Game City 5 - The First Time

Not long into Uni, enough time to know where classes were, but not enough to learn everyone's names, half of us first years were off to Nottingham with the second and third years to Game City 5 in Nottingham.

Game City is a different kind of video game event, and it has been running for a number of years now, and lots of things happen each year, and it appears that it is always slightly different each year. It is interesting for me as well as traditionally the third years on my current course display their work here for the industry and public to see. There were some really interesting games from my Uni on display this year, and it certainly drove home how much work needs to be done for this course.

Anyway the festival itself was a lot of fun, and to be honest it has gone by in a bit of a blur, there was an interesting talk during the first Working Lunch about the National Video Game Archive, and how it was to be continued and who's responsibility it was. There was also some fun, entertaining and interesting talks at the Guardian Breakfasts too, especially when we had to try and guess which games he thought were the most influential and innovative for their time.

The festival didn't have the best of starts for me though, as there was a lot of confusion and chaos over events, who was allowed in and who wasn't. Also the location of some of them, having never been to Nottingham before didn't help, but there were things that just weren't sign posted in places.

Yet on the second day, after meeting some great people and making friends with people from the area and people that come here every year for this, things picked up. For a start there was someone to help show us around and had a better idea of where the events would be held. Also the local knowledge of shops and cafe's was very welcome, albeit not to my credit card and suitcase as I indulged in a fair few book purchases. :)

Due to the booking of the hotel though the last day of the festival was only a half day for us, but that did mean that we got a chance to take part in a live Pacman game through the streets of Nottingham.

There is so much more to talk about, as there were so many events, but that would make for a very long post. At the end of the day it was nice to go to a games event that was very different to games events that I have gone to in the past and I am looking forward to next year. At least then I will have more of an idea about what  to expect and I can plan ahead a little more. :) I also enjoyed meeting the people I did and have made some friends that I hope to keep in contact with and see again next year at the very least.

Hopefully Newport Uni will still be displaying the best of their graduates work there still as well, and I hope to be among them in my third year. Which means I have a lot of work cut out for me. :P