SXSW reinstates the #Savepoint gaming panel as it was

We spoke to Nick Robalik earlier, when SXSW cancelled the Savepoint panel and then wanted to put it in one all day "anti harassment" panel instead. As Nick explained "The panels were cancelled, then un-cancelled, and now some form of online harassment summit is being planned - which has absolutely nothing to do with the original topic of the #SavePoint panel. Let's just say "mistakes were made" in the handling of that, but things seem to be moving forward in a more reasonable fashion at this point in time." At the time of our interview, the situation was still fluid and evolving, as Nick elaborated: "To be clear, the #SavePoint panel was never really cancelled, though its topic was slightly changed to fit into the new "online harassment" track that SXSW announced last week. With March still a few months away, I wouldn't be surprised if the point of the panel in the discussion shifts again. As for how I found out about the topic change, the same way as everyone else: the press release on the topic. I think SXSW didn't expect the spin up of clickbait media so quickly, and has had their hands full dealing with people who don't want to see a productive discussion take place for one reason or another."

Now the open gaming society has announced that the Savepoint panel, with the original panelists and topic, is going ahead. "This decision came after having several high level talks with SXSW organizers, and we are extremely happy with the outcome." In other words, this time they weren't informed about their own panels topic changing via a press release. Hooray for old-fashioned one-on-one communication!

Edit: To be clear the "Online harassment Summit" that SXSW created will take place Saturday, March 12. The "Savepoint - A Discussion on the Gaming Community" has been moved to Tuesday, March 15.