It’s May, which means this year’s UKGE is finally around the corner! I have very fond memories of attending UKGE in 2024, not only because it was quite simply amazing (!!!) , but because it was the first time that my partner and I had attended! Reflecting on my experiences as a first timer, what advice do I have for other first time attendees who have tickets for this year’s expo?…
Always Be Prepared!
As with any big event – a holiday, a house move or indeed the UKGE, it really does pay off to have done your research prior to attending. Not only will this help you not to get completely overwhelmed with all the variety and the crowds, but it will allow you to streamline your visit, especially if you are only going for a portion of the weekend. Last year, I looked at the floor plan for the different vendor’s halls to see what shops/companies/publishers/suppliers would be attending the Expo. This allowed me to make a note of any that I wanted to visit over the course of our time there, which helped to roughly plan our days and helped us to make the most of our time there.
One thing to note is that the Expo is extremely well attended. Last year, UKGE had 65,281 attendees over the course of the three days – how amazing is that?! To share a convention centre with so many like minded gamers is truly phenomenal, but can also be overwhelming. We found that the stalls and walkways were definitely busier on the Friday and Saturday of the convention, so my advice would be to look after yourself – go outside for fresh air, grab a drink and sit down every so often. UKGE is a marathon weekend, not a sprint!
What’s On Your Hit List?
Before UKGE, most publishers and game developers will promote their games, or tease the launch of a new game on their social media. In some cases, UKGE will also help to promote their vendors’ stalls! I found it really helpful to keep an eye on my favourite board game outlets’ Facebook/Instagram to see what games they were bringing to the Expo, and if I could expect to see any new releases. The UKGE Facebook page is another great way to keep ahead of the curve and see what games to look out for over the course of the weekend.
Doing this allowed me to make a list of the games that I was possibly interested in playing or buying at the Expo, before we even went! Once we arrived, it was a case then of making a B-line to the stall in question to demo the game, or just buy it if it was one we knew we wanted! Be aware, however – games that are newly released at the Expo can and do sell out! For us, we had wanted to demo Windmill Valley at the 2024 UKGE, but there was never a free table. I convinced myself and my partner that it would be fine and that we could always grab a copy of the game before the weekend was over – wrong! It was sold out by the second day!!
Gift Of The Gab
The vendors at the Expo want to chat – so engage them! There were a number of stalls that we stopped at without prior knowledge of the publishers or their games. Once we got talking to them, we demoed games that (if I’m honest) we probably wouldn’t have considered otherwise and loved them! I think from memory we actually bought 3 new games this way, which just goes to show that talking to people who are passionate about the games they have developed, published and brought to the Expo really does add to the overall experience and can help to introduce you to different types of games that you may have just walked past on a shelf otherwise!
Know Your Limits
If you’re like me, it can be hard to say no, especially to a new shiny board game wrapped in cellophane. For our trip to UKGE 2024, we set a budget for each day that we attended the Expo. This meant that we aimed to pickup the games we most wanted first, with a little money over each day to try some new games and maybe pick up one or two that we enjoyed.
I think that having a daily budget in mind really helps not to go overboard on the first day, and blow all your money on the Friday – especially if you have tickets for the whole weekend! I also felt that there was some added excitement on the days we were under budget, as we allowed ourselves then to go back to stalls and pick up games we had maybe said no to the first time round!
Ya Die! Ya Die! Ya Die!
Outside of the hustle and bustle of the main Expo floor, seminars, talks and live podcasts run over the course of the 3 days, with some taking place after hours. I would highly recommend looking at the list on the UKGE website and buying tickets for any you may be interested in. Some shows are a case of first come, first served, with others selling out weeks in advance. Not only do these parallel events give visitors a break away from the madness of the game halls, but they really do enhance your whole experience.
I would personally recommend a show which was recommended to us (and for good reason!) – the ever popular show by Mr John Robertson, “The Dark Room”. No spoilers, this is a live video game where you as the audience are players. John is hilarious and a true showman – I don’t think any of us left the auditorium without smiles on our faces and sore cheeks from laughing! And for anyone lucky enough to get to one of his shows – the title of this paragraph will make far more sense afterwards!
Bargain Hunters last day discounts/sales
If you attend the Expo on the Sunday, things definitely feel like they are winding down by the afternoon. The crowds are nowhere near as big, vendors are starting to pack up and most people are thinking about heading home. Be on the lookout – it is at this point which some sellers offer last day discounts or deals on their board games – who doesn’t love a last day bargain?! Sunday is the day to walk away with a new game in one hand and a few quid more than you would have thought left in your pocket!
Same Time, Same Place Next Year?
The UKGE is amazing. There is nothing quite like it in the UK for sheer volume of attendees, quality of stalls and atmosphere. It truly is a board gamer’s heaven. If you are lucky enough to go to this year’s Expo – enjoy it! Embrace the chaos, the conversations with like-minded gamers and the chance to try out new games. Keep an eye on your daily budget and don’t be afraid to say yes to demoing a game that may not be your “usual” style of game – it could end up being more fun than you think! Regardless of which day you attend the Expo, or if your are going for the whole weekend, be prepared to spend your commute back home again looking up (or even booking) your hotel for next year!
About the author:
Melissa King is a nerd from Northern Ireland, who loves nothing more than a competitive games night with family! She loves anime, MTG and board games involving drafting, worker placement and resource management (although she’ll give anything a try!)
