GameCity Festival is back in venues and public spaces across Nottingham from 19-26 October 2013.

This time, it’s a little bit…different.

If you’ve been to a GameCity Festival in the last four years, chances are your first destination would’ve been the HUGE tent we constructed in the Old Market Square – the vibrant heart of the festival that hosted all sorts of creative and surprising things. In that time, over half a million people have enjoyed amazing games, wonders, world record attempts and playful experiences in the awesome venue we plonked on Market Square.

This year, we’re pulling it down.

Of course, there’s still going to be loads of amazing family-friendly activities happening all over the City. We’re teaming up with a bunch of brilliant partner venues to takeover Nottingham with exciting stuff – but the Market Square will be something brand new.

In 2013, the festival is going more public than ever before. No walls, no admission tickets – just two big screens and a huge Market Square.

But these aren’t ordinary screens… They’re restless.

Every night, when the people of Nottingham are tucked up in their beds, our twin screens will change positions. Perhaps one day they’ll be back to back, the next day lying on the floor or maybe swinging from a crane.
 

GameCity 8 is about a single question.

Phil Fish (FEZ), Richard LeMarchand (Associate Professor in the USC Games program), Mike Bithell (Thomas was Alone), Vlambeer (Ridiculous Fishing), Keita Takahashi (Noby Noby Boy), Sophie Houlden (SWIFT*STITCH) and Martin Hollis (Goldeneye 64)

Martin Hollis, the director of everyone’s favourite Nintendo 64 classic Goldeneye 007, has already said:

“I’m ecstatic to be able to say my next game will be exclusive and inclusive for GameCity 2013. I think this has the potential to be the best thing that has ever happened. Ever.”

…which is nice!

We’ll have much more news about the festival coming over the next few months.
We are VERY excited about GameCity 8. We hope you are too!

See you in October?

In this short talk from GameCity7, Phil Fish disregards science and common sense to tell us about the future of the world, technology, videogames, FEZ, and what it’s like to live on the Moon.

Phil says/said/is going to say(?),

When I visited GameCity 15 years ago, it redefined what a game festival could be. I couldn’t be more excited to teleport back to Neo-Nottingham so many years later and see how things have changed.

Here’s Part 1 of the ‘Mike Bithell Gets The Advice He Needs’ series of events.

Mike Bithell, creator of Thomas Was Alone, joined us every day at GameCity7 for a series of events featuring a team of friendly faces who offered advice on a different subject every day.

On this day, videogame journalist pioneers Leigh Alexander & Brandon Boyer give Mike candid advice on promotion. Ever wanted to get the whole world talking about your game? Let’s find out how…

Filmed at GameCity7, Nottingham, UK
October 24th 2012

http://www.thomaswasalone.com/

“Patience and Persistence”

Semi Secret, Aeiowu’s and Loscil’s iOS game Hundreds is the product of a year long experimental collaboration. Adam Saltsman talks about the team’s process through creating the game, expanding it, refining it, and eventually trying to solve the problem of how to communicate what the game is about to the world at large.

A unique behind-the-scenes look at the puzzle design and underlying philosophy of the game, with minimal spoilers.

www.playhundreds.com

Filmed at GameCity7, Nottingham, UK
October 24th 2012

GameCity
The World’s best-loved videogame festival

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www.gamecity.org

RENGA is back! It’s even bigger! And this time, it’s hosted by BAFTA. If you London based folk haven’t already taken part in the exhilarating multiplayer-with-lasers (multiplaser?) game, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE.

RENGA – NEW ADVENTURES IN COLLABORATIVE GAMING
Princess Anne Theatre, BAFTA
8:15pm Bar opens for drinks
9:00pm Event starts
10:30pm Event finishes

Renga is a feature-length crowd game for cinema screens that mixes new technology, adventure drama and a wry sense of humour. Ambushed and left for dead in deep space, our hero must carefully marshal their resources to build a new ship, confront their nemesis and finally return home. Only this hero isn’t visible on the screen – it’s the entire audience, working collectively to control the action using 100 laser pointers directed at the screen. Turning the traditional hero’s journey on its head, Renga asks the question – what if the ultimate reward can only be grasped by many hands?

Following appearances at festivals worldwide including SXSW, the New York Film Festival and Sheffield Doc/Fest, as well as GDC and GameCity, Renga makes its London debut at BAFTA. The show will be followed by a short discussion with directors Adam Russell and John Sear, two videogames industry veterans who now dedicate themselves to designing collaborative experiences for cinema audiences.

For tickets and more information visit BAFTA’s website.