As board gaming experiences a renaissance, so are the events surrounding gaming, whether its tabletop, card trading or roleplaying. For gamers in the UK, the biggest of these events is the UK Games Expo at the NEC in Birmingham. With hundreds of vendors and game manufacturers, the sheer number of different games means there is something for absolutely everyone. It’s also a chance for manufacturers and developers to showcase upcoming products, giving demonstrations or teasers for new games. With so many games to choose from, including Star Wars and Lucasfilm inspired titles, team Jedi News went to explore what was on offer.
Kat: UKGE was a little different to our usual comic con appearances, with the focus being on the world of gaming rather than pop culture. Usually, we’re running to panels or waiting in line for celebrity guests, so UKGE was actually a rather relaxing day in comparison. However, when walking round the floor of the NEC it was clear to see how the worlds of gaming and pop culture can easily combine. I saw Pamdé Amidala and Darth Vader cosplayers going round, eagerly picking up the new Star Wars: Shatterpoint releases or the recent deck builder from Fantasy Flight Games. With the rich world of a galaxy far, far inspiring many different products, gaming is a chance to experience Star Wars in a unique way, whether through recreating dogfights or trying to outsmart the Empire.
Although there was plenty to excite Star Wars fans, it’s fair to say that the best way to experience UKGE was with an open mind. With so much on display or being demonstrated live, there were surprises to be found. Walking around with my co-pilot, Mark Alders, we were absorbing everything around us, and the atmosphere was so enthusiastic. Mark, what were your initial impressions for UKGE?
Mark: This was my second year at UKGE, and it continues to be a positive experience. As Kat says, there is a lot of content over three halls at the NEC. That is a huge amount of space that is completely filled with things for gamers of all types. It can sound completely daunting, particularly if you’re comparing it with the likes of a normal convention, which might only be two halls. However, at least for me, this is a very different experience. Although each hall was full, one of the biggest things taking up space were the wide-open spaces of tables for gaming. There were also areas in every single hall for you to sit down, take a load off your feet – try doing that at a comic con! These areas allowed fans to get completely stuck into a game.
There were a vast range of companies that wanted to show off and demo their games, and they had people to guide you every step of the way through one. If you wanted to play the new Star Wars Rivals or Indiana Jones games from Funko Games, then you could sit down and be taken step-by-step through the mechanics. If you wanted to play the new Star Wars: Shatterpoint, you could try a round right there, as long as there was someone to demonstrate the game available. If you wanted to try your hand at the recently released Star Wars: Deck Building Game before thinking about spending your money on it, you could be shown the rules and again play a round or two.
Now you may think that all of this is the companies trying to make you buy stuff, and of course it is, but at no point during this event did there feel any sort of pressure. Once a demo was over, you didn’t get a sales pitch, and could just move onto the next game. In a lot of cases, the game you will have played won’t actually be out yet and it was just to give you a taster of what is to come. This I think really sums up this convention for me. Where other types of shows are all about making you spend money, the UKGE is far more focused on getting you playing and having fun. You can go the whole weekend, full of doing things, but not actually spending any money (although of course we both did!) and still have had a fulfilling experience. Did that focus surprise you Kat as it was your first time attending?
Kat: It absolutely did! Having experienced MCM Comic Con and more recently Star Wars Celebration 2023, I’m used to these types of events being black holes for spending and stuffed full of exclusives. Yet I happily walked round the halls of UKGE not spending anything at first, but still having an incredibly enjoyable time just playing or looking at the games. Yes, there were early releases or discounts that could be taken advantage of, but this isn’t a show where purchasing is the focus. In fact, one of our best experiences was in the third hall with the aforementioned open gaming tables.
After a few hours of walking around we really needed to take a load off, so we settled down to try a few hands of card games. We were playing the new Something Wild! Indiana Jones along with Love Letter Jabba’s Palace. Both of these are examples of small card games that are easy to travel with and have minimal set up requirements. We had a great time just relaxing and playing these games – which felt like the whole ethos of UKGE. It’s truly about bringing together like-minded gaming geeks, whether you’re just starting into this world of gaming or have been a dungeon master for years. And that’s another thing that was really impressive. There was a massive range of various game types, from RPGs to army builders, worker placement to co-operatives, with products to suit every budget. Were you also impressed by this range Mark, and how did it compare to your previous visit?
Mark: The range seemed to be even more vast than last year and you’re absolutely right, there were products for absolutely everyone. There were extremely expensive games focused on the experienced gamer. Kickstarter exclusives available such as the upgrade kits and extras from the recent Earth game. There were then RPGs, card games, miniature tabletop games and everything in between. There was even a whole section outside for LARPing (live action role playing) to see and take part in. There were games produced by big companies and others, as Kat and I found, by smaller companies that cost a fraction of the price and yet delivered a very fun experience. Zuuli was one such game. We played a demo where you are drafting and building a zoo from a set of animal, enclosure, and upgrade cards. Simple, with beautiful artwork, and all at the cost of £13 (you could even get a plushie with the game for £22). It’s the perfect example of games for everyone at every price. UKGE was all about inclusion.
Which brings me to perhaps the most amazing part for me – families. On Saturday, I took my six-year-old daughter for the very first time. She has never been to a convention or anything of this size and I was rather nervous. Yet seeing this show through her eyes spoke volumes. She was enthralled. There were games galore for her to try at her level, and because the show is over three halls, there was plenty of space to manoeuvre with her so she never felt squashed. In the second hall, right in the middle, there was a family zone where younger players could enjoy games designed for family gaming and be removed from the noise and bustle of the show. The number of companies that catered for younger fans was astonishing. My daughter’s favourite game is Isle of Cats, who had a stall at the show. Not only could she play the game, but they also had a colouring section where my daughter was very content to take a break from it all. Although UKGE draws a lot of gamers, there seems to be a huge focus on families and bringing them together. I’ve never known a show like this to value families and children so much, to devote so much space for making a truly great day out for them. My daughter came away with a wide smile on her face and asking if she could come back next year.
Kat: It’s extremely rare that a show can be so successful without sacrificing anything, usually space or time, and UKGE has a lot of aspects that other similar events could learn from. We would wholeheartedly recommend this show to anyone who likes board gaming, and I will certainly be returning next year. My biggest tips if you visit are:
- Just because you play a demo of a game doesn’t mean you’re obligated to buy it
- If you are interested in a game but want to know more, then ask! Everyone at the expo was so enthusiastic and ready to explain
- If the selection seems overwhelming, start with manufacturers or gaming types you already know
- Absolutely make use of the ‘drop boxes’ if you don’t want to be lugging shopping around. These are basically cloakrooms for board game purchases and are only a minimal charge (£3)
- Pre-booking parking at the NEC is a massive time saver and gets you closer to the event halls
Mark: Those are great tips! I’d also add, make sure you get there early. It is one of those shows that there is literally that much to do that you will find yourself wishing you had more time there. Always carry a bag with you! I made use of the drop boxes, but even just moving around the halls, a big bag is very, very useful to have. Finally, always take a water bottle, the NEC has free water stations all around so you can stay hydrated without having to pay the cost of the vendors on site, which I think is a really nice touch. Our experiences with the NEC staff were excellent and they were always so helpful! Until next year!
