In last year’s review of the UK Games Expo, we posed the question of whether this world-renowned tabletop gaming event was becoming too big. This year’s UK Games Expo was even bigger, with over 50,000 people attending (ranking alongside GenCon in America). This is great for people who like plenty of choice in what to look at, but could be overwhelming for others.
The UK Games Expo has now become so big that it is impossible to see all the exhibitors in a single day, at least not without sprinting and not stopping to look anything. There is now so much going on over the three days that something is always happening and it is impossible to attend every talk, demonstration and performance. It has therefore become essential to plan the visit in advance.
The organisers of UK Games Expo were cognisant of the growing scale of their event. The event dominates the Birmingham NEC, taking over Halls 1 – 5. There are also various events in the neighbouring Hilton Hotel and the re-enactment camp outside.
To say the UK Games Expo was busy is an understatement. One hall was given over to tickets and bring & buy, and another was for tournament play. Meanwhile, three halls had been set aside just for exhibitors. And yet, despite the scale and numbers, even at its height (Saturday afternoon) it never felt overwhelming, there were quiet spots outside and the air conditioning kept the temperature manageable.
Alongside the games, there were panels by designers and developers about creating tabletop games, as well as discussions on accessibility in games. Sir Ian Livingstone, co-founder of Games Workshop and co-creator of Fighting Fantasy, was there, as well as John Robertson with The Dark Room.
The organisers had also invited special guests of interest to the gaming community, such as the actor Chris Barrie (most famous for player Rimmer in Red Dwarf), along with Jason Salkey and Lyndon Davies (Rifleman Harris and Rifleman Perkins in Sharpe’s Rifles.)
There were so many exhibitors that it was challenging for them to stand out. Chaosium, Free League and Cubicle 7 were all there, but it was the smaller game companies that were where the unbridled innovation could be found. There were some incredible gaming accessories from Goth Wood and Roll Gothica, as well as fantastic gaming tables (perfect for those needing a new dining table – although my wife disagrees).
It was great to see that the UK Games Expo had been compartmentalised, with tournament gaming in one hall, plus the Hilton for participation games. However, it would have been great if this had extended to the exhibitor halls as well, with sections set aside for wargame creators, roleplay developers, artists, etc.
More than anything else, the UK Games Expo was a celebration of the gaming community. This was exemplified when wandering around the halls and bumping into a friend from the previous UK Games Expo, and continuing the conversation as if a year had not passed.
The organisers should be commended for the work they have done in cultivating the UK Games Expo community, as the event has set the bar to which all other gaming events should aspire.
Check out our live podcast and Matt’s walk around the event:
