There’s a whole lot of gaming and gaming related activities going on around the globe and it would be a shame to miss out on some of the good stuff because of pesky things like mortality. To avoid this problem, all gamers should write up a bucket list of events they simply can’t miss before kicking the bucket. Below are some suggestions to get the ball rolling.
Video Games Live is a concert series featuring music from a number of classic and popular video games, performed by a live orchestra. The music is accompanied by synchronised video footage of the games, all supplemented with the usual light and smoke show one can expect from a live concert. During interactive segments, audience members are asked on to stage to play games such as Frogger, Guitar Hero and Space Invaders while the orchestra plays accompanying music. Veteran video game composers Jack Wall and Tommy Tallarico are behind the production which is currently on tour around the globe.
World Cyber Games
The World Cyber Games have been running since 2000, providing a platform for professional grade gamers from around the globe to compete for their country on PC and Xbox 360. Each year the event attracts over 700 competitors from more than 70 countries, and over 1 million visitors, making it the largest gaming festival. In 2009 the total prize pool was US$500 000 (±R3.8 million). The event features a players village for the competitors and is hosted in a new venue each year, with Los Angeles playing host in 2010.
DreamHack
Starting out as a small LAN party at a Swedish school, DreamHack has grown to become a renowned computer festival of epic proportions. DreamHack currently holds the record for the world’s largest LAN party, which was set in 2007 with 10 554 computers. Expect over 72 hours of gaming madness, supplemented with technology and gaming demo’s, e-sports, movie screenings, competitions, live music, and light shows. There is also an expo attached to the event, with gaming related workshops and lectures. The event garners so much attention that huge names in game development come to give hands-on demonstrations of their latest games, such as Blizzard with StarCraft 2 in 2009. The event occurs twice a year in Jönköping, Sweden.
QuakeCon
Apart from the id Software heritage, QuakeCon boasts the distinction of being the USAs largest LAN, and the largest free LAN party in the world, with over 7000 attendants at the 2009 event. id Software and its development partners take the opportunity to show off their latest gaming creations and technology (and peddle some merchandise on the side). The 2009 event saw the first separation of professional level and amateur players in the 1v1 competitions. This was generally well received, as no amateur likes being gibbed by a pro. The event is held each year in Dallas, Texas.
GamesCom
Somewhat of a spiritual successor to the Leipzig Games Convention, GamesCon was first held in 2009 in Cologne, Germany, attracting over 240 000 visitors. This makes it the largest gaming expo in the world, with pretty much everyone who’s anyone in the gaming industry turning up to show off their latest and greatest.
Tokyo Game Show
If you want a gaming culture shock then stop in at the Tokyo Games Show next time you’re passing by Japan. While international developers and publishers attend, the show focuses mainly on the Japanese gaming market. Expect loads Japanese booth babes dressed as characters you’ve never heard of. In 2009 over 180 000 people attended the annual event.
Penny Arcade Expo
Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, the minds behind the Penny Arcade webcomic created the annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in 2004, with the aim of celebrating gaming culture and giving equal attention to PC, console and table top gamers. PAX has grown into a sizable event, with over 60 000 attendees in 2009. PAX features a keynote speech from an industry veteran, gaming themed concerts, panel discussions, and tournaments to name but a few of the attractions. PAX is held in Washington state, USA.
What other gaming events should be added to the bucket list? Have your say in the forums.
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