Editing Virtualcon (Furrydelphia 2020)

{{OfficialEventInfobox
|title1=<center>Virtualcon</center>
|image1=File:2020design.jpg|caption-image1=Logo eventually released after the cancellation of the in-person event.
|Date=August 14 - August 16, 2020; <small> {{Time ago|Aug 16 2020|min_magnitude=days}} </small>
|Venue= Held Virtually </br><small> Originally announced to take place at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Forge_Casino_Resort Valley Forge Casino Resort] </small>
|Location= Held Virtually </br> <small> Originally announced to take place in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Prussia,_Pennsylvania King of Prussia, Pennsylvania] </small>
|Guests_of_Honor= N/A
|Charity= N/A
|Attendance= Not Recorded
|previous= [[Celtic Knights (Furrydelphia 2019)| Celtic Knights]]
|next= [[Back to Con (Furrydelphia 2021)| Back to Con]]
}}

'''Furrydelphia 2020''', also known as '''Virtualcon,''' was a virtually-held convention operated by [[Furrydelphia]]. The event, which was originally intended to operate under the theme "Galactic Fleet," was held completely in the online [[wikipedia:Virtual_world|virtual-world]] video game [[wikipedia:VRChat|VRChat]] in August of 2020. No official guests of honor were announced.  

== Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic ==
Furrydelphia 2020 was first announced on August 18, 2019 at the conclusion of the previous convention, [[Celtic Knights (Furrydelphia 2019)|Celtic Knights]]. The theme, which was set to be entitled Galactic Fleet, was announced at the end of November that same year, with Dealers Den and Marketplace applications opening the following month. On March 11, 2020, the [[wikipedia:World_Health_Organization|World Health Organization]] (WHO) declared [[wikipedia:SARS-CoV-2|SARS‑CoV‑2]] (the virus known for causing [[wikipedia:COVID-19|COVID-19]]) a [[wikipedia:COVID-19_pandemic|global pandemic]], leading to the cancellation of nearly all large gatherings for the foreseeable future across the United States. Due to the uncertainty of the virus, Furrydelphia staff held a virtual town hall via [[wikipedia:Live_streaming|live-streaming]] platform [[wikipedia:Twitch_(service)|Twitch]] on May 16, 2020 to discuss the status of the convention<ref>https://x.com/Furrydelphia/status/1261710424950661120?s=20</ref>. A [https://x.com/Furrydelphia/status/1261754594767626240?s=20 summary] of the town hall was posted following its completion later that day. 

On June 5, 2020, a [https://www.furrydelphia.wiki/images/b/b2/Covid-19pressrelease.png press release] was distributed via the Furrydelphia website and subsequent social media platforms announcing the official cancellation of the in-person event and delay of the Galatic Fleet theme. Pennsylvania's continued limit of 250 participants per gathering (as part of the "Green Phase" of [[wikipedia:COVID-19_pandemic_in_Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania's COVID-19 response]]) was cited as the main factor in this decision. In the press release, convention chairman [[Drayne]] detailed the immediate future of Furrydelphia, including the forwarding of all purchased registration to the next in-person event (which would be [[Back to Con (Furrydelphia 2021)|Back to Con]] in 2021), along with the announcement of virtual events such as a Dealers Den, panels, and more via VRChat.

== Venue ==
At the conclusion of [[Celtic Knights (Furrydelphia 2019)|Celtic Knights]], it was announced Furrydelphia would remain at the [[wikipedia:Valley_Forge_Casino_Resort|Valley Forge Casino Resort]] in [[wikipedia:King_of_Prussia,_Pennsylvania|King of Prussia, Pennsylvania]]. This was eventually revoked in the [https://www.furrydelphia.wiki/images/b/b2/Covid-19pressrelease.png press release] released in June of 2020 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and the convention was instead held virtually via VRChat, a [[wikipedia:Virtual_reality|virtual reality]]-based video game. A digital replication of the Valley Forge Casino Resort was created for use during the event.<gallery>
File:2020venue1.jpg|Promotional photo of the virtual reality lobby created for Furrydelphia 2020
File:2020venue2.jpg|Gameplay within the virtual reality lobby created for Furrydelphia 2020
</gallery>

== Theming ==
Furrydelphia 2020 was originally announced under the name "Galactic Fleet," an [[wikipedia:Outer_space|outer space]] and [[wikipedia:Science_fiction|science fiction]] theme, with the official website and promotional material referencing this as early as late 2019. Due to the cancellation of the in-person Furrydelphia event as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme and name were shelved for future use. The [https://www.furrydelphia.wiki/images/b/b2/Covid-19pressrelease.png press release] that announced the closure of Furrydelphia 2020 relayed that Galatic Fleet would return in 2021, although the theme was not officially used again until [[Galactic Fleet (Furrydelphia 2022)|2022]]. 

=== Promotional Materials ===
<gallery>
File:2020postergf.jpg|"Galactic Fleet" poster released prior to the cancellation of the in-person event
File:2020sched.jpg|"Virtualcon" schedule released ahead of the VRChat event
</gallery>

=== Convention-Exclusive Merchandise ===
The following merchandise was available for individual purchase online during the virtual event.

==== Concept Photos ====
<gallery>
File:2020merch.jpg|Promotional collage of the merchandise released for "Virtualcon"
</gallery>

== Board of Directors ==
The following list was adapted from the Furrydelphia website as it was published in 2020 and reflects the Board of Directors at the time of this event. A current and up-to-date list of Furrydelphia staff can be found [[Furrydelphia#Board of Directors|here]].

* [[Drayne|Drayne the Wolf]] - Convention Chairman, Operations Director
* [[Higgawits]] - Vice Chairman
* [[Fray|Fray the Husky]] - Public Safety Director
* [[Yuukari|Yuukari Shishome]] - Director of Attendee Services
* [[Hyperion]] - General Manager

== References ==
[[Category:Past Conventions]]
[[Category:Furrydelphia 2020]]