Jacob Borgward Interview – DadLAN (SAE University College Perth)
We catch-up with SAE University College tech officer Jacob Borgward who is helping to run ‘DadLAN’, a gaming initiative connecting dads and fighting male loneliness.
Welcome to Impulse Gamer Jacob! DadLAN seems to have had a profound impact on your life. Can you share what drew you to this initiative and what it has meant to you personally?
I got involved with DadLAN through the WA coordinator TheScise. He’d been asking me for nearly a year to come to one of the DadLAN events, but due to my extremely tight schedule I was unable to attend. Early this year, I received a message from Scise asking if I would be able to find a venue to host after another site fell through. I am a tech officer at SAE University College and thankfully we were able to step in and provided the SAE Perth Campus for DadLAN to use for the event. To this day, Scise and I joke that, “The only way you can get Jake to attend an event is to force him to run it.”
That first event is what drew me in. Being able to relive the early days of multiplayer gaming, where it was a group of likeminded people in one room, sharing experiences and fragging each other, that really reignited a social spark in my brain. Being able to game, chat and have lunch with friends who shared the common experiences of fatherhood and gaming in a physical space was something I’d been missing for a long time.
Male loneliness and isolation are often overlooked. From your experience, why do you think initiatives like DadLAN are so crucial?
In my own experience, we still have a residual ‘just get on with things’ mentality that a lot of men (myself included) hold on to. Like, we are unable to lean on people when we need or want help. I think similar initiatives, charities or clubs where we have an activity we can do, make discussing things that are deep and meaningful to us easier, and that helps with our sense of purpose and belonging.
Our DadLAN Discord server is also filled with hobbies that don’t surround gaming – from cars and DIY to cooking and health and fitness. But our great unification comes from our LAN gaming events.
How does DadLAN help dads feel more comfortable forming connections, especially those who may not have had a strong support network before?
I think this definitely comes down to having a physical space to connect, alongside an online forum that allows them to feel heard. Right now, we live in an age where gaming and connection happens more commonly over the internet. I grew up in the weird transitional generation that had access to these super rad online spaces, but also did most of their social interaction in person, and I believe that to be the case for a lot of dads in our community. This is not to say that we don’t feel comfortable with gaming and connecting in online spaces, but instead that we used them to sort of supplement our social batteries. These days, that’s practically the only space to connect in a gaming setting which is why the DadLAN meet ups are so valuable.
You mentioned that co-parenting across state borders has been a challenge. Has DadLAN helped you navigate some of those struggles?
DadLAN has connected me with individuals who are going through similar struggles and provided me a safe space to talk about those struggles, alongside meeting my incessant need to keep busy. It’s such a welcoming community filled with extremely friendly and understanding people who love the artform that is gaming as much as I do. It was also very surprising to me that I was not alone in my experience through this community.
DadLAN is inspired by old-school LAN parties. What is it about that nostalgic gaming experience that resonates so strongly with participants today?
As above, I think it’s all about connecting in a physical space and being able to see the people you’re interacting with. Especially while we experience the lasting effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns in a post-quarantine 2020s. The bonus of playing a lot of games from our childhood or teenage years like Unreal Tournament or Quake Arena or Battlefield Bad Company 2 in a social setting helps seal the deal.
We also coordinate with the rest of DadLAN across the country, so our LAN games are also held online. One of my favourite experiences was having our group of local Perth players team up against a group of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane players in a Rush match in Bad Company 2.
Your volunteer work spans Pixel Expo, DadLAN, and various content creators. How do you see yourself as a bridge between different communities?
I think this is very much a “Right Place; Right Time” sorta deal. I tend to barge my way into groups that have something to do with my passions, and when I see an opportunity for growth that overlaps between communities (such as DadLAN and Pixel Expo) I like to push those initiatives forward.
I am the Pavillion AV Coordinator for Pixel Expo Act IV, which is Western Australia’s largest Gaming and Animation Expo. When I saw there was a space that we had wanted to fill with community games, I couldn’t think of a more perfect opportunity to create a connection between my love of games, my passion for mental health, and my drive for volunteer work than to ask DadLAN to operate the space.
You’ve faced challenges, including your back injury. How has volunteering helped you stay engaged and maintain a sense of purpose?
The back injury is definitely a setback. Fortunately, it’s only roughly 6-12 weeks of the year that I am slightly incapacitated, which leaves me a lot of time to be able to do the things I love in a physical capacity. But what I enjoy most is that it keeps my brain sharp while I’m incapable of physical engagement. Finding solutions and managing problems is what drives my mental health management, and my volunteer work in general has been centred around being a fixer.
When it comes to DadLAN, however, the thing that keeps me engaged is seeing the enjoyment each and every individual who walks through, sits down, and interacts with each other experiences. It’s so wonderful to see a bunch of people from various walks of life communicate and connect.
What has been the most rewarding moment in your journey with DadLAN?
This one is a little tough. There are so many rewarding parts of working with DadLAN. I think the most rewarding moment would have to be our most recent meet up. Generally when we have our events, we sit down and play games until lunch time, have some pizza, and then return to gaming.
The most recent event had the most attendees I’ve seen in my time at DadLAN which was incredible, and the numbers are continuing to grow. However, the thing that really made it the most rewarding moment was that, once lunch was done, the group stayed at the lunch table, swapping stories; discussing tech ideas and the games they were looking forward to, and reminiscing about past LAN parties. It was just a really beautiful moment that really encapsulated why we were there in the first place.
Looking forward, what are your hopes for DadLAN and its future impact on fathers and families?
I won’t say too much just yet, but I will say we have some ideas for future events that will be family friendly/orientated. We’re hoping to create long lasting connections between friends new and old who enjoy the glory days of multiplayer gaming.
For those who are considering volunteering but are unsure, what would you say to encourage them to get involved?
I would say that it has to be something you are passionate about and that you are in the right headspace for. Volunteer work is putting extra load on yourself for a cause that you believe in, and sometimes it can cause a lot of mental or physical exhaustion. When you find a cause like what DadLAN is to me however, the payoff is one of the most satisfying and rewarding things you could ever do with your free time.
Lastly, what is your all-time favourite game and what are you currently playing?
My favourite game of all time is definitely Kingdom Hearts 2. The Kingdom Hearts franchise has been my comfort series since I first played Kingdom Hearts on PlayStation 2 in 2002/2003. So much so, that I have the Oblivion Keyblade tattooed to my left forearm!
Currently I’m bouncing between a bunch of different games including but not limited to: GTA Online; The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster; Crusader Kings 3; Rimworld, and I’m about to restart an Edge Studios Star Wars TTRPG game!
For more information, please visit https://dadlan.au and https://discord.com/invite/DRxYUp8guR
About the Author
Andrew Bistak When he's not trying to save the world, Andrew enjoys travel (although loathes turbulence), going to the movies, reading and being a dad to his two dogs (and now twins) with his wife.
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