Spring is in the air, and you know what that means — oh, yeah, baby! When March grinds into San Antonio, it can only be time for one thing: Game on, lover!

The seventh annual ChimaeraCon gaming festival rolls a natural 20 on our fair city Friday through Sunday, March 14-16.

The annual pop culture event features hundreds of games, game accessories, demonstrations, open play as well as animé action, console video gaming and special guests.

Publicity coordinator Gilder McCarroll said the convention has grown incrementally over the years, but to keep expanding, organizers are constantly trying to cover every angle to make sure there is an activity for all tastes.

“Expect people in costumes, a lot of people standing around tables throwing dice and exclaiming in loud voices, the results of the next turn of a card,” McCarroll said. “We hope to have a little something for everyone: the gaming fans, science-fiction fantasy fans, animé fans and all the rest.”

In addition to the gaming, there will be a large vendor presence; local and regional merchants will hawk wares such as comic books, action figures, sci-fi gear as well as renaissance paraphernalia.

One of this year's guests is the Beastmaster himself, Marc Singer, who in addition to doing signings at the Con will take part in a question-and-answer session at 7 p.m. Friday night before a screening of the movie “Beastmaster” at Santikos Bijou at Crossroads. Tickets for this Q&A movie screening are available through the ChimaeraCon Web site.

Something new to this year's Con will be the “The Twelve Labors of Gaming,” a take on the fabled 12 labors Hercules had to perform to earn immortality.

Only in this case, attendees will have the chance to win various prizes by completing 12 tasks of their own, which can include playing in a designated miniatures/card/RPG session, participating in one of the Con's charity events, spending an hour playing computer games in console/LAN area or taking a picture with a ChimaeraCon staff member.

Chris Quinn | 210SA contributor