zenkaikon weekend a lot easier, you’ve likely read the title already, and yes, there will be no printed Program Guide at Zenkaikon 2023. We went in this direction for several reasons, and we feel it’s important to be honest and transparent with you. Firstly, the cost of printing thousands and thousands of program guides has increased quite a bit over the years, with COVID and inflation not helping matters at all. Second, we’ve been keeping track of a larger trend amongst all of you that, while many of you pick up the printed program guide in our Registration area, many program guides are abandoned during the weekend, especially on Sunday evening. Like a lot. That creates a lot of waste. And finally, we’ve also noticed a large uptick in people using our previous online schedule tools over the years.

Having said that, it’s important to recognize that not every person has a mobile device like a smartphone, tablet, etc., or wants to bring one to Zenkaikon, or will be hanging around with someone who does. So, in addition to the App, we’ll also be providing a paper grid schedule for anyone who wants one, and we’ll have maps of the rooms around the convention, just like we always do every year. So if you choose not to use the App, you’ll still be able to make your way around Zenkaikon and enjoy what you want to enjoy. We think that once we show you what the App can do, though, you’ll want to download it and use it.

The Zenkaikon App is the primary way you’ll access information during Zenkaikon weekend. The App provides you with a wealth of information, such as:

• A full schedule list of all programming items that we can immediately update should there be any schedule changes, along with detailed descriptions to help you decide what you want to see
• Full schedule tracks that allow you to find all programming items about any particular topic
• A method to quickly give us real-time feedback on any panel, workshop, or presenter so we can make your future Zenkaikons even better
• Full bios of all our Guests of Honor and a method to find all programming each of them will be on should you wish to attend everything that Guest is doing during Zenkaikon
• A customizable personal schedule so you can keep track of everything you want to see during the weekend
• Fully interactive touch maps showing you every location, each room’s schedule, every Exhibit Hall artist and dealer and a description of what they’re selling, and how to find them all.
• An interactive, curated restaurant guide featuring descriptions of each location’s food, costs, and a one-click way to order through the restaurant or your favorite food delivery app.
• A QR-code reader that is fully integrated into the QR-codes we’ll be using at Zenkaikon, such as our Scavenger Hunt
• A method we can reach out to all of you should we need to notify you of any major news during the weekend
• Multiple ways for everyone to connect to each another through the App for real-time conversation between yourselves…and even us!
• And even more than that!

The best thing, however, is you can download the App right now! The App is available now on all Apple and Android devices. Go to your respective app stores (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), search for “Zenkaikon”, and download it! Or, if you’re reading this on your computer, you can click this link and be taken to the App’s landing page to download it onto your device.

We also have plans to use the App all year long to reach out to you and get your feedback…and also do a few fun things too!

There are still parts of the App we’re updating – the full schedule won’t be out until about two weeks before the con, and we’re busy adding in and editing lots of other information – but feel free to download it now, poke around, and take a look! And if there’s something you’d like to see on there, or you think of a better way to show you the information you need, just let us know, and we’ll see what we can do!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our social media, email, Discord, or even the App itself! We can’t wait to see you all in Lancaster this March – we’re so excited!