UK Games Expo

UK Games Expo (UKGE or Expo) is a tabletop gaming expo and Hobby Games Convention 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 2019 the show had 400+ booths manned by 435 exhibitors and co-exhibitors including publishers, retailers, independent designers and artists.

UK Games Expo
GenreBoard Games, RPGs, Hobby Games, Tabletop Games
Location(s)Birmingham
CountryEngland
InauguratedJune 2007
Attendance25,702 in 2019
ActivitySeminars, Tournaments, Trade Halls
LeaderUK Games Expo Ltd
Websitehttp://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk

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 Grand Kotei as well as the a British Historical Gaming Society Championship. Role-playing events included the UK Cthulhu masters, the D&D Open Championships and the D&D Adventurers League Epic. Other gaming-related entertainment in 2019 included performances from John Robertson, Paul Flannery Jollyboat and Tom Crosbie. The 2019 major sponsors were Wayland Games, Games Workshop and Catan with additional associate sponsorship from Paizo Inc, Cubicle 7, CMON, Greater than Games and ITB. The Family Zone was sponsored by HABA. In 2020 the Covid 19 Pandemic meant that the show was first postponed from May to August and eventually cancelled and replaced by an online only version called Virtualy Expo.

The planned dates for UK Games Expo in 2021 are 4th to 6th June. This is expected to be in the NEC but a definitive decision is expected early in 2021.

Unlike most other large shows, UK Games Expo is notable for offering both large areas of free open gaming space[2] and a charity bring and buy. In 2019 over £18000 was taken in commission on sales and other donations and was donated to three 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 took place in Hall 1 and Hall 2 of the NEC (Hall 1 being entirely trade and Hall 2 Trade and also tournaments and open gaming. In 2019 Expo added space in Hall 3a for additional events. It also makes use of various smaller rooms as well as space in adjacent hotels bringing the total hall space to over 33,000 sqm.)

The plans for 2020 included all of Halls 1 to 3 and was expected to be the largest Expo so far. However in March 2020 the organisers first postponed the event to August 2020 and then cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic which ld to cancellation of all the worlds large Hobby Games conventions in 2020 including Gencon, Origins and Essen Spiel. A online edition of the convention called Virtually Expo ran on 21st to 23rd August.

The Major Sponsors in 2019 were Warcradle Studios, Games Workshop and Catan Studios. The associate sponsors in 2019 were CMON, Cubicle 7, Paizo, ITB and Greater than Games. In 2020, Virtually Expo was Sponosored by Catan, Asmodee Coiledspring Games and Pegasus Spiele as Major Sponosrs. Cubicle 7, Kosmos, WRKS, Phase Shift, Picadice and Alley Cat were associate sponsors.

Previous sponsors have included Fantasy Flight Games, Mayfair 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 Martin Wallace, 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.

UK Games Expo Attendance Figures
Year20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192021
Uniques9001200180020002455287935385805716212636165002169825704See*
Attendance120020002500280035854046573499191397125149310003910645097See*

2019 unique attendance makes UK Games Expo the largest show of its kind in the UK (A Hobby Games Convention with all aspects of gaming represented and featuring tournaments, open gaming areas, seminars and live entertainment). It is also one of the largest events of its kind in the World.

  • The cancelled 2020 show was replaced by an online versions attended by approximately 20,000 individuals.
This graph shows annual attendance at the UK Games Expo since its first year (2007). On the graph uniques means how many unique individuals attended the event. E.G. Tom and Bertha attend UKGE. They count as 1 unique attendance each or 2 uniques between them. Attendance is how many people came adding together the turnstile each day. Tom went for 2 days so he counts at 2 attendances. Bertha goes for 3 days so counts as 3. Thus Tom and Bertha contribute 2 uniques but 5 attendance.

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[3]

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 UK Games Expo and which had been released in the UK in the preceding 12 months, or are released at UK Games Expo 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 current show 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.

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.

Judging The winner in each category wil be determined by a combined system of a public vote and the opinion of a Panel of Judges.

Firstly all games are rates by a panel of judges chosen by UK Games Expo. For 2018 UK Games Expo introduced short lists of the top games in each category where there are more than 3 entries. The short lists will be selected according to the judge's ratings and published on mid May each year.

One of the short listed games will be declared the Judges award winner at the convention.

At the show there is an opportunity for the public to vote on the short listed games using the convention app. This will select the popular choice award winner.

The Awards will be announced on the Sunday of UK Games Expo at 3pm.

Award Categories[4]

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 New Boardgame (Strategic) These are games which involve tactical and strategic game play, involve direct player interaction, often involve elements of competition, conflict and sometimes military themes. MIniatures may be involved or tokens representing characters or units(Game with a target ages of 12+ and specifically not for young children.)

Best New Card or Dice Game Generally these games will not involve a board, but dice or cards will be the predominant feature. (Game with a target ages of 12+ and specifically not for young children.) In any given year we may decide to split this category into Card Games and Dice games.)

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.)

References
  1. "Uk Games Expo 2017 - Home Page". www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/opengaming.php
  3. "UK Games Expo Awards".
  4. "Uk Games Expo Awards". www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
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