Manchester will once again play host to the pinnacle of gaming celebrations as it welcomes the PLAY Expo across Saturday, 4 May 2019 and Sunday, 5 May 2019. Organised by Replay Events, the event will be there to celebrate everything gaming related, from the nostalgic pull of the past to the excitement of the technology of the future. The sixth year will see the audience size grow and the number of exhibitors increase as word continues to spread about what the weekend holds. So, what can we expect as gamers across the country flock to Manchester?
#AD During the next bank holiday weekend, you and your family could be in gaming paradise. Find out how to win tickets to PLAY Expo at Manchester Central on May 4 & 5 here: https://t.co/7JXC7zzTBQ pic.twitter.com/baQsgbSM6Z
— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) April 20, 2019
Retro Gaming
One of the biggest pulls of the two-day gaming celebration is the retro gaming focus. Not only do these exhibits include dedicated arcade games that remind us of the days before smartphones, but also consoles that have long since stopped being made. The past 40 years of gaming will be captured across systems made by companies such as Sinclair, Commodore, Nintendo, Sega, Sony and Xbox and feature franchises such as Mario, Sonic, Crash Bandicoot, Star Wars, Street Fighter, Lego, Tomb Raider and James Bond.
The nostalgia factor is powerful when it comes to gaming – and not just with the consoles, but with the themes of the games. As a variety of slots based on nostalgia from Magical Vegas casino online show us, the pull factor of games that hark back to our gaming past can provide plenty of material for gaming today. These include Wacky Races, Indiana Jones-inspired Book of Dead, and a Guns ‘N’ Roses-themed slot game, throwing back to the great rock band’s heyday.
https://twitter.com/gamesfreezer/status/1120596426197696512
Latest Technology
But it’s not just about playing Nintendo 64 and Sega, PLAY Expo also features a look into the gaming we may be doing tomorrow, with the latest gaming technologies on offer. The Next-Gen zone of the event will feature the games we are currently playing across high-spec PCs and consoles like the Xbox One and PS4, as well as AAA titles and independently produced games that may be more obscure. The virtual reality segment of the event will look towards what VR might give us in gaming tomorrow, with guests being able to embrace the latest material for the Playstation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Meanwhile, the team at Antstream will be showcasing the latest way in which we will be engaging with gaming with their retro gaming streaming service. Dubbed the ‘Netflix of gaming’, the service will allow gamers to reconnect with old favourites. Special guests will also be revealed on the day to give insight into some independent production houses, which will indicate where the future of gaming may take us.
PLAY Expo’s success year-on-year shows just how popular gaming is for a wide range of audiences. Players will be able to look back at the games of their past and forward at the games that will entertain them tomorrow, all under one roof.
