GameCity 9 is here to celebrate digital creativity in Nottingham
From Saturday 25th October, Nottingham will once again be hosting the GameCity Festival.
Inaugurated in 2006 by its founder and ‘inventor’ Iain Simons in Nottingham, this will be the ninth year that the GameCity Festival has taken place. The festival is a unique contributor to the culture and vibrancy of the UK video games industry. The festival is a collaboration between GameCity, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council and an enormous number of private companies and individuals from across Nottingham and the UK who come together to further the public’s understanding of the contribution video games have made to the fabric of our society.
There are numerous annual video games conferences across the UK, Europe and the world designed to show off the latest developments in game technology and design. GameCity does not seek to be another entrant in this field. Rather, the festival has had great success in defining its own unique contribution to creativity and the value of gaming in our culture.
Over the last 9 years GameCity has showcased, during its week long celebrations, the cultural and educational contribution, video games have made in society. Through a programme of interactive events, workshops, talks and discussion groups, along with competitions, awards and even the odd ‘beer and curry’ night staged across Nottingham, an active and exciting discussion on the past, present and future of interactive digital engagement has taken place every year.
Speakers and contributors have attended from across Nottingham, the East Midlands, the UK, Europe, North America, South America, Japan and Australia. Visitors have encompassed families, schools, universities and companies who have all found value in attending and being part of the GameCity celebration.
Ultimately, GameCity highlights the creativity of gaming and aims to encourage attendees such as children of all ages and their parents to participate not just in playing games, but in making them also and to encourage a new generation of creative people to enter the games industry in some form. It is not just a viable career but one of the most enjoyable, challenging and rewarding careers available in the 21st century.
Early next year GameCity will open its new permanent home on Carlton Street which will host the National Video Games Archive, workshops for schools and academies and make Nottingham the home for the creativity in the UK games industry. This is an amazing achievement for the city and one we can all be proud of and support.
Nottingham is host to one of the most original and challenging creative digital festivals in the world. We are lucky to have it in our city every year and we should all make the most of what it offers
If you’ve never attended a GameCity event, I urge you to make some time and try one out, especially, but not exclusively, if you have children. A schedule of events is on the GameCity website linked below. Give it a go, you won’t regret it.
Find out more at GameCity9.