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Inspiration

Gaming is already one of the most natural ways younger people connect. 67% of adults ages 18–29 play video games, and research shows gaming can help people form and strengthen friendships. This inspired us to build SocialQueue as a solution, something that can connect people through a shared interest.

What it does

SocialQueue helps people build real friendships by playing games with people in their local area, then taking those connections offline through shared events. Gaming is the icebreaker and first interaction. Users discover nearby players who share their favorite games and playstyles, form a party, and play together. A shared game gives people a natural way to start talking and get comfortable with each other. By focusing on local players, SocialQueue makes it possible to meet someone who can become part of your everyday life. Local events are the next step toward a deeper friendship. Once users have gotten to know each other through gaming, they can explore concerts, meetups, and community gatherings in your local area and make plans to spend time together in person. Gaming creates the introduction; shared experiences in your community help turn that connection into a lasting friendship.

How we built it

We built SocialQueue with React, JavaScript, and Vite, using custom CSS and Lucide icons. We integrated Google Maps for event mapping, Open-Meteo for city lookup, and a Node.js endpoint to aggregate events from StungEvents and Mobilize. Technical features include player filtering, shared-game matching, party management, geographic validation, API caching, and localStorage persistence. Automated tests cover location, event, and map logic.

Challenges we ran into

Our biggest challenges were standardizing event data across providers, accurately filtering events in your local area, and keeping profiles, parties, and event controls consistent across desktop and mobile.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

One of our favorite additions is Best Clip, an idea we thought of at the last second. Showing gameplay on a profile gives users a more direct sense of someone’s skill level and playstyle, helping them decide whether they would enjoy playing together. We implemented embedded video playback with a preview image, mobile-friendly controls, and error handling. The prototype currently uses a shared demo clip, with individual player uploads planned.

We’re also proud of the work behind event discovery. Combining multiple providers required standardizing different data formats, validating locations and schedules, and handling incomplete information. We added caching and partial-failure handling so available listings can still appear when one provider goes down, plus an interactive map fallback.

What we learned

We learned how to manage React state, preserve user preferences, and integrate external APIs reliably. We also learned that accurate location and schedule validation are essential for helping users find relevant events in their local area.

What's next for SocialQueue

We want to work directly with event providers to gain secure access to verified event listings in your local area. Our priority is validating organizers, locations, and event details so users can make informed plans, with an EMPHASIS on user safety that're guiding these partnerships. No one want's to feel wary of a friend they meet and/or an event they'd attend.