There’s never a shortage of games industry or fan events on either the West Coast or the East Coast. Although, there’s something of a void by comparison in the heartland of the United States. As of today, one new fan festival has had its hat officially tossed in the ring to give gamers in the Midwest something to cheer about.
The XPO Game Festival is going to debut September 23-25, 2016, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Expect a classic three-day weekend expo that will include games, tournaments, panels, cosplay contests, and more.
Acknowledging the need for a noteworthy games event within the brackets of the coasts, Ray Hoyt, president of VisitTulsa and Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture, said in a press release: “XPO was created so that America’s Heartland can have its very own game festival. Both local and visiting game enthusiasts, as well as developers, deserve a place to meet and connect with industry leaders from all over the country. XPO is the perfect opportunity to do just that while celebrating the vibrant atmosphere of Tulsa.”
A few noteworthy details about the XPO Game Festival itself:
Festival
XPO Game Festival 2016 is a festival for gamers, developers, industry leaders, and personalities to come together and celebrate video game culture. Featuring a dedicated tabletop gaming area, retro gaming lounge, a VR play area, laser tag arena, and pre-festival events such as film screenings, the XPO Game Festival should cover a lot of the bases eventgoers who love or create games expect.
Esports
If the thrill of competition is in your blood, a $10,000 Rocket League tournament produced by LegionBattles is baked into the schedule, too. Learn about the game industry from some top speakers at the festival’s many panels and workshops. Or if you prefer to try something completely different, put your teamwork skills to the test at The Escape Tulsa — a special event that few have experienced.
Indies
It’s not a games event these days without an area to showcase indie game devs, and XPO will be no exception. Attendees be able to play hidden gems and mainstream indie titles alike as well as chat with the developers. Studios will be handpicked by XPO organizers to showcase some of the brightest talents in the industry.
Parties
Not just one but three afterparties, featuring live music, will be held on-site at the event venue, the Cox Business Center. For some the networking and celebrating with fellow fans and industry influencers is not just the afterthought, but one of the main reasons to attend an event like this, so this should please some folks for sure.
But, what about registration if you want to go, you might ask? Until August 1, early bird passes are available for $35/day or $65 for the weekend. After August 1, weekend passes will bump up to $75. Tickets and passes will include admission to afterparties on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Afterparties alone (without any other event access privileges), are $20/night or $50 for a weekend pass. Online registration is expected to begin this week.
For up-to-date information about the first edition of XPO, check out the official XPO Game Festival website.
