Get your gaming face on
Sandbox Gaming hosts its fourth Newfoundland Gaming Expo this weekend
Newfoundland gamers have a busy weekend coming up with the 2017 Newfoundland Gaming Expo (NGX2017) hosted by Sandbox Gaming in the University Centre at Memorial University taking place July 21-23.
The weekend expo will include gaming rooms, tournaments, costume contests and a variety of workshops, panels and vendors.
The expo’s tournaments appeal to a range of games and gamers. Modern tournaments will include games such as Mario Kart 8 and Pokkén Tournament, while the retro tournaments involve Street Fighter II Turbo and Mortal Kombat 3, among others. Other tournaments will include Trading Card Games, Speedrun Games, Tabletop Games and fighting games. All gaming tournaments will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s all things gaming, all weekend long, for all skill levels,” says Sandbox Gaming vice-president James Reid.
Vendors at the expo will sell a variety of game and “geek” themed items, from retro video and card games to sci-fi, fantasy and horror fiction to art and apparel.
“The expo is great because it not only celebrates video games, table top and TCG, but is also a place where game designers can show off their work and small business can sell and show off their craft,” says Reid.
Workshops and presentations will cover topics such as Cosplay, the rise of unlicensed games and introductions to fantasy-based card games and basic coding.
The intention of these workshops and presentations is to help build and strengthen the community of gamers and game creators in Newfoundland by connecting people with common interests. Free play and exhibition gaming will occur throughout the weekend.
NGX is geared toward being a family friendly event. This year, along with regularly scheduled events and competitions, there will be a kids’ area where expo attendees under 13 can have fun playing different games in a less competitive environment.
“A lot of folks think you need to be really good at games or really into games to come out. That’s not true. There’s something for everyone who likes gaming at NGX,” says Reid.
Ten per cent of revenue from ticket sales will go toward Sandbox Gaming’s 2017 charity fund, which donates to children’s charities across the province that promote play and development such as Child’s Play Charity, St. John’s Boys and Girls Club and Children’s Wish NL.
The charitable initiative is one of the volunteer-run nonprofit’s three main objectives. Sandbox Gaming has raised $70,000 for children’s charities to date.
Sandbox Gaming’s other objectives are to build and maintain a gaming community in the province and to dispel the negative stereotype associated with gamers. Volunteers with the non-profit meet weekly to work toward achieving these goals, with the NGX being an important event in promoting the gaming community. Outside the expo, Sandbox Gaming hosts gaming marathons during the year.
“We are all about social gaming. Getting out, and enjoying yourself over some friendly competition,” says Reid.
The opening ceremonies of NGX 2017 will commence at 5 p.m. on Friday, and is the only part of the expo that requires those in attendance to be at least 19 years of age.
Events will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and will be open to people of all ages.
Advance ticket purchase and a full event schedule are available online at www.ngx2017.com. Ticket prices range from $5-$60.