UK Games Expo

UK Games Expo
Genre Board Games, RPGs, Hobby Games, Tabletop Games
Location(s) Birmingham
Country England
Inaugurated June 2007
Activity Seminars, Tournaments, Trade Halls
Leader UK Games Expo Ltd
Website
http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk

UK Games Expo (UKGE or Expo) is a tabletop gaming expo held annually at the NEC and the NEC Hilton Metropole Birmingham, during the last weekend of May or first weekend of June (the first weekend after the Spring Bank Holiday).[1] UK Games Expo is the premier event in the UK where all aspects of the gaming hobby are represented. In 2017 the show had 280 booths manned by 325 exhibitors and co-exhibitors including publishers, retailers, independent designers and artists.

The show is host to a schedule of seminars by industry leaders, several hundred role-playing game sessions and many board and wargame tournaments, including several national tournaments such as the UK Settlers of Catan Finals, the UK Agricola Championship and the UK Carcassonne Championship and the Fantasy Flight European Championship and a Pokemon Regional as well as the a British Historical Gaming Society Championship. Role-playing events included the UK Cthulhu masters and the D and D Adventurers League Epic. Other gaming-related entertainment in 2017 included performances from John Robertson, Paul Flannery and James Cook and a concert. The 2017 major sponsors were Mayfair Games Catan Studios and Hawk Wargames with additional associate sponsorship from Paizo Inc, Osprey Games, Geeknson, Wild West Exodus and Battlefield Hobbies.[2]

Unlike most other large shows, UK Games Expo is notable for offering both large areas of free open gaming space[3] and a charity bring and buy. In 2017 over £9000 was taken in commission on sales and other donations and was donated to two charities.

History

The first UK Games Expo was held at the Clarendon Suites in Birmingham in 2007. The show took place at this venue six times before relocating to the Hilton NEC Metropole in 2013. Continued growth in attendance has meant that from 2016 UK Games Expo has expanded to include a Trade Hall and a separate tournament hall in the NEC as well as maintaining activities in the Hilton.

In 2016 and 2017, the UK Games Expo Trade Hall occupied Hall 1 of the NEC, with the 2017 Expo also taking up Hall 3a exclusively for tournaments. Expo 2018 will take up Hall 2 of the NEC for the Trade Hall bringing the total hall space to over 33,000 sqm.

The show has been sponsored by Mayfair Games since 2012, and the current Major Sponsors are Mayfair Games, Hawk Wargames and Catan Studios. The associate sponsors in 2017 were Osprey Publishing, Paizo Inc, Geeknson, Wild West Exodus and Battle Hobbies.

Previous sponsors have included Fantasy Flight Games, Mage Company and Coiledspring Games.

In 2008 the UK Games Expo was the venue for the official launch of Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition in the UK.

Notable guests of the show in recent years have included Colin Baker, Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone, Chris Barrie, Monte Cook, John Robertson, Tom Vasel and John Kovalic.

Attendance

Attendance figures released by the organizers are published each year in their exhibitor pack. 2015 Exhibitor pack: http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/UKGEexhibitorpack2015.pdf

UK Games Expo Attendance Figures
Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017
Uniques 900 1200 1800 2000 2455 2879 3538 5805 7162 16500
Attendance 1200 2000 2500 2800 3585 4046 5734 9919 13971 31000

2017 unique attendance makes UK Games Expo the largest show of its kind in the UK, second in Europe and briefly third in the world following Spiel, and Gen Con having exceeded the 2016 unique attendance for Origins Game Fair. The attendance for Origins 2017 has been announced to be slightly higher so UK Games Expo remains currently the 4th largest show in the world.

UK Games Expo Awards

The UK Games Expo Awards are a series of awards announced usually on the last day of the UK Games Expo, which are voted on by attendees of the convention as well as a panel of judges. These awards are highly sought after by publishers as they usually precipitate significant increases in sales figures, and retail takeup across the world.

Eligibility[4]

Below are the main eligibility criteria directly taken from the UK Games Expo website for products entered into the UK Games Expo Awards.

1.Game products on show at Expo 2018 and which had been released in the UK in the preceding 12 months, or are released at Expo 2018 will be eligible for entry into the Awards. 

Additionally, if a game is a new reprint or version of a game published prior to UKGE 2007 we will consider it. If the game was released between 2007 and the Expo 2017 BUT is on sale or distribution in the UK for the first time in the current award year we will also consider it.

2.The Games must be on sale at UK Games Expo 2018.

3.Manufacturers and publishers may suggest which category, other than the Special Achievement Award, in which to enter their products, however the Expo judges will make the final decision. Only ONE category per product is permissible. A Game may only be entered for the awards in ONE year. Sometimes a given category will NOT be used one year in which case we will fit the game in the nearest category.

4.The awards are only for products from games companies who are exhibiting at Expo (either themselves or via another company) and they are not open to others.

5. For all categories (other than Best New Accessory or Expansion) games must be original designs and not just new editions unless there is significant change in the design or gameplay between editions.

2018 Award Categories[5]

Best New Boardgame (American-Style ) Generally feature a prominent theme, encourage direct conflict between players and have a significant degree of luck. American-style games often have longer playtimes and have mechanics designed to suit the theme. Sometimes referred to as Ameritrash. (Games with a target age of 12+ and specifically not for young children.) 

Best New Boardgame (Euro-Style ) Generally these games will have less direct player interaction, limited elements of luck and less conflict. Sometimes called a Eurogame or German-style board game. (Game with a target ages of 12+ and specifically not for young children.)

Best Role-playing Game (A game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting and where the main thrust is players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a story general run by a games master. In any given year we may decide to split this category into Roleplay Games and Roleplaying Game supplement.)

Best Miniatures Range (A wargame system and/ or miniatures range where the core part of the game is using miniature figures to fight out battles. Might include figures aimed at use in RPG games. In any given year we might break this category into rules systems and figures.)

Best Party Game (A game which is usually light and easy to play, with simple rules and designed for larger groups or a party.)

Best Children's Game (A game which is specifically designed for younger children (10 years or below) to play with or without adult supervision but not a game adults would play on their own.)

Best Family Game (A game which is ideal for children (perhaps older children) and adults to play together and all enjoy equally. Something for parents and kids to have fun together with.)

Best Abstract Game (An abstract game is a game that minimizes luck and does not rely on a theme. It typically focuses on strategy where skill and careful planning is the key. May feature various components)

Best New Expansion (This covers expansions to existing games, new versions which are essentially the same game but might have a different set of pieces e.g. an army pack.)

Best New Accessory (Anything gaming related not covered in the other areas e.g. game storage solutions, dice bags etc.)

Previous years results

Winners 2017

Winners 2016

Winners 2015

Winners 2014

Winners 2013

Winners 2012

Winners 2011

Winners 2010

Winners 2009

Winners 2008

Winners 2007

References

  1. ↑ "Uk Games Expo 2017 - Home Page". www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  2. ↑ "UK Games Expo 2017 Guide" (PDF).
  3. ↑ http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/opengaming.php
  4. ↑ "UK Games Expo Awards".
  5. ↑ "Uk Games Expo Awards". www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
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