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Your first games industry expo can be a great experience. Being around like-minded people in one of the most exciting niches on the planet offers tons of benefits and insights. Yet many are pretty big, and you will need clearance and tickets as well to have as much fun as possible.
Plan Your Journey in Advance
Unless you live in the city or town where an expo is being held, you will probably have to travel. Cities like LA in the US or London in the UK host video game conferences. Some are extensive and can go on for a few days, so a hotel is best booked in advance. However, if you plan to stay for a single day, you can use public storage such as St. Pancras luggage lockers (when visiting London, for example) to store your spare cash, laptop, or a change of clothing just in case.
Get Clearance for Your First Games Industry Expo
Many people from all sectors attend video game expos. Journalists, influencers, and developers alike gather for exciting events. Some are massive and require security clearances and levels. For instance, although it has now been canceled, E3, the world’s largest, attracted around 70,000 people per year. Security is tight for various reasons at these events. So before you leave, ensure you have the correct passes for the events and conferences you want to attend.
Pick and Choose an Itinerary You Like
Like Disneyworld, it’s unlikely you will be able to get to see everything when you attend a video game conference. There are typically dozens of events happening often at the same time. Therefore, it is better to plan ahead for the events you really wish to see, as some of them may also be packed quickly. For example, any event with an industry legend like Todd Howard or Will Wright will sell or pack out almost instantly. Plan and book what you want to avoid missing out.
Expect Waiting Times and Crowds
Not all events at a video game exposition are ticket-only. However, some will be massively popular. Given the amount of people who visit, expect to queue for some events. Additionally, press and influencers may be given priority access. If you have a somewhat successful blog or YouTube channel or write for a gaming outlet, you can apply for priority passes for events. This is usually done via the event’s official website. However, you will need to present evidence.
Do Other Things to Pass the Time
There can be a lot of downtime between events at a conference. Fortunately, event organizers take this into account and typically provide tons of distractions to pass the time. At most events, expos, and conferences such as GDC, there are tons of fun things to do between events:
- Have famous developers sign merchandise if such a thing is available.
- Have your photograph taken with video game characters and cosplayers.
- Look for upcoming video games and emerging gaming tech such as PSVR2.
- Take a few minutes to have something to eat and drink before an event.
- Meet up with friends or colleagues and discuss plans for the day.
- Update your social media followers about the fun and activities of the event.
- Pitch ideas for games if you are attending as a games industry insider.
There will be no shortage of fun things to do when you are waiting for an event’s doors to open. You can usually have famous video game developers sign merchandise such as retro game copies. However, you can also update your followers or make notes for your blog or channel.
Look for Cool Merchandise
Merchandise is typically everywhere at these events. Buttons and pins, bags and clothing, and even rare game copies are common. These can be a dream for collectors and enthusiasts and help support indie developers. However, the rarity of such items means they are typically expensive. So make sure you take a good amount of money if you want to buy some of the really cool stuff that isn’t available anywhere else. You could even use these for giveaways.
Enquire About Ticket Entries
Not all events are the same, and some are organized differently. Because of the vast amounts of people visiting, you may be slotted into a specific time segment for your ticket entry. This means you have to show up at a certain time and will be allowed into the event after that time. Some events are also time-limited, and it isn’t always the case that you can spend the whole day there. Always enquire about this if you aren’t sure, but it should be clear when you book.
Your First Games Industry Expo Should Be Fun
Video games are a massive hobby these days because they are fun. They are made around fun, marketed as fun, and should always be fun. This is why the market is worth almost $60 billion today. So, why should an event focused on games not also be fun? Of course, some are geared towards industry insiders and can be more corporate. But the entire industry is fun-centric. Learn what you can while there. Taking it too seriously will definitely ruin your day.
Learn from Other Attendees and Network
From casual gamers to heads of publishers, there are many different types of people who visit video game expos. This offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn from others while you are there. This could be from events you attend while there or from networking with others. As a journalist, this can open doors for collaboration. As a developer, you can make lifelong partnerships for work. As a gamer, there’s nothing like being around other fellow gamers.
Summary
Some conferences are in major cities and require travel. So, planning your trip and knowing where to go will help get your first games industry expo off to a great start. There may be some downtime, so having some fun things to do in between events makes the day go easier. Being with others in the video game niche helps form casual and professional friendships.
